Have you ever been at the bar watching a game, hanging with the guys, and enjoying yourself when in the background you can’t help but here THIS conversation:

Bartender: What’s it gonna be

Guy: You got any specials?

Bartender: [Insert various specials babbling]

Guy: Let me just get a sex on the beach…

[Insert record scratch]

You turn around and give this guy the look that lets him know his man card is officially revoked. I know I know… This is 2013 right? Times have changed, society is more accepting of all sorts of things, but I’m sorry, that doesn’t make THIS ok. We’ve accepted the fact that there are movies out there known as “chick flicks” and that no man should be caught watching them alone/with guy friends, so why can’t we establish the same theory to chick drinks or girly drinks. Call me old fashioned, call me shallow, but regardless of how your taste buds react to some combinations of liquids, sometimes you have to know when to hold them and when to fold them. Now I’ll be honest, there are always exceptions to the rule, and certain situations you just have prepare for. Are you out by yourself? Out with the guys? On a first date? Out with your wife? Maybe you’re on vacation where an umbrella in your drink and fruit in your beer is completely normal. All I’m saying is READ THE SIGNS. If your with the guys, there is no excuse…don’t order ANY of these for yourself, or any similar drinks. If your with your wife and you really like girly drinks, go ahead and let her order it. After all she probably knows you well enough to not judge. If it’s your first date and you order a girly drink in front of her, there most likely won’t be a second. Am I wrong ladies? Then there are those situations where you’re not ordering it for yourself, but in fact for your wife/date. In this case it’s completely fine, although depending on the surrounding you may need to prefix that drink order with “and she’s having the”. I don’t make the rules people, I just choose to enforce them.  So without further ado, here are the top 10 Drinks a Man should NEVER order:

10. Alcoholic Sodas: Mikes Lemonade/ Bacardi Silver/ Smirnoff Ice etc

• I use to think these were pretty cool until I found out what alcohol is suppose to taste like. Now they’re nothing more then hard sodas for your girl to drink at the beach, or to get a quick buzz before she goes out. Never been a fan of pre-made drinks,  and these just don’t taste very good (to me.). Tons of sugar, lots of carbonation, do yourself a favor and order a real drink.

9. Red Headed Slut [Shot]

• Say this one in your head before you think about ordering it. This one screams single girl, out with her friends, prepared to have a one night stand. If you see this one on the menu, or hear rumblings about how “good” it is, do yourself a favor and stay away.

8. Pina Colada:

• I’ll bet you are wondering if there are exceptions to this one? It’s pretty synonymous with tropical islands, paradise, and vacations so it may fall into the category of those situational drinks, but be prepared to explain yourselves to the fellas when those pictures pop up on Facebook. 

7. Strawberry Daiquiri:

• Years ago, the daiquiri was a serious mixed drink made famous by Ernest Hemmingway. Simple, tasty, and sophisticated. Perfectly normal for anyone to order. Now, try ordering one and your bartender throws a glass of frozen ice and artificial flavor in just about any flavor you can think up. I’ll pass, you should to.

6. Cosmopolitan

•  You know who orders Cosmos? Your wife when she goes out with her girls to gossip about you and your friends. 

5. Apple-Tini

•  Let this be clear, ordering a Martini is manly. James Bond helped make that happen. Ordering a flavored Martini, is you admitting your not man enough to have the original, and thus need to water it down with some fruity flavor. Way to go…

4. Lemon Drop

•  It can be a shooter or it can be a martini… In either form, ordering one of this is likely to make your girl dump you, or your bros ditch you. Don’t be that guy. If you’re a fan of lemon flavor, take a clean shot of vodka and then bite on a lemon wedge. Same satisfaction, no loss of masculinity.

3. Amaretto Sour

• Amaretto Sours are for female college freshman. It’s popularity is in the fact that girls can get a buzz from it without realizing it and thus, enjoy their drinking experience. It’s soft, and sweet, and delicate. Do you think you as a man should be drinking something that is described that way? I didn’t think so. Move on.

2. Fuzzy Navel

•  Peach schnapps, is something you got drunk on in high school when your parents thought you were at your buddies house and his parents thought he was at yours. Low on alcohol content, high on sugar, and even higher on femininity.

1. Sex on the Beach

• And then there was #1. Do we even need to get into with this one is a no no? Don’t be fooled by the name. If you order one of these, you’ll most likely never have sex with ANY of the women in the room on the beach, in your bed, or any other location for that matter. 

Oh and here’s another rule of thumb. If you can’t pronounce the drink, either A) don’t order it, or B) ask the bartender to pronounce it so you don’t butcher it and end up looking like a fool to either your friends, your date, or the bartender. Hopefully noone takes this list TOO seriously. It’s meant to have some fun, spark a conversation and get a few laughs. These aren’t carved in stone, but can be helpful to the guy that cares about his image. So next time your at the bar, heed this advice and you should be in good shape.

Cheers!

For more updates on the latest brand launches, cocktail recipes, and industry news, make sure to Like Us On Facebook, or Follow us On Twitter.

*The thoughts and opinions expressed in this article are not to offend or to be taken too seriously. 

photo credit: adactio via photopin cc

photo credit: ralph and jenny via photopin cc

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1. Corona Flip Flops W/ Bottle Opener – If you live near the beach, or better yet, if Dad is just at that stage of life where wearing sandals or flip flops is an every day thing, he might love you for one of these. Ever been in a rush to chug a beer and realized you don’t have a bottle opener? Never again! ($16.99)

2. HammerStone Whiskey Disks – One of the cooler inventions I’ve run into while out drinking is the Whiskey Disc. An alternative to chilling your whiskey without the hassle of drinking watered down whiskey. Pretty smart idea. There’s a few nice brands out there, but we’ve heard some good things about the quality of Hammerstone. Buy these for Dad and see if he finally lets you drink his good scotch with him. ($33.99)

3. Bombay Sapphire Limited Edition Gin Wheel – We don’t own one of these, but MAN are they cool. I’ll be honest, anyone that gets me one of this gets the rights to call me dad for the rest of their life. I might even put in something on the college fund. The folks over at Bombay Sapphire let me know about this beauty, and although it’s got a heavy price tag, Dad would be the envy of his man-crew if you put this in his man cave. Chefs have the lazy susan, and bartenders will have the gin wheel. Like I said, this one is limited and will sell only from July till December with pre-orders being taken currently.($500.00)

4. Stone Drink Dispenser – I bet when you were in college, you had one of those liquor bottle dispensers that held 1-5 bottles. So did I. And most likely so did your dad. Make him feel young again by getting him this sophisticated version made of stone. The dispenser says college, but the stone says graduate. ($125.00)

5. Mr. Beer At Home Brew Kit – Want to help dad impress his friends? Get him his own at home brewing kit so he can start making his on ale and brag about it. The interest in craft breweries are at an all time high right now and it’s because people want to try unique local beers that aren’t all black and white like the big brands. Doesn’t get much more local than in his basement. ($45.99)

Hopefully one of these last minute fathers day suggestions solves your problem. . If you’ve got any awesome suggestions you want to share with our fans feel free to send us an email or leave a comment below. Just because Fathers day is once a year doesn’t mean you can’t get him a cool gift on one of the other 364 days in the year.

Cheers!

For more updates on the latest brand launches, cocktail recipes, and industry news, make sure to Like Us On Facebook, or Follow us On Twitter.

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“Highlander Honey delivers fantastic notes of honey, but still retains the treasured characteristics of the original blend, which is renowned for its complex taste profile and its unparalleled smoothness”.

That’s what we like to hear. Highlander Honey is just the first of the new Highlander series, which expects to include a line of natural flavor infused whiskies. No spirit is left untouched, so as the market continues to expand in the flavored segment, so to does Dewar’s. Dewar’s Highlander Honey went nation wide in April, but may still be a bit slow to your favorite store so be sure to big the manager until he would rather order it for you than deal with you again. We haven’t got out hands on a bottle yet, but when we get a taste, we’ll let you know how it went.

Cheers,

For more updates on the latest brand launches, cocktail recipes, and industry news, make sure to Like Us On Facebook, or Follow us On Twitter.

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Vodka:

• Stoli Elit: My go to vodka is Stolichnaya. But if you’re looking for a nice step up go for the Elit. It’s triple-distilled and undergoes a unique freeze filtration process which brings its temperature down to -18 degrees Celsius (0 degrees Fahrenheit). As the liquid’s density increases, it becomes easier to identify and remove impurities. The result: great body and texture, and a distinctly clean aftertaste. ($59.99 / 750ML)

Scotch Whiskey:

• Dewar’s Signature: If you’re familiar with white label, you know its good, but we want GREAT for dad this year right? Each hand-numbered bottle of DEWAR’S Signature is an ultra-premium, exclusive offering, with Aberfeldy Single Malt at the heart blended with only the rarest of whiskies, some of which are a surprisingly young and vibrant age, and others exceptionally matured. By mingling younger whiskies with aged whiskies, DEWAR’S Signature culminates in an incomparably smooth Scotch whisky with notes of rich fruit and dark honey. ($199.99)

Rum:

• Myers Legend Dark Rum: Rums are a bit different. You can find some pretty awesome stuff at some pretty low prices. But if I had to find one to give as a gift, I think I’d go with the previously mentioned Myers Legend. The original Myers is an amazing dark rum, but isn’t really intended for sipping. Myers legend is smoother and warmer to the palate and less bitter. Send one of these Dad’s way and you might get put back in the will. ($47.99 / 750ML)

Canadian Whisky

• Carabou Crossing Canadian Whisky: Growing up in the Midwest, Canadian whisky was a big deal. Moving down south and it’s not quite as popular, but Crown is still king. Crown is good, but it’s more sweet than smooth and can be outdone. You can get dad one of the higher end Crowns, or you can spring for Carabou Crossing. It’s smooth with hints of vanilla, honey, and has a pretty sweet bottle to go on the mantle too. ($54.99 / 750ML)

Gin:

• Nolets Silver Dry Gin: There’s several goodies in the high end gin market. Bombay Sapphire, Tanqueray 10, but for me if you want to show daddy some love, grab him a bottle of Nolets. It’s got floral and fruity notes like peach and raspberry and makes an excellent martini. ($49.99 / 750ML)

Tequila:

• Herradura Anejo: If Dad is a tequila fan, first of call, kudos to him for still enjoying it in his old age. Tequila is often looked at as the young mans spirit because of the wild nights that usually are to follow. But go to Mexico and they sip it and drink it like many do Rum or Scotch, neat all by itself. That’s because they know the good stuff. Cuervo is for college kids looking to get trashed. Want to impress dad, grab him a bottle of Herradura. Rich texture, a nice herbal taste mixed with citrus and vanilla and a nice long finish makes this a winner. This ain’t for making margaritas. ($42.99 / 750ML)

Bourbon Whiskey:

• Booker Noe 7yr: Another favorite of mine. I owe my love of bourbon to a friend I worked with in my liquor clerk days. He upgraded me from the cheap stuff to eventually my love for Makers Mark. But when I want something even better I spring for Bookers. Aged 7 yrs, smooth as can be, and yet very powerful at a whopping 120 Proof. Yikes! This will put hair on dads chest in case genetics never could. ($57.99 / 750ML)

Honorable Mention: These aren’t knock you off you’re feet tasting spirits, but they are decent respectively and more importantly, are gimmicky that Dad might want to throw in the man cave.

• Crystal Head Vodka: We’re not the biggest fans of this Vodka for it’s taste, but we LOVE it’s awesome bottle design shaped like a skull, thus the name. It’s created by an Actor most of us grew up watching, Dan Akroyd, and those two reasons help to keep this one selling. If Dad likes a lot of mixed drinks this one is perfect, and for sipping its not to bad either, then again, we aren’t big on sipping vodka.

• Big Dick Dark Rum: This one might be best for a fathers day gift from mom… But we tried this dark rum while on vacation in the Bahamas  mostly because of it’s name as a gag gift and actually enjoyed it. Mixes well, but I wouldn’t recommend sipping it. So if Dad puts a little something extra in his coffee or lights mixed drinks AND wants an ego boost, this one is perfect. (C

So that’s all folks. If you were still stuck looking for last minute gifts for dad, I hope we helped out a bit. And if you don’t want to get one of these for him, you’re always welcome to splurge on yourself with one of these fine spirits.

Cheers!

For more updates on the latest brand launches, cocktail recipes, and industry news, make sure to Like Us On Facebook, or Follow us On Twitter.

In case you haven’t figured it out by now, we live in the South and in the South, iced tea is kind of a big deal. Sweet iced tea to be exact. And that’s perfectly fine from a transplant like myself because as a kid I LOVED Lipton sweet iced tea’s that had lemon in them. Little did I know that drink had a name, and was being drunken religiously south of the Mason-Dixon line. Fast forward several years and I drink half and half’s with most of my meals when I eat out, and I miss it when I travel up North. The first time I sat down in a restaurant back home in Chicago and asked for one and got a look of “what the hell is that” kind of gave me a rude awakening. So being the big fan of the beverage, you KNOW I have to celebrate it’s national holiday. June 10th is National Iced Tea Day so we’ve got a few cocktail recipes for you courtesy of FireFly, the brand that practically put sweet tea flavored vodka on the map. Now, sweet tea vodka is its own category with over 15 different brands taking up room on the shelf but these guys were one of the first to do it, and do it right.

The Fly Swatter:

• 1 part Firefly Peach Sweet Tea Vodka
• 1 part Amaretto Almond Liqueur
• 1 part sloe gin

Mix into tall glass over ice. Add a splash of O.J. and sweet and sour mix.

How’s your Summer going so far? Well if you’re a fan of beer and/or cocktails that use beer in them, your Summer might be getting a little bit better. Red Robin Gourmet Burgers has decided to step up their game in the bar scene and add two new seasonal cocktails, crafted exclusively for their chain to the menu. If you’ve ever been in a Red Robin, you know they aren’t your average casual dining restaurant. They take their burgers and their cocktails seriously. Going with the trends, we see continued growth in three areas:  mixology, the interest in beer cocktails, and of coarse what exploded years ago and continues to grow is the love of craft beers. Red Robin attacks each of these with these two new additions to the menu. Also, if you remember, we highlighted their awesome Beer Milkshakes last spring, so this is just a continuation of their unique menu options. Their two new “Can Crafted Cocktails” are unique combination of beer and spirits and are available in two styles:

Coors Light® Can-Crafted™ Cocktail – A mixture of Coors Light®, ginger liqueur and lemonade topped with fresh squeezed lemon

Blue Moon® Can-Crafted™ Cocktail – A refreshing combination of Blue Moon® Belgian White, SVEDKA® Clementine vodka, orange juice and fresh lime juice

Thirsty yet? What’s really unique about these can crafted cocktails is the container they are served in. Each cocktail is served in a reusable aluminum can. MillerCoors along with Red Robin spent the last year working to create a can that looked and felt like the real thing, but was sturdy and reusable. Pretty awesome right? If you’re a souvenir whore like myself, you can even purchase one of these cans to take home for an additional $5. And with the drink costing about the same, its not a bad deal for $10 total. You know you want to show up at your buddies bbq with one of these next time. If you don’t know where your nearest Red Robin is, I would suggest checking out www.redrobin.com.  Now go out and enjoy this Summer weather.

Cheers!

For more updates on the latest brand launches, cocktail recipes, and industry news, make sure to Like Us On Facebook, or Follow us On Twitter.

Photo Courtesy of Red Robin 

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Jelly Filled Dougnut

• 1 oz. 360 Glazed Donut
• 1 oz. 360 Red Raspberry

Shake with ice and strain into a shot glass, top with lemon lime soda.

Coffee & Doughnuts

• 1.5 oz. 360 Glazed Donut
• 2 oz. Coffee

Shake with ice and strain into a martini glass. Sugar rim (optional).

Cheers!

For more updates on the latest brand launches, cocktail recipes, and industry news, make sure to Like Us On Facebook, or Follow us On Twitter.

Recipes and photo courtesy of 360 Vodka. 

Last week, we mentioned that Malibu Rum, famous for its coconut rum had recently launched two new flavors; Malibu Sundae (Chocolate Ice Cream Flavored) and Malibu Swirl ( Strawberries and Cream). Little did we know that we would get our hands on a bottle so soon. Today we’re reviewing Malibu Sundae.

Malibu Sundae, along with its tag team partner Swirl, are Malibu’s first attempts at entering the confectionery spirits category. I’m sure by now you’ve seen them before; those indulgent flavored spirits like “cake vodka”, “red velvet liqueur”, “peach cobbler liqueur”, and “cookie dough vodka”. Walking down the aisle at the liquor store now looks more like walking through a neighborhood bakery. But that’s where the taste trend takes us. In the past, the confectionery spirits category has been dominated by vodka, and liqueur brands, but now it’s Malibu’s chance to take a stab at out. How does it stack up?

First Impression: Have to give them an “A” for effort on the bottle design. Its half the reason it I was so interested in trying it, and it caught my eye easily.  When I think of Summer I think things like beaches, rum, and ice cream. Malibu’s altering of their classic bottle with enticing imagery of chocolate, and waffle cones brings those images to mind perfectly. One thing I have to mention though, the name “sundae” to me brought images of a traditional ice cream sundae: Vanilla ice cream, with chocolate syrup, nuts, and other assorted topping. However, under the Sundae title on the bottle it clearly states “chocolate ice cream” as the designated flavor of this product. Why not just call it Malibu Chocolate? or Malibu Chocolate Ice Cream. A bit misleading, and at the same time we all know the name “Sundae” is slightly more fun to market. Anyway, once we finally popped this one open, any misconceptions about the flavor was thrown out the window. The aroma it gives off is very reminiscent of Hershey’s chocolate syrup; commonly used to make chocolate milk at home, or a classic ice cream sundae. Its a pretty rich smell, and for me personally, I don’t notice an alcohol aroma at all.

The Taste: Well, going into this I wasn’t sure what to expect. As with all products, we tried this one first on its own at room temperature and straight. I’ll be honest, it was  a bit overwhelming in chocolate flavor. And although it is infused with coconut rum, I get little to no taste of the coconut. I tried pouring it over ice, and there’s where it hits its stride. Served on the rocks, allowing the ice to melt slightly into Sundae actually mellows out the intense chocolate flavor and makes it taste pretty damn good. Its literally like eating a spoonful of chocolate ice cream, with a bite. It’s 21% in alcohol, which makes it perfect for easy sipping, and for me personally, it makes a great after dinner cocktail.

Price: $14.99 (750/ML, depending on location)

Final Thoughts: We were a bit skeptical at first on whether or not Malibu was positively contributing to the category or just shoveling poop in our driveway. In the end, Sundae is pretty sweet, tasty, and still has enough of a kick in it from the alcohol that you’ll get a buzz. We didn’t find much of a coconut flavor in this one as they suggest, but given the flavor choice, most consumers picking this up probably just want to see how closely it resembles chocolate ice cream anyway. At 41 proof, its about half as potent as most spirits, but right about the same as most flavored spirits. Although Malibu is usually a great beach buddy, this flavor screams after dinner or night cap, but we’ll let you be the judge. Be sure to try the Ice Cream Sundae recipe below, courtesy of Malibu.

Cheers!

Be sure to stay on the lookout for our review of Malibu Swirl coming soon. For more recipes of Malibu rum drinks be sure to visit them online at www.Maliburumdrinks.com For more updates on the latest brand launches, cocktail recipes, and industry news, make sure to Like Us On Facebook, or Follow us On Twitter.

Photo Courtesy of Malibu Rum

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Lake Tahoe Breeze

• 1.5 parts Red Stag by Jim Beam® Black Cherry
• 3 parts sweet and sour mix
• 1 part cranberry juice

Combine ingredients except cranberry juice in mixing tin, and shake vigorously without ice. Pour over ice in glass and top with cranberry juice. Garnish with a lemon wedge and serve.

Cheers!

For more updates on the latest brand launches, cocktail recipes, and industry news, make sure to Like Us On Facebook, or Follow us On Twitter.

Photo  and recipe Courtesy of Jim Beam

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WoodChuck Pink is the latest in their line of is private reserve labels and is unique not only in its taste, but in the fact that it supports a great cause. Maybe it’s bright pink packaging, and pink hue gave it away, and that’s that it promotes Breast Cancer Awareness. In addition to the visual support, portions of sales are donated to a Vermont based non-profit.

From Woodchuck.com:

“We want to help survivors meet that challenge. Woodchuck Pink was crafted to honor that effort. The Cidery’s donation supports Dragonheart’s Survivorship NOW mission which offers programs to help cancer survivors. 

“Woodchuck Hard Cider’s donation will help to keep the wellness programs of Survivor-ship NOW free to all cancer survivors in our Vermont community,” said Dragonheart Board Member Linda Dyer. “And, free for many survivors, is the difference of being able to participate in the classes or not.  It is another example of our Vermont community pulling together to help one another and we truly appreciate it.”

I’m a sucker for a good cause, so if it tastes good as well, that becomes an added bonus right? So what do we think of it?

Taste: As previously mentioned, it comes packaged in bright pink branding, that screams Breast Cancer Awareness. After opening it, a lightly crisp apple aroma hits the nose combined with a sweet subtly similar to a zinfandel wine, very floral.  Once we poured it, we noticed a pink hue which was a nice touch to the marketing, but also gives insight into what makes this private reserve differ than the others. It’s color comes from the use of Grape skin extract, and also lends in my opinion a flavor that reminds me of a soft red wine. It’s semi dry, light bodied, and at 5.5% alcohol its perfect for summer sipping.

Price: $9.99 – $12.99 (depending on location)

Overall: Another winner from the folks up in Vermont. Ciders are great alternatives to beer, and much like any other spirit, come in many seasonal flavors that compliment the weather you’re experiencing. In this case, Woodchuck Pink perfect on a hot summers day, and will make you feel good inside knowing a portion of the proceeds are lending a hand in the fight against Breast Cancer. Although a bit pricier than traditional ciders, including the core brands of Woodchuck, it is in line with other private labels, and well worth the price. For some additional fun with this cider, check out this recipe for Woodchuck Pink Apples with Honey Chevre Dip courtesy of PinkRibbonCooking.com

Cheers!

For more updates on the latest brand launches, cocktail recipes, and industry news, make sure to Like Us On Facebook, or Follow us On Twitter.