Snoop Dogg was on Sunday awarded a Guinness World record for making the world’s largest “paradise cocktail” along with US celebrity chef Michael Voltaggio and fellow rapper Warren G.
The 46-year-old rapper took part in the world record attempt at BottleRock Napa Valley on Sunday, pouring 180 bottles of Hendrick’s Gin into a juice-filled glass which stood at five-feet tall and three-feet wide. A total of 550 litres of gin was used in making the cocktail.
Mercury News reports that Guinness World Records official was present to judge and hand over a certification of achievement to the rapper.
After gaining popularity for his song “Gin & Juice” — the second single from his debut album Doggystyle, Snoop has finally made the real gin and juice cocktail.
He shared his record-breaking mixology on Instagram, posting a photo where he proudly holds up his new award.
Sweet, flavoured with almond, and linked to the Italian region of Saronno, Amaretto is one of the most popular liqueurs that should never be lacking from your bar.
It is not only for its unique taste and Italian girth, it is because it serves as base to a number of cocktails and drink mixes, as well as coming in handy for culinary purposes.
Amaretto is Italian for “a little bitter” and that tells of it’s flexibility ti be used for any kind of cocktail – whether bitter or sweet. You can actually twist the flavour to suit your taste.
What kind of cocktail can I make with Amaretto?
Here 10 cocktails that you can make using Amaretto:
Almond Joy
Because Amaretto brings nothing less than pure joy, we will start with the Almond Joy. This cocktail mixes amaretto with coconut rum and creme de cacao for a drink that every candy lover will die for.
Add all ingredients to shaker with plenty of crushed ice.
Shake to chill thoroughly.
Strain into glass containing a couple of ice cubes.
Amaretto and Coke
Is there an alcoholic beverage that doesn’t go well with Coke? Mixing drinks with coke are popular because they are so easy, yet so refreshing. You can serve it with or without ice, and garnishing with fruits is left totally to the choice of the bartender or the drinker.
Screaming Orgasm
Literally, you begin to hear the screams when the drink touches your tongue.
There is nothing wrong in closing your eyes when having this kiss. It is sensual to your taste just as a real would be – it is a deliciously real kiss after all.
It is a big deal to be vegan – it is even a bigger deal to be a vegan who loves to drink. Why? Because most alcoholic products have imports of animal products in them.
Gladly, nearly all beers and distilled spirits are vegan, so you are a bit safe. But still, you have to avoid some cream-based liqueurs and products that mention honey on (PS: if you call your lover “honey”, you are a half-vegan)
What about cocktails? Are there any vegan cocktails?
Some cocktails use milk, cream, egg whites, and other animal products, so it takes some good research to know what cocktail to avoid as a vegan, as well as the alcoholic brand used in making them.
Here is a list of some cocktails you can make and enjoy as a vegan.
Vegan Cream Cocktail
How about creating your own home-made Irish cream? Go for a good bottle of rum, say Captain Morgan, and Kahlua, and then your simple magic comes alive.
Pour the ingredients into a shaker and shake vigorously till well mixed.
Serve with ice.
Old Fashioned Cocktail
A good old fashioned cocktail is sure to do some wonders to your vegan taste. This is a bourbon-based cocktail with all the flavour and the style you can think of.
½ of a cup halved Strawberries (about 15 small strawberries)
½ to 1 cup Seltzer Water / Soda Water (optional)
2 cups Ice Cubes
How to make
Stir together brandy and sugar until sugar dissolves in a large punch bowl or pitcher.
Add white wine and all the fruit and give it a quick stir. Leave in refrigerator overnight for the flavour of the fruit to mix together with the alcohol, this also gives it a nice pink colour.
When ready to serve, add seltzer water and more sugar, if needed. Top off with ice cubes to keep chilled.
If you are planning on serving it straight away, skip placing the bowl in the fridge and add seltzer water to taste (optional) and ice cubes.
Serve!
Vegan Brandy Milk Punch
Go for a non-dairy milk – soy vanilla milk is your best bet here. That done, get ready for the best experience of a cognac and milk combo.
Hopefully, we only get married once in our lifetime. Even if we choose to renew vows, that first one will always have a special place in our heart and we don’t ever want to look back at it and feel like there’s something we could’ve done better. Our choice of drinks for the big day is one of those things we must get right, and luckily there are cocktails made specifically for weddings!
Your guests will have a blast and it can’t hurt to help them have even more fun with refreshing liquid courage. These cooling, flavourful cocktails are all you need to have your guests hitting the bar and dancefloor as you’d want them to.
The creamy take on margarita is perfect for your wedding partly because it gives a beachside feel to it. If you want your guests feeling relaxed and in the mood for fun whether your wedding is beachside or not, coconut margarita will do.
Pour in the coconut milk, tequila blanco, triple sec and coconut water in a shaker.
Shake.
Pour into cocktail glass filled with ice.
Garnish with lime wedge.
2. Dark & Stormy
The popular rum and ginger beer mixer is as gorgeous to look at as it is to drink. It is a beautifully layered drink with a sharp bite of Ginger Beer blended with a moody wash of tropical dark rum. Dark and Stormy gets a leg up with a sugar rim and lime garnish.
The cocktail is trademarked by Gosling’s, so is made with Gosling’s Black Seal Rum.
Ingredients
2 oz. Gosling’s Black Seal Rum
4 oz. ginger beer
Lime wedge
How to Make the Dark & Stormy Cocktail
Fill a highball glass with ice.
Pour in the Ginger Beer.
Pour in the Dark Rum over the back of a spoon to help keep the darker layer floating on top.
Garnish with a lime wedge.
3. Rum Orange Swizzle
Made with rum, and stirred with fresh squeezed orange juice, a sugar cube, maraschino liquor, and bitters, this cocktail is refreshing, tasty and punchy. Rum Orange Swizzle will lighten moods and help with your wedding’s cheer.
Add rum, orange juice, sugar cube and maraschino liqueur to your Collins glass.
Stir with a bar spoon until sugar cube is dissolved.
Fill glass with crushed ice and ‘swizzle’ using a swizzle stick or bar spoon until cocktail is fully mixed and glass is frosty.
Garnish with orange wedge and maraschino cherry.
4. Blackberry Whiskey Lemonade
Nothing says wedding like the taste of a blackberry and whiskey lemonade cocktail. It’s a sweet whiskey cocktail with a hint of earthiness from fresh rosemary. Blackberry Whiskey Lemonade can be served made-to-order, or with large pitchers on hand for quick pouring.
Ingredients
For the Blackberry Simple Syrup:
12 oz. fresh blackberries
½ cup sugar
For the Blackberry Whiskey Lemonade:
7.5 oz. whiskey
7.5 oz. lemon juice
1 large rosemary sprig
6 oz. blackberry simple syrup
How to Make the Blackberry Whiskey Lemonade Cocktail
For the Blackberry Simple Syrup:
Put the blackberries and sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat.
Cook for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until blackberries have softened and you have a thick syrup.
Strain syrup through a mesh sieve to separate any seeds or lumps from the syrup.
Let syrup cool on the counter for roughly 20 minutes before you make the drinks.
For the Blackberry Whiskey Lemonade:
Pour all ingredients in a large shaker and add a handful or two of ice cubes.
Shake to mix and chill drink.
Pour over ice into glasses.
5. Raspberry Limoncello Prosecco
With this fizzy sipper your guest can cool down on the hot day, and be ready to party when the time comes. All your bartender needs for this cocktail: prosecco, limoncello, frozen raspberries and some refreshing sprigs of mint.
Ingredients
3 cups prosecco, chilled
1 cup limoncello liqueur, chilled
1 cup frozen raspberries
6 sprigs fresh mint
How to Make the Raspberry Limoncello Prosecco Cocktail
In a large pitcher, whisk together your prosecco and limoncello.
Serve over raspberries, garnished with mint, if preferred.
Vodka has become one of the most popular alcoholic beverages used in creating various cocktail drinks. The versatility of vodka has simply made it a mixologist’s delight.
Aside from the plain vodka, there are lots of flavoured vodkas that beat the limitation that comes with rum and whisky by offering countless flavours to base your cocktail on.
As you relish the wonderful experience that comes with vodka, here are five (5) drinks you can mix with vodka to make classic vodka cocktails.
Orange Juice (Screwdriver)
Orange juice goes well with about any alcoholic beverage, and vodka is just perfect. Add four or five ice cubes in a tall glass. Pour in 2 shots vodka and top with orange juice until the glass is almost full. Stir, then garnish with an orange slice and serve and viola you have your glass of Screwdriver cocktail.
Vermouth (Vodka Martini)
You can go the James Bond style by having a vodka martini -“shaken, not stirred”. Simply put five or six ice cubes in a cocktail shaker. Add 1 shot vodka and 1/2 shot vermouth. Cover and shake, then strain and pour into a classic martini glass. Garnish with olives on a sword or toothpick.
Lemonade (Lemon Drop)
Lemonade is a wonderful addition to vodka; it brings some form of coolness to a hot day. It is best to use a citrus-flavoured vodka to create your glass of Lemon Drop Cocktail. Mix 2 shots vodka, 2 shots lemonade and 1/2 shot sweet-and-sour mix. Serve over ice and garnished with a lemon slice.
Lime Juice & Triple Sec (Cosmopolitan)
The “Sex and the City” television show kicked off the new trend for this classic vodka-based cocktail. You might need a few more ingredients than just lime juice and triple sec, cranberry juice is also needed. Begin by adding four to six ice cubes in a cocktail shaker. Add 1 shot vodka, 1/2 shot triple sec, 1/2 shot lime juice and 1/2 shot cranberry juice. Shake very well and pour into a martini glass. Lime wedge or curls of lime rind make for a splendid garnish.
Tomato Juice (Bloody Mary)
For the daredevils, just tomato juice and a strong vodka are enough to go. However, you can make a classic Bloody Mary cocktail by combining 2 shots tomato juice, 1 shot vodka, about 1/2 tablespoonful Worcestershire sauce, a squeeze of lemon juice and 2 drops hot sauce. Shake together with five to six ice cubes in a cocktail shaker. Pour over ice.
A bottle of Kahlua Coffee Liqueur set on the table brings a unique spark to an evening or merry, cheer and drinking.
Birthed in Mexico, Kahlua is among the world’s premium liqueurs, with a continuously developed taste to satisfy drinkers with an extra-sweet palate.
It has gained so much global popularity that February 27 has a been set aside as Kahlua Day to celebrate the drink.
Brief History of Kahlua
Just like Kahlua is a beautiful blend sweet sugarcane and strong, hand-picked Arabica coffee, it’s history is linked to the teamwork of four gentlemen.
In 1936, Senior Blanco, Montalvo Lara and the Alvarez Brothers came together to bring to reality their bright idea. One of the four gave birth to the idea, two provided the coffee, the fourth was the chemist who created the perfect blend – and Kahlua was born.
The company was called “House of Acolhua people” in the Veracruz Nahuatl language spoken before the Spanish Conquest of Mexico.
The word Kahlua actually has ties to the ancient Arabic languages, and it is also said to be a slang word for coffee.
In 1994, the company merged with Allied Lyons to become Allied Domecq, and a decade and a year later, the largest spirits distributor in the world, Pernod Ricard took up ownership of the company.
How Kahlua is made
Kahlua is made from quality coffee beans that are being ground and brewed before the distillation starts. It takes up to six years to get the perfect coffee beans to make the liqueur.
After harvesting, the coffee is dried and rested for a six-month period in huge burlap bags. During this time, the rum is brewed from sugarcane. To distil, the juice from the sugarcane is extracted, boiled and mixed with water and fermented to become alcohol.
The coffee beans are roasted after a seven-year waiting period. It is then blended with the alcoholic spirit and allowed to rest for four weeks. The end result is a coffee liqueur with tastes of vanilla and fudge
The liqueur is then bottled and sold off to the 150 World markets where it has gained global popularity as the best coffee liqueur in the world.
The Nectar of Cocktails
Having gained popularity in the 1980’s when liqueur cocktails were trendy, Kahlua Coffee Liqueur became the darling of bartenders and mixologists.
It is still the nectar of so many liqueur based cocktails like White Russian, Mudslide and Espresso Martini.
The coffee and vanilla flavours of the liqueur fill the palate of cocktails, while also leaving space for the flavours of the other cocktail ingredients to breathe. With Kahlua, cocktails get even better.
Mixing the perfect drink requires creativity, focus, expertise and consistency. It has become an art in its own right as more cocktails are invented regularly.
Just like every other art form, making cocktails requires certain tools to get the job done right and quickly too. For the beginner mixologist, having the proper tools is almost as important as getting the recipe right. As a matter of fact, the right tools propel the right recipe.
Basic Cocktail Tools
The basic tools needed to make that darling cocktail are explained below:
Boston Shaker
The Boston Shaker is highly essential in the cocktail-making process. It consists of two parts: a mixing glass and a metal tumbler. It used to have a third part which was a built-in strainer. The beautiful thing about the Boston Shaker is that the customer gets to see what goes into the mixing glass. Add that to the beauty of watching the ingredients mix together as the mixologist gets to work.
Strainer
The strainer is a basic sieve designed to be placed on the shaker. It keeps broken ice and fruit or other pulp in the metal tumbler while the drink is being poured.
Fine Strainer
In order to keep the cocktail clear, a fine strainer is used to catch all the smaller pieces of ice and fruit while pouring the drink.
Bar Knife
You definitely need the bar knife for cutting fruits and other garnishing.
Jigger
The Jigger is a measuring cup with measures on both ends. It is used in measuring the right amount of ingredient to add to the cocktail.
Bar Spoon
The Bar Spoon is used to stir, scoop spices, layer drinks and muddle soft fruit. It comes with a coin-like end that suits its purpose.
Blender
Blenders are primarily used for frozen drinks and are quite useful in making purees.
Muddler
It is used in mashing fruits into a puree, as well as extracting juice from various citrus fruits.
Pour Spout
This is a special cap placed on bottles for optimal speed at the bar. Mixologists and bartenders with years of experience use the Pour Spout to pour the correct quantity of drink without having to measure.
Cocktails bring a world of no limits to the alcohol drinker. It brings a whole new adventure in enjoying your favourite vodka, rum, whiskey or gin.
From what was an accidental trend, cocktails have fast become an art in the beverage industry. It is an art that has gone far beyond the mixing of drinks, to the glasses used in serving the drinks.
“…are making cocktails out of fish bowls, kids’ toys, coconuts, and whole watermelons. Anything, in fact, that can hold liquid.
“As long as it can hold liquor and it’s hygienic, it’s up to the creator of the cocktail to make the glass look like a part the creation.”
However, there are some classic glasses that are traditionally used in making cocktails.
Below are 11 cocktail glasses you should know
Martini
The Martini glass is also known as the Cocktail glass. It is one of the most used cocktail glasses. The 20cl glass is usually chilled in a cooler or a freezer, or by chilling with ice and soda.
Collins
Commonly called a highball or long-drink glass, a Collins usually varies in height, but the 40cl volume is standard.
Sling
This is a tall, skinny glass used for drinking beer in Germany. For the cocktail art, the 35cl glass is used to make punches.
Old Fashioned
The old fashioned glass is typically made for the classic and popular old-fashioned cocktail. However, it is also used for serving whiskeys. It comes in a 32cl volume.
Rock
The rocks glass is designed like an old fashioned but relatively stronger. It is perfect for cocktails that are muddled in the glass. It’s a 30cl glass.
Shot
From the name, you can tell what the glass is meant for. It is commonly used for modest cocktails and it has a 5cl volume.
Flute
The Flute is used for champagne cocktails. Just like the martini glass, the flute is usually chilled before the cocktail is poured. It is a 15cl glass.
Coupette
Magaritas and coupettes go together. It is chilled first, then the rim is laced with salt before being used. It has a 22cl volume.
Hurricane
It is sometimes called the Poco Grande. Cocktails like Coladas and other variations that are blended are a perfect fit for this 40cl glass.
Toddy
The Toddy is used to serve most warm cocktails like the Irish Coffee or Hot Toddy. The glass comes with a handle which makes it easy to handle and has a volume of 24cl.
Snifter
A Snifter is a traditional cognac or brandy glass. As such, it is the perfect glass for serving cognac or brandy-based cocktails. The 35cl glass is sometimes known as the Balloon.
Valentine’s Day is usually full of red roses, chocolate, and love; for Valentine’s night, the romance of the day should be crowned with a perfect nightcap.
So whether you just returned from that romantic date with your significant other; or you are alone feeding your lines on a late night movie; or maybe that old line: “How would you love to come to my place for a nightcap?” worked for you; you still have to come up with the perfect drink.
What is the best nightcap for Valentine’s Day?
Making the perfect nightcap is not just any activity – it’s an art. For Valentine’s night, that art should be at the peak of creativity. The general rule of thumb is to go for something with the right balance – not so weak (that’s a buzzkill), but not too strong as well (you might become too weak afterward). To make it romantic, play around with candle lights, rose petals and sweet snack.
Here are five options for a nightcap fit for Valentine’s Day:
Gin & Tonic
Simple, quick and classy. It is a perfect fit for those Valentine nights when you can’t wait to hit the bed or put hands on each other.
Pour ingredients over ice and serve garnished with a lime wedge.
*You can switch the lime flavor out for honey or mint if you happen to have those on hand instead.
White Russian
You don’t have to be white or Russian to whip this fantastic nightcap up. This is smooth and calming, helping ease away the tension that comes before going in for the kiss.
Pour all the ingredients, stir, and serve with a cherry.
*Where there is no cream, milk can suffice. We bet your night will become sweet from the very first sip.
Lavender Honey Cream
Valentine’s nights should end on a luscious note, no matter your relationship status. So if you are looking for a drink that is as beautiful as it is seductive, here is one to go for.
Pour all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker and fill with ice.
Shake gently for 30 seconds.
Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
Garnish with a few lavender blossoms.
Dracarys
If you are a ‘Game of Thrones’ fan, you must be smiling right now. Just like Daenerys Targaryen uses the word ‘dracarys’ to get her dragons to breathe fire, this nightcap will make the passion in you burn for that fiery Valentine’s night. The heat builds as you drink and before you know it, it’s a rain of fire breaths.
Slice up 3 large ancho chiles and place them into a jar along with 1 L bourbon. Let sit for 24 hours, then strain out solids. (Do this the night before Valentine)
Pour all the ingredients into a double Old Fashioned glass with ice and stir.
Garnish with a lime wheel.
A Glass of Classic Red
We won’t judge you if you are out of ingredients for cocktails or have never had any. You can still enjoy Valentine night with a glass of sweet red wine. We would prefer white wine, but for the sake of Valentine’s day colours, pick a red on your way home. There is the talk of red wine being an awesome aphrodisiac, so be sure all those fruity flavours will make your night grand.
Rum is already a classic drink in it’s own right, but when described as hot and buttered, it speaks volume of a reputable mixed drink – Hot Buttered Rum.
Hot buttered rum is a sweet and creamy mixed drink made with rum, butter, a sweetener, hot water or cider, and spices (usually cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg). It is traditionally associated with the Christmas holiday period in the US. This is most especially because it keeps you warm in the midst of the cold, frigid snowy weather.
History of Hot Buttered Rum
The story behind the emergence of hot buttered rum is a bit muddled. In the United States, the history of hot buttered rum dates back to the colonial period. It is said to have been invented in the 1650s when molasses were being imported to America from Jamaica. Distilleries opened up in New England where colonists then began adding distilled rum to hot beverages such as toddies and nogs, creating hot buttered rum, eggnog and others.
Another American legend credits the invention of hot buttered rum to the time of George Washington and the American independence. As recorded in The American Heritage Cookbook, hot buttered rum “found its way into domestic politics.” It speaks about a drink that was used to influence constituents and sway votes.
Another account holds that hot buttered rum originated from Europe at a time when water was contaminated, thus making drinking alcohol a safer alternative. During the winter months, warming drinks became antidotes to the poorly insulated buildings in Europe. At the time, everyone searched for creative ways to make their warm drinks, and that is how hot buttered rum became a thing.
According to another story, hot buttered rum is the creation of mariners who needed to stay warm on the high sea while making voyages.
Hot Buttered Rum in Popular Culture
Widely regarded as a holiday cocktail in America, hot buttered rum is a major feature during the Christmas season. Many lovers of the drink believe it bears the very taste of Christmas on the palate – sweet, loving, comfortable and warm.
The popularity of the drink inspired the name of a San Francisco Bay Area – Hot Buttered Rum. The band who have been performing since 2002 got national attention in the US when it song, “Right Between Your Eyes” made the theme music for Cook’s Country from America’s Test Kitchen, a PBS television show. Hot Buttered Rum is a five-piece progressive bluegrass act with resounding performances at music festivals such as Newport Folk Festival, Bonnaroo Music Festival, Telluride Bluegrass Festival, High Sierra, Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival and South by Southwest. The band has also performed with the likes of Ben Harper, Bela Fleck and Peter Rowan.
Hot Buttered Rum is celebrated annually in the US on January 17th, and the rest of the world are quickly joining in the tradition for the sheer love of the drink.
Hot Buttered Rum Recipe
The recipe of hot buttered rum varies according to individual choices. The debate about how best to make the drink is unending and continues to brew much like the making of it. While some recipes prefer homemade caramel to be melted into hot rum, others choose to cream butter with sugar and let it melt over a warm stove. Easily, some people decide to use Dutch Caramel Vodka in place of caramel or cream butter and sugar.
You are free to go for any of the preferred recipes you find, and which suits your style. However, here is our preferred hot buttered rum recipe.
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The Boston Shaker is highly essential in the cocktail-making process. It consists of two parts: a mixing glass and a metal tumbler. It used to have a third part which was a built-in strainer. The beautiful thing about the Boston Shaker is that the customer gets to see what goes into the mixing glass. Add that to the beauty of watching the ingredients mix together as the mixologist gets to work.
The strainer is a basic sieve designed to be placed on the shaker. It keeps broken ice and fruit or other pulp in the metal tumbler while the drink is being poured.
A Snifter is a traditional cognac or brandy glass. As such, it is the perfect glass for serving cognac or brandy-based cocktails. The 35cl glass is sometimes known as the Balloon.
