New Year's celebrations.

Nothing says "celebrate" quite like a good bottle
of bubbly.
No matter what kind of champagne, sparkling wine
or prosecos, just make sure to dress your best for
the occasion and drink lots of bubbly to celebrate
new beginnings and re commitment to one another or
to yourself.
It's a time of year that many people make resolution
to make a change in their lives.
Party with friends, go out to see the ball drop in
Times Square (if you are in NYC), or just watch on
TV all the celebrations around the world the fire
works, with friends and family or just the two of
you, snuggle together, some popcorn, enjoy a movie
or two, call some other friends or family members
far away, and on the first day of the New Year, go
out to play in the snow or go ice skating.
I wish you all the best throughout this New Year
with lots of hope for a better one a more peace full
one....., and much love and faith in our hearts.
Cheers to new beginnings....,Happy New Year!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Thanksgiving has become a time for families and friends to get together, eat
probably too much, and give thanks...., and of course there are special drink
choices that can keep the festive mood throughout the whole day, from a morning
of parade watching and to watching the many football games or getting cozy for
a family movie.
Hot Chocolate with a dash of Grand Marnier...., nothing tops it!
From entreés and appetizers you can start with sparkling wines or champagne.
For some more safe bets for Thanksgiving wines are:
Pinot Noir - Syrah - Zinfandel.

Le Beaujolais Nouveau est arrivé!

Beaujolais Nouveau, the French red wine that's released worldwide annually
on the third Thursday of November, is ready for it's close up, as people
around the world prepare to sample the 2009 vintage.
Have a happy Beaujolais Day!

What is a cocktail weenie?

According to the Urban Dictionary;
A person obsessed with the minutiae of bartending practices and traditions,
especially regarding the preparation of mixed drinks.
I think I am a good living example.....,sometimes I exaggerate a little bit!

Brazilian Cosmopolitan

1 1/2 oz Cachaça
1/2 oz fresh lime juice
1/2 oz orange liqueur
1 1/2oz cranberry juice.

Shake well all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice,
and strain into a chilled martini glass.

Garnish with a lime twist.

Tchin-tchin!!

A very fancy and sexy Martini

Ever heard of a Bikini Martini?
Yes...., delicious and sexy!

1 1/2 oz Cachaça
1/2 oz Limoncello liqueur
1 oz fresh lemon juice
1/2 fresh passion fruit
1/2 oz of simple syrup

Shake well all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice
and strain into a chilled martini glass.

Garnish with a passion frutit disc floating on top of drink.

Enjoy it!

Fruitty Caipirinhas

Let your imagination flow and your creativity take you beyond the classic lime
Caipirinha.
Add or replace lime with delicious tropical fruits and seasonal produce.
You can use about 2 oz (1/4 cup) of mango, passion fruit, kiwi, plum or grapes.
Add a dash of cinnamon to a strawberry Caipirinha or muddle fresh ginger with orange
if you like some spice.
Pineapple and mint...., the possibilities are endless!

What about a Caipirinha Tropical?!

2 oz of cachaça
2 wedges of limes
2 fresh strawberries, sliced
1/2 fresh passion fruit
1/2 kiwi, peeled and sliced
2 tea spoons of sugar or the equivalent in sweetener

Place all the fruits in a cocktail shaker, add sugar, (or sweetener),
and muddle gently.
Add ice, cachaça and shake well.
Serve with a stirrer in an old fashioned glass.

Cheers!

Caipirinha Invention

The Caipirinha (pronounced kai-pee-reen-yah), is Brazil's signature cocktail.
More than that...., it's a national pride!
On the beach at the sunset, festive dinners, and all night dance parties.
Caipirinhas are an essential part of any Brazilian celebration.
But how do we make a perfect Caipirinha?
We need a very important ingredient; Cachaça!
Cachaça is Brazil's national spirit, distilled to perfection.
The world's first premium cachaça is multi distilled to retain distinct flavor,
characteristics with a soft aroma that's fresh, lively and delicate.
While cachaça is labeled "Brazilian Rum" in the USA, it stands apart from most rums
in both production and taste.
Sugarcane is the main ingredient in both spirits, yet rum is actually made from
molasses, (by-product) of sugar refineries.
Cachaça is distilled from fresh and pressed sugarcane juice, resulting in bright flavors and stimulating bouquet.
Now, this is the recipe for an original Caipirinha.

2 oz of Cachaça
1/2 of lime cut in wedges
2 tea spoons of sugar or the equivalent in sweetner

Place the lime and sugar in an old fashioned glass and mash gently with a muddler or
pestle - Add ice, pour the cachaça and shake well.

Serve with a stirrer in an old fashioned glass.
Garnish with a lime.

Saúde...., tchin-tchin!!

Happy 4th of July

Yes...., it's summer at last, more and more barbecues, street fairs
block parties, house parties, and did I mention roof top party?
As long you and your guests don't OD and decide to jump off the roof
everything should be fine.
Specialy tonight a roof party can be great fun and a nice spot to
see the firer works later in Manhattan. - (I mean...., if your roof
top is located on a privileged neighborhood of course)
So, here is a tip for a nice cocktail to celebrate the 4th of July
and for such occasion a Champagne cocktail would be perfect.

South Peach....,is very flavored, sparkling and easy to make.

6 oz Champagne extra dry ( Korbel)
Splash of peach schnapps
Splash of cranberry juice.

Slowly stir cranberry juice and schnapps
into a large champagne filled flute.
Cheers and have a happy 4th of July.

Memorial Day

Memorial Day has been ignored by too many of us who are the
beneficiaries of those who have given the ultimate sacrifice.
We also should observe the day as it should be, a day where
we actively remember our ancestors, our family members, our
loved ones, our neighbors and friends...., and whenever we
do get together with friends and family to celebrate a holiday
such as this we cannot forget the special recipes of gram ma,
our traditional hot doggies and burgers, lots of beers because
the weather will be perfect and if you feel like having something
different, here's a little tip:
Fruit Juice Punch - fruity, sweet nonalcoholic punch suitable for
everybody and children as well.
Set on a table outside a punch bowl and glasses.
Make about 10 servings, but you can always double the ingredients!

3 bananas (sliced)
2 kiwi fruits (sliced and diced)
2 1/2 cups of banana juice
2 1/2 cups of orange juice
2 1/2 cups of pineapple juice
7 ounces of lemon juice
1 quart of sparkling mineral water

Put the fruit and fruit juices in the punch bowl, cover and
refrigerate for 1 hour.
Stir and add the mineral water.

Splash of flavor to the summer

Summer will be here pretty soon!
Whether you're sunbathing by the pool, braving the heat at a picnic
or just mingling at a backyard party, a cold cocktail is the perfect
way to go through those endless summer days.
Fine spirits, fresh fruit juices, sodas and your creativity are all
the ingredients that you need to add a splash of flavor to your
summer...., and yes it's ok to sip an Apeach Cosmopolitan under the
sun!

3 parts of Absolut Apeach
2 parts of Triple Sec
3 parts of Lime Juice
Splash of Cranberry Juice
Lemon Wedge

Shake ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
Garnish with a lime wedge.....,cheers!

Easter Sunday's recipe

OK...., then everybody gathered around the table, a very family event, the food was good and the kids running through the house
with chocolate eggs all over the place.
So....., now a good nonalcoholic drink would be perfect!
My suggestion? - It's got to have chocolate!
Choco Mystery: a creamy, sweet drink with milk for the afternoon.
Very simple:
1 1/2 ounces light cream
1 1/2 ounces milk
3/4 ounces cream of coconut
3/4 ounces chocolate syrup
Garnish with grated chocolate or shavings

Shake all the ingredients together firmly, with ice cubes in the
shaker and strain into the champagne glass.
Sprinkle a little grated chocolate on top.
Voila! - Happy Easter!

Happy Easter!

Spring has sprung!

It finally is starting to feel like Spring!
Now it's time to hit the sidewalks cafes, bars, and night clubs.
Be colourful just to celebrate and welcome spring time upon us, and
I don't only mean to be fashionable with your clothes, but also when
it comes down to those awesome cocktails you can share with friends.
Lets start the evening with fresh cut flowers and a drink called:
Your Heart - It's a very refreshing drink for a party!
Very easy to mix:
2 ounces of Orange juice
3/4 ounces of Dark Rum
3/4 ounces of Southern Comfort
2 tbs of Grenadine
Tonic Water for topping up.
Shake all the ingredients, except the tonic water, together with
ice in the shaker; strain into the highball glass and top up with
tonic water.

It's delicious and your heart will ask for more!

Now...,if you are planning to hit the NYC streets especially on Fridays after a hard week of work and try to forget a little bit of
this financial mess, you can visit a very trendy place called:
Catch22 - that's right! and it's located on 22Nd Street between 5Th
and 6Th Aves:- Take it from me it's a very nice place and have a great weekend with your friends or your loved one.
Always remember to drink responsibly!

How to enjoy fine spirits

Delicate brandies are traditionally enjoyed at room temperature while most white spirits are best enjoyed chilled.
Bottles are best stored on ice or in a refrigerator.
You may also shake the product over ice to chill it down, like vodka
it works well, but might disturb the delicate balance of flavor,
aroma and alcohol content in fine liqueurs and fruit brandies.
You may enjoy these fine specialties straight but they also make a
variety of delicious mixed drinks.
Be creative...., put your imagination to work and cheers!

Welcome!

My blog is all about bars, drinks, special cocktails, and parties.
Whether you're...
a bartender or not, every weekend I will post a recipe for you
so you can try on your own or just go to your favorite bar and order
from your best friend bartender to mix it for you.
I want to share good experiences and alert you about the bad ones.
I will add some scoops on the best places to go and the places you
should stay away.
I hope you like this blog, and feel free to share with me and others
your experiences and of course....,it's ok to write your comments or
criticism, I can take them all, believe me too many years in this
business I've seen and lived some experiences that a lot of people
never heard or dreamed of.
One of these days, to be honest, I might write a book about it, but
for now I will have some fun with my blog and my real mad passion
for drinks...., thank you...., cheers!!!

What to celebrate?

I have my own opinion and whether you agree with me or not, I am
totally opened for criticism.
I do believe that happy people, rich people, poor people, dysfunctional people, gay, straight, undecided and confused people,
wherever sociable people meet....., they enjoy having a drink.
A drink a day keeps the doctor away! - So I heard many times and
I think it is right. A good cocktail can be better than a cigarrete
and more fun when you share with someone.
Drinking alone can be depressing, but not a sign of depression.
I rather drink among friends, or with total and perfect strangers
at a bar, with family members or with a good companion.
FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF OTHERS:
THE ONLY OCCASION YOU SHOULD NOT DRINK IS WHEN YOU HAVE TO DRIVE!
Please everyone, listen up - DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE!
Leave the car home, or hire a designated driver!
So here is the answer for the question above:
You don't need a special date, or event to savour a good wine, or
indulging yourself with an exotic cocktail or sipping a Mimosa.
Mixing yourself a drink can be as pleasurable as drinking them when you see how easily and delicious cocktails can be prepared
with just a few ingredients.
All you need is some creativity, and the zest for life!
Cheers....., just because the economy is in shambles, doesn't mean
you cannot have a drink to relax yourself from the daily grind.
I, myself, just started this blog because of the crises out there.
It will give me a channel to brag, to laugh, to chat, and invite others who share at least a little bit of my opinions.

Mad passion 4 drinks

Hello everyone!
Let me start introducing myself first:
My real name is João, and after all these years of my self
imposed exile in this country I've learned a new language
assimilate a new culture and picked up some skills ahead.
I have many friends, got many acquaintances, and admire
a full hand of good people out there....., but there's a twist:
Even though I have conquered a lot....., on the other hand
all of my friends seems a bit troubled for not pronouncing
my name quiet right, and for that reason they all call me
John......,(English 4 João).