Bourbon Balls … the Derby Day treat you’ll want as leftovers! …Read More

Happy Cinco de Mayo! Here’s a quick and easy guide to everything you need to know to have a tasty holiday, Drink of the Week style. Enjoy!

Not exactly sure what you’re celebrating? Here’s a brief primer on Cinco de Mayo.
 
Margaritas are an essential part of the party. Here’s a classic Margarita recipe, plus a few variations.
 
Try these twists: Arizona Margarita made with prickly pear, Piña Perfection Margarita with pineapple juice and Blood … Read more

Chocolate-covered strawberries are the perfect romantic treat for Valentine’s Day. They pair well with Champagne and sparkling wine. They look pretty on the plate. However, they are actually inexpensive and easy to make.

When pairing this with champagne, you can’t go wrong. But if you’re looking for a nuanced pairing, keep in mind that you want the Champagne or sparkling wine to be as sweet as the chocolate. “Brut” has the least sugar, which would … Read more

Party season’s over, it’s time to re-stock

By Chris Koch

This article originally appeared in TheSpir.it

It’s not your fault, you tried very hard: armfuls of Charles Shaw, a case of Cava from World Market, a few bottles of the Captain for your party’s signature cocktail. Just 24 hours ago you felt well stocked, defended, a discount beverage moat dug deep around your liquor cabinet. It just simply wasn’t enough.

The marauders are gone now. … Read more

If you’re ringing in the coming year at home with a few friends, here are some cocktail and appetizer recipes to help you start the New Year right.

Champagne Cocktails

The original Champagne Cocktail
Shrinking Violet Champagne Cocktail
Godiva Royale
New Year’s Swanky Toast
Sparkling Rye Cocktail

Appetizers

Gorgonzola Bites
Pico de Gallo
Bruschetta
Shrimp Cocktail
Spanish Albondigas
Champagne-Mushroom Crostini with Chevre

Photo by D Sharon Pruitt.

There are a few basic rules to follow when tending bar. However, though basic these rules must not be compromised, Ever!

Premium Liquor
ALWAYS USE PREMIUM SPIRITS. It is impossible to stress the importance of using premium liquor when mixing drinks.
Ice
Your drink can only be as good as the ingredients that you use. Make fresh ice or buy fresh ice. Don’t use ice that has been sitting in your freezer for the past … Read more

Memorial Day celebrates those who have served our country, so please take a moment and raise a glass. The long weekend also marks the beginning of the summer holiday season. We’ve collected a few fun cocktail, food and history related links to help you get your summer season started right.

10 Things to Remember about Memorial Day
AmazingRibs.com Craig “Meathead” Goldwyn is the Oracle of the grill. This site is about more than just ribs, … Read more

This recipe for Spanish-style meatballs packs a lot of flavor into a very small package. They’re perfect for cocktail parties. Tapas, small plates, hors d’oeuvres… whatever you want to call them, appetizers are my favorite kind of food! You can use the ground meat of your choice, but I recommend mixing lamb and beef for a rich, exotic flavor.

Ingredients

¼ lb ground lamb
½ lb ground beef
¾ cup dry bread crumbs
1 egg
… Read more

Keeping a big bowl of punch chilled can be tricky. You don’t want to use standard ice cubes, because they will melt fairly quickly and water down your punch.

The best way to keep your punch cold is with a large block of ice. A pretty way to do this is to make an ice ring filled with fruit or other garnishes. Here’s how:

Find a large bundt cake pan or other large, metal form … Read more

This appetizer will lend an air of sophistication to your cocktail party, even though it is super easy to make. Anything with this many foreign words in it has to be good, right?

I was inspired to create this recipe because I had a little bit of leftover champagne that was about to go flat. But you could easily use a dry white wine instead if you didn’t have any bubbly on hand.

For mushrooms, … Read more