Image: The Patrón Spirits Company

Spiced Chocolate

• 3 Pinches of Crushed Pepper’
• ½ oz Heavy Cream
• ¾ oz Dark Chocolate Liqueur
• 1 oz Patrón XO Cafe
• 1 ½ oz Patrón Reposado

Method:
Build ingredients except heavy cream, shake and strain into a chilled martini glass. Shake heavy cream and layer the top of the cocktail with the fresh whipped cream. Garnish with a dollop of crushed red peppers in the martini.

Image: The Patrón Spirits Company

Espresso Martini

• ¾ oz Patrón Silver
• ¾ oz Patrón XO Cafe
• ¾ oz espresso shot
• fine sugar
• powdered chocolate for garnish

Method:
Rim the serving glass with sugar. Combine liquors with espresso in a mixing glass; add ice, shake, and strain. Garnish with powdered chocolate.

Image: The Patrón Spirits Company

Los Altos

• ½ oz. Patrón XO Cafe
• ½ oz. Patrón Añejo
• ¾ oz. hazelnut liqueur
• 1 oz. whipping cream flavored with green créme de menth

Method:
Fill up a double old fashioned glass with ice, add the liquors, stir and top up with mint flavored whipping cream (not whipped).
Garnish: Fresh sprig of mint and sprinkle of nutmeg.

Image: The Patrón Spirits Company

Post from: EveryJoe

Holiday Cocktail Recipes from Patrón

Image: Camelback Inn

R Bar is offering a selection of holiday cocktails created by Director of Beverage Trudy Thomas which highlight seasonal ingredients such as egg nog and cranberries. Here are a couple recipes that you are sure to love.

Gingersnap Egg Nog Martini

Ingredients:

• 1 oz Canton Ginger Liqueur
• 1/2 oz Godiva White Chocolate Liqueur
• 1/2 oz Disaronno
• 2 ounces Egg Nog
• 1 pinch Cinnamon Sugar
• 1 ea Ginger Snap Cookie garnish

Directions:

In a mixing glass combine all ingredients then add ice. Shake vigorously. Strain into a chilled martini glass rimmed in cinnamon sugar. Garnish with a ginger snap cookie or touille.

Cranberry Spice Margarita

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 ounces Partida Reposado
• 3/4 oz Cointreau
• 3/4 oz Velvet Falernum
• 1 1/2 ounces lime sour
• 11 cranberries (reserve 3 for garnish)
• superfine sugar for rim

Directions:

In a mixing glass muddle fresh cranberries with lime sour add remaining ingredients and shake with ice. Strain into a margarita glass rimmed in sugar. Garnish with a pick of cranberries.

R Bar’s outdoor areas include couches, restaurant seating, live music, water features, and a circular fire pit. Next time you are in the Scottsdale area, drop by for a drink.

Post from: EveryJoe

Gingersnap Egg Nog Martini

This fabulous drink creation is a creamy, smooth, sweet concoction dubbed the “Log Nog.”

Image: Bigfoot Lodge

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. Seven Tiki Rum
• 1 oz. 3 Olives Vanilla Vodka
• 1 oz. Bailey’s Irish Cream
• A dash of Hot Damn

Method:

Line a cocktail glass with Hot Damn. Pour, shake and strain all other ingredients and serve.

Be sure to check out the Bigfoot Lodge website and their MySpace page for more information about the bar.

Post from: EveryJoe

Pour Yourself a Log Nog

You don’t want to return to the office the next day with your tail between your legs and the receptionist blushing every time you walk by. To avoid a repeat of last years faux pas here are few tips on what NOT to drink at this years staff party.

5. Tequila shots. These always end badly and lead to less then attractive behavior. Everyone always regrets them the next day. I do recommend making Tequila cocktails however. Recipes here!

4. Vodka shots. These end the same way as Tequila shots, badly. Stick to mixed vodka cocktails or martinis. It may be the same amount of booze but the classy level is significantly greater.

3. Whiskey shots. These may seem like a good idea because it’s cold out and whiskey for sure can warm us all up. But please stop yourself because it brings the errr let’s just say anger out of people. The last thing you need is a fist fight going down between the accountant guy and the mail room guy. You can definitely mix whiskey though,  so here are some recipes.

2. Polar Bear shots. They are just gross and the hangovers are seriously the worst. Plus you’ll look like a girl if you suggest them.

1. Mixing. This is always a problem for me and hangovers. A) I get drunk way faster (not a good thing at a staff party) and B) the hangover the next day will destroy you at work. Avoid it like the plague.

***

If you stick to these five no no’s then you’ll be the center of attention because of your class not because your turning lamps into stripper poles and telling the girls to go for a ride.

Happy Holidays & Drink Responsibly (or at least when your boss is looking)!

xo

Follow me on Twitter @missbrittanydow or @everyjoe

Image Credit: iStockPhoto

Post from: EveryJoe

Holiday Office Parties – What NOT to Drink

Pumpkin Pie Cocktail

• 2 scoops vanilla ice cream
• 1/2 cup crushed ice
• 1 tablespoon canned pumpkin
• fluid ounce half-and-half
• 1 fluid ounce spiced rum
• 1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 2 tablespoons whipped topping
• 1 pinch pumpkin pie spice

Directions:
Combine the ice cream, ice, pumpkin, half-and-half, rum, and 1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice in a blender; blend until smooth. Pour into a serving glass; top with whipped topping, sprinkle with pinch of pumpkin pie spice.

Christmas: The Snowball

• 1 fl oz advocaat
• 5 fl oz lemonade chilled
• ice cubes and a slice of lemon

Directions:
Place ice cubes in highball glass(es) and pour the advocaat, pour the chilled lemonade to fill the glass(es), serve garnished with slice of lemon.

New Year’s Eve Cranberry Margarita

• 1 1/2 oz tequila
• 1 oz Rose’s lime juice
• 1 1/2 oz triple sec
• 1 1/2 oz sweet and sour mix
• 2 oz cranberry juice

Directions:
Add all ingredients into blender with ice. Blend until smooth.

Holiday Hangover Milkshake

One of the quickest ways to cure a hangover is to make a banana milkshake sweetened with honey. The banana helps calm the stomach, and the honey, builds up the depleted blood sugar levels. The milk soothes the stomach and rehydrates your system. Bananas are also rich in the important electrolytes, magnesium and potassium, which are severely depleted during heavy drinking system.

These recipes were provided by Ninja Master Prep. Ninja Master Prep is a food and drink maker that creates chopped salads, salsas, dips and, of course, frozen drinks. It turns ice to snow with ease — making it ideal for holiday drinks. The Ninja Master Prep features the interchangeable Master Pod, a 48 oz pitcher, 2-cup bowl, storage lids, recipe book and more. You can find this cool food and drink maker at Bed Bath & Beyond, Amazon and other retailers.

Image: Ninja Master Prep

Post from: EveryJoe

Holiday Cocktails and a Hangover Recipe

I’m not talking about a French Martini or even a Cosmo, I’m talking about a martini with kick and one that will definitely put hair on your chest. For example you have to try Sobieski Vodka’s Hot Mama. If you really can’t bring yourself to drink from a martini glass then this drink will easily work in a rocks glass.

Hot Mama Recipe:

2 oz. Sobieski Vodka
3 oz. tomato juice
1/2 oz. fresh lemon juice
4 dime-sized slices of fresh ginger
8-10 fresh cilantro leaves
1/2 oz. soy sauce
Dash of Sriracha sauce (Thai spicy sauce) or your favorite hot sauce
Dash of salt and pepper

1. Muddle cilantro and ginger
2. Add remaining ingredients
3. Shake over ice and strain into martini glass rimmed with equal parts coarse salt, black pepper and chili powder
4. Garnish: Asian pickled cucumber

This is the gourmet version of tomato based cocktails and will be sure to impress your comrads. Although I don’t recommend having more then a couple these will definitely tide you over before dinner. They are a perfect ‘appetizer’ drink. Add some grilled shrimp and you’re really set.

Cheers!

xo

@missbrittanydow

Recipe Source & Image Credit: Sobieski Vodka

Post from: EveryJoe

Meal in a Martini Glass: Sobieski Hot Mama

Ingredients:

• 1 – 750 ml Sobieski Polish Vodka
• 4 cups Chai tea (sweetened according to taste)
• 4 cups clear apple juice
• 2 whole orange cut in slices
• 2 whole red apple cut in slices
• Optional: 1-2 teaspoon Orange Bitters

Directions:

Mix all ingredients in large bowl and garnish with seasonal fruit slices.

Makes 16 Servings

Recipe and photo courtesy Sobieski Vodka.

Post from: EveryJoe

Yuletide Punch

I came across some great recipes that will make your holiday bash a blurry yet festive event. If you have ladies attending then you will need to stock more then just beer and whiskey. Although I myself am a beer and whiskey drinker not all women have acquired the back bone (or stomache) for it.

Here is a holiday drink recipe to think about as you’re planning your trip to the liquor store.

Honey Spiced Punch

Ingredients:

Cachacha, Appelton 12 year Rum, Velvet Falernum, Fresh Lemon Juice, Organic Wildflower Honey, Indonesian Cinnamon, Seasonal Fruit and Sparkling Water

1 cup Leblon Cachaca

.5 cup Appleton V/X Rum

.5 cup Velvet Falernum

1 cup Lemon Juice

.25 cup Honey Syrup

.25 cup Simple Syrup

8 Dashes Angostura

10oz of Sparkling Water

Garnish with Cinnamon, orange wheels and a sprig of mint. Gather around the punch bowl and let the holiday festivities begin.

I suggest hanging a mistletoe above the bowl just in case that certain someone shows up at your party.

Image Credit: Leblon Cachaca

Recipe Source: Erick Castro, The Rickhouse, Fan Francisco

Post from: EveryJoe

Spiked Punch Bowls Are Holiday Necessities

Ingredients:

• 1/2 oz Zaya Rum
• 1 oz Apple Brandy
• 3/4 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
• 2 oz Fresh Orange Juice
• 1/2 oz Maple Syrup
• Mint Sprig and Apple Slices for garnish

Tommy Bahama Frost Bite

This icy drink is aptly named Frost Bite. Even if the weather outside is frightful, this cocktail is delightful.

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 parts Tommy Bahama White Sand Run
• 3/4 part triple sec
• 3/4 part sour mix
• 1/4 part raspberry liqueur

Directions:

1. Pour rum, triple sec and sour mix into a mixing glass with ice.
2. Shake 20 times and strain into a chilled martini glass rimmed with sugar in the raw.
3. Slowly pour the raspberry liqueur so that it sinks to the bottom of the glass.
4. Garnish with lime.

Image and Recipes Courtesy of Zaya Rum / Tommy Bahama

Post from: EveryJoe

Cool Holiday Rum Cocktails

Image: Three Olives Vodka

Jingle Bell on the Rocks

• 2 oz. Three-O Grape Vodka
• 4 oz. cranberry juice
• Splash club soda

Mix in a glass with ice and garnish with a lime wedge.

Ho-Ho-Mojito

• 2 oz. Three-O Pomegranate Vodka
• 10 Fresh Mint Leaves
• 1/2 of a Lime
• 2 tablespoons simple syrup
• Club Soda

Muddle mint leaves and lime in a tall cocktail glass. Pour in simple syrup and fill glass with ice, add vodka and soda. Garnish with a mint sprig and lime.

Blue Christmas

• 1 ½ oz. Three-O Cherry Vodka
• ¼ oz. black raspberry liqueur
• ¼ oz. Blue Curacao

Shake with ice and pour into a shot glass.

Snowy Night

• 1 oz. Three-O Triple Shot Espresso Vodka
• 1 oz. white chocolate liquer
• 1 oz. half and half

Shake with ice and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with three espresso beans.

Post from: EveryJoe

Holiday Cocktails from Three Olives Vodka