Drink of the Moment, 4th of July Edition: Melted Bomb Pop

It's Independence Day this week for the old US of A, and that means drinks all around!!  What says summertime and America (and on sooo many levels) more than the traditional stand-by at swimming pools and ice cream stands all over this nation - the 'Bomb Pop'?  Who can forget eating them as a kid and winding up with that classic blue mouth afterwards?  So, I figured why not work up a nifty adult version to celebrate the season with all of the fun, flavor, and nostalgic fondness with a little more 'pop', if you will, and a little less of the blue mouth aftermath.  Ready to accompany all of your grilling and fireworks festivities, I present to you 'The Melted Bomb Pop'.  

The Melted Bomb Pop

Splash of Rose's Grenadine
1 part Stolichnaya Wild Cherri Vodka  

2 parts UV Blue, Raspberry Flavored Vodka

3 parts Sparkling Lemonade (I used 'Sparkling Ice' Lemonade)
Popsicle stick

Start by ensuring that all items have been chilled for at least 24 hours.  (I keep my vodkas in the freezer, and my mixers in the fridge).  Once chilled thoroughly, put a generous splash of Rose's Grenadine Syrup into a champagne flute, or similarly shaped glass.  Add 1 part (1 oz for a single cocktail) Stoli Wild Cherri vodka, and let settle.  Once settled, slowly add 1 1/2 parts UV Blue vodka, pouring over the back of a spoon to layer the liquor; let settle.  Once settled, slowly pour 3 parts of your sparkling lemonade over the back of a spoon to layer; let settle.  At this point, your lemonade should have fallen to the middle of the glass, separating the red and blue.  Once stable, slowly add the extra 1/2 part of UV Blue to the top, using the spoon method to layer, to ensure you have a strong blue finish to your beverage.  Garnish with a plain popsicle stick if you have one handy.  Enjoy!!

**Note: If the 'melted' aspect of the cocktail doesn't have you super excited, you can also whip this up as a frozen 'Deconstructed Bomb Pop', if you will, by adding shaved ice with each layer.  If you give this method a try, be sure that you layer your ice with each layer of the drink so you maintain the color separation.



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Drink of the Moment, Birthday Edition: Cherry Cheesecake

Let the birthday cake-tails continue!  Second in the lineup packs the punch of a cheesecake without all of the calories and just as much (if not more) of the fun.

Cherry Cheesecake-tail

1oz Three Olives Cake vodka

1oz Stoli Wild Cherri

Splash of Butterscotch Schnapps

1/2oz White Cranberry Juice

Maraschino Cherries

Whipped Topping

Place first four ingredients in a shaker filled with ice.  Shake vigorously, and pour into glass.  Place maraschino cherry or two into glass and top with whipped topping.  Dig in!

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Drink of the Moment: Honey DO!

It's Memorial Day weekend, and we all know what that means!  Good times, good friends, and  ... good grief it's been a long time since I've done a Drink of the Moment!  For those of you that thought I had fallen ON the wagon (you know who you are), NEVER FEAR for I am back with a fantastic beverage for whatever upcoming weekend fete you might be gearing up for.  I call it the 'Honey Do' since it's sweet, melony, and easy enough for your someone else to whip up for you all afternoon so you don't have to lift a finger.  Sounds perfect, no?  Oh, and let me not forget to mention that it is neon green.  Who doesn't have fun drinking a glowy green drink - a total DO .  Give it a chug (or three) and let me know what you think!

The Honey Do

3/4-1oz Stoli Sticki honey flavored vodka

2oz Midori melon liquer

1/2 oz lime juice

1/2 oz simple syrup

Club Soda

Lime &/or blackberry for garnish

Mix first 4 ingredients in a shaker filled with ice and shake vigorously.  Pour into your glass, top with club soda, and garnish with fruit.  Easy peasy.

You can also do this one up instead of on the rocks if it tickles your fancy.  Just be sure to reduce the lime and simple syrup slightly so they don't overpower the flavor of the melon, or maybe add some more Midori if you go this route.  Either way, your own fate lies in the balance here, and the last thing anyone wants is to taste something gone horribly awry called a 'Honey Don't'.

Cheers!

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Drink of the Moment: Snowy Cranberry Martini

I don't know about you, but I can't keep up this holiday season!  Decking the halls, buying, wrapping, visiting, and this marathon cold I can't shake ... it can all get so overwhelming (and cause serious lapses between blog posts).  Thank goodness for good friends and good booze to help take that edge off all of that, as well as helping manage the added face-time with family too!  This week, my stunningly handsome and fabulously gifted friend Jeff has provided the inspiration for the 'Drink of the Moment'; one gift that will keep on giving.  I hope you enjoy!

Snowy Cranberry Martini   
2oz of your favorite vodka (I used Stoli) 
1 1/2 oz white cranberry juice
Splash of club soda or Perrier 
Lime wedge, fresh cranberries, & powdered sugar for garnish


Vigorously shake vodka and cranberry juice with ice in a shaker.  Pour into a glass rimmed with lime juice & powdered sugar (unless you have a better way to achieve the look of snow); top with a splash of club soda or Perrier.  Garnish with fresh cranberries and lime wedge.  Festive!


And for those of you who like a little variation on a theme ...

The Yellow Snowy Cranberry Martini
2oz of your favorite vodka (I used Stoli)
1oz white cranberry juice 
1/2 oz fresh lime juice
Splash of club soda or Perrier
Lime wedge, fresh cranberries, & powdered sugar for garnish


Vigorously shake vodka, cranberry juice, and lime juice with ice in a shaker.  Pour into a glass rimmed with lime juice & powdered sugar; top with a splash of club soda or Perrier.  Garnish with fresh cranberries and lime wedge.

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Drink of the Moment: Stoli Doli

Monument Avenue

One of the things I like most about living in Richmond VA is the Easter Parade that occurs every year on Monument Avenue.  A large stretch of the historic street is closed down, the median is filled with vendors and exhibits.  There are parties at all of the grand historic homes, and there is a parade of people going up and down both sides of the street in their Easter best.  It's all so traditionally southern with the massive houses, civil war monuments, and Sunday hats; and yet slightly hokey with the outrageously decorated dogs and Easter bonnet contests that it's absolutely amazing.  Everyone that lives nearby either has an Easter brunch party to attend, or is holding one themselves, and of course has a tasty spring beverage in hand.  My personal standby for the last decade has been 'The Stoli Doli'.

Before vodka came in the myriad of flavors that are readily available today, one was left to their own devices to mix things up a bit.  Even today with flavored vodkas on shelves everywhere, there is still something that makes it way more special and just seems a little better when done yourself.  In this case, not only are you getting your own 'personally crafted' vodka, but its super easy too.

Stoli Doli

1 750ml bottle Stolichnaya vodka         

1 whole Dole pineapple

Fruit punch or fruit juice (optional)

Cut and core your pineapple (into cubes if you're so inclined), and place it in a large jar or covered pitcher.  Pour the entire bottle of vodka over the pineapple, seal, and let it sit for at least 24 hours and up to 4 days.  Serve up with a splash of pineapple juice, or mix with fruit punch or your favorite fruit juice.

I usually cube my pineapple (to make it easy to use as garnish later) and mix with a fruit punch just because I like a pink drink on Easter, but this is absolutely amazing just by itself.  Keep in mind that the longer that pineapple soaks, the more infused the vodka will become so you can really make it to taste.  Just be careful with your consumption, as they do pack a bit of a punch.  We wouldn't want any kids to find you in the bushes instead of the the easter eggs they're looking for!

HAPPY EASTER!!!

Drink(s) of the Moment

Ask anyone that knows me, in a certain setting, what I'm having to drink, and without hesitation they will tell you that it's either an extra dirty Stoli martini served up, or a pint of Guinness (if I'm feeling like something a little more subtle).  Recently though, I've been getting an itch to find some new and more interesting alternatives to mix things up a bit, which brings me to what I'll call my 'Drink(s) of the Moment.'

I suppose if this were a few years ago, I could do something exciting like a 'You Buy It, I'll Try It' thing, where I would probably end up with some seriously interesting bar stories that I wouldn't even be able to relay in full due to brief blackouts from what I'm sure some of those drinks might contain.  Since this is not a few years ago though, and I do truly enjoy having Jay in my life, I've been doing a little experimenting for myself with our own personal 'bar'.  While this may seem a little less exciting than a story about some random night out ending with me asleep on the floor somewhere; it should actually be more exciting for you because I remember everything I need to relay here (at least for the most part), AND I can share the recipes!

Here are my current 'drinks of the moment' worth sharing:

The Rumchata Black Russian

You may remember that Rumchata was one of my Favorite Five this month, and if you typically like a White Russian, then you'll love the twist the Rumchata gives this 'Black' Russian.  It will knock your socks off in more ways than one.

Ingredients (Serves: 1)

1 part Rumchata

1 part Kahlua

1 part Vodka (I used Stoli Gold)

Mix

Shake and pour into a rocks glass over ice.

Have a sip, and smile.  :)

The Tomato-Politan Martini

A yummy savory martini that I think would be fabulous at brunch, or you could throw caution to the wind and bring a whole new meaning to the term ' ladies who lunch.'  The pickle juice surprisingly gave a wonderful dimension to the drink. 

Ingredients 

(Serves: 2)

8 ounces of your favorite vodka (again, I used Stoli Gold) 

4 Tablespoons of tomato juice 

1 teaspoon of green hot sauce (like Tabasco Jalapeno)

Juice of one medium lemon

2 Tablespoons of pickle juice

Pickles for garnish.

Mix

Pour the vodka into a shaker 1/2 full of ice.

Add the hot sauce and shake for a bit.

Let the shaker rest for a moment, and then add the tomato and lemon juices.

Give it another few shakes and then strain into a well chilled glass

Top each drink with 1 Tablespoon of pickle juice, garnish with a slice of pickle, and enjoy!

Let me know what you think, and if you have any new ideas you'd like to have 'tested', by all means send them in!