Drinks

It's Halloween time again and while once we prepared to go out and trick or treat collecting candy and other treats... as well as inflicting treats on those who dared to hand out carrots and apple slices, today we're adults. That means it's time to take our treats to the next level and enjoy some spooky Halloween cocktails. Here's our roundup of some of our favorite cocktails for your Halloween party this year!

For the past few months I've been using Premier Protein shakes as a quick meal replacement for breakfast and mid-day snacks. The other day though, I came across an interesting idea - instead of using creamer for your morning coffee, try Premier Protein Caramel flavored shake instead. This way you get a nice cream flavor plus a hit of sweet caramel without worrying about adding extra sugar or fat.

I think most of us have heard of a grape stomp - whether it is a memory from an old TV show like I Love Lucy or an email from a local winery inviting you to compete, it's a fun way to spend a late summer or fall afternoon with friends. I attended my first grape stomp as a guest of South Coast Winery in Temecula last week and it was an eye-opening experience. Not just for me - but for many of the competitors too. What seems like an easy task is actually way more complicated... if you want to win!

David "Merf" Merfeld from Northstar Winery is one of my favorite winemakers. He has an amazing ability to create new innovative wines and The Cosmic Egg Cabernet Sauvignon is one of his recent creations. 

Taking an epic road trip is my favorite way to experience what it means to be an American. While flying to a great destination is a quick way to get to a destination, with a road trip the journey is the destination. Along the way you get a chance to meet new people, taste new foods, savor new drinks, and spend time discussing various topics with your traveling companions. Last year I got a chance to do a short road trip in California for the launch of the all-new 2019 Toyota Rav4, a vehicle that quickly became one of our favorites. Now we've had the opportunity to spend some quality time with the 2019 Rav4 Hybrid, which aside from one frustrating item is about the perfect mid-sized SUV for a long road trip.

Have you ever visited a distillery and found something completely unique and then wish you had bought a bottle of it to take home with you, but now it's too late? That happened to me tonight after visiting Red Eagle Distillery in Geneva, Ohio, north east of Cleveland and tasting their delicious Red Maple. All I have is the brief memories, so I'll share them with you guys now...

The classic Caipirinha is considered the national cocktail of Brazil and I can see why. It's cool, crisp and refreshing with that laid back tropical feel but still refined enough to be enjoyed at the fanciest of occasions. I don't see it served that often outside of Brazilian restaurants though, which is a shame since it is so tasty. I suppose that's just one more reason I love going to Fogo de Chao...

High West Distillery was founded in by David Perkins and his wife, Jane. The former biochemist was inspired to open his own distillery after becoming intrigued by the parallels between distilling processes and his own work in biochemistry. This inspiration struck during a visit to Maker's Mark in Kentucky and soon the pair relocated to Park City, Utah because of David's love for the Old West and the town's history lost whiskey history. When opened in 2006, High West became the first legal distillery to open in Utah since 1870 and has quickly grown from a work of passion to one of the top craft whiskey distilleries in the United States.

JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa’s lobby bar offers this special combination of bourbon, fruit and a splash of lemonade. Crooked Branch is a wonderful open space with an assortment of cocktail options – offering the Bourbon Lemonade especially for National Bourbon Day – June 14th.

Ever wondered if you could have your favorite cup of coffee while you make a quick stop at a hotel during a journey? Well, the answer is yes. However, there are a few facts and tips to take into consideration.

One of my favorite parts of traveling is trying new cocktails, or even just relaxing with a new interpretation of a familiar favorite. That's one of the reasons that I absolutely love traveling with Norwegian Cruise Line. Simply put, their bar program is one of the best at sea and while others use gimmicks of flair bar tending and even robots to mix your drinks - Norwegian focuses on human talent and creative recipes. Now though, in addition to the fantastic and diverse menu of drinks available in different parts of the ship, they've introduced a new "Bespoke Cocktails" program exclusively for Haven guests. 

Last fall, we spent a week on Norwegian Cruise Line's Pride of America as we sailed around the islands of Hawaii. One of the things I always enjoy about NCL is that they do a great job with drinks. As I sailed around the islands I realized that what I once looked at as a classic - is anything but. While all mai tai cocktails have rum and tropical juices, it seemed that every bartender had their own interpretation. This includes of course, the awesome bar staff on board Pride of America. Here's their version of the classic Hawaiian Mai Tai...

In honor of National Cocktail Day on March 24th, HAVANA CLUB and BACARDÍ are celebrating with two specialty rum cocktails sure to keep you coming back for more!

Looking for a tasty treats to keep you warm and happy this winter? Here's some suggestions from our friends over at Guiness and Bulleit!

Coffee has long been a highly-favored drink among adults. It’s easily one of the most popular drinks in the world, albeit also one of the most addictive. But fear not, the good thing about coffee is that its consumption also comes with a lot of health benefits.

Visiting a brewery is one of the best ways to learn about a culture and community - or at least one of the most fun ways. That's why I was so excited to visit Alaskan Brewing Company's brewery in Juneau on a recent visit to the city. Since 1986, they've been developing creative beers that serve a local / regional audience but also serve as ambassadors of Alaskan culture to the lower 48!

When it comes to working out, the goal is usually to train your body for maximum performance and that means not just doing a routine to gain muscle and lose fat – but also to keep your body in top shape and feeling great while doing so. That’s where BODYARMOR LYTE and SportWater come in and help keep your body hydrated.

Rum sometimes has a bad rap since there are a lot of inferior products out there, but thankfully there are some fantastic rums out there too. It all comes down to craftsmanship and market demands. Luckily, over the past few years we've started to see high quality products such as Don Q Gran Añejo make it to store shelves and bars around the United States. People from Puerto Rico probably laugh at this being a new trend since they've known the greatness of rum since Destilería Serrallés started producing the spirit on the island in 1865.

Last week I had the privilege of joining Wild Turkey for a "Behind the Barrel" experience touring not just their distillery, but some of their partners including Vendome Copper & Brass Works and Independent Stave Company. During this tour, my eyes were opened wide to how complex the science and art of making great whiskey can be. While I knew that the mash bill and number of years aging in the barrel had a big say in how whiskey tastes, there's a whole lot more than that!

Making a classic cocktail is a skill that will impress your guests at a party, but sometimes that can prove to be challenging to get things "just right". Here's a way to cheat a bit and make some classic drinks such as an Old Fashioned or a Boulevardier quick and easy.