Red Stag Cocktail Recipes

We spent some time down in New York this week, and the main attraction of our whirlwind trip was sitting down with Bobby "G" Gleason, Master Mixologist for Beam Global, so he could trot us through some of his favorite Red Stag cocktails. In a masterly fashion, he mixed us a batch of cocktails that surprised us on multiple fronts, and most importantly, gave us a minor buzz at 10 AM.

We were fascinated by Bobby's patter about flavor profiles and his enthusiasm for experimentation (he told us of a bacon-flavored tequila he created), and we dug the drinks too.

We're including the recipes for our favorites - the Manhattan is one we'd drink with enough regularity to be worrisome, the Mating Call moved Red Stag from sweet to tart, and the addition of Tabasco to the Red Hot Stag worried us a bit, but turned out to be one of our favorites of the bunch. See the recipes and our take after the jump.

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Sloe Gin Fizz

We've got a friend who's getting into the Sloe Gin Fizz of late, and sent an envoy to us asking if we knew any good recipes. Truth be told, we didn't, because while we've heard of this particular cocktail we've never sought it out. However, being the liquor nerds we are, we were able to dig through our many cocktail recipe books and come up with a few recipes that might fit the bill. We also found a recipe for something called a "Sloe Comfortable Screw," that we had to include just because it had an awesome name.

Find the recipes (and their sources) after the jump.

Update: We just found an article on Esquire that hints the reason for sloe gin's decline in the States - we don't have access to the real stuff, just artificially-flavored knockoffs that don't do the drink justice. Has anyone found a truly good sloe gin out there to combat this claim? Anyway, maybe that's why, as reader Megan puts it in the comments, "old people like sloe gin." It's because they've had the good stuff we don't have access to, and know what the drink can really aspire to.

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Swine Flu Cocktail: Drink Your Medicine

Been scouring the swine flu-related news lately, wondering when someone is finally going to create a swine flu-related cocktail? So have we. But wait no longer, because writer Robert Haynes-Peterson over at New York Drinks Examiner has finally come through.

His recipe contains absinthe (originally billed as a medicine), tequila (in honor of Mexico, duh), bacon-flavored bourbon (we're guessing it's a homeopathic thing), and limoncello (citrus for the win!). We can only only imagine it tastes like Satan's bunghole, but you know we'll be stocking up on the ingredients post haste because of the medicinal properties.

Get the recipe after the jump. (Image via George Coghill)

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Springtime Cocktail from Oval Vodka

We have a confession to make - we've never had elderflower liqueur. It's not that we have a problem with drinking flowers, it's more like we just haven't had an opportunity. We dug up this good-looking springtime recipe featuring Oval Vodka, and it seems like a good reason to get out there and snatch up a bottle of St. Germain.

Check out the recipe below, and don't hesitate to whip up a batch in honor of Earth Day.

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St. Patrick's Day Cocktail Recipe Roundup

St. Patrick's Day, aka Amateur Night But a Good Time Anyway, is right around the corner, and this year we wanted to give you some more options than just some green-tinted beer. Get your drink on with recipes we've found all over the o'blogosphere and beyond, and let us know if you find recipes we've missed. Check 'em out below...did we miss anything?

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McNuggetini: Breaded, Chickeny, Cocktail Goodness

You could say we have a soft spot for cocktails that are...out there. For one thing, remember when we were the ones to first tell you about the Bacon Martini? That was some heart-stopping fun. Filed in the same category, we offer you the McNuggetini, which we're guessing has a similar vomit profile. Our favorite part is the barbecue sauce-rimmed glass.

The recipe is after the jump; check out the full post at This Recording for some nice pictorial reactions. The looks on their faces tell us we might hold off on mixing this one up.

This drink reminds us of our dream of constructing the ultimate laxative cocktail - we call it the Pootini - using prune juice, vodka, and Ginger-Lemon Phospho-soda. Sadly, that's a dream that won't come to fruition now that you can only get the phospho by prescription. We thought we were going to laugh all the way to the bank (and the john) with that one.

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Hornipolitan: Best Valentine's Cocktail Name Ever?

What's the best way to make someone feel randy romantic? Well, there are a couple ways, but one tried and true method is to ply them with tequila. We're not talking "Night in Tijuana With Your Buddies" amounts, but just enough. If you're looking for just the right drink for Valentine's Day, we submit to you: The Hornipolitan.

You might not want to mention it by name, though, because the object of your affection might see through your ploy. Unless you want them to, of course...

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Old Fashioned Whiskey Cocktail the Robert Hess Way

If we've said it once we've said it a million times, the Old Fashioned cocktail is one of our favorites of all time. Commenter Temptin steered us toward this great video of Robert Hess (aka Drink Boy) making what looks like it could be the greatest Old Fashioned ever. Check the out the video, and don't miss the end, when he brings flaming orange oils into the mix...a must watch for Old Fashioned enthusiasts. Be patient - he doesn't even start mixing until somewhere around the halfway mark, but just like creating the drink itself, it's all about the journey.

We weren't familiar with this series of videos Robert is doing, but they're leaps and bounds better than most of the "bartending" crap you find on Youtube, etc. We've added his feed to our reader, and we can't wait to keep watching the vids...we're just bummed we couldn't figure out a way to embed them on our site.

Old Fashioned cocktail video at Small Screen Network

1st Down Tequila: 60 Second Superbowl Cocktails

As you know, the Super Bowl is only a few days away, and it's time to start thinking about what you're going to drink. You could stick with your standard beers and whatnot, but you may want to class up your party, like if your grandma or your priest or your parole officer is going to be there. What better way to do that than with these 60 second cocktail recipes from Herradura?

Not only can you mix them up during a commercial break, you definitely need to drink rapid fire tequilas on a Sunday night. Trust us, it's always a good idea.

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Back to Classics with Old Fashioned Drinks

We've said before we think the Old Fashioned is our barometer drink to help us decide if we like a bar or its bartenders. If they can mix a good one, we'll take off our hat. If they look at is blankly, we find somewhere else to go. It's a classic. Maybe THE classic. It's even got a damned type of glass named after it.

The folks at AskMen have put together profiles and recipes for the Old Fashioned and other classic cocktails if you want to spend some time getting back to your roots. They've got Harvey Wallbangers (in the running for best cocktail name ever), Gin Marinis (no flirtinis here), and all sorts of great stuff. Plus, we're interested in their take on our Old Fashioned, because their recipe calls for brandy instead of the rye or bourbon we've always used. Color us intrigued.

at AskMen

PS - We found a recipe closer to our Old Fashioned here if you're interested. And who wouldn't be?

PPS - Here's where we found a great article on the old fashioned, past and present (and the image for this story).

Preggatinis: Mocktail Recipes for the Mom-to-Be

Normally, the word "mocktail" would never, ever be found on this website. Ever. But we're bending our firm rule about that because it seems juuuust about every female we know (other than the Liquor Wife, praise be to Jebus) got knocked up has been in the family way and has recently or is about to squeeze out a squalling poop factory bundle of joy.

One of the things we've noticed is that the moms-in-waiting kind of shafted on cocktails with the whole "not really allowed to drink" thing, and we've sensed a steely note in their voices as they ordered another water or juice. Thankfully, Natalie Bovis-Nelsen (The Liquid Muse) has written a book of virgin cocktail recipes that could help give some variety and partially scratch the itch.

Within these pages are 75 original Preggatini recipes highlighting fresh juices, herbs, and garnishes as well as ideas for Preggatini Parties - a modern spin on the humdrum baby shower. Organized by pregnancy stages and symptoms, this lavishly illustrated, pocket-sized, virtually intoxicating guide also offers quotes from famous mums about pregnancy and health and such options as 'De-virginize for Dad' - making these drinks applicable to all.

Preggatinis: Mixology for the Mom-to-be [discovered via About.com Cocktails]

Mount Gay Hot Buttered Rum Recipe

After our success with the Glog recipe we tried before Christmas, we've been interested in checking out some other traditional cocktail recipes. Lo and behold, we get an email from someone representing Mount Gay Rum, with a recipe for hot buttered rum, something we've never tried. We like hot, we dig butter, and we love rum, so expect us to give it a try.

Check out the recipe after the jump, and happy rumming.

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Drunken Watermelon Snowman Recipe

We're always looking for that little something extra for our holiday parties, and we've stumbled upon this recipe for creating a drunken watermelon snowman that would do Frosty proud, being the legendary drunk he was. And you'll never convince us he wasn't a drunk, because A) he was a jolly happy soul, B) he danced like an idiot, and C) we've had eyes like lumps of coal when we were hung over too. Our theory is he went down to the village with that broomstick in his hand to try to find a college bar and get the kids to limbo or something.

Anyhoo, check out the drunken snowman recipe at Cocktail Times.

Glogg Recipe, or "Let's Get Glogged"

Last weekend, we were introduced to Glogg (aka Gluvine, aka Gluwine, aka a heated cup o' heaven). When our hosts told us it was a Swedish mulled wine recipe we almost declined in favor of beer, because we've had some "mulled wine" in the past where it tasted like a cinnamon stick and a bottle of Mad Dog 20/20 had mated. We're glad we were feeling adventurous, though, because the Glogg we had was warm and fruity and had us full of holiday cheer in no time. Glogg is drank almost exclusively at Christmas in Sweden, and we can see why - if we had this stuff available all year 'round, we wouldn't get a thing done.

We don't have the exact recipe of the stuff we tried, but find the closest thing we could find online after the jump. If you're having a holiday party, it is a moral imperative that you make this for your guests. Because if you don't, they'll find out this stuff exists and that you didn't make it, and they'll never talk to you again.

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