With Tax Day upon us, we thought we’d keep it simple this week. Real easy. Just a shot and a beer. It’s a classic, for sure, designed to ease the pain of writing that check to Uncle Sam. Simply choose your spirit of choice (vodka, tequila, whiskey, fernet, Jägermiester or any of the many, many choices out there) and pair with your favorite beer. In bar lingo, they call this a “beer back.” Not sure … Read more

Almost no drink welcomes warm weather the way a good mojito does. It’s simple and refreshing! I mixed up some basil mojitos. An easy way to change up your cocktail is to substitute ingredients. By using basil instead of mint, we found a whole new drinking experience without much work.

Try it out with basil or any of your favorite herbs! You can learn more about substitutions and creating new cocktail recipes in our book, … Read more

To continue our celebration of spring and our new book, here’s a fun recipe from DIY Cocktails! This punch is like a big champagne cocktail for you and all your friends. The crisp lemon flavor and effervescence are the perfect way to keep celebrating spring!

I like to use Meyer lemons, which are a little sweeter than your typical lemon. For those who prefer less alcohol, you can reduce the amount of vodka or skip … Read more

This week’s drink just reminds us of summer. Created by the folks at Purfect Purée, this cocktail is made special by it’s base of “El Corazon, a combination of pomegranate, pasion fruit and blood orange.” Add some premium añejo tequila, calvados, Campari and wow—it is simply yum all around!… Read more

After all those green drinks, lets go red. The ladies at My Bueno Cookbook created this scary cocktail filled with fruity goodness. No goats were harmed in the making of this drink.… Read more

We’re gearing up for St. Patrick’s Day, so green drinks are theme of the day. Moon Mountain created this light refreshing cocktail as a classy alternative to traditional green beer. This one is easy to make at home and has plenty of green to keep you from getting a pinch.… Read more

Mardi Gras is next week and here’s a refreshing and light cocktail to get you ready for what lies ahead! The Pimm’s Cup was created in London by James Pimm in the 1840s but was adopted (and adapted) by the city of New Orleans! Here’s the Napoleon House version, which is now a New Orleans classic.

Pimm’s No. 1 is a tea-colored liqueur made with gin. Its said that the traditional version is made with … Read more

Winter comes back with vengeance, luckily we got this recipe created by mixologist Daniel Hyatt of Alembic in San Francisco. Sure, there’s no Irish Whiskey, but the 100 proof Laird’s Applejack gives it a nice kick. The combo of Baileys & Lairds really makes this a twist on the classic Irish Coffee. And it’ll warm ya right up!

Courtesy of Baileys Irish Cream.… Read more

Last week, the Federated Media crew made a pilgrimage to the Boothby Center for the Beverage Arts in San Francisco for a cocktail class lead by 2010 Bartender of the Year, H. Joseph Ehrmann.

H. started the class with a bit of cocktail history and overview of tools and technique, after which we got down to the business of mixing cocktails.

We were taught how to make 3 drinks: one stirred, one shaken and one … Read more

Created by mixologist Ryan Goodspeed of Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink in Miami, Florida, the Maker’s Heart is the perfect cocktail for your whiskey-drinking Valentine. This cocktail combines the spicy notes of Maker’s 46 with the sweetness of fresh berries and pomegranate juice. Throw is some vermouth and lemon juice and you’re all set. Not as traditional as a box of chocolates, but much more fun! More Valentine’s Day Cocktails.

Courtesy of Maker’s Mark.… Read more