Sunday, August 28, 2011

Halloween Cocktail Party Time

It's already the end of August and time to think about Halloween cocktails.   I have lots of different recipes that I regularly use for Halloween inspired cocktails, but as I mentioned in last years Halloween cocktail post you can also use regular cocktail recipes that you already know and rename them for Halloween.

I like to make sure I have some great Halloween glasses to serve my cocktails in, that way you can serve very plain looking drinks such as a gin and tonic or vodka martini and still have them looking - spooky or kooky or whatever theme you're using this Halloween.

I've compiled a selection of different types of Halloween glasses in one place for you to browse at your leisure - Halloween Glasses, make sure you get in early as Halloween glasses do sell out quickly some years.   Also don't forget to check back here closer to the date for some fantastic Halloween cocktail recipe ideas.

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Sunday, August 21, 2011

An Alcoholic Trifle? Dessert Cocktails Are Delicious!

If I was to mention an alcoholic trifle I'm sure you would be thinking of a sherry trifle wouldn't you?   Well you'd be wrong!   I absolutely love trifle, but I've never really taken to the sherry trifle version - my Gran's trifle was delicious, my dad's was yummy and when my mother-in-law produced her's I was a little concerned, but it was delicious too.

In other words I love my trifle so when I find a cocktail that's based on this great old British pudding I naturally have to try it - it's my duty to make sure that they're not giving people false hope after all, or did I say it was my job to try and report back.......

Anyway here is the recipe for the Trifle Martini...

Trifle Martini

2 1/2 shots of blackcurrant vodka
2 shots of drambuie
1/2 shot of chambord (I love this liqueur, it's also great in a jam donut shot!)

It's a simple cocktail recipe, you simply add all of the ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake well before staining into a cocktail glass to serve.

This cocktail is definitely one that is staying on my list of delicious dessert cocktails, if you're after recipes of more dessert cocktails then you'll want to check out my Dessert Cocktails post - it's a great idea to serve up one of these after dinner with friends.

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Sunday, August 14, 2011

Japanese Cocktails

Have you tried a Japanese inspired cocktail before?   They are really gaining popularity and when I sat down to think of what to write today the radio played an old 80s song - Turning Japanese - this has subsequently gotten stuck in my head which is why we're going to look at some awesome Japanese inspired cocktails today!

One way to make a Japanese inspired cocktail is by using the Japanese liqueur Shochu which is gaining popularity with drinkers around the world due in part to it's lower calorie content than other liqueurs.   As a liqueur it has an earthy taste which mixes well with a number of different flavors.

One cocktail to try is the Shochuini which combines Shochu with another Japanese alcohol - Sake.

Shochuini Recipe

3 oz Shochu
2 oz Sake
1 oz vodka
1 oz fresh lime juice
1/2 oz simple syrup

Pop all of the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake well before straining into a cocktail glass to serve.

If this recipe doesn't appeal to you then check out the selection of recipes that I have compiled for you on my Japanese Inspired Cocktails website.   It includes the recipe for my favorite (at the moment anyway!) one which is Melon Cream Soda.

I'm not the only person writing about Japanese inspired cocktails it seems that Eastern influences continue to gain popularity and this has culminated in a great book which is written by a Japanese lady now living in New York by the name of Yuri Kato.

I particularly liked the cover of the book when I first saw it as it really seems to embrace the Japanese influence.

Yuri Kato was not only born in Japan, but is well known in cocktail circles as she is a publisher of the Cocktail Times among other things.   In this book she compiles over 60 cocktail recipes that range from the classic ones that include ingredients such as the two above as well as Japanese whisky to original ones which creatively blend traditional Japanese flavors with non-Japanese spirits like vodka and tequila.

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Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Heavenly Chocolate Cocktails

There are some gorgeous chocolate cocktails around and as you can no doubt tell from past posts I adore most of them!   I really like the Macaroon - you can check out the Macaroon recipe here - and was planning on making one last night, but you know what we had no amaretto!

I decided to use Frangelico in it's place and the result was very much like another chocolate cocktail that I'm sure I have talked about - it was delicious.

6 parts vodka
1 part chocolate liqueur
1 part frangelico

Shake the ingredients together with ice and serve.

What should I call this cocktail though?   Perhaps you can help me to christen it and then I can label it and add it to one of my cocktail pages.   Try it out and think of the perfect name and post it here - there are no prizes just the sense of pride you can feel in yourself because you've christened a cocktail!

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