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Tag: cocktails

  • Champagne Region in France earns World Heritage Status

    Only sparkling wine made in the Champagne region of France can be labelled “champagne” and now the iconic region has been named a World Heritage site.

    According to a post on Hospitality Magazine, The UNESCO World Heritage Committee who decide on World Heritage Sites, have decided to include the Champagne Slopes, Houses and Cellars on its list.

    Click here to find out more.

  • Scientists Say Women Drinkers More Prone to Heart Attacks than Men

    Scientists have found that excessive alcohol consumption could be more deadly for women over 75 than men.

    Researchers found that women over the age of 75 could be more prone to heart attacks.

    The study was conducted by researchers at Harvard Medical School, taking into consideration the drinking habits of 4,466 people.

    Find out more here.

  • 5 Alcohol Facts You Should Know

    America recently observed alcohol awareness month and in light of this College.usatoday.com posted this interesting article about 5 alcohol facts everyone should know.

    1. 8 or more drinks for women and 15 or more drinks a week for men are considered binge drinking in The USA.

    2. If you’re visiting the USA, you must be 21 or older to drink

    3. 74% of Americans dont believe the legal drinking age should be lowered.

    4. Minimal impairment, decreased judgment and control, slurred speech, reduced muscle coordination, vomiting, and stupor are signs of alcohol poisoning.

    5. Drinking responsibly is easy – know what you’re drinking and its alcohol content, alternate alcohol with water, don’t drink and drive, don’t mix alcohol and energy drinks.

    For more click here.

  • Mixing Up your Cocktail Menu – How to make a Victorian Martini

    Cocktails are a favourite of many drinkers and bartenders around the world, but where exactly did this idea come from, after all drinks are perfectly delicious on their own, why the need to combine a number of drinks in order to make a new concoction, known as a cocktail?

    Well the modern cocktail is thought to have developed from earlier versions of Toddies, Fizzies and Juleps. There is no definite story around the history of the cocktail but it is thought to date back to the 1800s and there are number of stories (some quite far-fetched) about how people first decided to mix drinks. The modern version spread due to popularity in the United States but it probably first started in London.

    (Read this story that claims cocktails developed in London http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/ultratravel/9741140/The-surprising-history-of-the-cocktail.html)

    Wherever its origins we can all be thankfully that it spread because while we can appreciate a good shot of whisky or bourbon neat, there are some settings where nothing can replace a cocktail (like lying on a beach in The Carribean).

    And since cocktails most probably were born out of a need for something new and exciting, it makes sense that we are inventing new and exciting cocktails everyday. Just like fashions, trends in cocktails change with each season, so whether you’re inventing your own or copying some international trend, have fun playing around with different ingredients and mixtures.

    Here is a simple and delicious recipe you can try.

    http://youtu.be/7yJpVFzSteU

     

  • Indonesian Island Promises Crackdown on Alcohol after Aussie Death

    For those who love holidaying in exotic Indonesia but are afraid of drinking when there may have reason to put their concerns to bed. After an Aussie teen died a few months ago after drinking alcoholic drinks laced with toxic methanol, many Australians (and people from around the world) have been afraid to return to the island or consume alcoholic drinks, especially cocktails while on holiday in that part of the world. But now Indonesian authorities have vowed to get to the bottom of the issue by revoking the business licence of any place found to be selling cheap, unregistered alcohol.

    The incident was a wake-up call to many tourists that cheap, homemade alcohol is a common occurrence in many of these developing holiday nations because more money can be made by purchasing cheaper alcohol. Homemade alcohol has now been banned on the holiday island and business risk losing their right to do business if they are caught by authorities.

    Read more below with a post taken from Abc.net.au:

    Tourism authorities on an Indonesian holiday island are cracking down on homemade alcohol after the death of an Australian teenager last month.

    Liam Davies from Perth died from methanol poisoning after drinking cocktails at a bar on Lombok Island near Bali.

    Now the North Lombok tourism office is threatening to revoke the business licences of any outlet found to be selling unregistered alcohol.

    Office spokesman FahmanToriki says they are concerned tourists will stop coming to the popular holiday area unless they clean up the alcohol industry.

    He says they have told all hotels on nearby GiliTrawangan Island that they are not allowed to sell homemade alcohol.

    Mr Toriki says a campaign has also begun to warn tourists against drinking unregistered drinks.

    Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-02-13/indonesia-holiday-island-vows-alcohol-crackdown/4517354

    A similar incident occurred last year in the Czech Republic when 22 people died after drinking methanol laced vodka. Vodka is a common drink in that part of the world and there has never been too much restriction on alcohol sales until now.

    Although these incidents are extremely tragic, we can learn from them. Even though it is unlikely that we will encounter fake alcohol in Oz, we should still be careful when purchasing alcohol, especially when travelling overseas make sure you know what you’re drinking and that you are buying a sealed bottle from a reputable place.

    The substances the criminals usually make fake alcohol with is poisonous, including chemicals such as cleaning fluids, nail polish remover, isopropanol and as in this case methanol. People are often fooled by these fakes because they give off the same feeling as normal alcohol at first, but it’s only a matter of time before the effects turn deadly. Rather pay more but know that what you are drinking is safe but if you cannot determine for certain whether the alcohol is legit, abstain altogether.

     

  • List of Cocktails to Avoid

    For the Health Conscious Drinker
     

    Not all cocktails are created equal, especially when it comes to their impact on your body. Some cocktails contain more sugar, more fat and less nutrition than others. While the last thing you want to do on a night out is bother about counting calories in your drinks, you may want to take a quick glance at the list below so you can easily make healthier choices.
     

     

    (Photo: Suat Eman / FreeDigitalPhotos.net)

    Cocktails to Avoid:
     

    Long Island Iced Tea. This cocktail contains typically 5 different alcohols and coke, which makes it loaded with sugar and unhealthy. There are virtually no nutritional benefits.
     

    Piña Colada. Sugar in this drink intensifies the hangover you will undoubtedly experience the next day. Just one of these drinks has half your daily calorie intake in just one glass. Loaded with milk and sugar, you may as well order a milkshake.
     

    Red Bull and vodka.The only good part about this drink is that it will keep you energised enough to burn off the wopping high calories contained in it.
     

    Jack Daniels and Coke. We all know the dangers that drinking too much Coke can have, in addition to giving you a sugar rush, when you add alcohol to the mix it’s a recipe for disaster.
     

  • The Key to Fiery Cocktails


    With all the talk these days about bartenders need for innovation and creativity, we are always looking for new ways to enjoy our alcohol. But for those of us who aren’t experienced enough to attempt flair bartender or don’t have the skill to create our own cocktails, there are a faithful few fiery, hot cocktails that have been providing drinkers with a savoury, yet refreshing kick.

    Many swear by spicy cocktails like the Bloody Mary to cure a hangover, perfect after a night of over indulgence.

    Spicy cocktails are interesting because they are as spicy as a meal and as refreshing as any other drink, so they can satisfy a number of cravings at once. However bartenders warn that there is a trick to balancing the flavours in a spicy cocktail. But the contrast of flavours is rewarding and cannot be matched.

    Because most spicy cocktails consist of hot sauce,jalapenos, habaneros or peppers, which vary in taste and heat, its best to start off with a small amount and then work your way up the heat ladder. Everyone’s preferences and tolerances for heat are different, so it would probably be a good idea to get an indication of a person’s preference before making them the drink or warning them beforehand if it’s going to really knock their socks off with heat.

    Spicy cocktails differ from food in that fiery foods can be recovered from quite quickly after drinking milk or a glass of water. However alcohol tends to intensify the heat of a spicy cocktail. That is why balance is key.

    Especially if you have never tried fiery drinks before, it’s best to stick to the old favourites before becoming creative. Start with a Bloody Mary, which is both easy and a tried and tested favourite. The best part is that it is perfect for a brunch or mid-morning drink. The tomato flavour is both refreshing and tasty and you can control how mild or spicy you want it. This is how it’s generally made:

    Bloody Mary Ingredients:

    • 3 oz tomato juice
    • 1 1/2 oz vodka
    • 1/2 oz lemon juice
    • 1 dash of Worcestershire sauce
    • ground pepper
    • salt
    • hot pepper sauce to taste
    • celery stalk and/or pickle spear for garnish
    • lemon /lime wedge for garnish

    Preparation:

    1. Add all the liquid ingredients into a highball glass over ice cubes.

    2.Mix well.

    3.Add the seasonings (ground pepper and salt) to taste.

    4.Garnish with the lemon and/or lime wedge and the traditional celery stalk.

    The very hot cocktails most often include the use of peppers or hot sauce but some not so spicy options tend to use black or cayenne pepper instead to accent the spicy flavour but not overwhelm the drink. Some alcohol producers have also jumped on the bandwagon by producing pepper and chilli infused alcohol such as jalapeno tequila. Wasabi is also becoming more widely used in making cocktails in trendy bars around the world.

    Here we have included 2 less known but equally delicious cocktails that you can use to test your ability to make spicy cocktails.
    The Big Breezy.

    This drink was apparently created to be made with Absolut New Orleans vodka. It’s a martini that compliments the flavours of the mango- and black pepper- infused vodka and has a slight watermelon taste.

    Ingredients:

    • 2 parts Absolut New Orleans vodka
    • 4 chunks fresh watermelon
    • 1 part simple syrup
    • squeeze of fresh lemon
    • pinch of black pepper
    • lemon slice for garnish

    Preparation:

    1.Place all ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice.

    2.Shake well.

    3.Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

    4.Garnish with a melon ball and lemon slice.
    The Bull Shot.
    Although this drink is not for everyone, it’s worth a try, especially if you want to show your creativity.

    You can use the sauce and spices to adapt the drink to a person’s preference. This drink has been served warm as well, similar to a cup of soup on a cold day.

    Ingredients:

    • 1 1/2 oz vodka
    • 3 oz chilled beef bouillon
    • dash of Worchestershire, Tabasco, salt and pepper to taste
    • celery salt (optional)

    Preparation:

    1.Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice(if serving it cold).

    2.Shake well.

    3.Strain into a highball glass filled with ice.

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