But it’s the not the wine that got me thinking today… more, it was Blood Alley in Vancouver, where Salt is. There’s a history to Blood Alley that many don’t know, speculate about and spread erroneous thoughts about as well. It’s home to a lovely little cluster of drinking hot spots, including Salt, The Irish Heather (currently in 2.0 form, which is actually kind of unfortunate…it’s a lovely room, but the old jail and gallows it was housed in was much better) Shabeen, (also in it’s 2.0 form), The Blarney Stone and a few other pubs, all within a stone’s throw of Blood Alley.

I asked our waiter about the history around Blood Alley, and found out that there are a few different theories about the ominous name. I’d always thought that there had been a series of grisly Jack-The-Ripper-Style slayings in the area during the early days of Vancouver, and that the name was an historical call back to that. Turns out, my Stephen-King-fed imagination was a little off the mark.

The two schools of thought are that Gastown was essentially the center of Vancouver in the early 1900’s, and of course, the site of many of the city’s pubs. When the men came back from work on the Friday after being paid, their first stop on the way home were the pubs. Ruffians (yes, he actually used the word ‘ruffians’) gathered in this alley to jump, pummel and otherwise mug the working men coming in for a drink, knowing they had fistfulls of cash in their pockets.

The other school of thought is that this was the area of Vancouver’s first Civic Buildings (which would make some sense, given the fact that the original Irish Heather was housed in an old jail, and is on Gaoler’s Mews), and also, inexplicably, a butcher shop. At the end of the day, the butchers would dump their buckets of blood into the alley, letting it run through the cobblestones.  The public hangings were said to be here as well, which seems interesting and all, but the thing is, that a hanging doesn’t generally produce a lot of blood. As my dear friend Mr. Lady says, bygones.

So, despite the uncertain history of this site, there’s a ton of lovely places to drink around here. And, the Blood Alley street sign is one of the most often stolen street signs in Canada. Next time you visit Vancouver, this is definitely a spot to hit.

(Image source: CC Roland Tanglao and Sturmvogel on Flickr.)

Post from: EveryJoe

Blood Alley: Drinking in Gastown

Each mixologist made 3 different drinks, using a maximum of 5 ingredients in each. The winner from the Vancouver competition went to the North American Shake-off in Colorado Springs, and then overall winner from Colorado Spings gets to go to the 11th Annual International Finlandia Vodka Cup, which will be held at the Lainio Snow Village, above the Arctic Circle in Lapland.The Finlandia Vodka Cup arena, the “snow dome” is a construction of snow and ice, complete with a semi-circle ice bar. The pure Finnish nature provides amazing surruondings for the world’s best bartneders to show off their talents. I went to the summer Finlandia “Midnight Sun” event in the summer (where the sun didn’t set) and loved every minute of it. I’ll tell you about that soon.

And, you know, if I had the opportunity to go in February, I would, in a heartbeat!  I heard that Finland and Helsinki in the winter is gorgeous and dramatically and strikingly different than it is in the summer.

My favourite drink from each bartender had to be:

Colin MacDougall’s “long drink”

1 muddled peach (or 3 oz peach puree)
1 oz Finlandia Vodka
1 oz orgeat syrup
1 oz lemon juice
2 oz orange juice

Muddle all ingredients together, shake over ice and serve in a tall glass.

Trevor Kallies’ Cool Hand ‘Cuc’

2 oz Finlandia Vodka
1/2 kiwi, muddled
2″ peeled long English Cucumber
1 oz simple syrup
Ginger Beer

Muddle the kiwi & simple syrup, add vodka, shake over ice. Pour over ice, add ginger beer and garnish with cucumber.

Lori Poppe’s Marley Mule

1.5 oz sage infused Finlandia Vodka
.5 oz Benedictine
4 dashes peach bitters
3 oz fresh squeezed pink grapefruit juice
1 oz ginger beer

Put all but ginger beer into a shaker, over ice. Pour into a tall glass, over ice and top with ginger beer.

Brian Grant’s (Vancouver Finlandia Vodka Cup Champion) “LL” Lyman

2 oz Finlandia Lime Vodka
Good scoop of Lemon Sorbet
Healthy splash of champagne

Build drink in a martini glass, starting with the Vodka, add the lemon sorbet and then add the champagne on top.

Colin Turner’s Candy Striper

1 oz Finlandia Vodka
.5 oz Cinzani Ornacio
1/2 oz Compari
1/5 oz fresh pomegranate juice
Pomegranate seeds for garnish

Put all ingredients except for the pomegranate seeds into  a shaker, over ice. Pour into a martini glass and float seeds for garnish.

Ryan Cheverie’s Sami 75

1 oz Finlandia Mango
1/2 a pink grapefruit, juiced
1/2 oz ginger syrup
Dash of orange bitters
Top with sparkling wine

Combine all ingredients except sparkling wine in a shaker, over ice. Pour into your favourite glass and top with the sparkling wine.

(Images prodvided by Finlandia Vodka)

Post from: EveryJoe

Finlandia Vodka Cup

Want to find an easy, quick drink you can make and impress your friends, all at once? Try Lotus Vodka’s Merry Berry Cosmo:

The Merry Berry Cosmo

2 oz Lotus Vodka
1 oz Berry Liqueur (like Chambord)
1 oz Cranberry Juice
½ oz Grenadine
½ oz Simple Syrup

Shake all ingredients well with ice and strain over fresh ice in a tall glass.

Now sit back, slurp, sip and enjoy!

Post from: EveryJoe

Merry Berry Cosmo

Drinks After Dark’s exclusive cocktail Guru, Steve Kemble has created me something yummy and warm for the cold November nights.

To make:

1 oz 10 Cane Rum
Hot water
1 tbsp apple butter
1 cinnamon stick for garnish

Despite this looking easy, it’s a little tricky to put together. First, put the hot water (almost as much as you want for the drink) into a highball glass. Stir in the apple butter until it’s melted and mixed in. Add the rum and give it a stir with your cinnamon stick and serve.

I haven’t tried this one yet, but as it seems pretty easy to build, I’ll give it a shot. It’s a grown up version of hot apple cider!  I’d also add a dash of cinnamon syrup* to sweeten it up a touch.

*Cinnamon Syrup

• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 1c sugar
• 1c water

Bash the hell out of the cinnamon sticks until they look a bit coarser than ground coffee (1/8″ pieces). Use a mortar and pestle or rolling pin in a ziplock. Add everything to a saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cover and simmer for two minutes. Remove from the heat and let the mixture steep for 2 hours. Strain through a fine mesh strainer or cheese cloth. Bottle and keep in the refrigerator for a month or so. [source]

Post from: EveryJoe

Hot Apple Pie Cocktail

I know this is a day late, but Kaiser Penguin had the wrap up from last night’s mixology chat, and I’ve been meaning to tell you about it for ages now. What prompted me this time was the winning drink, a Cinnamon Basil Smash, which sounds delightful, and I can’t wait to try it. I’ve just got to go get some basil. And make the cinnamon syrup.

Cinammon Basil Smash

• 2oz gin
• 1/2oz lemon juice
• 3/4oz cinnamon syrup
• 4-6 decently sized basil leaves
• ginger beer, to top

Muddle basil with the cinnamon syrup and lemon juice. Fill with crushed ice, add the gin, give it a quick swizzle, and top with ginger beer.

Nick from The Iron Horse Hotel

This sounds amazing, and I’m already looking forward to next week when they’re featuring drinks made with Irish Whiskey

Post from: EveryJoe

Virtual Cocktail Chatter

You simply cannot throw a good Halloween party (or show up to one) without the following accessories:

Target has some fantastic cocktail shakers for your ghastly concoctions.

And, if you’ve got beer drinkers coming to your house, what better way to keep their personal brand of booze cold but in an inflatable skeleton cooler? This one’s definitely a must-have, and for only $20! Means it doesn’t matter if your buddy decides the best place for him to puke at the end of the night is into your skeleton’s lap, you could just toss the cooler.

Finally, what Halloween Party is complete without a good drinking game? Pick Your Poison, with a few additional, (fun) rules, could be just the thing:

Post from: EveryJoe

Last Minute Must Have Cocktail Accessories

While alcoholism affects many who live in poverty, there are equally as many of us who can not only have a drink or two and stop, but who can also afford it. And if you can afford it, it’s time to start giving back.

I’d like to give everyone who reads Drinks After Dark a challenge. Sometime, in the next two weeks, between October 15 and November 1, do something many can’t afford to do. Throw a cocktail party for your friends. Mention to your friends that you’re raising money for a microloan through Kiva.  Have everyone donate what they can – anywhere from a dollar to $20.

You can either donate it yourself to Kiva or you can let me know in the comments what you’re planning, what you’ve raised etc, and I’ll match your donation and add it to one of the projects b5media is supporting.

Either way, start thinking about it today, on Blog Action Day. And then do something.

(PS – Blogtoberfest winner will be announced tomorrow!)

Post from: EveryJoe

Cocktails for a Cause

There’s a new casino recently opened in  Uncasville, CT, and to commemorate it, they’ve teamed up with, who else but Tiffany & Co. to offer a new cocktail called Windfall.

The drink itself sounds innocuous enough, even though it’s a pour worth $550. A mixture of Krug Grand Cuvee Brut Champagne, Richard Hennessy Cognac, Grand Marnier Cuvee du Cent Cinquantenaire 150, Chamboard Raspberry Liquour, and pomegranate juice. Sounds a little over the top, but ok so far.

The garnish is what gets ya. Raspberries and blackberries float on top of the drink, and then have been topped with a Platinum Diamond and Pink Sapphire Celebration Band. That’s where the extra charge comes in!

The drink is served in a commemorative Tiffany & Co. crystal glass (you get to keep the glass! The hallmark of all the really class Vegas joints, and you know, McDonald’s.).

I know where I’m going when I want to celebrate something and get a free glass outta the deal. SCORE! (image source: Mohegan Sun’s Casino of the Wind).

This is a Blogtoberfest Sponsored Post. If you would like to enter for a chance to win the surprise gift behind this blog post, please leave a comment. Prize and Winner will be announced within a week. Check back to see if you’re the lucky winner and what you’ve won!

You also have lots of chances to win great Blogtoberfest prizes! Today, October 14, your chances (and prizes) are hiding at the following blogs:

• A Child Chosen
• Babylune
• Baking Delights
• Blog Fabulous
• Busy Family Meals
• Genbetween
• Jewelry & Beading
• Keeping the Castle
• Mother Earth’s Garden
• Play Library
• She Knows Parties
• Solomother
• Supernannyrules
• Unplugged Living

Visit them all and leave a comment – you may win even more!

Edited to Add: A winner has been chosen! Congratulations to Jane Hixon! Please continue to visit and comment on other posts. I’ve got a few more give aways coming up in the next few weeks!

Post from: EveryJoe

$6,200 Cocktail

All of those reasons might be lovely, but one of the best reasons to raise a pint to the Irish is that in 1759, young Arthur Guinness founded a brewery at St. James’s Gate, and crafted a hearty, distinctive stout.

Celebrate the 250th anniversary of that first delicious keg with our exclusive, once-in-a-lifetime gift. The folks at RiRa Pubs will design a fully functional, traditional Irish pub and build it in your home in 2009.

Crafted from historic Irish architectural elements and authentic Guinness artifacts, you also get fresh Guinness Stout for your pub for the entire year. You also get a VIP trip for two to Dublin with first class airfare, luxury accommodations, and insider access to the magic still being made at the historic working St. James’s Gate brewery. (All members of your party must be at least 21 years of age.) (image source: Uncrate)

Post from: EveryJoe

A Must Have for Guinness Lovers

(L to R): Master Distiller Fred Noe (great-grandson of Jim Beam), head of the Visitor’s Experience Project Jim Beam Noe (great-grandson of Jim Beam), Kentucky Tourism Secretary Marcheta Sparrow and Jeff Conder, VP for North American Operations for Beam Global Spirits & Wine.

The Jim Beam distillery is at the beginning of the “bourbon trail” in Kentucky, and has more than 80,000 visitors annually. The project will be complete in April 2011, and is expected to be able to accommodate approximately 200,000 visitors each year. As more and more people become interested in bourbon, there is more interest in how the spirit is created, and more and more are traveling the Bourbon Trail.

The Visitor’s Experience will include displays of newly discovered historical documents and images and the Welcome Center complex will highlight the history and heritage of Jim Beam.

“As the first stop from Louisville on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, we want to offer our visitors the best experience possible,” said Jim Beam Noe, great-grandson of Jim Beam.  “The Visitors’ Experience allows our guests to become a part of the Jim Beam family by taking an up-close and personal look at my family’s business in the bourbon industry.”

Crafted since 1795, Jim Beam prides itself on more than two centuries of quality and integrity, with a long lineage of family distillers and a lasting commitment to the classic recipe.  Jim Beam filled its 11 millionth barrel in February 2008, marking the first time the brand filled one million barrels in less than three years.

More than two-thirds of the bourbon made in Kentucky comes from Beam Global’s iconic bourbons. In addition to Jim Beam, The Small Batch Bourbon Collection comprises four ultra-premium bourbons: Knob Creek Bourbon, Booker’s Bourbon, Basil Hayden’s Bourbon and Baker’s Bourbon.

I’ve got a trip planned to Kentucky soon, and I’m really looking forward to seeing the Bourbon Trail for myself!

Post from: EveryJoe

Jim Beam Visitor’s Experience