Starry Night

1/2 oz. Goldschlager
1/2 oz. Jagermeister

The beauty in Vincent van Gogh's 1889 masterpiece lay in the tranquility that can be found in it's chaotic strokes and uncertain landscape. There is a juxtaposition of darkness and light, the chaotic and the serene, and it all stands symbolic of the artist's internal strife at the time of its creation.

The beauty of the shot to which the painting lends its name is in its finish. Not the delicate, aromatic linger left dancing upon your tongue as you lower your glass, or the subtle impression it leaves on your palate, but rather when it's actually finished. And you get to be done drinking it. And you can move on and drink something that tastes good.

Because this shot is really bad.

Like, stupid bad. I wouldn't drink it with your mouth.

Sadly, for impressionists and adventurous drink-seekers alike, there remains one universal truth. For every Starry Night, there's dozens more canvases adorned with felted tables surrounded by dogs with poker hands. This shot would most certainly find itself in the latter category, if Dogs Playing Poker tasted like Robitussin.

Until next time...

Absinthe Curacao Frappe

Since the last entry was so amazing (many thanks to the Absinthe) I decided to have another Absinthe update.

This is a slightly more complicated drink and as you start having them, I'm certain your ability to make them will gradually decrease.

To make an Absinthe Curacao Frappe you will need the following:

1 oz Absinthe (Deva)
1/2 oz Blue Curacao
1 tsp Lemon juice
2 tsp Orange juice
1 slice Orange

Stir ingredients and pour over crushed ice in a deep-saucer champagne glass. Add orange slice.

Sounds easy right? Try carefully pouring the Lemon and Orange Juice after a few of these and then tell me how easy this is to make!

Since Absinthe is a primary ingredient in this it's going to be strong so be careful.

When mixed correctly it should have a bright Blue color to it. To make a larger drink simply use less ice and double the quantities.

Enjoy!

Absinthe Minded Martini

This drink recipe is one of my favorites because it incorporates 2 of my favorite things in a drink: Absinthe and a fun to say name.

Seeing as how Absinthe was just recently (within the last year) re-legalized in the U.S. I found it only fitting to find a delicious recipe.

To make an Absinthe Minded Martini you will need the following:

3 oz Gin
1/2 oz Absinthe

1/2 oz Grand Marnier
Dry Vermouth
1 Orange peel

Properly chill 1 cocktail glass. In mixing glass with ice, pour Gin and Absinthe, and stir. In your cocktail glass, roll 1/2 oz of Dry Vermouth and throw away the excess. Strain other ingredients into cocktail glass and float 1/2 oz of Grand Marnier over top. Garnish with orange peel.

Be warned, as with all Martinis this is a pretty strong drink, Absinthe is known for its potency so drink at your own risk.

Bellini

This is a classic Italian drink traditionally served at celebrations and is one if Italy's most popular cocktails.

To make a Bellini you will need:

Sparkling wine (traditionally Prosecco)

Fruit puree

Most commonly this is served with Peach puree but it had also been seen made with Strawberry, Raspberry etc.

Simply mix the 2 ingredients together in a champagne flute and enjoy! For stronger cocktails simply use more champagne and less fruit puree!

Purple Motherfucker

I found this drink last night at a bar my friends bad was playing at...

This is a drink you should try if your not looking for that super strong killer drink, even though this drink is no weakling, imagine Gatorade with a kick.

Ingredients

1 part vodka
1 part Blue Curacao liqueur
1 part blueberry schnapps
Cranberry juice

Mix vodka, blue curacao, and blueberry schnapps in a mixing glass. Add cranberry juice until purple. Pour into shot glass, and serve.

The only hardware you need for this drink is a mixing glass and some shot glasses.

Bloody Mary

Keeping in tradition of the hangover drinks; today's drink is the ultimate cure for the early morning blues. The classic Bloody Mary is a delicious blending of tomato juice, Vodka and seasoning.

To make a Bloody Mary you will need:

1.5 oz Smirnoff® vodka

3 oz Bloody Mary mix

1 celery

1 pinch peppers

1 pinch salt

Fill a highball glass with ice and pour in the Vodka and Bloody Mary mix - stir well. Garnish with salt, pepper and a stick of celery. This should have a bit of a bite to it when you drink it however the small amounts of Vodka will help your headache disappear while the tomato juice and celery will help settle your stomach.

Enjoy!

Mimosa

When it comes to 'after-morning' drinks the Mimosa ranks very high on my list. This is a cool and crisp drink that marries the delicious taste of Orange Juice with the much needed infusion of alcohol to take away the hangover headache.

Making a Mimosa is simple, which is lucky since being hungover can cripple most morning activities. You will need:

Sparkling Wine

Orange Juice

Mix 2 parts Orange Juice with 1 part Sparkling Wine. Since this is an 'after-morning' drink who am I to tell you how much of each. Simply stick to the 1 part vs 2 parts rule and you'll be set!

To add a touch of class (if being enjoyed later in the morning or early evening) you can garnish with Orange slices and a sprig of Mint.

Champagne Blitz

This is one of the classiest drinks I've ever seen. If you're having a fancy cocktail party or you're just trying to impress that special lady (or man as the case may be) this is the drink for you.

Its a cool and crisp blending of two fantastic flavors: Creme de Menthe and Champagne. Now the type of Champagne that you use is entirely up to you but for a crisp and upbeat drink go with something light and bubbly - definitely not a Brut.

To make a Champagne Blitz you need:

4 oz Champagne
3/4 oz Creme de Menthe

Pour both ingredients into a Champagne flute and stir together. If done correctly it should have a beautiful light green color.

This bubbling mint flavored drink is the perfect addition to any sophisticated social gathering.

Green Beer

Today being St. Patrick's Day a.k.a. the only holiday where its not only OK but encouraged for everyone to get drunk I decided to go with the standard classic. Nothing fancy or frilly; just a good-old manly drink: Green Beer.

Personally, I go with Miller Lite but any old beer will suffice. To create Green Beer you will need:

Lots of beer

Green food coloring

To go along with the ingredients it is encouraged that you also have an awesome pitcher to make it all in. Something about serving beer out of a pitcher adds a touch of class to any event. To properly enjoy Green Beer it should also be consumed out of Pilsner glasses to continue that classy look.

Simply add 5 drops of green food coloring to the bottom of the pitcher and fill with 5 beers. Drink and repeat as necessary or until you can't feel your face anymore.

Also, here's a look back at all of the green drinks we've featured so far:

Appletini

Jagermeister

Dirty Girl Scout

Superman Shot

Blueberry Bomb

This shot is pure awesome-ness. The Blueberry bomb is deceptively smooth but will definitely get the job done.

The strength of the shot is entirely in the hands of its pour er so take caution the first few times you try this drink, we suggest the following for beginners:

1 1/2 oz Blueberry Stoli
1 1/2 oz Green Apple Pucker
Redbull

Pour the Stoli and Pucker into a glass and fill with Redbull. How simple is that?! Unfortunately despite the presence of Green Apple Pucker the end product looks suspiciously like a cup of pee. Which, to be honest was something I had a hard time getting over.

However, once you get past its initial appearance you will find this drink to be amazing. Both in its ease of creation and how fast you can put them away. Not too sweet not too strong this should be a staple in everyone's pre-party recipe book.

For those of you drinkers who are looking for a little more love in their shots try doubling the liquor amounts. The Redbull will still cover most of the bite from the Vodka.

Also, if this drink gets too boring for you try mixing it up and drinking it like a true 'Bomb'.

To do this you remove the Green Apple Pucker from the mix and just have a shot of Blueberry Stoli and a glass half full with Redbull. As all bombs go, drop in and chug!

Deliciousness

This was a recent creation from my last trip to Alma, MI. This is a simple yet amazingly delicious drink; hence the name.

To create Deliciousness you will need:

3oz. Plum Vodka
Pepsi

Pour 3oz Plum Vodka into a tall glass and then fill with Pepsi; to add some class garnish with a Maraschino cherry or an Orange slice. If its mixed correctly it should taste slightly fruity; phantom flavors of Cherries and Cranberries pop despite the Plum flavoring.

Caution: despite its light fruity flavor this drink packs a punch, keep in mind each one of these has 3oz of Vodka so after 2 or 3 you should get up and walk around to make sure you still have that ability.

Warm Apple Pie Shot

This sounds like a girly drink and while it may not be quite as strong as some of the other shots that we've featured on here but this still deserves our respect. Like many of our favorite drinks this one was started as a shot in the dark.

To make a Warm Apple Pie Shot you will need the following:

1/2 oz vodka

1/4 oz DeKuyper® Sour Apple Pucker schnapps

1/4 oz Goldschlager® cinnamon schnapps

1/2 oz whipped cream

Now I don't normally endorse shots that are topped with whipped cream for the simple fact that it's usually a pain in the ass to drink. In saying that, I ordered this shot without the whipped cream on it last time I had it.

The whipped cream doesn't add much to the flavor except some sweetness to cover the taste of the liquor. I prefer it without.

Either way, this is an amazingly smooth and delicious shot to take; whether you like the whipped cream or not.

Washington Apple

This drink gets its name from it's flavor. It tastes just like an apple. Be warned just because it has a fruity name does not mean this drink lacks any punch.

To make a Washington Apple you need:

1/2 oz. Crown Royal

1/2 oz. Sour Apple Pucker

1 splash Cranberry Juice

Add Crown Royal and Sour Apple Pucker into a shot glass and then add a splash of cranberry juice.

Listen up guys, this is a drink that you and your lady can enjoy together. She will love It and love you after a few of these.

The Kane Martini

If you're looking for a fun martini to try next time you're hosting a party and you want to show off your drinkology skills look no further...The Kane Martini is a perfect blend of cutting edge flavors, taste and class. This is not only delicious it's very easy to make.

To make a Kane Martini you will need:

3 oz. Root Beer Vodka
1 1/2 oz. Vanilla Vodka
Splash of Vernor's

Mix both Vodkas in a shaker with ice and strain into a Martini glass; add a splash of Vernor's. If mixed correctly this should taste similar to a Root Beer Float.

To add a touch of color and pizazz garnish with a maraschino cherry.

Bahama Mama

In the spirit of Spring arriving soon I suggest this beautiful and powerful drink; its the perfect drink for enjoying a beautiful spring or summer day.

To make a Bahama Mama you will need:

1/2 oz. Light Rum

1/2 oz. Gold Rum

1/2 oz. Dark Rum

1/2 oz. Coconut Liqueur(Malibu is good)

Mix together in a shaker with ice, strain and pour into glass. Fill 1/2 with orange juice and 1/2 with pineapple juice, top with a splash of grenadine

To add an extra bit of flare garnish a cherry, pineapple wedge or one of those itty bitty umbrellas.

You can also easily make this into a Margarita by blending all of the ingredients together with ice.

Rum Runner

I found this beast of a drink at Disney World of all ironic places. A nice lady bought one of these for me on my honeymoon just before I went on a safari. I don't really remember much of that safari...

To make a Rum Runner you will need:

1 1/2 oz Rum (White)

1/4 oz Banana Liqueur

1/4 oz Blackberry Brandy

1/2 teaspoon Grenadine

5 ounces Sweet & Sour Mix

Pour all of the ingredients into a shaker with ice, strain and pour into a Cocktail glass.

If you want to kick it up a notch (Bam!) after you pour into the Cocktail glass float a fine layer of Bacardi 151 on top. It adds just a little bit of punch right at the end. This can also be turned into a refreshing margarita by simply blending it up with ice and pouring into Margarita glasses.

This is a pretty strong drink but its also a really tasty one! If done correctly it should have a light Reddish tint to it.

This is a classy drink I wouldn't waste making at just any party.

Appletini

Yes this is a girly drink. BUT this is also a relatively strong girly drink! I would highly discourage any of our male readers from ordering this drink outside of the safety of their own homes.

To make an Appletini you will need:

1 1/2 oz Smirnoff® Green Apple Twist vodka

1 oz DeKuyper® Sour Apple Pucker schnapps

Pour all ingredients in a shaker with ice and strain into a Martini glass.

If done correctly this will have quite a bit of kick to it accompanied with the refreshing flavor of sour apple.

This comes with a warning however: Do not drink this on an empty stomach or in large quantities. This drink sneaks up on you very quickly. If you don't heed my warning you'll end up face down in a bowl of popcorn before the guests even arrive.

Tequila Gimlet

This has to be one of the simplest yet most delicious drinks ever conceived. The Tequila Gimlet is a beautiful blending of Tequila, lime and lemon. This is definitely not for the faint of heart.

To make a Tequila Gimlet you will need:

1 oz lemon juice

1/4 oz Rose's® lime juice

2 oz white tequila

To be fair however, any Tequila and lime juice will do. But if you have the money and the availability you should definitely go with the best. If you want a slightly stronger and simpler mixture you can simply mix 2 oz Tequila for every 1 oz lime juice.

If you are looking for a classy and sophisticated sipping drink for an evening on the town or a small party at your apartment I strongly suggest the classically cool: Tequila Gimlet.

Mind Eraser

This is a drink meant to do one thing, get you messed up and quick. That is why this is a great party drink. So if any of you guys out there are looking for some liquid courage here it is.

What you need to make a Mind Eraser:

2 oz Vodka

2 oz Kahlua

2 oz Tonic Water

Pour on the rocks and insert straw. Drink as fast as you can.

Although a real man will substitute Vodka with rubbing alcohol(but this is not recommended).

So if you at the bar or at a party this is a must have after a long week of work. This will really get the weekend started off right.

And remember always have a designated driver, that way you can drink a whole lot more....

Tom Collins

This is the classic 'Wedding Drink', which is actually where I came across this beautifully strong drink. Nothing helps a best-man get out on the dance floor like 13 Tom Collins!
To make a Tom Collins you'll need:

2 oz gin
1 oz lemon juice
1 tsp superfine sugar
3 oz club soda
1 maraschino cherry
1 slice orange

In a shaker combine the Gin, Lemon Juice and sugar with ice and shake well. Strain into a glass half full of ice. Pour in the club soda, stir and garnish with the cherry and orange slice.

This drink has a really smooth almost sweet initial taste followed by the crisp bite of Gin. This is definitely a sipping drink and should be enjoyed slowly.

Seeing as how the Wedding season is fastly upon us I strongly implore you all to try this drink at your next reception, I promise it will get you out on the dance floor and enjoy the night!

Goldschlager

OK this is not a mixed drink, it is a liquor. But it is a great liquor. You can mix it or drink it straight.

What you need:

1 bottle Goldschlager
1 glass per drinker

Simply pour into a glass and enjoy!

I know that most people don't enjoy drinking liquor straight because they can't handle the taste, but even a ten year old school girl could handle this one. At least the taste (it tastes like cinnamon candy) the punch however will take her down pretty quick.

An alternative to Goldschlager on the rocks is to combine it equally with hot apple cider to make 'Golder Apple Cider'.

This is definitely a must try that you will not regret.