A true American icon, whose can-do spirit captured the hearts and minds of Americans for decades, Rose Will Monroe was a Jill-of-all trades out of necessity, and a fun loving, ambitious woman by nature. She joined thousands of Kentuckians who left their rural homes during World War II in search of good-paying defense jobs.

During the war she worked at a Ford Motor plant in Michigan, and after continued her valiant strides toward women’s empowerment. Rosie drove a cab, owned a beauty shop, ran her own construction company and even became pilot!

Toast this iconic woman whose incredible spirit and attitude has helped carve a path for women everywhere, and celebrate Rosie the Riveter’s 90th Birthday with a cocktail fit for the occasion.

Mixologist, LeNell Smothers crafted a cocktail inspired by Rosie the Riveter’s tough exterior and light-hearted spirit. Made with Hendrick’s Gin and softened with PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur, dry rosé and a touch of honey syrup, this cocktail perfectly embodies Rosie the Riveter’s incredible spirit.

The recipe for LeNell’s “Rosé the Riveter” cocktail is below, and is also featured in Gary Regan’s new book, The Bartender’s Gin Compendium.

Rosé the Riveter

1 1/2 oz. Hendrick’s Gin
1/2 oz. PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur
1/4 oz. honey syrup*
3 oz. dry rosé

Lime wheel for garnish

Shake with ice and strain into tall glass filled with cracked ice. Garnish with lime wheel and straw.

*Honey Syrup

Mix equal parts honey and water for a simple syrup. Do not heat up. Let dissolve naturally.

Recipe courtesy Hendrick’s Gin

Lock away your precious wine with this metal wine cage–complete with drawbridge door. The cage holds 12 bottles and is generally awesome. Also, it will totally impress and intimidate your guests.

“Even the most oblivious house guests can’t unintentionally uncork your finest bottle of Chateau Margaux when it’s kept under such tight security.”

Metal Wine Cage @ Cool Material (via NOTCOT)

It has markings for the optimal serving temperature for different varieties of wine. So no more wondering how cold that Gewurtztraminer should be.

And, hey, it’s a lot cheaper than buying a special wine fridge …

Wine Bottle Thermometer @ Crate and Barrel

Enjoy your Cabernet while enjoying the irony of an item lovingly handcrafted to mock something mass produced. Aside from looking cool, the shape and weight of the glasses make them fun to drink from.

Sommelier Wine Glasses @ A +R Store

Spiced Tea Holiday Punch

3 cups water
1/3 cup honey
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 tbs. vanilla extract
10 whole cloves
10 cardamom seeds
2 tbs. ginger
2 tea bags (black tea)
1 bottle red wine
1/4 cup dark rum
Boil water, honey, sugar, spices and vanilla in a large saucepan, stirring frequently until honey and sugar are dissolved.

Remove from heat and add tea bag, steeping for five minutes. Strain it into a bowl and add wine and rum.

Can be served hot or cold. If serving it hot, simmer mixture until warm again. If serving cold, chill mixture in refrigerator then serve over ice. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.

more Holiday Drinks & Punches

A bit of a spell or a flick of the magic wand - the Sour Witch has just landed on her broomstick. This sophisticated cocktail is no laughing matter because it packs a powerful sour punch. Don’t be fooled by its soft exterior and champagne flute glass, this cocktail features absinthe and sour cherries.

Sour Witch

1 1/2 oz. Lucid absinthe
3/4 oz. Almond Syrup
1/2 oz. fresh lime juice
3 or 4 pitted sour cherries
Sparkling wine or Champagne

In the bottom of a mixing glass, muddle the sour cherries in the lime juice and almond syrup.  Add the Lucid with ice and shake very well.  Strain into a chilled champagne flute.  Top with sparkling wine or champagne.
Garnish: freshly grated nutmeg

more Halloween Cocktails and Punches
Recipe created by Jonathan Pogash, Cocktail Guru
Recipe & photo courtesy Lucid Absinthe

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1 part Sandeman Founders Reserve Port
1 1/2 parts ginger ale
1/4 green apple cut in small cubes
1/4 part fresh squeezed orange juice

Combine all ingredients over ice. Mix and strain into an appropriately ghoulish glass.

more Halloween Cocktails and Punches
recipe & photo courtesy of Sandeman’s

If you like beer, then Rogue Ales is certainly a familiar name. Its Dead Guy Ale,  among many others, has made it a big name in craft brewing. If you’re ever in Portland, Oregon, pay a visit to its distillery and public house. In addition to a big beer list and surprisingly advanced food menu, you can take the distillery tour any day Mon-Fri at 2 pm.

They have beer samplers that let you taste their many (many) brews. My two favorites:

Hazelnut Brown Nectar: A brown ale with a slightly sweet hazelnut flavor that hits you in the middle of your taste followed by a malty finish. Vanilla and hazelnut on the nose make for a unique experience all around.

Brutal Bitter: This is a well-rounded beer with a smooth mouthfeel that transitions to a bitter hops finish. If you like bitters, this one will make you smile.

This place will definitely give you a case of “too many beers, not enough time.” If you’re going for a sampler, I’d skip the St. Rogue Red Ale and make sure to try the Juniper Pale Ale, Shakespeare Stout or Mocha Porter.
Rogue also makes rum and gin. After being so impressed with the hazelnut beer, I tried the hazelbut rum. I was expecting to be blown away, but that didn’t happen. What I got was a pretty average rum with a little too much heat and not much hazelnut to discern.

I was starving when I got there, so the kobe beef sliders and generous side salad (topped with cranberries, hazelnut and blue cheese) made my day. I heard from a friend that the Blue Balls, which are meatballs stuffed with blue cheese, were outrageous.
Rogue actually has quite a few locations (many in Oregon, one in Washington and another in San Francisco). If you want to add a tour on to your drinking experience, there’s the Portland distillery tour and the Independence, Oregon hop yard tour.

If you see Rogue ales in your local store, grab ‘em. And if you’re ever out west, these friendly folks will pour you a tasty craft beer.

Rogue Ales

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Midnight

1 oz. Port
1 pint Guinness

Add the port to a pint glass, if you got a rounded Guinness glass even better, then fill with Guinness.

Enjoy a bit of video from yesterday’s Arthur day celebration in Dublin.

more drink of the week cocktails

The party continues west to the USA with over 5000 pubs celebrating and hoisting a toast at 17:59 (5:59pm) local time to honor Arthur’s achievement.

The events of the day will be telecast on Direct TV channel 101, with feeds from Dublin and pubs around the US.

So tomorrow at 5:59 pm, grab a Guinness at you local pub and relish in the gift that Arthur Guinness has given us.

For more visit Guinness.com

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