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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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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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.

Japanese Cocktails

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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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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Choc Nut Delight - A Heavenly Cocktail

When my mum comes over to stay I like to mix up a cocktail for us to celebrate. She loves creamy and chocolatey cocktails, like me. Last time she was here I made us the following concoction:-

Choc Nut Delight

30ml dark creme de cacao
15ml kahlua
15ml frangelico
30ml cream
30ml milk

I placed all of the ingredients into my shaker with ice and shook well. Then I strained it into a cocktail glass and topped it with grated chocolate - delicious.

I added the kahlua because cofee flavors can sometimes help to intensify the chocolate flavor. I only put 15ml of the frangelico because I wanted the nutty flavor to be in the background and not overpowering. Why did I use cream and milk - I was feeling lazy! Obviously you can use half'n'half, I just didn't want to make any - we had gossiping to do!

This illustrates a fun thing with cocktails - if you don't have something, substitute and make up a name for your 'new' cocktail!

If you're after more chocolate cocktails then why not check out my page at - Chocolate Cocktails.

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Perfecting Your Daiquiris for Summer

With summer nearly upon us, or here already depending on where you live it's time to crack out your favorite daiquiri recipes.   The basic daiquiri is a perfect blend of rum, sugar syrup and lime juice and is fantastic anytime of the year, but summer is when the frozen daiquiri makes a very welcome appearance.


I love making up a batch of frozen daiquiris and hiring a frozen daiquiris machine (I think they're officially called a frozen drinks machine!) so that people can serve themselves at a summer party.

Margaritaville Tahiti Frozen Concoction Maker, DM3000
I am definitely tempted to get my very own frozen daiquiri machine and this one seems perfect because you can make more than one drink. Imagine a daiquiri of your choice and a margarita of your choice and an alcohol free frozen drinks for sober drivers, moms to be or children.

This machine would certainly get the party started in style and having read the reviews I am even more tempted....... it would certainly save on the rental, plus it's available for those impromptu gatherings as well....

If you have one please let me know how you've found it in the comments.

In the mean time have you perfected your daiquiri making skills for the upcoming summer? Whether you decide to stick to classic daiquiri recipes or embrace some frozen daiquiri recipes we do all have our favorites don't we? I love the abundance of strawberries in summer which is why I want to talk strawberry daiquiris (my hubby is muttering about an abundance of mango, but as I don't like them and I'm writing this I'm going to stick with strawberries!)

How to Make Strawberry Daiquiris

Strawberry Daiquiri Recipes

Strawberry Daiquiri By The CulinaryGeek
from Chicago, USA

If you're making your strawberry daiquiri during the strawberry season then you'll often find that they are sweet enough to not require any added sugar so be sure to taste them first (the overly sweet bagged concoction of strawberry daiquiri concentrates that are available are enough to put you right off the drink!).

Here is a recipe that doesn't call for ice, just in case your teeth are feeling a little sensitive or you don't think it's a warm enough day for a frozen drink -

Sugar Free Strawberry Daiquiri Recipe

This makes four servings so it's perfect for when your closest girlfriends come over.

6 oz rum
4 oz fresh lime juice
1 pint strawberries, hulls removed, reserving 4 for garnish

Place all of the ingredients into a blender and process until blended smooth.

Pour the mixture into 4 tall glasses and garnish with the reserved strawberries.

Homemade Strawberry Daiquiri

Frozen Strawberry Daiquiri Recipes

Please don't buy those bags of mix, making your own can be so easy by following some of these recipes -

Super Quick Strawberry Daiquiri Recipe with Frozen Strawberries

1 cup light rum
2 cups frozen whole strawberries (1 16-ounce bag)
1/3 cup sugar
3/4 cup of lime juice

First of all place your rum and lime juice into your blender and then add sugar allowing it to dissolve.

Add a few strawberries to the blender; pulsing to break them up then add more until mixture is nice and smooth.

Pour into chilled or frozen glasses as room temperature glasses allow your daiquiri to thaw too quickly. If it's an impromptu gathering and you don't have any chilled glasses then fill the glasses with ice before starting to make the daiquiris and empty them before adding the drink - it will help to cool the glasses down quickly.

Frozen Strawberry Daiquiri with Fresh Strawberries

2 parts light rum
1 part triple sec
5 large strawberries
1/2 cup crushed ice
lime juice as needed

Add all of the ingredients to the blender including just a little squeeze of lime juice and blend until the mixture is smooth - taste to see if you need a little more lime juice or not.
Rim the edge of a martini glass with lime juice and then fine sugar and fill with the strawberry daiquiri.

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Party Decorations (and cocktails) for your 4th of July Party

Celebrate Independence Day in style with some of these party decoration ideas, and a few of these drinks too.

I discussed some fantastic red, white and blue cocktails last time, but you need more than just cocktails to have a good 4^th of July and I love the idea of decorating your table with these Patriotic Top Hats.

Patriotic Top Hats (1 dz)

Pop a couple on each table as table pieces and you’ll get a very festive feel at the beginning of the party and you know that as the party wears on people will start wearing them, rather like the paper hats we all don at Christmas dinner.   At the end of the party you’ll find a number of people will leave wearing these hats which will act as a reminder of what a great time they had at your place.

American Flag

If you’re after a stunning looking shooter then an American Flag is the drink for you –

1 part grenadine

1 part white crème de cacao

1 part blue curacao

Pout the grenadine into the bottom of a shot glass, layer the crème de cacao on top and then layer the blue curacao on the top of that.

While we’re talking of the American flag – buy a whole lot of them to add as decorations in your food, drinks, on your table etc.   You can never have too many American flags on Independence Day!

USA Plastic Flags (144 pc)

Now if your get togethers are anything like mine then half of the guests will prefer to drink beer instead of cocktails (silly people!) and if you’ve got a keg on hand for them then you’ll need some patriotic cups to drink from.

Patriotic Plastic Flag Cups

Of course if you’re serving bottles or cans then your guests can drink out of them instead – whatever is easier I always say.

Another great idea for table decorations are these cute Patriotic rubber duckies.   I first came across these a few months ago and fell in love with them – I also love celebriducks so I guess I was bound to love these.

Patriotic Rubber Duckies

Now you could just scatter them around or you could decide to revive the 80s cocktail – the fluffy duck and make the drink in larger glasses with ducks floating in them.   Here’s the recipe for a fluffy duck –

Fluffy Duck

1 part white rum

1 part advocaat

1 part cream

Lemonade

Add the rum, advocaat and cream to a cocktail glass (I like to use a hurricane glass personally) and then slowly top up with lemonade.   Be aware that the cream and lemonade have a chemical reaction to each other which causes the drink to rise and froth (tastes delicious, but if you add the lemonade too quickly it can get messy).

Before we go here’s another drink for your 4^th of July get together –

4^th July Lemonade Drink (bear in mind this is not your usual lemonade – it is an alcoholic cocktail!)

1 part Jack Daniels

1 part triple sec

1 part sweet and sour mix

4 parts lemon-lime soda

Pour Jack Daniels, triple sec and sweet and sour mix into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake well.   Pour into a highball glass and top up with the lemon-lime soda, stirring gently.

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