fête à fête

In celebrating Earth Day this week, here's a yummy 'green' cocktail from Elixir of San Francisco. This refreshing and pretty drink is really versatile (you can use whatever fruit is in season) and fun to make.

Country Thyme

1 ½ oz. Square One Organic Vodka

10-15 Fresh organic blueberries (can also be made with other fresh berries like black berries or huckleberries but may need more sweetener. Use whatever is in season and fresh)

1/2 of an organic lemon, in pieces

¼ oz. organic agave nectar

Place blueberries and lemon pieces in a mixing cup and muddle to juice both. Add agave nectar and vodka, and then top with ice. Shake vigorously for 10-20 seconds. Place one small sprig of Thyme in the palm of your hand and slap it to release the oils. Twist it and place at the bottom of a 10 oz glass (highball or old fashioned bucket) and fill with ice. Strain the drink over the ice. Take a nice big, pretty sprig of Thyme and slap it again before sticking it into the drink as a garnish.

www.elixirsf.com

-Tami

Tagged as: cocktail, cocktail recipe, drinks, organic, organic ingredients, seasonal

Posted by Tami Yu at 10:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Local lovebirds in SF can celebrate Valentine's Day with the “Spin the Bottle” event at the XYZ Bar at W San Francisco. Co-hosted by Jimmyjane, the flirty event will let participants play the exclusive W Hotels + Jimmyjane SPIN ME game, which includes many provocative and racy adventure games.

Spin the Bottle Event
XYZ Bar at W San Francisco
181 Third Street
Thursday, February 14, 2008
6pm - 8pm

Guests will also be able to enjoy Valentine cocktails, such as the ones below:

ROSE PETAL

1 ½ oz Finlandia Cranberry vodka
¾ oz Cointreau Liqueur
1 oz fresh lemon juice
Float of Champagne
Method: shaken and served up. Finished with a champagne float
Garnish: sugared rim

RASPBERY TRUFFLE

1½ oz Stolichnaya Razberi Vodka
¾ oz DeKuyper light Crème de Cacao
½ oz Chambord Liqueur
Method: shake Vodka and Crème de Cacao and serve up. Float Chambord
Garnish: a cocoa rim

See you at the XYZ!

Tami

Tagged as: cocktail recipe, cocktails, holiday, recipe, San Francisco, San Francisco event, special events

Posted by Tami Yu at 4:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Get a wake up call with Blue Lotus, the newest addition of Lotus Vodka. Enhanced with Guarana, Taurine and Caffeine, it has a nice spicy kick. Drink it straight, or use it as a great addition for a bloody mary at brunch.

Packaged in eco-friendly materials, the brand also donates a portion of sales proceeds to local and national charities (Project Ahimsa, Pathways for Kids and the Dalai Lama Foundation). So go out there and rack up your karma points with Blue Lotus!

For more info, visit: www.lotusvodka.com

See you at the bar,

Tami

Tagged as: cocktail recipe, cocktails, liquor, San Francisco, spirits

Posted by Tami Yu at 11:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Fans of classic cocktails will appreciate the book release of Wings of Cherubs. Written by Guillermo Toro-Lira, the historical narrative reveals the secrets of the Pisco Punch, the popular concoction (made with Peruvian Pisco brandy) that originated in early 1900s San Francisco. History buffs will enjoy the rare historical anecdotes of SF, which ultimately features the famous drink recipe.

Cantina Bar
580 Sutter Street at Mason (next to Hotel Rex)
Monday December 3, @ 7 p.m.

Free and open to the public; complimentary appetizers and Pisco Punch will be served.
The author will read from his new book, with a Q&A to follow. Signed copies of the book will be available for purchase.

www.piscopunch.com

-Tami

Tagged as: Books, cocktail, drinks, history, liquor, local events, recipes, San Francisco, San Francisco event, special events

Posted by Tami Yu at 5:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Now you can party hard without the usual guilt, thanks to VeeV acai liqueur. Infused with acai berry (the superfood of the moment), Prickly Pear (folk remedy for hangovers) and Acerola Cherry (high in vitamin C), it has a light refreshing flavor that goes well with tropical cocktails and mojitos. It's also great chilled neat or on the rocks.

For each bottle sold, VeeV makes a $1 donation to help preserve the Amazon rainforest. Already a fave in LA hot spots and beyond, celebs such as Drew Barrymore and Jessica Simpson have been digging their VeeV cocktails as they shake it up on the dance floors. So what are you waiting for? VeeV it up! It's the better way to drink.

VeeV Acai Mojito recipe:

2 oz. VeeV
1 Tbs superfine sugar
Lime wedges
Club soda
3 fresh mint sprigs

Muddle mint leaves, superfine sugar and lime in a mixing glass. Add 2 oz. of VeeV and ice in a cocktail shaker and shake. Strain the mixture into a tall glass and top with club soda. Garnish with fresh mint sprig and enjoy!

www.VeeVlife.com

See you at the bar,

Tami

Tagged as: acai, acai berry, acai liquer, acerola cherry, cocktail, cocktail recipe, drinks, liquor, mojito, prickly pear

Posted by Tami Yu at 11:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

San Francisco Gin Alert!

Come cheer on your favorite top bartenders as they mix up creative DAMRAK® gin cocktails for a chance to win a trip to the Bols Bartending Academy in Amsterdam. Cocktails will be judged on originality, personality, functionality, compatibility of ingredients...and of course, taste!

When: Tuesday October 9, 2007
contest at 7 p.m.

Where: Rye
688 Geary Street
San Francisco, CA, 94102

Damrak ® will also be featured at the upcoming San Francisco Independent Spirits Festival on Saturday October 13, 2007 at the W Hotel

Upcoming competitions:

Damrak ® Mixology Challenge--LA

Wednesday October 10th
4:30 pm
Takami Sushi& Robata Restaurant
811 Wilshire Blvd. 21st Floor
Los Angeles, CA

Damrak ® Mixology Challenge--NORTH BAY

Monday, Oct 8th
6pm
West County Grill
6948 Sebastopol Avenue
Sebastopol, CA

Damrak ® Mixology Challenge--EAST BAY

Monday, Oct 15
7pm
Scott's Seafood
1333 North California Blvd
Walnut Creek, CA

Damrak ® Mixology Challenge--SOUTH BAY

Monday, Oct 22
7pm
Fahrenheit Ultra Lounge
99 East San Fernando Street
San Jose, CA

Tagged as: bars, bartending, Bols Bartending Academy, cocktails, competition, contest, Damrak gin, drinks, gin, liquor, mixology, spirits

Posted by Tami Yu at 4:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Tequila connoisseurs will be excited to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the El Tesoro distillery. Carlos Camarena, owner and Master Distiller, will be in San Francisco to celebrate this milestone with the launch of a limited edition El Tesoro Anniversio tequila. This special edition is aged seven years and was lovingly created in memory of his grandfather, Don Felipe, who built the distillery La Altena in the mountains of Jalisco Mexico in 1877. El Tesoro distillery still utilizes the artisan methods of traditional ovens and crushing methods for the agave plant. El Tesoro is the only 100 percent blue agave tequila double distilled at 80 proof and bottled without water added.

For Northern California folks, there will be two special events held in honor of this special anniversary. Check out the following details and RSVP to the email listed below.

*Special Events in San Francisco*

-Bottle Signing, meet & greet with Master Distiller Carlos Camarena.

Bring your own or purchase on site. To honor 70 years of quality and tradition, Carlos, third generation and master distiller of El Tesoro Tequila, is proud to present a limited edition El Tesoro Anniversario tequila.

When: Wednesday August 15, 4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.

Where: John Walker, 175 Sutter Street

-A conversation and tasting with Carlos Camarena. A Q&A and discussion about the history of El Tesoro.

When: Wednesday, August 15, 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m.

Where: Cantina, 580 Sutter Street (at Mason next to Hotel Rex)

****Please RSVP to darizzo@gmail.com

-Tami

Tagged as: Carlos Camarena, El Tesoro Tequila, limited edition El Tesoro Anniversio tequila, Liquor and Spirits, local events, Master Distiller, San Francisco, special events, tasting, Tequila

Posted by Tami Yu at 7:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

To salute hard-working dads everywhere, Sonnema VodkaHERB has created a couple herbaceous martinis so our favorite dads can kick back and relax this Father's Day. Using a premium herb-infused charcoal distilled vodka from Holland, the noticibly smooth finish is what fathers will definitely appreciate.

The VodkaHerb Martini

Method: Muddle the cucumber in the cocktail
shaker and add ice. Add the Dry Vermouth
and VodkaHerb and shake with ice.
Doublestrain into the ice-chilled glass.

Ingredients: 2 slices of cucumber
80 ml Sonnema VodkaHerb
10 ml Dry Vermouth
Garnish: 1 slice of cucumber

VodkaHerbitan

Method: Shake with ice and double strain
into the ice-chilled glass.

Ingredients: 60 ml Sonnema VodkaHerb
5 leaves of Thyme
10 ml Maple syrup
35 ml Cranberry juice
Garnish: A branch of thyme

Happy Father's Day!

Tagged as: fashiontribes.com, Food and Drink, International, Lifestyle, Liquor and Spirits

Posted by Tami Yu at 3:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Perfect for a Father's Day gift, nationally acclaimed mixologist Tony Abou-Ganim has recently launched an informative DVD, "Modern Mixology: Making Great Cocktails at Home" that demonstrates what every drink enthusiast needs to stock a home bar. From recommending the proper bar tools (and showing viewers how to use them) to dishing out expert tips and secrets on executing the perfect cocktail, Tony's DVD also has a special feature on demonstrating the most popular cocktail recipes. Easy to follow and fun to watch, you can view each cocktail recipe at your own pace. Soon you will be confident at whipping out cocktails, becoming the star host of your parties.

Available at www.Themodernmixologist.com or Modernmixologydvd.com; you can also purchase Tony's bar tools (TAG BAR) at www.ultimatebarchef.com

See you at the bar,

Tagged as: fashiontribes.com, Food and Drink, International, Lifestyle, Liquor and Spirits, Parties

Posted by Tami Yu at 1:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Get a splash of summer fun with the new Bavarian import, XUXU. A 'heavenly kiss,' it's a refreshing vodka drink made with farm-fresh strawberries. Containing 66% fruit puree, this versatile German favorite is great on the rocks, or drizzled over ice cream and cakes. It's also ideal to mix it with sparkling wines and in other fruity cocktails (see recipe below).

XUXU Royale

Ingredients:

6 cl Sparkling Wine (e.g. Blanc Foussy)
2 - 4 cl XUXU

Preparation:

Pour chilled XUXU in a sparkling wine glass and fill it up with sparkling wine.

For more recipes, check out www.xuxu.de

See you at the bar,

Tagged as: Dessert, fashiontribes.com, Food and Drink, International, Lifestyle, Liquor and Spirits

Posted by Tami Yu at 9:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Whether it's breakfast in bed or brunch at her favorite brunch spot, treating mom to a delicious meal should definitely be part of her special day. A Breakfast Martini is a citrus indulgence she can savor while she is showered with the adoration she deserves!

The Plymouth Mother's Day Breakfast Martini

2 oz. PLYMOUTH GIN
1 oz. Cointreau
1 oz. fresh squeezed lemon juice
1 tsp. orange marmalade

Fill mixing glass with ice. Add ingredients and shake well. Strain into a martini glass. Garnish with toast point.

Happy Mother's Day!

Tagged as: Breakfast, fashiontribes.com, Food and Drink, International, Liquor and Spirits, Seasonal

Posted by Tami Yu at 2:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Champagne lovers will be happy to learn about the new champagne club from K&L Wine Merchants. A great opportunity to try top quality vintages, this recently-launched club is dedicated exclusively to bubbly. Get all the shopping legwork done by the K&L wine experts and have their top picks delivered directly to your door. Featuring the most exclusive and latest selections, it also makes a great luxury gift for the wine lover in your life.

K&L Champagne Club members will receive two bottles of fine Champagne, specially selected by K&L’s Champagne specialist, every other month for $69.95. Each shipment includes one bottle from an artisanal grower Champagne house and another from one of the grand marque producers in Champagne. From luxury bottles to undiscovered gems that sell for a fraction of the price of top producers, K&L offers more than 100 Champagnes. Their own bubbly expert Gary Westby regularly travels to Champagne to keep tabs on the trends from the hottest wineries, so members will always receive the most exclusive selections.

The fourth club launched by K&L, this venerable wine merchant also offers three other wine clubs: The Signature Red Club, The Premium Wine Club, and the the Best Buy Wine Club, all ranging from $17.95 to $49.95 per month.

To join, go to: www.klwines.com

The Sweet Life

Tagged as: fashiontribes.com, Food and Drink, Gourmet and Gourmand, International, Lifestyle, Liquor and Spirits, Northern California, San Francisco, Shopping, Wine

Posted by Tami Yu at 11:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Not just another import, Boca Loca Cachaça is the Brazilian sugar cane rum for drinks typically made with rum, vodka or tequila. Distilled from single-plantation, hand-harvested and pressed sugar cane from a small cachaçaria (plantation) in Sao Paulo, Boca Loca (Portuguese for "crazy lips") represents the nation's finest distilling tradition.

A premium sugar cane spirit, its smooth and full-bodied flavor contains subtle floral notes that linger nicely on the palate. Mingled with melon and honey, it has a distinctive, pure sugar cane finish. Originally produced twenty years ago as a labor of love on a small family sugar plantation, the heritage and quality of this hand-crafted cachaça has captivated international drink connoisseurs.

For more recipes (see below), visit: www.drinkbocaloca.com

Classic Caipirinha

(Brazil's national cocktail, pronounced kie-purr-REEN-yah)

1 1/2 oz Boca Loca
1 lime
2 teaspoons fine sugar

Clean and cut a lime into eight wedges. Place the lime and sugar into your glass and mash the ingredients together to create a paste. Add ice equal to your glass then add the Boca Loca. It's important to keep stirring to keep the sugar mixed well.

Boca Passion Fruit Batida

2oz Boca Loca Cachaca
1oz Passion Fruit Juice
1/2oz Fresh Lime
2 Bar spoons Condensed milk

Place all ingredients into a blender. Blend well, pour into an elegant martini glass - or your favorite cocktail stemware -- garnished with fresh passion fruit and serve (This is a very fresh, traditional drink in Brazil. Almost any tropical fruits can be substituted).

See you at the bar,

Tagged as: fashiontribes.com, Food and Drink, International, Liquor and Spirits

Posted by Tami Yu at 11:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

There's no better way to say those three little words than presenting this aptly-named drink, The Plymouth Passion. Easy to make, the smooth taste of Plymouth Gin and the exotic combo of pomegranate and passion fruit will definitely stir up more than enough passion between you and your sweetheart.

1.5 oz. Plymouth Gin

1.5 oz. Pomegranate Juice

1.5 oz. Passion Fruit Juice

Squeeze of lime

Fill a tall glass with ice, add Plymouth Gin and top with equal parts pomegranate and passion fruit juices. Add squeeze of lime and then stir.

Enjoy!

Tagged as: fashiontribes.com, Food and Drink, International, Liquor and Spirits, Seasonal

Posted by Tami Yu at 12:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)