Beer Alcohol Cocktails cocktail recipe Beer Festivals Restaurant Review

It's time to cook down and enjoy one of summer's most delicious treats, but like everything in life - we can make it even better! So, with that in mind, here's a roundup of some of my favorite Watermelon Cocktail recipes. These are perfect for cooling off this summer, cheers!

The stakes are rising fellas'! Valentine's Day is almost here and what are you going to do? Cooke a romantic dinner? Buy Flowers? or something different?

We vote for something different and we think it's time you learned how to make some craft cocktails that show her just how much you mean to her. The folks over at Cruzan sent over these recipes to give us a head start, so let's dive in!

We were recently sent a sample bottle of Dos Hombres new Espadin Mezcal. Mezcal is a less abrasive form of tequila for those not in the know. For people like myself, who aren’t straight tequila fans, it’s a more palatable option with less sugar in the taste and more smoothness to the pull. 

 National Rum Day is coming up and so we've put together a roundup of recipes paired with hotels and resorts around the world. These picks range from daiquiri's in Key West to Rum Punch in Belize and so we're looking forward to being transported to these amazing locals virtually right now while we wait for the pandemic to recede again.

The martini is simultaneously one of the easiest and most well know vodka cocktails. It is immortalized in popular culture as the preferred drink of James Bond who's impact singlehandedly changed martini cocktails from a gin base to vodka. Despite the fact that it is generally a pretty easy drink to make, there are some tips that you must follow if you want to create the absolutely perfect martini. Here's what Bob Nolet, Master Distiller at Nolet Spirits, producers of Ketel One Vodka.

Whether celebrating St. Patrick's Day or simply enjoying a nice creamy cocktail, Irish Cream Liqueur has always been a favorite of mine. To be honest, I'm a fan of cream spirits in general but while there are big names on the market, few folks manage to bring forth a small batch experience the same way you can find with traditionally distilled spirits. That's why I was excited to come across Five Farms and their collection of family-owned farms in Ireland.

Musician groups releasing whiskey brands is nothing new but since we're fans of Metalica I figured what the heck, let's check it out. BLACKENED Whiskey is said to be "sonically enhanced"  Let's take a look.

For some, staying at an all-inclusive resort is about rest and relaxation in some exotic location far from home. For me, one thing I love about traveling is discovering new and exciting cocktails - or familiar ones in new locations. That's why I love staying at all inclusive resorts like Villa Del Palmar in Loreto Mexico. Even though my stay was covered by the resort, having access to an open bar means you can try new things without the fear of wasting money. You've already paid for it... so let's enjoy it!

There's two things that all guys love - whisky and beef. Chef Perry Lang showed Jimmy Kimmel Live! how to make these things even better... by combining them :) 

I have been a BIG fan of Jack Daniel's since my early 20's. The first time I drank it, it was almost as if I had reunited with an old friend. Jack on the rocks quickly became one of my favorite drinks and it has stayed one of my go to adult beverages for many years. I've been desperately wanting to visit the Jack Daniel's distillery ever since that first sip. So, you can imagine my excitement when I was invited to spend two days there and soak up (you see what I did there) the history and culture of this American institution. What I found was a company that has an intense pride and attention to detail that can be found in every aspect of their product. Here are a few things that make Jack Daniel's a little different.

 When it comes to Vodka, for many brands marketing is even more important than the actual quality but Crystal Head has been delivering quality and innovation for almost as as this site has been around. In fact, they were one of the first brands to send us a sample to try more than 10 years ago. Today I continue to applaud their innovation as they push what vodka can be by introducing one of the first commercially available agave vodkas, Crystal head Onyx.

Johnnie Walker is the most popular brand of whisky today... and apparently that's true in 2049 too since they've partnered with the new movie, Blade Runner 2049. To celebrate their inclusion in the movie, the brand has released a limited edition "Johnnie Walker Black Label The Director's Cut" bottle and sent in these fun futuristic cocktails as well.

Right now is a great time to be a fan of cocktails and spirits. It seems like virtually every day I hear about something new that piques my interest but only a handful have I had a chance to actually sit down and create cocktails for. Recently I was invited to test out TUACA, a fantastic vanilla citrus liqueur that is said to trace its roots all the way back to Lorenzo de Medici and later became popular in the United States after servicemen brought it home from Italy during WII. In the classic pattern we've seen with cocktails in general, TUACA is starting to become popular again with a whole new generation. 

It's whale season here in California and that means it is time to celebrate the opportunity to watch these majestic animals. For me, this is an annual tradition. On the East Coast, to see whales you usually have to head far out to sea in a boat, but here - especially in Southern California, you can see them simply by standing on a bluff overlooking the ocean. There is a sense of thrill at seeing their tails and spouts since these are not just huge animals but a part of California's culture, a merging of natural wonder, joy, and science as we monitor the annual migration to ensure that it isn't negatively impacted by human action. Now there's a new element to celebrate here... Grey Whale Gin.

You might not think that there's a science to pairing your shot of whiskey with a beer but there is. It honestly makes sense that you wouldn't want to have whatever the bar manager has picked for their happy hour special and that's why Bulleit Whiskey and Stone Brewing have kicked off a partnership to help educate whiskey - and beer drinkers across the country on the proper pairing.

If you think that Tequila, Rum, and Cacasa are the only spirits from South America then you need to bring a chair up to the bar and try some Pisco. This is a colorless to amber spirit made from grapes and can be compared to a grape brandy. 

This spirit has been distilled in the winemaknig regions of Peru for hundreds of years and is now making its way to the United States!

Aside from our time spent on cruise ships recently, it's been a while since we've had the opportunity to attend tasting events at local bars and restaurants here in San Diego. However, if there's one thing that can compel me to get off my seat and venture back into a bar it's a great rum paired with fantastic bartenders and that's just what we had this week when we met with Diplomatico's California Ambassador to talk a bit about two of their newer expressions: Mantuano and Planas.

With cold weather and holiday season upon us, certain drinks such as "cream" spirits are back in stock and that warms my heart. While nobody that I know has managed to create an authentic packaged coquito, I am thrilled to see that Cutwater Spirits is continuing to innovate when it comes to rum cream. 

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...

When I was a young man and just starting to enter the world of spirits, the only game in town was Cuervo Gold and tequila was something forbidden, cheap, and dangerous. Today... thankfully... we have access to a wide selection of fine mezcals and the American thirst for agave has risen to the point where it's not enough to simply drink tequila. Just like how whiskey has Scotch, Bourbon, Rye etc., agave spirits come in many different expressions too. One of the most exciting is raicilla but most people don't fully understand how it differs from tequila, bacanora, mezcal.