Stir & Strain

home bar

Gift Guide: Father’s Day 2017

by Leave a Comment

Unless that tie rack comes with booze…think again.

Fathers Day Gift Guide 2017 // stirandstrain.com

For the bookworm Dad: booze books. For the stylish Dad: booze cufflinks. For the junk food Dad: beer and pretzel ice cream. For the outdoorsy Dad: a pocketknife to hand carve a muddler. Oh, and also a plaid flask (duh). For the goofy Dad: bourbon socks. For all the rest of the Dads: whisk(e)y. And you should probably throw in a Negroni finger stirrer because… well, your Dad knows a joke for that too.

1. Call Me Old Fashioned print 2. Coolhaus Beer and Pretzel ice cream 3. Rum Curious 4. The Bloody Mary Book 5. Bourbon socks 6. Cocktail cufflinks 7. Opinel pocket knife 8. Speyburn Single Malt Scotch Whisky 9. Gaz Regan Negroni Finger Stirrer 10. Plaid flask

Catch up on all the gift guides here!

Festival Ready Bar Cart Styling (it's a party for your booze)

by 1 Comment

If you’re anything like me, scrolling through endless Instagram photos of kids out at a festival, profusely sweating and pretending to smile at the camera, you’re SO happy you didn’t wait in line 45 minutes for a watered down margarita. You get to drink yours with 2 ounces of top shelf booze in front of the air conditioning. You win.

Still miss that 104° heat? Make your home bar into your own oasis. Here’s how…

Do they even serve alcohol at these festivals? Who cares! You have a well stocked bar cart at home. Throw up some cactus photos, maybe in #milleniumpink and match your glasses to that desert vibe. Crochet. There has to be lots of crochet things. A hanging chair to sip cocktails in? YES! And maybe some hanging crochet fruit baskets to match. Add in some tassels and some leather fringe. And if your festival look veers off in the electric art dream in the desert, might I suggest uranium glow-in-the-dark mixing glasses and colorful rainbow ice cubes? You can always use that glow stick to mix a few drinks with too.

1. Desert Distilling Vodka 2. Blush goblet 3. Cactus Print 4. Hanging Chair 5. Tassel Swizzle Sticks 6. Manila Bar Cart 7. Leather fringe flask 8. Cactus tumbler 9. Arette Tequila 10. Glow-in-the-dark mixing glass 11. Rainbow Ice Cubes

 

Catch up on all the gift guides here!

Green & Gold Bar Cart Styling

by Leave a Comment

It’s March. It’s almost spring. Let’s refresh that bar cart with a little smattering of green and gold. Lucky Charms cocktail garnish optional.

Thank your lucky (edible) stars we’ve been scouring the internet for some new bar cart items this month. First, skip the green beer and get yourself some green liqueur instead. Now that you’re adulting, a gilded bar cart is much prettier than a cardboard box. Next, grab yourself some equally pretty gold jiggers and a functional pitcher (for like, water or holding straws). And OK, yes, you can have ONE novelty glass. And a stir stick or two. And if you insist, some mint bitters for that adult Shamrock Shake you secretly want.

1. Shamrock Glass 2. Gold Cheers Stir Stick 3. Green Glass Pitcher 4. Gold Jigger 5. Edible Gold Stars 6. Mint Bitters 7. Bar Cart 8. Green Chartreuse

 

Catch up on all the gift guides here!

Holiday Gift Guide: Stuff It Real Good (the stocking stuffer gift guide)

by Leave a Comment

You’re going to need a bigger stocking this year.

Remember, bottles of booze fit nicely into stockings. As do magazines (about booze), gummy bears (filled with booze) and cocktail kits (for making booze). Up your cocktail party cachet with some boozy playing cards, and don’t forget the fancy glassware! Pineapples are still a thing, so throw a couple of shot glasses in that stocking. Infused ice cubes fit too! And maybe a key chain that yells I like fancy drinks!

1. Cocktail Hour Playing Cards 2. Fancy Drink Key Chain 3. Ardbeg Uigeadail Single Malt Scotch 4. Pineapple Shot Glasses 5. Imbibe Magazine (click for more details and a super subscription price!) 6. Stainless Steel Cocktail Picks 7. Homemade Gin Kit 8. Baby Champagne Gummy Bears 9. Saturn Rocks Glass 10. Veuve Clicquot Paris Arrow Bottle 11. Vincent Bartender’s Hand Salve 12. Hot Toddy Cocktail Kit 13. Herb & Lou’s Infused Ice Cubes

 

Catch up on all the gift guides here!

Holiday Gift Guide: The Naughty List

by Leave a Comment

Whether Santa’s giving you coal in your stocking, or Santa’s coming round the back door, you’re on his naughty list this year.

Are you making yellow snow and beating up on innocent reindeer piñatas (even if they are filled with tiny bottles of booze)? Don’t go crying some Bitter Tears, those are whiskey stones Santa left you, not lumps of coal. Now, on the other hand, if you’re looking for a little danger, and your scotch comes out of a bottle that was possibly forged in hell, then pour yourself some stripper highballs and put on some appropriate holiday music. Santa’s making a special stop at your chimney.

1. Highland Park Scotch Fire Edition 2. Reindeeryata! 3. Rogue Yellow Snow IPA 4. Rudy Ray Moore Christmas Album 5. Strip Tea Glasses 6. The Book of Dangerous Cocktails 7. Whiskey Stones 8. Bitter Tears Lucille Blood Orange Ginger Bitters

 

Catch up on all the gift guides here!

Holiday Gift Guide: Last Minute Boozy Subscriptions & Deliveries

by 1 Comment

Chances are you going to forget someone on your list. Here’s a helpful guide to making sure you get them something by Christmas day. Better make it boozy!

Vinyl Me, Please
First up, forget about Netflix and chill. Wine and records is where it’s at. Vinyl Me, Please has partnered with Vine Box to create the ultimate bundle: Two Nights of Music and Wine. You get two albums and 6 glasses of wine. You bring the crackling fire. This deal is only around until December 18th so you’ll want to jump on this deal NOW.

SaloonBox
If your relatives can’t be trusted to buy good booze and never have any ingredients to work with, SaloonBox is for them. Everything is included in these kits and delivered to their doorstep. Sign up for a subscription or browse their selection of bar tools, you’ll be sure to find the perfect gift.

Shaker & Spoon
If your house is full of good booze, but you get stuck making the same drinks over and over, Shaker & Spoon should be the gift you give yourself. Every month you can get 3 recipes curated by top bartenders with all the ingredients to make up to 12 drinks (minus the booze). That’s a lot of good cocktails!

Flaviar
If you just want booze, or even, rare, hard to find, or smaller unknown brands, Flaviar has introduced an online speakeasy for just this reason. You get personalized recommendations and a FREE tasting box. And again, it’s being shipped to your doorstep, so no need for pants.

Robb Vices
Chances are there is someone on your list with fancy tastes, but who wants to figure out what to get them? Have Robb Vices do that instead. Each month there is a curated box filled with luxury items and usually booze. Maybe one month it’s a scorpion lollipop. Another month it could be specially designed whiskey drinking glasses. Regardless, it will be fancy and cool.

Cocktail Courier
Choose what cocktail you’d like, or pick one from their extensive list of drinks, Cocktail Courier will get that to your doorstep ASAP. If you’re thinking about having a holiday party this year and need help at the bar, they can even deliver a bartender to you. Holiday drinking is so easy this year!

 

Catch up on all the gift guides here!

Holiday Gift Guide: Wine Lovaaaahhhhhh

by Leave a Comment

Whether you’re a Level IV Sommelier or just like mixing your red wine with coke, this guide’s for you!

Holiday Gift Guide: Wine Lovaaaahhhhh!!!! // stirandstrain.com

OK, let’s talk glassware. You can get it fancy (it says so on the glass), or save yourself the trouble and just get some unbreakable glasses (they look so REAL). Or if you just can’t be bothered, you can just attach your glass to the bottle. For your fanciest wine peeps, grab some copper, or a fancy decanter, or maybe a book on the wine regions of Argentina. And what’s the best wine gift of all? Wine. Sent to your home. Every month.

1. Twist Wine Decanter 2. Stay Fancy Wine Glass 3. Wine Glass Bottle Topper 4. Unbreakable Wine Glass 5. Wine Tasting T-Shirt 6. Argentina Wine Book 7. Wino Wine Bag 8. Winc Wine Subscription (Use this link for a free bottle of wine!) 9. Copper Wine/Ice Bucket

 

Catch up on all the gift guides here!

{Now Closed} Giveaway // Cocktail Crate X Stark Spirits

by 25 Comments

Giveaway: Cocktail Crate & Stark Spirits Gift Pack // stirandstrain.comIf last week was rough, then hopefully we can help out with this week’s giveaway. It’s a battle of East Coast versus West Coast, sort of. We’ve teamed up with Cocktail Crate (from New York) and Stark Spirits (California) to offer one lucky Stir and Strain reader a super giveaway package.

What’s in the package you ask? Cocktail Crate is giving you a full bottle each of their Maple Whiskey Sour, Ginger Bee, and Grapefruit Daiquiri craft mixers. Stark Spirits is shipping you a full bottle of their Sunshine Orange Brandy. With this combo any holiday blues will be whisked away.

Giveaway: Cocktail Crate & Stark Spirits Gift Pack // stirandstrain.comSo let us ease your holiday stress with helping you make some delicious and easy cocktails. Ready to enter? Click below and receive up to 10 entries (Open to US residents 21+ only). Giveaway ends at 11:59pm PST Monday December 5th, 2016. For more information on Cocktail Crate, check out their website at cocktailcrate.com and Stark Spirits at starkspirits.com for the entire line up of products today! Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Holiday Gift Guide: Black and White and Booze All Over

by Leave a Comment

It’s Black Friday. You have a lot of choices when it comes to impulse buying for the holidays. Thank you for visiting Stir and Strain.

Let the Holiday Guides Begin…

Holiday Gift Guide: Black and White and Booze All Over // stirandstrain.com

It IS beginning to look like cocktails. So let’s make some. Break out the vodka tonics for Mom and Dad. And don’t forget the coasters. Still stuffed from all that turkey? Muddle up something with fruit and tell yourself it will make you feel better. And then go shopping, just not at 5am.

1. Gun metal black strainer 2. Marble coasters 3. Cocktail print 4. Geometric straws 5. “Bad Ass” muddler 6. Our/Los Angeles vodka 7. Black growler 8. Q Tonic

{Now Closed} Giveaway // The Thinking Girl’s Guide to Drinking & Stir and Strain Grab Bag

by 27 Comments

Giveaway: The Thinking Girl's Guide to Drinking // stirandstrain.comIf you’re overstuffed from Halloween, but still in need of a good cocktail, let’s start November off right with some healthy alternatives to high-sugar, high-fat, artificially flavored drinks. This week we’ve teamed up with the ladies behind The Thinking Girl’s Guide to Drinking to offer you just that: cocktails without all the crap.

Author’s Ariane Resnick, certified nutritionist and author of The Bone Broth Miracle and Brittini Rae, Speed Rack 2015 winner and nationally recognized cocktail maven, combine their expert knowledge in the realms of mixology and nutrition to create inventive cocktails and mocktails that are not only fun and delicious, but nourishing and full of health benefits. This book is really about using high-quality, whole ingredients to help mitigate the negative effects of alcohol.

Want a taste? Here’s a delicious recipe to try from the book:

Giveaway: The Thinking Girl's Guide to Drinking // stirandstrain.com

Tiger’s Eye

recipe courtesy of Regan Arts

2 ounces vodka
1/2 ounce Cointreau
1 tablespoon orange zest
1 teaspoon cocoa powder
1 dash orange bitters
1 orange peel, for garnish

Shake all the ingredients except the orange peel in a shaker with ice. Strain into a champagne saucer and, if desired, flame the orange peel over the top.

And because we here at Stir and Strain are already getting into the holiday spirit, the winner will also receive a bonus grab bag of goodies from us. Maybe a couple helpful things to get you started on your cocktail making *wink wink*.

So gather up your fresh fruit, a bottle or two of some healing tonics, and enter to win today! You can get up to 10 entries below. For more information on Ariane Resnick, check out her website at arianecooks.com and find Brittini Rae on Instagram at instagram.com/whiskynlace  Giveaway ends at 11:59pm PST Monday November 7th, 2016 (US residents only). Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway