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Monday Booze News Memorial Day 2018 Edition

May 28, 2018 by elana Leave a Comment

Monday Booze News: but do you even Spritz?! // stirandstrain.com

 

  • First, if you’re not buying your Rosé by the keg, do you really Rosé?
  • Here’s a few last minute entertaining ideas for your Memorial Day party today. (You’re going to want these shoes!)
  • Oh noooooo! Someone showed up to your party with warm beer. Gross. Here’s how to chill those cans of beer in TWO minutes.
  • Looking to deep dive into some useful cocktail knowledge? Try this book on for size.
  • Welcome the schnapsicle. Get your booze in popsicle form this summer.
  • You can have a savory spritz now. Just add pickled cucumber brine. You’re welcome.
  • Some people about to Benjamin Button the heck out of Memorial Day today.
  • Beer foam art… fad or rad??
  • Session Cocktails mean you can drink them in quantity over the course of your party and still remember the next day!
  • Personally, I’ve had some great rooftop bar experiences, but this article might make one think twice. What about you folks?
  • What’s going on with the tequila shortage? People need to be a lot more mindful of the whole process.
  • And finally, Bon Jovi has a Rosé. And it sells out. I’m just going to leave this right here for a bit...

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Filed Under: Booze News, Notes Tagged With: booze news, notes

May Entertaining: Memorial Day Backyard Party

May 24, 2018 by elana 3 Comments

It’s a three day weekend. Time to grab a watermelon, eat some frozen champagne and dress up like a cocktail!

May Entertaining: Memorial Day 2018 Gift Guide // stirandstrain.com

It’s the official start of summer. So let’s tap a (watermelon) keg, freeze up the champagne (pops), and break out the patriotic bunting and vodka. You’re going to need some shades out there in that sun, so they might as well resemble your favorite cocktail. And if that’s too loud a statement, put your favorite spritz on your shoes instead.

1. Bunting 2. Cocktail Sunglasses 3. Aperol Spritz Shoes 4. Tiki Pin 5. Frozen Champagne Pop 6. Watermelon Keg 7. Watermelon Martini Pop 8. Star Swizzle Sticks 9. Crystal Head Vodka

Catch up on all the gift guides here!

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Filed Under: Gift Guide Tagged With: bar accessories, bar tools, frozen drinks, gift guide, gifts, holiday, home bar, watermelon

The Tiki Mug Collection

May 15, 2018 by elana 2 Comments

Stir and Strain's Tiki Mug Mondays Collection // stirandstrain.comIf you’ve been over to the Stir and Strain Instagram page lately (and if you haven’t, what are you waiting for?!), you might have noticed a colorful trend starting to appear down the page: tiki mugs!

I’ve been a long time collector of tiki mugs but what good is having a collection if you never take them out to admire them, right? So I thought I’d get a little personal and share some favorites every Monday until I feel like I’ve shared enough.

So, if you’re a lover of tiki mugs, soon-to-be lover of tiki mugs, or just get a voyeuristic kick out of looking at other people’s stuff (all you Hoarders show fans…I’m looking at you), then click on over to our Instagram, give us a follow, and oogle along with us every Monday.

And hey! It’s not just my mugs. I’m encouraging Stir and Strain fans to show off your mugs too by including the hashtag #sstikimugmondays on your posts so everyone gets a look!

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Filed Under: Clever Ideas, Notes Tagged With: clever ideas, notes, tiki, tiki mug, tiki mug mondays

What You Should Be Drinking This Mother’s Day (or World Cocktail Day)

May 12, 2018 by elana Leave a Comment

Mom wants a lot of Rosé, some frozen drinks by the pool, and a whole lot less whining from you.

Drunken Apple and Rosé Sangria

Sweet Corn and Strawberry Smash

Rosé Champagne Cocktail

Frozen Negroni Cocktail Slushies // stirandstrain.com

Frozen Negroni Two Ways

Sparkling Grapefruit and Lillet Rosé Sangria

Siegert’s Sparkling Cocktail: Earl Gray Tea and Angostura Amaro for Mother's Day and World Cocktail Day // stirandstrain.com

Siegert’s Sparkling Cocktail (Tea and Amaro)

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Filed Under: Recipes Tagged With: amaro, drink holiday, frozen drinks, holiday, mother's day, rose, sangria, World Cocktail Day

Siegert’s Sparkling Cocktail amaro - earl gray - lemon - tonic

May 11, 2018 by elana 1 Comment

Siegert’s Sparkling Cocktail: Earl Gray Tea and Angostura Amaro for Mother's Day and World Cocktail Day // stirandstrain.comThis post is brought to you by House of Angostura. Recipe and ideas are my own.

May is teeming with twofer drinking holidays and this weekend is another. Is Mother’s Day a drinking holiday? (This lady says YES!)

It’s also World Cocktail Day on Sunday, so I thought we would offer up this cocktail that could work for both holidays. It’s called Siegert’s Sparkling Cocktail, a tea cocktail made with Angostura’s Amaro.

You might be asking yourself, “Mmm. I love amaro, but who is a Siegert and what does he have to do with this cocktail?” Well! In 1824, Dr. Johann Siegert produced his first aromatic bitters as a medicinal tincture designed to alleviate stomach ailments of soldiers while serving as the Surgeon General in Angostura, Venezuela. By 1850, Siegert was exporting This magical potion to England, the Caribbean, and United States. From there the manufacturing became a family business with his sons in Trinidad, and Angostura Bitters went on to win awards and become an integral part of cocktail culture to this day.

A fitting little tidbit as we celebrate World Cocktail Day with an ingredient that is as big a star in the cocktail world as the cocktails themselves. Now on to the drink!

Siegert's Sparkling Cocktail: Earl Gray Tea and Angostura Amaro for Mother's Day and World Cocktail Day // stirandstrain.comTea! Tea service! Mother’s Day! It’s also Mother’s Day on Sunday so we’re serving up a sparkling cocktail made with aromatic Earl Gray tea syrup. Combined with a little acidity from the lemon juice and the richly complex Amaro di Angostura, it’s layered with spices, subtle citrus and just a pop of effervescence from the tonic water. This cocktail would go great with brunch or listening to Mom tell you about how much better your other sibling is doing with their life. (OK, so maybe in that case you should have this drink.) Either way, it’s delicious. Enjoy!

Siegert’s Sparkling Cocktail

Earl Gray tea syrup:
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
2 bags earl gray tea

In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, combine sugar and water. Stir until sugar dissolves and bring sugar to a boil and then remove from heat. Immediately add tea bags to the simple syrup and let stand 15 minutes. Remove tea bags and discard. Let syrup cool and store in an airtight container for up to one month.

Cocktail:
2 oz Angostura Amaro
3/4 oz Earl Gray Tea Syrup
1/2 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
3 oz tonic water
Garnish: lemon peel

In a shaker â…” filled with ice, add in Angostura Amaro, Earl Gray Tea Syrup, and lemon juice. Shake 20 seconds and strain into a highball glass over fresh ice. Pour in tonic water and stir gently to combine. Garnish with lemon peel.

 

If you’d like to learn more about Angostura and their products, please visit them at www.angostura.com

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Filed Under: Recipes Tagged With: amaro, Angostura Amaro, early gray tea, lemon juice, make it, mother's day, tea, tonic water, World Cocktail Day

Jet Set Prints for the Midcentury Home Bar

May 9, 2018 by elana 1 Comment

Art and Hue Cocktail Prints for the Jet Set Cocktail Life // stirandstrain.comForever on the lookout for ways to decorate my home bar and bar cart, I came across these new cocktail prints from Art & Hue recently and had to share.

Art and Hue Cocktail Prints for the Jet Set Cocktail Life // stirandstrain.com

Art and Hue Cocktail Prints for the Jet Set Cocktail Life // stirandstrain.comI, like many of us (as the Mad Men phenomenon has us believe), am enamored with that mid-60’s Golden Age of flying. The luxury, the glamor, the booze! These colorful prints from Art & Hue highlight bits of architecture from modernist airports (like LAX’s iconic shapes), as well as pop art styled air hostesses and in-flight services.

Art and Hue Cocktail Prints for the Jet Set Cocktail Life // stirandstrain.comThese prints got the spirit of that era down. And the best part? You can order custom color combos to match your home bar’s decor. Me? I think I’m a big fan of the cobalt and blush.

Online at artandhue.com/jetset

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Filed Under: Clever Ideas, Entertain Me Tagged With: bar art, bar cart, clever ideas, entertain me

The Tequila Mint Julep tequila - mint - bitters

May 4, 2018 by elana Leave a Comment

The Tequila Mint Julep with El Mayor Tequila // stirandstrain.comThis post is brought to you by El Mayor Tequila. Recipe and ideas are my own.

This weekend we’ve got a double dose of reasons to celebrate. Saturday marks the 144th Kentucky Derby and Cinco de Mayo, both happening on the same day. No need for a sad case of FOMO, we’ve got a drink that celebrates both: the Tequila Mint Julep.

The Tequila Mint Julep with El Mayor Tequila // stirandstrain.comNot long ago a Mint Julep was a Mint Julep: bourbon, mint, sugar, silver cup. Bam. But as bartenders and cocktail enthusiasts have brought an inquisitive eye to old recipes, here today we’re riffing on this classic with our partner, El Mayor Tequila.

The Tequila Mint Julep with El Mayor Tequila // stirandstrain.comEl Mayor Añejo Tequila is fantastic sipped on its own, but the tequila also mixes quite well in cocktails. Especially when the spirit needs to be strong and shine through a whole lot of crushed ice! The 100% blue agave añejo is aged in white oak barrels for 18 to 36 months, giving it the distinctive oak-y nose, golden color and slightly sweet and spicy flavor profile. If you’re going to use a tequila in a julep recipe, this is the one.

The Tequila Mint Julep with El Mayor Tequila // stirandstrain.comFor this recipe I forgo the muddled mint (*gasp*) and instead opt for a creme de menthe liqueur to add the minty flavor and a touch of sweet. I like the bracingly cool mint liqueur up against the tequila. Also, if you’re serving this up at your party it’s going to save you some time since you won’t have to muddle all those mint leaves. To round out the drink, I’ve added in a few dashes of aromatic bitters and a touch more sweetness with some demerara syrup. The drink needs that last touch of sugar to balance it out along with the bitters.

The Tequila Mint Julep with El Mayor Tequila // stirandstrain.comLastly, I gave this julep a crown of mint (I couldn’t leave the fresh mint out completely), like its own little laurel wreath. And you don’t have to make it rain powdered sugar on your julep for a garnish, but it sure does look pretty.

The Tequila Mint Julep with El Mayor Tequila // stirandstrain.comSo, let’s jump start this Cinco de Derby party and mix up a batch of Tequila Juleps. It’s a sure bet!

The Tequila Mint Julep

2 ounces El Mayor Añejo Tequila
1/2 ounce creme de menthe
1/4 ounce demerara syrup (see notes below)
3 dashes aromatic bitters
mint and powdered sugar

In a silver julep cup, or double rocks glasses, pour in El Mayor Añejo Tequila, creme de menthe, demerara syrup, and bitters. Fill glass halfway with crushed ice and swizzle until glass is frosty, about 20-30 seconds. Fill with more crushed ice. Garnish with fresh mint and powdered sugar. Add a short straw if you’d like!

Notes:

  • To make demerara syrup, combine 1 cup water with 1 cup demerara sugar in a medium sauce pan over medium high heat. Bring to just under a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar. When all the sugar has dissolved, remove from heat and let cool. Store in an air tight container, refrigerated, for up to one month.
  • Julep cups come in all different sizes but choose one around 12 ounces for this cocktail. A double rocks glass will make an acceptable substitute.

The Tequila Mint Julep with El Mayor Tequila // stirandstrain.com

For more information on El Mayor Tequila and their entire product line, please visit them at elmayor.com!

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Filed Under: Recipes Tagged With: bitters, cinco de mayo, creme de menthe, demerara sugar, El Mayor Añejo Tequila, Kentucky Derby, mint, tequila

May Entertaining: Cinco de Derby Party

May 2, 2018 by elana Leave a Comment

Giddy-up! ¡Olé! It’s a Cinco de Derby Cocktail Party brought to you by Master of Mixes!

May Entertaining: Cinco de Derby Gift Guide // stirandstrain.com

Place your bets! Does your trifecta include Blood Orange Margaritas? Minty Mint Juleps? Three Sheets to the Wind? (I’m definitely putting all my money down on those three)

When Cinco de Mayo and the Kentucky Derby fall on the same day, everyone’s lucky. So, it’s time to throw a party of dueling cocktails! Mix up a giant punch bowl of Master of Mixes Blood Orange Margaritas, or make some ice cold batches of super minty Mint Juleps with a little help from Master of Mixes Mint Syrup (with extra mint garnishes please!). Stir it up with a pony or two, and tip back a festive cup to drink them all out of. And if you’re headed to the races later, slip a little into your lucky flask.

1. Party Banner 2. Cactus Cups 3. Tassel Napkins 4. Pony Cocktail Pick 5. Master of Mixes Blood Orange Margarita Mix 6. Master of Mixes Mint Syrup 7. Silver Punch Bowl 8. Opera Glasses 9. Horseshoe Flask

 

If you’d like to learn more about Master of Mixes and their naturally flavored, delicious mixers (and take a peek at their over 45! different flavors), please visit them at MixologyPro.com!

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Filed Under: Everyday Parties, Gift Guide Tagged With: bar accessories, bar tools, blood orange, cinco de mayo, drink holiday, Everyday Parties, gift guide, gifts, holiday, home bar, Kentucky Derby, master of mixes, mint

Monday Booze News Horses, tequila and human toe garnishes

April 30, 2018 by elana Leave a Comment

Monday Booze News: tequila, etc... // stirandstrain.com

It’s the blue moon of cocktail events this week as the Kentucky Derby and Cinco de Mayo converge on Saturday.

  • You’re going to need a horse piñata Saturday.
  • Also, the ultimate Mint Julep (which is surprisingly simple).
  • And lots of tequila. And tequila cocktails.
  • But seriously, how DO bartenders remember all those drink recipes?
  • I like coffee in my cocktails, and these folks are making it real easy for me.
  • This kid knows how to dine and dash with a $1200 glass of whiskey (I’m not condoning it, I’m just saying he’s getting the most out of his delinquent behavior).
  • What booze will pack on the pounds? I mean, do you really want to know…?
  • So many new cocktail books, so little time (to drink).
  • Got a bottle of Fernet Branca? Here’s a roundup of pretty drinks you can make with it.
  • The weather’s getting warmer, are you ready to Tiki? Here’s a (brief) history… with drinks!
  • And finally, WTF Canada?!? You can have a cocktail with a human toe garnish. *Insert vomit emoji*

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Filed Under: Booze News, Notes Tagged With: booze news, notes

Bar Cart Styling: From Coffee to Cocktails

April 11, 2018 by elana Leave a Comment

It’s like one of those day to night outfits, except with a bar cart.

Bar Cart Styling: From Coffee to Cocktails, a day to night transformation // stirandstrain.com

Earlier this year I saw the alarming trend that cocktail bar carts were going away! And instead, coffee carts were going to be the next big thing. Well, we’re all not about to throw away a $600 cart we bought just to get another cart and then have that trend flop on its face. If you’re on the fence about purchasing a cart, well, maybe this will inspire you! You can have it both ways by dressing your cart up for breakfast AND happy hour. Let me show you how your bar cart can do double duty as it transforms from coffee to cocktails.

  • Utilize items that work for both coffee and cocktails: sugar cubes, spoons, containers, napkins, straws, etc…
  • A french press will make a great cup of coffee AND you can use it to infuse flavors into booze.
  • Double duty glasses for water and cocktails.
  • Coffee and tonic is still a trend so keep a few bottles out for morning and then later for G&Ts.
  • Have a house cocktail and keep just those items stocked on the cart.
  • Flowers! Decorate with edible flowers like pansies or nasturtiums and your cart will look pretty all day, and your drinks will look pretty all night.
  • Keep the whiskey, rum, liqueur, etc… out. Who says you can’t have coffee and cocktails?!

1. Edible Flowers 2. Canister 3. French Press 4. Ceramic and Wood Glasses 5. Leaf Napkins 6. Sugar Cubes 7. Bar (Coffee) Cart 8. Glasses 9. Containers 10. Tonic 11. Decanter 12. Gold Straws 13. Bitters 14. Bar Spoon

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Filed Under: Gift Guide Tagged With: bar accessories, bar cart, bar tools, coffee, gift guide, gifts, home bar

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