By itself, Agwa is sweet and fresh tasting with a hint of something…citrus maybe? Or, maybe it tastes like cocaine since Agwa is the world’s only Coca Leaf Liqueur – I wouldn’t know since I’ve never tried cocaine but if you have and you try Agwa, let me know, OK? Just so you know, the leaves have been boiled down to remove the cocaine but awesome little alkaloids remain to give  you an energy buzz.

One of the best ways to drink Agwa is by making a Bolivian Kiss.

The simplicity of the drink is one thing that makes it so fabulous. Get yourself a wedge of lime, an ice cold shot of Agwa and then bite into your lime and shoot the Agwa. The lime messes with the pH of your mouth and makes the Agwa more potent.

The drink below is how I ended up drinking my bottle of Agwa de Bolivia.

I didn’t name this so name it what you will but it tastes like a tart margarita and packs a heck of a punch.

Ingredients:

• 45 ml Agwa de Bolivia
• 30 ml Ketel One Vodka
• 15 ml lime juice
• 15 ml simple syrup
• ice

Directions:

Add all of your ingredients to a shaker half filled with ice. Shake until your arms get tired.

Strain into your favorite glass – I used an Old Fashioned glass – and garnish with a wedge of lime.

And, in case you’ve forgotten how to make simple syrup, the ratio is 2 parts sugar to 1 part water. I used 1 cup sugar and 1/2 cup water. Heat the mixture until the sugar is dissolved and once it’s cool, store it in a squirt bottle in your fridge. The stuff will keep for just about forever.

Agwa de Bolivia is a strange, wonderful drink that everyone should try. Chances are good that your local liquor store isn’t going to have the green stuff but if you ask the person who does the purchasing, you might be able to get them to order you some.

Consider Agwa de Bolivia a Christmas present to yourself.

Post from: EveryJoe

Agwa de Bolivia

The alcohol has been sold down in South America since 1994 and in 2009 won the World Spirits Competition Gold Medal Award.

“It is so delicately balanced, no one fruit flavor dominates,” states Tina LoBosco, President of CMSC Spirits.  “What makes Love Potion #9® so unique is that it tastes different every time.  It’s an unpredictable and exciting spirit that brings out passion and romance when served straight up or added to classic cocktails, like a Mojito, Margarita, Piña Colada, Daiquiri, Martini, Cosmo, or Rum-and-Coke.  It can also be used as the base spirit for countless new and exciting cocktail recipes.”

It’s also suggested that you can use it to top ice cream and fruit and though I haven’t tried it, I would love to get my hands on another bottle and some ice cream and sit on the couch with a good movie.

Maybe that’s just me? Doubt it.

Image|CMSC Spirits

Post from: EveryJoe

Love Potion #9 Launched

Since I’m a fan of Bacardi and I’m a fan of Mojitos, I assumed that the Bacardi Silver Mojito Original would be a safe and satisfying selection.

Oh, dear God was I wrong.

My first thought was Zima. Remember that stuff? Every yuppie party in the ’90s was stocked with it and I’ve only met one person who was brave/stupid enough to admit that they liked Zima.

After a drink or two, I noticed an odd “mint” taste. The first two drinks I had mistaken the “mint” for some kind of chemical substance on the rim of the bottle. Maybe I had spilled something on the bottles before I opened them?

The longer I drank on the bottle, the less repulsive the drink became. While I don’t think that I was getting a buzz off of 1/2 a bottle of the “premium malt beverage”, maybe my taste buds were taking their toys and going home?

Whatever the case, I finally poured the stuff over some ice in a red party cup [I had to do it up right] and it became a bit more palatable. The stuff also sat heavy on my stomach and I felt like I had eaten a five course meal by the time I was done with one bottle.

There are two other flavors and I’ll have to give them a go since I figure they have to be better than the “original”.

Image courtesy of Anheuser-Busch

Post from: EveryJoe

Bacardi Silver Mojito Original Review

We went out to eat at Hemingway’s Island Grill and the server suggested the Mojito. Since I was but a young pup at the time, I had never heard of the drink and was willing to give it a try. Hell, the thing has rum, sugar and mint-can’t go wrong there.

Image|Amy Tucker

I tried it. I loved it. And then, I drank two more.

By the time we left, I was in a rather jovial mood and have been a fan of the Mojito ever since.

Now that we’ve moved in-land and away from Florida, I’ve been hard pressed to find a Mojito that can even come close to the heaven that I experienced in Pensacola. Maybe it’s the fact that the Mojito has become so well known across the country and so companies have introduced mixers to create the drink, or, maybe I’ve just been cursed with bad bartenders.

The fact remains that I haven’t had a good Mojito since 2003…until today.

Today’s drink came from a Ruby Tuesday’s in Arkansas.

It was the “drink of the day” and I figured, “What the hell? Might as well”.

I asked the waitress if the drink was made from a mixer or if the bartender actually muddled the mint and sugar them self. If I had to go by the vacant look the waitress gave me, I probably would have canceled my order right then. The waitress promised to ask the bartender and then get back to me.

In the end, the drink was actually made in the restaurant so I gave it a try. Glad I did.

I didn’t have a single complaint with the drink. The sweetness [a common issue with Mojitos] was just right and the taste of mint was just enough so that I knew it was there but it didn’t overpower the drink.

Bravo, Ruby Tuesday.

Mojito

Ingredients:

• 1 spoonful of sugar
• The juice of half a lime
• Fresh mint
• 50 ml of Havana Club Añejo 3 Años
• Sparkling water

Directions:

In a tall glass :

Muddle [crush] the sugar and mint together.

Add the juice of half a lime and 50 ml of Havana Club Añejo 3 Años.

Add two or three ice cubes.

Top with sparkling water, stir and garnish with a sprig of mint.

Post from: EveryJoe

A Review of Ruby Tuesday’s Mojito

Drinks After Dark’s exclusive cocktail guru, Steve Kemble, has prepared a Peppermint Moijito for those of us who need a little escape and for those of you who just want to enjoy a dirnk with friends during the season.

To make:

1 oz 10 Cane Rum
1/2 oz Simple Syrup (to taste, really)
Squeeze fresh lime juice
Club Soda
Mint
Crushed Peppermint for garnish

Mix like you would a regular mojito – muddle the mint, lime juice and simple syrup together in a glass, add in the rum,and give it a stir. Add club soda and garnish, give it another good swizzle, and then float a peppermint on the top and serve.

I’m of the mind that Christmas should be about what you’d like it to be about – so if peppermint mojitos makes you happy, enjoy!

Post from: EveryJoe

December Cocktail: Peppermint Mojito