A couple of weeks ago, I had dinner at Lazaranda Modern Kitchen & Tequila on Beltline. For kicks and potential good copy, I ordered a Sol-A-Rita, a gimmicky goblet of a frozen margarita with a mini-bottle of Sol beer inverted in the slush. The drink was a pleasant surprise. The lime juice is freshly squeezed, and the beer is slowly released into the mix. It’s a terrific way to pass the time on a hot summer night.
This weekend was ideal for country music and spirits lovers as the Kenny Chesney 2013 No Shoes Nation concert Saturday night also featured the launch of his new rum inspired by sitting in the sunshine in the Caribbean islands sipping rum without anywhere to go or anything to do. After much thought and research he finally settled on creating his Blue Chair Bay Rum at a small distillery in Barbados just a few feet away from the beach, partnering with Savvy Drinks to create his lifestyle of the islands in a bottle.
Having spent a little time in the Caribbean, I can easily understand how the lifestyle of living on a white sandy beach, listening to music, sipping clean island rum and doing nothing is infectious, if you can bottle that I am immediately there! And he did. The White Rum, Coconut Rum and Coconut Spiced Rum are all true to their island inspired name, filled with sweet vanilla, tropical fruit and spice. I was unable to attend the launch but had a chance to try a sample of all three and a few cocktails, given to me by the producers, before the event. I particularly liked the coconut spiced rum filled with a luscious combination of toasted coconut, warm baking spices like cinnamon and cloves and sweet vanilla. Delicate and smooth, ideal for sipping on their own or mixing into your favorite cocktail. I liked it just mixed with club soda and a sprig of fresh mint.
The product is just now launching and will be available throughout Dallas shortly, each retailing for less than $20 a bottle. Follow the jump for recipes. Continue reading "What To Drink Now: Blue Chair Bay Rum with Kenny Chesney"
3 Comments »I like having an entire weekend to celebrate with Derby Day and Cinco de Mayo back to back..having them on the same day last year just about did me in, so this Saturday/Sunday combo allows for a little spacing out of your tequila and whiskey cocktails. If you need a little inspiration consider one of these for toasting this weekend. A few spirit samples and recipes were sent for editorial consideration.
Blood Orange Margarita
1½ parts Tequila Avión
¾ part Cointreau
1 part Blood Orange Juice
½ part Fresh Sour Mix
Directions: In a cocktail shaker add all ingredients with ice. Shake and strain; best served over fresh ice and garnish with an orange twist. Continue reading "What To Drink Now: Derby Day/Cinco de Mayo – Get Ready For A Fun Weekend!"
In addition to all the wonderful things spring brings, it also brings the start of baseball season…joyous for this Ranger fan, with opening day at The Ballpark happening in just hours, along with the end of college basketball for the year. If you can’t make it out to opening day, or had your basketball bracket blow up and need a distraction from the games this weekend, consider mixing up one of these tasty cocktails.
The Ballpark Diamond
1 1/2 parts Maker’s Mark
Cold Ginger Beer
Directions: In tall glass, add cubed ice, mix 1 1/2 parts of Maker’s Mark and fill to top with Ginger Beer.
The Red Thread
1 1/4 parts Maker’s Mark
Soda Water
Splash Cranberry Juice
Lime Wedge
Directions: Fill rocks glass with cubed ice, add Maker’s Mark, soda water and a splash of cranberry juice and garnish with a lime wedge. Continue reading "DIFF, The Rangers and The Final Four Give Us Reasons To Toast this Weekend"
Easter not only launches the season where we can officially wear white, it is also the real launch of spring. If you are looking for a pastel pink, mint green or baby blue cocktail to enjoy with your Easter brunch this weekend consider one of these tasty treats. Though not as good as a chocolate bunny…what is? These are a great way to leisurely enjoy a warm spring afternoon.
Easter Bunny Cocktail
MARTINI® Prosecco
1 scoop raspberry sorbet or 1 scoop lemon sorbet
2 or 3 blueberries
Directions – Add raspberry or lemon sorbet to a chilled champagne flute and fill with MARTINI® Prosecco. Garnish with blueberries. Continue reading "What To Drink Now: Easter Cocktails"
Hopefully you will be feeling the luck of the Irish this weekend. If you are still looking for a tasty green cocktail to enjoy consider mixing one of these up for your St. Paddy’s Day holiday merriment. A few selections were sent for editorial consideration.
Emerald Crush
2 oz Blue Ice Organic Wheat Vodka
1/2 organic kiwi, peeled
1/2 organic lime, cut into quarters
1 teaspoon organic sugar
Directions: Muddle fruit and sugar in a mixing glass until well crushed and juicy. Add ice and vodka and shake vigorously. Pour all contents over ice into a tall tumbler and drink with straws.
Continue reading "What To Drink Now: Lucky Green Cocktails for St. Patrick’s Day"
Sunday night the biggest names and brightest Hollywood stars gather to celebrate Oscar and the 85th annual Academy Awards. Oscar night is a big night in our house, as movies are one of the most loved and time honored past times in America. Though there are already some upsets this year, especially in the Best Director category, the evening will no doubt be one to celebrate….if for nothing else the honoring of James Bond. If you are looking for a few tasty libations to help this along, either by toasting the winners or crying with the losers, here are a few nicely themed suggestions. A few selections were sent for editorial consideration.
For James Bond, a classic…shaken not stirred.
Vesper Martini
3 parts Hendrick’s Gin
1 part Stoli Gold
1 part Lillet Blanc
Directions: Shake it very well until it is ice cold and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a thin slice of lemon peel. Continue reading "What To Drink Now: Cocktails to Make Oscar Smile"
Still looking for the perfect drink on Valentine’s? If you’re trying to create an air of romance, or just whip up something fun and creative on Valentine’s night, consider one of these tasty cocktails that will put you in the mood for love.
Wild Strawberry Seduction
2 oz. SKYY Infusions Wild Strawberry
1 oz. Fresh Lemon Juice
1 oz. Apple Juice
½ oz. Honey Solution
2 Medium Basil Leaves
2 Medium Strawberries
Directions:Muddle basil, strawberries and lemon juice. Add remaining ingredients. Shake and double strain into coupe glass.
Pomosa
4 oz Sparkling Wine
1 oz Van Gogh Pomegranate Vodka
Directions: Pour chilled Van Gogh Pomegranate Vodka into a flute. Top with sparkling wine and garnish with a strawberry.
Cupid’s Cuvée
1 ounce Shellback Spiced Rum
3/4 ounce Sloe Gin
1/2 ounce Falernum
2 ounces Brut Champagne
Lemon Twist Garnish
Directions: Combine liquids except champagne in cocktail shaker with ice. Stir or shake according to preference. Strain into chilled flute. Top with Brut Champagne. Garnish with lemon twist.
Continue reading "What To Drink Now: Valentine’s Cocktails for You and Your Sweetie"
For those of you wishing to avoid the crowds of people rushing out for their prix fixe this Valentine’s Day, plan an intimate dinner at home. You can spend the money you save on a day-after couples’ massage.
Normally, I would give tons of advice about how to get the pasta from the kitchen to the table in less than a minute or how to time your courses, but I won’t. The whole point of eating in for Valentine’s Day is that you can eat at 5:30 or 10:30, or you could never get past the cocktails and leek and chard tarts. Chocolate ganache can be better for breakfast anyway.
Well, perhaps a few pieces of advice are in order. If you want to eat this savory tart (jump to see the photo) as badly as I do, you need to remember one crucial point: the puff pastry must be defrosted in the fridge the day before you bake the tart. You really don’t want to see how ugly a last-minute defrost of puff pastry can be in the microwave. And, really, I w0uld be doing you a disservice if I didn’t tell you that you really must have your butter and asparagus shavings ready the moment you pull your pasta from the boiling water. Fun can be structured. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
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As another season of football draws to a close, yet again without the Cowboy’s in the prime spot. This Super Bowl Sunday celebrate the tradition of the day along with the teams with a frosty beverages and tasty snacks that will make any party a hit. Need a little inspiration? Shake up one of these cocktails this weekend, it will make watching the game much more fun.
Harbaugh Bloody Sunday
4 ounces Jalapeño-Infused Camarena Silver Tequila*
3 ounces Fresh-Squeezed Blood Orange Juice
1 ounce Fresh Lime Juice
2 ounces Orange Liqueur
Directions: In a cocktail shaker, combine jalapeño-infused Camarena Silver Tequila, blood orange juice, lime juice and Cointreau. Fill with ice, shake and strain into a rocks glass over ice. Garnish with a blood orange peel.
*Jalapeño-Infused Camarena Silver Tequila – Slice up a fresh jalapeño pepper and allow it to steep in 1 cup of Camarena Silver Tequila for 2 hours. Remove the slices by pouring the mixture through a mess strainer. Continue reading "What To Drink Now: Super Bowl Super Cocktails"
Thanksgiving has past…Black Friday and Cyber Monday are over, and if you managed to get through the eating and the start of the shopping, you are surely in store for a great holiday season. Toast your survival and the season with a festive cocktail made with some of your favorite spirits. Need some inspiration, consider mixing up one of these.
If this isn’t inspiration enough plan a visit to Sigel’s on Greenville Ave. next Wednesday for their Artisan/Craft Distillers event. Over 65 spirits will be available for tasting and several of the craftiest distillers will be on hand to talk about their tasty products including Leonard Firestone and Troy Robertson, Proprietors of Firestone & Robertson Distillery in Fort Worth; Dan Garrison, Proprietor of Garrison Brother’s Distillery down in the Hill Country; Phil Prichard, Proprietor and Master Distiller of Prichard’s Distillery; and Mark Taverniti, Proprietor of Old Tahoe Distillery. The event is free but an RSVP is required. If you haven’t tried Dan Garrison’s Texas Whiskey, or any of these other artisanal libations, now is the time as they are all on sale for this event.
A few spirits samples for cocktails below were sent for editorial consideration.
Avión Autumn Apple
1 ½ parts Tequila Avión Silver
1 part lemon juice
1 part agave nectar
1 part fresh pressed apple juice
Directions – Add all ingredients into a shaker, shake and pour into a rocks glass. Continue reading "What To Drink Now: It’s The Holidays…Have a Cocktail"
The time to celebrate goblins and ghouls is almost upon us, so raise a glass to your favorite scary witches, vampires and ghosts and enjoy a tasty treat this Halloween in liquid form. Here are a few devilishly delicious ideas to enjoy on all Hallows Eve; some selections were sent for editorial consideration.
I am always in the mood for a glass of wine and these add a little fun to any party, not just on Halloween.
If Halloween makes you a little loony, try a glass of Lunatic White from Luna Wines. An unexpected blend of 38% Albarino, 34% Malvasia Bianca, and 28% Chardonnay makes this a scene stealer at any party. Filled with floral, fruit and spice notes, this white wine delivers the characteristics that you would hope from each variety included, and blends them together to create an approachable, food friendly and very fun white wine. Continue reading "What To Drink Now: Halloween Libations"
4 Comments »Last night 200+ guests arrived at historic The Aldredge House on Swiss Ave. to be transported to a cocktail infused world courtesy of Cointreau, the orange liqueur created over 160 years ago in France that became best known in this area for its inclusion in our state’s favorite cocktail, the margarita. However, Cointreau goes far past the traditional margarita for its cocktail uses, as the sweet orange and floral notes of this luscious liqueur mix well with anything from club soda to iced tea, and last night the La Maison Cointreau experience displayed how. Continue reading "What To Drink Now: Cointreau at La Maison Cointreau"

JEM Beverage Company Co-Partners (left to right) Ben Jenkins, Master Distiller Michael Pfeiffer, John Straits and Evan Batt
Spirits have come a long way in recent years, moving beyond the traditional brands to more artisanal products created with innovation, passion and determination in mind, and always keeping high quality and great taste in mind. Here are a few new spirit brands available in Dallas that embrace these ideas. A few selections were sent for editorial consideration. Continue reading "What To Drink Now: New Spirits"
4 Comments »Where would we be without Christopher Columbus, so in honor of him and his day, here are some suggestions fitting to toast the adventurous Italian who, thanks to the Spanish monarchy, was finally able in 1492 to sail the wide ocean blue.
Several suggestions were sent for editorial consideration.
In honor of Columbus, Drink Italian wine -
The easy to drink Tuscan Rosato from Santa Christina will help anyone feel Italian. Made from a blend of 60% Sangiovese, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah, creating a wine with ripe strawberry, raspberry and cranberry with an approachable style that can be enjoyed with anything from light salads to pasta with a light tomato sauce. Continue reading "What To Drink Now: Columbus Day"