Things I Think Are Kinda Cool

A few nights ago, the lovely Twanna (aka Funky Brown Chick), trekked her beautiful self to the West Village and joined me for the latest Cocktail Creation session. The only criteria we had to follow was that the drink needed to include tequila. I’m not an expert tequila drinker (like I am with vodka), so this was truly a trial-and-error experiment. (And let’s just say that Twanna and I did A LOT of experimenting…and laughing…through the process.) After she arrived, I pulled out all the alcohol and mixers I had in my kitchen – we rolled up our proverbial sleeves and got to work. We started by creating several different shots and ranked them on qualities like overall taste, uniqueness, and strength. The combo which won over our hearts and livers was then upgraded to a full-on cocktail.

Please allow me to introduce to you… EL MISTERIO

* Into a cocktail shaker packed with ice, add the following (this will make 3-4 drinks)

- 4 shots tequila (we used Patron Silver)
- 3 shots rum (we used Captain Morgan)
- 2 shots St. Germain elderflower liqueur
- 6 shots iced tea

* Do your best Tom-Cruise-from-”Cocktail” impression and shake it up
* Pour into a chilled martini glass and ENJOY!

FYI, these are the other combos that we tried, along with their ratings:

- tequila / elderflower / orange juice = 6/10
- tequila / iced tea / lemonade = 8/10
- tequila / sparkling water / fruit punch = 4/10
- tequila / iced tea / orange juice = 5/10
- tequila / rum / sparkling water / elderflower = 8/10
- tequila / rum / fruit punch / elderflower = 5/10

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***Want another drink? Try one of my other cocktail creations:
- Bloody Demon
- Popsicletini
- Midnight Luxe
- Summer Chiller

It’s time for another Cocktail Creation…this one is extremely simple, and is absolutely perfect for a hot and muggy summer day.

Please allow me to introduce you to…the POPSICLETINI

1.  POUR 2 shots of Vodka (or 3 if you’re feeling wild) into a glass with ice

2.  FILL the glass with sparkling water (you don’t need to go crazy with a high-end brand…Poland Spring sparkling water is just as good)

3.  ADD your favorite popsicle and GARNISH with fresh mint.  (If you’re counting calories and carbs, there are some delicious sugar-free popsicles out there).  As you drink your cocktail, the popsicle will begin to melt, adding fruity goodness to the drink.

4.  EAT the vodka-soaked popsicle and then go ahead and make yourself a second drink!  Enjoy…

Still thirsty?
Try one of my previous Cocktail Creations:  the Summer Chiller & the Midnight Luxe…

There’s nothing I like more than a refreshing cocktail – so many bars are popping up in NYC that push the boundaries with their drink menus. I love a bar or lounge with a detailed cocktail menu that mixes unusual ingredients and takes some risks. Some of my faves in NYC are Apothoke, Pegu Club, and Little Branch – not only are their cocktail menus unique and exciting, the wait staff and bartenders are all attitude-free and welcoming. The technical term for the crop of bartenders who treat their creations like delicious science experiments is “mixologists” – I personally think the term is a bit overused and has become a marketing ploy, but the workers at the bars I’ve mentioned above are definitely much more than simple pour-and-serve bartenders.

This brings us to the first in the series of “Cocktail Creation” posts that I’ll be doing. I absolutely love coming up with my own delicious science experiments. I am, by no means, a mixologist – I don’t measure anything, and I don’t do any advance research. I just throw things together that I like and hope for the best.

So, without further adieu – THE SUMMER CHILLER -

1. SHAKE these up in a cocktail shaker filled with ice
-2 shots of St. Germain Elderflower liqueur
-2 shots of Vodka (I’ve been on a Svedka kick lately)

2. POUR over ice and ADD some sparkling water

3. SCOOP some of your favorite lemon sorbet on top

4. SQUEEZE some lemon juice into the drink

5. GO OUTSIDE into the sun and DRINK