In with 2011 and out with 2010.

2011 approaches weather we want to hang on to 2010 or not. In order to prepare for the new year here is a toast or two to remember and a drink or two to help you forget the year that was.

"As we start the New Year,
Let's get down on our knees
to thank God we're on our feet."

Happy Freakin' New Year
1 oz. - Vodka
2 oz. - Red Wine (the fruitier the better)
Top with Red Bull
Serve over Ice
Garnish with a cherry.

"Here's to the bright New Year
And a fond farewell to the old;
Here's to the things that are yet to come
And to the memories that we hold."

New Years Citrus Punch

2/3 cup - Fresh lemon juice
2/3 cup - Superfine sugar
1 cup - Vodka
1/2 cup - Limoncello
Splash - Dry vermouth
1 (750 ml) Bottle - Chilled dry Champagne or sparkling wine
Ice
Lemon twists, for garnish
Directions: Combine the lemon juice, sugar, vodka, Limoncello, and vermouth in a punch bowl Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved.
Cover and refrigerate until chilled, 1 to 2 hours.
Add the Champagne and stir to combine.
Serve over ice in highball glasses, garnished with lemon twists.

"In the New Year,
may your right hand
always be stretched out in friendship,
but never in want."

Happy New Year Bellini
1/4 oz. - Brandy
1 oz. - Ruby port
1 oz. - OJ
4 oz. - Champagne

"May all your troubles during the coming year
be as short as your New Year's resolutions."

New Years Baby Bellini
2 oz. - Peach juice or Peach Puree
(Peach Puree: Use Libby's canned peaches in syrup and a dash of sugar in the blender)
4 oz - Champagne or Prosecco
Top with a Splash of Chambord

"May the New Year grant you
the eye of a blacksmith on a nail
the good humor of a girl at a dance
the strong hand of a priest on his parish."

Auld Lang Syne Tini-Bellini
2 oz. - Clementine Vodka
1 oz. - Cointreau
1/2 oz. - Hypnotique
Splash - Cranberry juice
Shake over ice and strain into a Martini glass
Top with Prosecco or Champagne
Garnish with a cherry

Cheers!

One Great Toast

I stopped by another watering hole on my way home the other night. Nothing special about the place except for the people. The sort of bar where there are more people than teeth in the room. Anyway, as I am sitting drinking my beer I hear this toast I have never heard before but now love.


To friendship! Friendship is a lot like peeing your pants... Everyone can see it, but no one else can feel the true warmth!

Cheers!

It's a Blizzard!

All along the eastern seacoast the past few days we have experienced some blizzard conditions outside. Snow, wind and below freezing temperatures have made it pretty nasty out there, but I say let it snow! I have a wood stove, cable, a full refrigerator, internet and the ingredients to make some sweet cocktails. So by all means Mother Nature show me what you got! I am all for a good show. Even better I have no place to be today.

The Blizzard Retreat
1.5 oz. - Irish Whiskey
1/2 oz. - Frangelico
1/2 oz. - Irish Cream
Top with Hot Coffee
Garnish w/ a dollop of Grand Marnier whipped cream

Blizzard Martini
1 oz. - Hennessy VS
1 oz. - Crème de Cacao
1 oz. - Half and half
Garnish with nutmeg and a crushed chocolate stick

Tropical Blizzard
In a Collins or Highball glass over ice
1 oz. - Coconut Rum
1 oz. - Blue Curaco
1/2 oz. - OJ
1/2 oz. - Pineapple juice
1/2 oz. - Apple juice

Golden Blizzard
Serve over ice in a cocktail glass
1 oz. - Goldschlager
1 oz. - Peppermint schnapps
Fill with Eggnog
Stir and Top with Whipped cream

Snow Angel Bellini
1 oz. - Premium Vodka
1 oz. - Cointreau
1 oz. - White Cranberry juice
Fill with Champagne
Serve in a champagne glass
Garnish with a twist

Merry Christmas to All and To All a Cold Drink!

The big day has finally arrived. Santa has made his triumphant ride and delivered all the gifts to all the children who where all snuggled in bed while visions of sugar plums danced in their heads. Christmas Day is here and I couldn't be more happy! This time of year is and always has been my favorite time of year. There is something to be said about being together with family and feeling the love.

So last night I came up with a new Christmas drink for you all to try and found a few toasts to add to the seasons drinking!

Italian Eggnog

1 oz. - Vanilla Vodka

1 oz. - Limoncello Cream
Fill with Eggnog (I like light eggnog best)
Shake over ice and strain
Rim with lemon sugar
Lemon Sugar: Sugar and lemon jello mix

Here are a few toasts to go hand in hand with your libations...

At Christmas play and make good cheer
or Christmas comes but once a year. - Thomas Tusser

May you live as long as you Wish,
And have all you Wish or long as you live.
This is my Christmas Wish for You.

May the Lord keep you in his hand and never close his fist too tight on you, And may the face of every good news and the back of every bad news be toward us in the New Year.

Holly and ivy hanging up, and something wet in every cup!

Joy to the world and especially to you! - Unknown

Here's to us all!
God bless us everyone!
- Tiny Tim in A Christmas Carol

I wish you a Merry Christmas
And a Happy New Year
A pocket full of money
And a cellar full of beer!

May you never be without a drop at Christmas!

May you be poor in misfortune this Christmas
and rich in blessings
slow to make enemies
quick to make friends
and rich or poor, slow or quick,
as happy as the New Year is long!

Cheers!

3, 2, 1! Merry Christmas!!!

With all the hustle and stress that comes along with Christmas I figure I will not have a whole lot of time to sit and post. Also what is the use of posting these drinks after the holiday itself? You need time to get the ingredients and enjoy them too. So without further ado here is the last 3 days till Christmas in my own special count-down. This portion is focused on all those Christmas cookies I love to eat but hate to see on the scale the days after.

Christmas Cookie Martini
2 oz. - Chocolate Vodka
1 oz. - Godiva White Chocolate Liqueur
1 oz. - Irish Cream
1/2 oz. - Peppermint Schnapps
1/2 oz. - Half and Half
Shake over ice and strain into a Martini glass
Garnish with a Candy Cane

Toasted Macaroon Cookie
1 oz. - Coconut Rum
1 oz. - Simple Syrup
1 oz. - Half and Half
1/2 oz. - White Creme de Cacao
Shake over ice and strain into a Martini glass
Garnish with shaved Coconut.

Snickerdoodle Cookie
1 oz. - Vanilla Vodka
1 oz. - Half and Half
1/2 oz. - Goldschlager or Cinnamon Schnapps
1/2 oz. - White Creme de Cacao
1/2 oz. - Simple Syrup
Shake over ice and strain into a Martini glass
Rim with Cinnamon Sugar

Mistletoe Kiss Martini
1 oz. - Vodka
1/2 oz. - Cranberry juice
1.5 oz. - Pineapple juice
1 oz. Coconut cream
Shake over ice and strain into a Martini glass
Garnish with 2 Cherries

Funny Stuff...

The other night I was as always behind the bar. A couple walked in and had a couple of beers. Nothing out of the ordinary. She was a good looking brunet and her husband was a very large Marine looking type. As the night went on she grew tired of her husband talking in depth with another guy who was 4 gin and tonics into his night so I am sure he could have pontificated on just about anything.
As she grew more tired of the conversation she looked for elsewhere to go. She found a friendly couple on the other side of the bar and came right over and sat down and said "You seem fun and that conversation over there was boring me." The two ladies got chatting and I should have known this was going to be trouble for me.
Once they found out my name was Charley they immediately likened me to "Charlie Harper." If you don't know who this is I will give you the Wikipedia summary:

Charles Francis "Charlie" Harper is a fictional character from the CBS sitcom Two and a Half Men. Played by actor Charlie Sheen, the character has garnered him three Emmy nominations for Outstanding Lead Actor and two Golden Globe nominations for Best Performance by an Actor in a Comedy Series.

Charlie is the brother of Alan Harper and uncle to Alan's son Jake Harper. After being expelled from Juilliard, Charlie began writing jingles for a living. His most famous composition is the Maple Loops song. Charlie then became a successful composer and singer of children's music, with the alias "Charlie Waffles", when the jingle business dried up. The character of Charlie Harper is loosely based on Charlie Sheen, the actor who portrays the character.

Charlie prides himself on his bachelor lifestyle in Malibu and drives a Mercedes, and a FerrariJaguar). His lifestyle consists of living in a two-story beachfront home, drinking excessively, smoking cigars, constant womanizing, gambling, and wearing expensive shirts and shorts the vast majority of the time. Charlie sleeps in constantly, and is the boss of a full-time housekeeper. Money "falls into his lap" as he lives a life of free-spirited debauchery.

In one of the last episodes of "Two and a Half Men" Charlies pick-up line at the bar was a simple "Hi my name is Charlie, I have a house on the beach, I drive a Mercedes and I have a python in my pants."

With all this said This woman looks right at me upon learning my name is Charley and asks in front of the entire bar if I have a "python in my pants." Not only in front of the entire bar but also before her very large husband who turns out to be a local police officer as he makes his way to his wife after a few beers and what looks like a bitter end to his last conversation.

To which I answer... "Is the limp really that noticeable?" And quickly walked to the other side of the bar!

Cheers!

6, 5, 4 Days till The Jolly Fat Man Makes His Triumphant Ride

I don't know why but this year I just seem to more into the Christmas spirit. I even found myself wearing a Santa hat at work the other day and without being asked to wear one. I just found one at the store and felt the need to wear it. Also to quote Bing Crosby it is starting to look a lot like Christmas. There are lights everywhere, holiday music on the radio, tons of shopping stress and tonight we are getting our first real snowfall. So here is 6, 5 and the 4th day of Christmas my way!

Jack Frost in Manhattan
Served over ice of course
2 oz. - Jack Daniels
1/2 oz - Sweet Vermouth
2 Splashes of Grenadine
Fill with half OJ and half Sour Mix
Garnish with a Cherry

Bad Santa Cocktail
1.5 oz. - Vodka
1 oz. - Pomegranate juice
1/2 oz. - Triple Sec
Splash of Peppermint Schnapps
Serve over ice Garnish with a mint leaf
Note: after a few of these do not try to write your name in the snow!

Mistletoe Martini
2 oz. - Vodka
1 oz. - Chambord
1 oz. - Cranberry Juice
Splash of Cointreau
Rim the glass with green sugar
Garnish with skewered cranberries

Now get out there and kiss someone already!

Cheers!

On the 7th Day of Christmas My True Love Gave To Me...

I realize it has been a few days since I have updated this but trust me when I say the past few days have been nuts! Last week alone we had 2 large Christmas parties at the bar and then sometimes life just gets in the way.

Side note: Just because your office is paying for a Christmas party it does not mean they tip the bar staff. I served a guy this past week who came up repeatedly for draft beers, his change was .45 cents. Guess what my tip was every time big spender came to the bar...

So I left off at 12 days till the big day. So here are 5 great holiday cocktails sure to make all your Christmas's be bright.

Angel's Delight Martini
1 oz. - Gin
1 oz. - Triple Sec
1 oz. - Cream
3 dashes Grenadine
Shake over ice and strain with a froth.

Candy Cane Martini

1 oz. - Raspberry Vodka
1 oz. - Peppermint Schnapps
1 oz. - White Creme de Cacao
Splash of Cream
Shake over ice and strain
Splash with Soda Water
Circle the top with Grenadine
Rim the glass with crushed peppermint candy
Garnish with a candy cane

Holiday Hopper
1 oz. - Melon Liqueur
1/2 oz. - Creme de Menthe
1/2 oz. - White Cream de Cacao
2 oz. - Half and Half
Shake over ice and strain
Garnish with a mint leaf and a raspberry

Merry Christmas Collins
1 oz. - Gin
1 oz. - Cranberry juice
Splash of Sour mix
1 slice of fresh lemon juice
Top with Club Soda
Garnish with dried cranberries

Silent Tequila Night
1 oz. - Silver Tequila
1 oz. - Pomegranate juice
Top with Champagne or Sparkling Wine
Serve in a Champagne Flute

Tinsel Bellini
2 oz. - Hypnotiq
1 oz. - Limoncello
1 oz. - Champagne
Splash of lime juice
Sugar the rim
Serve in a Champagne Flute

OK 1 more because the weather is calling for a blizzard to sweep through these parts tomorrow.

White Blizzard Martini
1 oz. - Vodka
1 oz. - Coconut Vodka or Coconut Rum
1/2 oz. - White Creme de Cacao
1 oz. - Godiva White Chocolate Liqueur
1/2 oz. - Half and Half
Shake over ice and strain with a froth
Rim the glass with a lemon and Coconut flakes
Dash of Coconut flakes on top for garnish

A Toast for Pop's

This weekend marks my Pop's 60th birthday. We plan to throw him a surprise party and as an avid basketball player and coach we are having a basketball game in his honor. So I thought it was only fitting to make this cheer for him. So please everyone raise your glasses with me in honor of a great man.


Pops!
May your knees always be strong and keep you running till your 108.
May your jump shot always find the bottom of the net.
May your coffee always be hot and your Cutty cold.
May we all have the strength to keep aspiring to be half the man you are.
Happy Birthday Pops!
Cheers!

14, 13, 12 Days till Christmas!

14, 13, 12 Days to go till the jolly fat man makes his appearance! I will be busy most of the weekend so here are 3 Christmas cocktails to make all your days merry and bright!

Poinsettia Champagne Cocktail
1/2 oz. - Grand Marnier
1 oz. - Vodka
3 oz. - Cranberry juice
Fill with Champagne

Merry Martini
1 oz. - Melon Liqueur
2 oz. - Citrus Vodka
2 splashes - White Cranberry juice
Shake over ice and strain
Garnish with lemon twist

Peppermint Twist Cocktail
1 oz. - Kahlua
1 oz. - Peppermint Schnapps
1 oz. - Creme de Cacao
Serve over ice

15 Day's till Christmas!

Everywhere you look it is starting to look a lot like Christmas! The holiday season is definitely upon us! Every chain store in America from coast to coast is sporting seasonal sales. There is feelings of pre-holiday stress in the air. Even some radio stations have devoted 24 hours of programming to the sounds of the season. Nat King Cole's vocal cords are nice and warm and Bing Crosby is floating over the air waves. It is truly Christmas time!
Me being the jolly sort I am has decided to start a count down of sorts. Every day will have a drink of the season. So let's start this count down off with Bing Crosby and The White Christmas Dream Martini


White Christmas Dream Martini
1 1/2 oz - Vodka
1 1/2 oz. - Godiva White Chocolate Liqueur
1 oz. - half and half
Drizzle of Chambord
Drizzle of Frangelico
Shake well over ice until frothy and strain
Dust the top with nutmeg

Pear Infusion!

Infused vodka is something people have been doing for sometime now but, it really has not gotten as big as it is until as of late. Now most any bar you go to has several flavors of infused vodka. In some cases they do it themselves. One of my favorite flavors is the Absolute Pear infused vodka. Pear is one of those flavors that is light and subtle and never really overwhelms your taste buds. Also keep in mind Pear matches nicely with Ginger as I pointed out in a previous article here.

Recently I was at Jonathan Pasco's Restaurant in East Windsor, CT. Be sure if you are ever in the area to check this place out. Aside from the friendly staff and great food the place has history. Even better it is well known to be haunted by the ghost of Captain Jonathan Pasco and his family. Captain Pasco, a Revolutionary War Captain who fought under then General George Washington in the battle of Trenton. The battle best known for when Washington crossed the Delaware River on Christmas morning. I digress... The head bartender had a homemade batch of pear vodka sitting in the infusion jar. When I asked what they where going to make with it they didn't have a lot of ideas aside from chilling and serving it straight up as a martini which works just fine. However just in case they wanted a few more ideas I told them I would have a few this week. True to my word here are my thoughts on a few tasty pear concoctions. Feel free to garnish any one of these with a slice of infused pear for good measure.

Baren Pear Shake-Up
1/4 oz. - Barenjager
2 oz. - Pear Vodka
2 Splashes - Ginger Ale
1/2 oz. Fresh Lime juice

Simple Pear Martini
2 oz. - Pear Vodka
1 oz. - Pear Nectar
Splash of Grapefruit juice
Squeeze of fresh Lime
Shake over ice Strain into a Martini glass

Desert Pear Martini
3 parts - Pear Vodka
1 part - lemon juice
2 splashes - Simple syrup
1 part - Pomegranate Liqueur
Shake over ice Strain into a Martini glass

Voodoo d'Anjou Cocktail
1 oz - Pear Vodka
3/4 oz - Vanilla Vodka
1/4 oz - Lime juice
Top with Lemon Lime Soda

Hedonism Martini
2 parts - Pear Vodka
1 part - Sweet Vermouth
1 part - Lime juice
Shake over ice Strain into a Martini glass

Cheers!