Home Mixology

Outdoor Patio Bar Designs

2010-08-01T06:07:00.000-07:00

I am totally a measure twice, cut once guy, so in order to build my poolside bar, I was going to need some outdoor patio bar designs. Let me clarify that a little bit, I would like to be a measure twice cut once guy and that’s totally the goal. But things always pop up or interrupt me or somehow make my projects go less than smoothly. So in reality, I wind up measuring and cutting as many times as it takes to get the job done and I’m fine with that.

That being said, I always start my projects with the best intentions and that means having some good plans to work from. A great way to get ideas is to do an image search for Outdoor Patio Bar Designs in Google. There are people out there with some awesome outdoor bars. The problem is that they almost definitely paid an awesome amount of money for them too. Since I’m looking for more of a handy man special, I checked out the HGTV, DIYNetwork, Home Depot & Lowes websites. I needed to find a project that I could do by myself. When you watch those design makeover shows, they start from zero and create a backyard oasis in 30 minutes. Conveniently off screen is the crew that took a few days to make it happen.

I found what I was looking for at the Lowes Creative Ideas site. It’s called the Watch and Work Outdoor Kitchen Island and with a few modifications it will become my outdoor patio bar design.

Outdoor Patio Bar under construction

The first modification is to make it taller. Average bar height is usually between 41 and 43 inches. Since this is an outdoor kitchen island, it was too low. And since the space of my patio could handle a larger structure, I also decided to almost double the length. What good is a bar if only a few people can enjoy it at a time. The next change I made to the design was to beef up the slats. The plans call for 1x6 lumber but I decided to go with deck planking (5/4”) instead.

There won’t be any running water in this bar and if I need to power the mini fridge that I plan on putting in it, I’ll have to run an extension cord. Like I mentioned before, my budget isn’t in the awesome category but I think that this bar will do just fine.

With those changes made to the design and the gung-ho attitude that I always have at the beginning of my projects I was ready to go.

Outdoor Patio Bar

2010-07-17T07:21:00.000-07:00

We're building a bar! I've already told some of our friends and rightfully so, the news is almost as significant as announcing that you're having a baby. Well, maybe not that important but it's up there. With those baby years behind us and the kids are more able to run around and be kids with a lot less supervision, my wife are actually getting our social life back. The days of bars and clubs are also behind us but we've discovered another stage of adulthood that isn't too well documented. It's when grade school parents start having get togethers. The kids play together while the parents have a few cold ones and have some fun. And what better way to have some fun than to hang out by the pool at my outdoor patio bar.

What set this off was charity dinner for our grade school. With a few raffle tickets in hand, I surveyed the room full of prizes and decided that the BeerTender Home Beer-Tap System was what I wanted. You know it's one of those taps that you put a mini Heinken keg into. I dunked my raffle ticket into my dirty martini to make it feel different than the rest of the tickets in the basket (I've heard that this works pretty well but never tried it before) and hoped for the best. I almost fell out of my chair when they called our name as the winner.

A friend of ours has a great indoor bar. It's got the mirrors, the glass racks the sink, the fridge, really it's a full-scale home bar with all the fixings. It makes for an awesome party and gives everyone a place to hang out besides the kitchen. We've got some other friends who I hear have great outdoor patio bars but I haven't seen any of them yet. I just decided that it's time for a nice outdoor bar in my backyard.

When I saw this outdoor kitchen project in my Lowes Weekend Project email, I knew that I found my home bar. I don't have the cash on hand to hire workers to build it for me so I'll have to do with a handyman special. With a few changes to the Lowes project like doubling the length of it to 10 feet and making it a little taller so that we can buy taller bar stools, we'd be set. Really this design is for an outdoor kitchen counter but I can easily modify it into a bar. Things like running water and electricity will have to wait for another year. Unfortunately, I’m not made of money.

Right now I'm working on two matching coffee tables to share the pool deck with the bar (and also gaining some valuable building experience in the process) but the construction on my custom outdoor patio bar should begin soon.

Metrokane Bullet Cocktail Shaker

2009-08-19T05:36:00.000-07:00

An important tool that should be in every home mixologist's bar is a cocktail shaker. But just because everyone has one doesn't mean there isn't any room for individuality. In fact there are lots of different cocktail shaker styles to match your decor, your mood or your personality. One of my favorites is the Metrokane Bullet Cocktail Shaker

When I shop for a cocktail shaker the first thing I look for is practicality. Does the shaker drip all over the place when I pour a drink? Is it easy to clean and reuse quickly? The answer for the Metrokane Bullet shaker is yes on both counts.

Now once I know that the cocktail will do the job that I'm buying it for, then it's time for some style. The Metrokane Bullet Cocktail Shaker is made from stainless steel and looks looks just like a big shiny silver bullet. Unless you're a werewolf, you'll think this is the coolest looking shaker around.

It also holds 28 ounces and that's enough for lots of drinks. It's perfect for when a bunch of your guests ask you for a martini. Just load it up, give it a nice shake and start pouring.

Picking out a cocktail shaker for your home bar says a lot about the type of mixologist that you are. And if sleek design and smooth lines appeal to you, then you really should check out a Metrokane Bullet Cocktail Shaker.

Ice Mold Shot Glasses

2009-08-17T17:01:00.000-07:00

Here's a fun way to get people talking about your next cocktail party. Ice Mold Shot Glasses.

Now how many times have you said to yourself, I wish I had shot glasses that were made out of ice? If the answer is zero then you're parties must be pretty dull. These molds are made by my favorite novelty company, Fred. They're made from food grade silicon and that also makes them easy to peal the shot glasses out of the mold.

Don't ever buy any hard plastic ice molds because you'll have to crack them to get the ice out. And when you're going to use the ice as a drinking container, that's not a good idea.

And not old can you make Ice Mold Shot Glasses from regular water but you can also freeze juice or other liquids. How about a shot of vodka in an frozen orange juice shooter glass? It's a screwdriver for the new millennium.

I even know of people who are using a double boiler to melt hard candies down into liquids and then using these molds to make candy shot glasses. A peppermint schnapps in a frozen candy cane shot glass sounds perfect for the holidays. You are only limited by your imagination.

At well under $10 for a set of four ice molds, this is one novelty item that won't break the bank. Even if you buy two or three for a total of eight or twelve molds, you won't be sorry. You really can't have too many Ice Mold Shot Glasses.

New Bacardi Mojito Commercial

2009-07-06T08:34:00.000-07:00

Hmmm, since I posted the Bacardi Mojito Ad video the other day it has come to my attention that there's a new commercial now.

It's pretty good but I think I still like the old commercial better. The beat of the music with and the muddling of the drinks just seems a lot cooler to me than this feel good video.

Bacardi Mojito Commercial

2009-07-04T08:24:00.000-07:00

It's summertime and that means that it's mojito time. Now if this Bacardi video doesn't make you want a mojito then you had better check your pulse.

Just one comment about the bartender. The poor guy has to sit there and muddle all of those mint leaves to make mojitos for everyone and that just doesn't seem fair to me. Give the guy a break and order a beer every once in a while.

Bombay Sapphire Ginger Mint

2008-11-30T16:41:00.000-08:00

You know I've had a bottle of Bombay Sapphire in the house for a long time and never had to urge to open it, until now. I think it was a gift that someone brought over at some point. But now that I've found the Bombay Sapphire YouTube Channel, I think I'll be cracking that bottle open.

Here's a really simple drink that sounds tasty. A Bombay Sapphire Ginger Mint. You start with some mint leaves in the bottom of your glass, then pour in 1 part Bombay Sapphire and 2 parts ginger ale. Nice and easy. I like this because not every drink that you make needs to involve a blender or 9 different ingredients.

Molecular Mixology

2008-09-08T12:38:00.000-07:00

Molecular Mixology is getting a lot of press lately but what exactly is it? Well the very simple explanation is that it's a lot like Jello shots. It's about changing the density and viscosity of drinks.

Lots of people are using liquid nitrogen to freeze alcohol while others are adding proteins, like eggs to the mix in order to get these drinks to gel.

What do you think? Is it just a fad or is the future going to be full of vodka Popsicles.

Smirnoff Vodka Commercial

2008-09-07T14:56:00.000-07:00

This commercial is pretty cool. And it makes it's point. Smirnoff is extraordinarily purified, filtered ten times and triple distilled.

Mojito Video

2008-08-11T07:12:00.000-07:00

Here's another Playmate Mixologist video where a Playboy Playmate shows you how to make a drink. This time the drink is the Mojito.

Playmate Mixologist

2008-08-09T06:58:00.000-07:00

Have you seen these Playboy videos yet? No, I'm not talking about the naked ones. Apparently they have a YouTube channel where the have playmates doing regular things on video. One of those regular things is making drinks.

Now how are regular people who make mixology videos ever going to get any views at all. If someone does find your video on How to Make A Margarita, the first thing they'll see is the Playboy Playmate in the related video section. Bye, bye, that viewer is gone.

It's not really fair but Playboy is pretty smart doing it.

Tiki Bar Outtakes

2008-07-28T22:03:00.000-07:00

Tikibar has just posted their latest podcast and it's a good one. Probably not a great episode to start out with if you're not familiar with the Tikibar podcast because it's nothing but bloopers. Lot's of laughing, cursing and spit takes. Good stuff.

Sex And The City Cocktails

2008-05-28T21:33:00.001-07:00

You may have heard that The Sex and The City movie is opening up this weekend but did you know that Skyy Vodka has created drinks named after the stars of the film?

In the TV Show Carrie Bradshaw almost single handedly made the Cosmopolitan the must have cocktail for women in bars. So I guess Skyy is hoping that it happens again with "The New Cosmo". There's a drink for each of the Sex and the City ladies plus one for Mr. Big as well.

Mojito of the Future

2008-05-02T14:27:00.000-07:00

This is pretty wild. These molecular mixologists are lucky. Can you imagine having a job where you just mess around with science and make cocktails all day long. Sounds awesome.

In this video, they actually freeze mint and lime water with liquid nitrogen to later be added to the Mojito of the Future. Interesting stuff but I guess in the future, drinks are really small because he serves it in a tall shot glass.

Mojito Recipe

2008-03-14T06:59:00.000-07:00

Here's another video that shows you how to make a Mojito. Slightly different than the Bacardi Mojito Recipe but he still uses Bacardi.

The key to a good Mojito is to always use the freshest ingredients. Fresh mint, fresh lime make all the difference.

Margarita Machines

2008-03-13T18:23:00.000-07:00

Have you seen these Margarita Machines for home use yet? Usually they're way too much money to even consider buying one but it seems that they've come down in price lately. You can get this Helman Group 1 Gallon Margarita Machine for about $100 on Amazon.

$100 is a magic price point for most people and that means that you may be seeing a lot more Margarita Machines at parties this summer. I know I'll have one somewhere near my pool. It'll give me a chance to perfect my best margarita recipe.

Now I just need a 100 foot extension cord.

P. Diddy and Ciroc

2008-03-12T00:35:00.000-07:00

Find more videos like this on www.truveo.com.

So what is the deal between Sean "P. Diddy" Combs and Ciroc Vodka all about? You'd think it was another celebrity endorsement but it appears to be much more. Apparently Diddy is doing some marketing for Ciroc as well.

Besides the usual marketing videos that you see all over YouTube and other video sharing sites lately, he's also trying out shareable widgets. The hope is that people will put these widgets all over their MySpace and Facebook pages or their blogs and spread the word about Ciroc Vodka.

I would have added one to this blog post as an example but I can't seem to find one. Doesn't look like many people are sharing them yet.

TRU Organic Vodka

2008-03-11T00:05:00.000-07:00

Organic alcohol seems to be all the rage lately. TRU Vodka was recently launched by Modern Spirits as "the first line of certified organic vodkas made from American wheat".

Now they aren't the first green vodka, but it's the first completely organic, American-Made Organic Vodka. You don't see being American Made used in marketing campaigns much anymore but in the very international alcohol and spirits industry, this might be a good thing for green products. Think of all the airplane fuel saved because this vodka didn't have to be shipped overseas. Sort of like saying, drink locally, act globally.

So what is organic vodka? Well in TRU's case it means they raise their crops without the use of harsh chemicals like pesticides. They also used recycled glass for their bottles and the company even plants a tree for every bottle sold.

I haven't seen it yet at any of my local liquor stores but I'll keep an eye out for it so I can do a taste test.

Smirnoff's New Flavors

2008-03-09T09:15:00.000-07:00

Looks like Smirnoff has added two new flavored vodkas to their lineup. The new flavors are Passion Fruit and White Grape.

Add those to their existing flavors, Black Cherry, Blueberry, Citrus, Cranberry, Green Apple, Lime, Orange, Raspberry, Strawberry, Vanilla and Watermelon, and you've got some serious options for martinis and other vodka based cocktails.

Cool Swizzle Sticks

2008-03-06T03:53:00.000-08:00

Sometimes making a memorable drink isn't about the ingredients, sometimes it's about the presentation. And these are all about the presentation.

These Ice Kabob Swizzle Sticks come with a silicon ice mold to surround the stick with ice. So when you use them, you'll not only stir your drink but chill it at the same time. Each mold will hold 3 sticks so if you're having a party you'll need a bunch of them.

A product like this is more my speed. My last ice experiment didn't go too well and this seems fool proof. You want fancy ice around your swizzle stick, fill it with water and freeze it. I can handle that.

Mojito Recipe

2008-02-13T20:09:00.000-08:00

Buying Mojito Mixer at the supermarket was a great way to get introduced to the minty mojito but I'm ready for something that tastes more fresh.

I plan on growing a large amount of mint in my garden this year and I'm going to pick up a good muddler too.

Then after that, all I'll need is a good recipe. The Bacardi Mojito recipe below is the first one that I've seen and it looks good.

Something To Think About

2007-12-23T08:08:00.000-08:00

Now I don't want to sound like an alarmist but I just saw this video on how bartenders can cheat you and it makes me glad that I made most of my drinks at home.

Holiday Cocktails With Espresso

2007-12-23T07:33:00.000-08:00

Are the holidays tiring you out? Do you feel like one more glass of your Aunt Suzy's Holiday Punch will just put you right to sleep. Looking for a cocktail that will get you more in the holiday spirit? Well look no further, a cocktail made with espresso is what you're looking for.

Epicurious has posted a great collection of
Espresso Based Cocktail Recipes by Master barista Giorgios Milos.

The coffee mojito looks especially delicious. Why not give a few of these a try this holiday season.

Holiday Cocktail Recipes

2007-12-02T07:47:00.000-08:00

December is here and if the only drink that you're thinking about is the milk that goes with Santa's cookies, then you're missing out. Why just browse any newspaper or magazine this month and you'll find tons of great holiday cocktail recipes.

For example, check out this article from the OttawaCitizen about holiday cocktail parties. The article includes some fancy recipes for The Salty Poodle, Bonita Blossom, Vanilla Margarita, The Renaissance, Sex on the Beach, Champagne Cocktails as well as the old stand-bys, Martini, Manhattan, Cosmopolitans and Margaritas.

iVillage has posted their Top 20 Cocktails for the Holiday Season and it's a good list. Nothing too fancy in the list but I'm sure it includes some of your favorites.

And here's some good information about getting your bar stocked up for you holiday party and it even includes a recipe for something called The Blue Pompom.

So sit back relax and read all about how to make great drinks at your next holiday cocktail party.

Captain Morgan Rum

2007-10-25T16:46:00.000-07:00

Captain Your Halloween

The makers of Captain Morgan Rum are running a Freak of the Week contest on their website. It's really easy to enter, all you have to do is sign up and upload a picture of your Halloween costume. You can win $100 so go try on your Halloween costume a week early, take some pictures and upload a freaky one right away.

I browsed through the photos and I don't know why more people aren't holding their leg up like the Captain. You'd think that would be a no brainer.

And come to think of it, I'd probably rather the prize to be some Captain Morgan Rum but I guess you could just buy a few bottles with the $100.