For the final drink in our limoncello series (sponsored by Caravella) we choose a twist on the classic Bellini. This one adds a tangy twist, perfect to get the holidays going.

Caravella Bellini

1 ounce Caravella Limoncello
½ ounce peach schnapps
Champagne or sparkling wine
Peach slice

Drop a peach slice in a champagne flute or wine glass. Pour Caravella and schnapps over the peach, filling glass about halfway. Top with chilled champagne or sparkling wine and serve immediately.

For a beautiful mimosa update, skip the peach slice and add a splash of OJ instead. Garnish with fresh strawberry or blueberries.

Courtesy Caravella Limoncello

past Drink of the Week Cocktails

Happy Mother’s Day

To help celebrate, X-Rate Fusion Liqueur created cocktails in honor of our favorite MILFs from TV and Film.

Sweet Ben’s Pink Lemonade - Mrs Robinson in the Graduate, played by Anne Bancroft
The Dean’s Wife - Marion Wormer in Animal House, played by Verna Bloom
X Meeting Mrs. Bing - Chandler’s Mom in Friends, played by Morgan Fairchild
The X-Rated Rec Room - Stifler’s mom in American Pie, played by Jennifer Coolidge
The Real Wedding Crasher - Kathleen Cleary in Wedding Crashers, played by Jane Seymour
Blanche’s X-Rated Julep - Blanche Devereaux in The Golden Girls, played by Rue McClanahan
Julie Cooper’s Many X’s - Julie Cooper in The O.C., played by Melinda Clarke
Samantha Jones’ Community Service - Samantha Jones in Sex and the City, played by Kim Cattrall
The Bossy X - Mona Robinson in Who’s the Boss, played by Katherine Helmond
Gabrielle’s X-Rated Kiss - Gabrielle Solis in Desperate Housewives, played by Eva Longoria

X-Rated Fusion Liqueur
Mother’s Day Cocktails

Happy Valentine’s Day!
Whether you have sweetie to impress or are single and need to drown your sorrows (responsibly, of course) we have a some amazing, creative cocktails for you!

Amore Appletini - a twist on the ever popular Appletini, made with Ginger Vodka, Apple Pucker and Apple Juice
Flame of Love - a sex Vodka, Sherry combo.
Heart-Shaped World - this is drink is a fruity vodka explosion with maple syrup for an extra sweet punch

Love and Roses - Made with Plymouth Gin, maraschino Liqueur, Proseco and rose petals, this one will keep your honey happy
Love Machine - a tall cool drink of Absolut Ruby Red, DeKuyper Pomegranate liqueur and Orange Juice, need we say more
Valentine’s Kiss - pucker up for this mix of gin, raspberry liqueur, Cranberry Juice and Sour

And for dessert - the Chocolate Soufletini a decadent cocktail made with vodka, chocolate liqueur and Frangelico hazelnut liqueur.

even more Valentine’s Day Cocktails

The people at Absolut have been very busy sending some great original cocktails. To celebrate Mardi Gras, they sent us recipe created by two French Quarter bartenders.

Enjoy!

King Cake Martini

1 ½ oz Absolut Citron
3 oz Pineapple Juice
¼ oz Agave Nectar
½ oz Chambord
Green Confectionery Sprinkles

Combine Absolut Citron, Pineapple Juice and Agave Nectar in an ice filled mixing glass. Shake and Strain into a cocktail glass rimmed with green sprinkles. Take a bar spoon and drizzle ½ oz Chambord so that it settles at the bottom of the cocktail glass.

Serve with a beaded necklace and a smile!

Created by Rachael Gray @ Storyville 125 Bourbon Street, New Orleans, LA

Carnival 76

½ oz Absolut Citron
½ oz Pamma Pomegranate Liqueur
¼ oz Chambord
Fresh Muddled Raspberries and Strawberries
Topped with Mumms Cordon Rouge champagne

Muddle the fresh raspberries and strawberries with ¼ oz Chambord in a mixing glass. Add the Absolut Citron, Pamma Pomegranate Liqueur and ice. Shake and strain into a Champagne Flute. Top with Mumms Cordon Rouge Champagne.

Created by Chris Hannah @ Arnaud’s French 75 Bar, 813 Bienville Street, New Orleans, LA

Cocktails of New Orleans …
NOLA Martinis …
Fat Tuesday Specials …

Courtesy Absolut Vodka

As we close the bar on 2007, I felt it appropriate to take a look back. Sure everyone does these lists, but it is fun to look at the year that was. I I figure, hey! why not?

So with out further ado, here are some of my favorites from 2007.

Cheers!

January
- Gin, The New Vodka?
- Super Bowl Cocktails
- Top 10 US Party Cities

February
- Suck & Blow
- Presidential Cocktails
- Beer Launching Fridge

March
- Preparing Drinks in a Blender
- Million Dollar Tequila (really $1,000,000)
- Teach your baby how to mix cocktails
(more…)

New York City’s Michelin-starred restaurant, Del Posto (owned by Mario Batali, Joe Bastianich and Lidia Bastianich), has put a new twist on an old favorite this holiday season with Del Posto’s Blood Orange Bellini. In keeping with its use of seasonal ingredients, Del Posto’s Blood Orange Bellini incorporates the sweet and tangy crimson fruit which originated in the southwest region of Italy.

Spruce up a traditional glass of champagne this New Year’s or enjoy with friends at a holiday gathering, with this simple recipe:

Del Posto’s Blood Orange Bellini

6 oz. Prosecco
1 1/2 oz. blood orange puree

Combine and serve in a champagne flute

Del Posto’s elegant Blood Orange Bellini is the perfect drink with which to welcome in a sweet new year in 2008.

courtesy Del Posto New York City
more champagne cocktails …

It is almost New Years Eve, a holiday made for Champagne. What else are you going to toast the New Year with?

Champagne and Sparkling wines are best served chilled in a tall,
tapered champagne flute. Back in the day a wide rounded, almost bowl
like glass was the appropriate glass for severing bubbly. However,
this glass also helped the champagne go flat quickly. Enter the
champagne flute, the narrow opening keeps the bubbles in, while it’s
tall, slender shape highlights their accent to the top.

Champagne / Sparkling Wine Terms

Dry – refers to the sweetness of the Champagne or Sparkling Wine

Brut – a fully dry sparkling wine

Extra Brut - A style of Brut that is even drier

Extra Dry – Actually sweeter than Brut

Beads – The chains of bubbles as they rise to the top of a glass.
The size and shape are used to determine quality if the product.

Champagne Cocktails …