Canadian Melon

Ingredients:
1 1/2 oz Canadian Club Classic 12
3/4 oz Watermelon Pucker
3 oz sour mix
Juice of  ½ lime

Directions: 
Shake and strain over ice in a tall ice filled glass. Garnish with a lemon & lime wheel

Courtesy of Bobby Gleason and Canada Club.… Read more

The Essential Cockail – Literary Monday

This week’s top book pick is from the modern master of the cocktail himself, Dale DeGroff, and his The Essential Cocktail.  Dale was and continues to be one of the leaders in bringing back the cocktail and elevating bartenders back to their rightful status as professionals and masters of their craft that was destroyed during Prohibition.

Like the man, himself, the book demonstrates Dale’s straight-forward style, which is of great benefit to his readers.  The … Read more

Cocktails that Sparkle for Cupid

Cupid is readying his arrow.  Are you wondering who he will hit?  Do you hope it will be you?  If you need a little help romancing a new love or an old one, these sparkling cocktails will be your biggest helper.  No woman can resist something that sparkles and men have a hard time too!

For Valentine’s Day this year, serve these sparklers to your sweetie!

Del Posto’s Bellini – combine the lightness of Proseccso … Read more

Every Day Champagne Primer

Champagne is the King of sparkling wines.  When you think sparkling, what immediately comes to mind – Champagne.  Yet, Champagne can still be a conundrum.  You look at the label and it looks like it was written in Greek.  What does Brut mean or what is a Blanc de Blanc?  Well, this Champagne Primer is here to help you decipher those labels and provide some basic information on Champagne. 

Basics

Champagne can only be made … Read more

Saint Valentine

This sophisticated Valentine’s Day cocktail was created by the Professor, David Wondrich. The sweet, almost fruity port and rum in this drink will have you wondering why champagne is so popular on Valentine’s Day.… Read more

Visit the Hills of Abruzzo, Italy Without Leaving Home! – Part 1

This week I had the pleasure of sitting down with Justin Gallen, an Italian importer and one of his producers, Francesco Cirelli, a winemaker from the eastern Italian region of Abruzzo. In the first part of this interview series, Gallen discusses his passion for wine and the qualities it must possess before he brings it to the United States.

Drink of the Week (DOTW): You’re a sommelier and Italian importer of fine wines. How did … Read more

Speed Rack – An Ode To Girl Power

There is no better word for Speed Rack than girl power! Gatherings of the best female bartenders across the United States supported by male bar backs and crowds of people gathered to watch them compete. The venue awash in people sporting pink apparel. All money donated to the fight against breast cancer!

Speed Rack is round-robin style competition that focuses on a bartender’s speed, accuracy and presentation skills. The competition was developed by Ivy Mix … Read more

2010 Quattro Mani Barbera Review – Wine Wednesday

Quattro Mani is the brainchild of Domaine Select Wine Estates.  It is an offering of second label wines from some of Italy and Slovenia’s best winemakers.  The 2010 Quattro Mani Barbera is made by Danilo Droco, one of Piedmont’s greatest winemakers.  Not only is the Quatro Mani Barbera a zippy little wine, it’s also a great price at $8.99 a bottle.  In fact, it’s one of the best wines priced under $10 that I have … Read more

Concannon Vineyard Barrels Into Irish Whiskey

What do you get when you combine the oldest, longest-operating, American winery founded by an Irishman and the newest Irish distillery? Concannon Irish Whiskey made in Ireland by acclaimed Cooley Distillery for Concannon Vineyard.  

To fathom this unlikely pairing of wine and whiskey, remember that Concannon Vineyard in Livermore Valley,California is owned by The Wine Group, one of the largest American wine companies. In 2011 The Wine Group launched Cupcake Vodka with similar branding to … Read more

Cynar Artichoke Liqueur Review

I bet you didn’t know that cocktails are being made from Artichokes.  Over the last few years, Amari (bitter liqueurs) has swept the cocktail world! One its rising stars is Cynar, an Amaro from Italy made from artichokes with a few other herbs and plants thrown into the mix. Rather than hide its artichoke heritage, Cynar showcases it and the liqueur has a distinct artichoke note. Cynar is versatile. It can be served as an … Read more