Along with 101 Halloween Cocktails and Punches we’ve assembled some handy links for your ghoulish enjoyment.

- From Serious Eats a Halloween recipe collection of Ghostly Goodies and Devilish Dinners.
- 10 Horror Films You Can Watch For Free Online This Halloween - Mashable.com
- Halloween Costumes 2009: 15 Funny Ideas
- For the coolest in pumpkin designs - ExtremePumpkins.com
- Our guide to Pumpkin Liqueurs
- Quick last minute costume ideas from Halloween.com
- A killer Halloween drinking game

Be safe, respect others, have fun!

Happy Halloween

Le Tourment Vert, the high flying Absinthe brand has updated their formula to mix even better in cocktails. The color is no longer a Listerine blue, which is comforting. It is now a pale green, as you can see above. The new formula reveals greater hints of anise and they removed the sugar. This was a good call, Le Tourment is now much smoother, highlighting the pleasant characteristics of anise & hints of citrus. The after-taste is clean on the palate without the sugary residue. Overall, the changes make Le Tourment a less harsh, more flavorful version of it’s predecessor.

Although, Le Tourment Vert is meant for cocktails, it is getting closer to being an Absinthe that can be enjoyed the traditional way with sugar and water.

Le Tourment Vert

Related articles

• The Green Crush
• Le Tourment Vert Absinthe Review
• Absinthe Takes to the Air

We had the pleasure to attended the recent Manhattan Cocktail Classic, held at the Astor Center. The day we spent was amazing, arriving around noon, I was immediately greeted be an amazing bar full of fresh ingredients and rare spirits.

I chatted for a bit an then headed into a session titled “Choosing the right glassware” lead by none other than Dale de Groff. If you don’t already know, Dale is a bartending legend and responsible for championing the cocktail revolution going on today. Mr. de Groff dazzled the crowd with an amazing collection of vintage barware, each with a different purpose. As he talked about the different glasses, Dale told us a history of their evolution. Then things got fun, we started making cocktails! Taking volunteers from the audience, we made 1/2 a dozen cocktails using a variety of glasses. Yours truly had the honor of making a Coffee Cocktail for the class. Think there is coffee in this one, guess again, this coffee cocktail is made from port, cognac, Simple syrup and an egg with a bit of nutmeg on top. Shaken well the egg gives it a bit of foam and the drink taste like, you guessed it, coffee. After several more cocktails were made the whole class was treated to Dale’s famous Irish Coffee.

Next, I was off to “The History of the Cocktail in New York City” with Professor Dave Wondrich. We were all taken back to the origin of the cocktail in the Hudson Valley and through it’s evolution in New York Cities greatest Hotels and Bars. From the famed City Hotel of the early 1800s to and all the way through prohibition, Professor Wondrich wove the tale of what was always the hotbed of cocktail innovation, NYC. We were also treated to some vintage cocktails to help us channel the past.

After a bit more schmoozing and cocktails at the Astor Center Bar (and a short nap), I was ready for the closing gala. It was held in the main hall of the New York Public Library on 5th Avenue. All I can say is WOW! This event did the room proud. Attended by over 1000 guests, the night featured a big band, great food and of course, cocktails poured by some of Americas best mixologists. James and Estaban from DonQ are pictured below mixing up a wonderfully fruity rum concoction.

This just being the preview, I can’t wait until the full event in May 14 -18, 2010.

Manhattan Cocktail Classic

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• A View of the Manhattan Cocktail Classic (offthepresses.blogspot.com)
• Manhattan Cocktail Classic (drinkoftheweek.com)

Decided what to be for Halloween yet? Maybe you should consider being a monster.

Captain Morgan is looking for the “Ultimate Monster.” Send a pic of you in your costume to Captain Morgan for a chance to win a trip to New Orleans for you and five friends–a prize package worth $18,000.

You can enter on the Captain Morgan Halloween site or send your photo via MMS to “CAPTIN” (or 227846).

Contest is open until November 2.
Contest Rules

Jack Daniel’s is now serving up some meat to go with that shot of whiskey.

Ready-made meals like baby back ribs, barbecue pulled pork and pork loin featuring Jack Daniel’s No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey are making their way to a grocery store near you.

The company has been making marinades, sauces and mustards for a while, so prepared food was the next move.

Sounds good … ribs anyone?

via Louisville Business Journal

You gotta love science sometimes.

A study of patients with severe brain injuries at trauma centers showed that the ones who had been drinking had a better survival rate than those who hadn’t.
Sure, it’s possible that the drinking contributed to the accidents that caused the brain trauma in the first place. But let’s not make assumptions.

If you’re so inclined, you can check out the study. But the title alone makes me want a drink: Positive Serum Ethanol Level and Mortality in Moderate to Severe Traumatic Brain Injury.

via Ars Technica

Maker’s Mark claims that the red wax seal used on Jose Cuervo Reserva de la Familia tequila is a trademark infringement–and it’s suing.

The bourbon company says that the wax coating atop the Cuervo product deliberately resembles the Maker’s Mark seal and is likely to cause confusion among consumers.

This is the second such suit, and some changes to the Cuervo seal were already made. Cuervo aims to get the suit dismissed.

What do you think? When you see red seal do you think Maker’s Mark? Is Cuervo with a red seal confusing to you?

Maker’s Mark: Seeing Red Over Wax Seal @Macon.com