Toast to the Weekend:Big Game Edition (Sponsored by Alize)

Super Bowl Sunday is just two days away and if you are anything like me, you already have your menu all planned: some wings, maybe some chili, plenty of finger foods, the standard staples of chips, dip, pretzels, etc. However, the biggest question, especially if you are expecting a mixed crowd, can be what drinks to serve up?

Okay--I know what you're thinking--like me, when you think of football, beer is usually the first thing that comes to mind, Well, while I make no qualms about loving a good adult beverage, beer has never been a favorite. So when I was presented an opportunity to try out Alize, I wondered if it could make the perfect game time beverage?

Would you believe that until just a few days ago, I'd never tried Alize? While this liqueur has been around for several years, I'd always placed it in the category of one of those ultra girly, super sweet & fruity beverages (I'm admittedly more of a "brown liquor" type of girl). So, I checked out the website:

"Intensely unique and inviting, Alizé Passion liqueurs infuse premium French Vodka with luscious, all natural flavors from the world’s most exotic regions. Our Master Blenders travel from the jungles of Brazil, the lush hillsides of Chile, the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa, the flourishing Mediterranean Coast, and to the tropical shores of South America and the pacific islands to bring you the nectars of our exotic fruits.



Alizé is delicious mixed with vodka, tequila, rum or a splash of Champagne. Alizé is also refreshing on the rocks or in mimosas, martinis and margaritas." - from the Alize website

Ummm...they had me at "mixed with vodka, tequila, rum or a splash of Champagne".

So, I road tested the "Party Crasher" recipe (see below). The recipe name is perfect for this weekend! Just enough kick, while not being overly strong and a great taste. This beverage is going to be perfect with my Hot & Sweet wings and Bronx-style Chili. While others may bring their own six pack, be sure to let some Alize Red Passion crash your Super Bowl party this weekend!

Party Crasher

Ingredients

• 2 parts Alizé Red Passion
• 1 part premium vodka

Serve in a rocks glass. Garnish with a lime wedge.



 
Be sure to check out "Toast to the Weekend"  every Friday in February for other Alize inspired beverages!



Disclaimer: This post consists of my (and/or fellow tester) opinions only. No compensation was given for this review. I did receive free bottles of Alize liqueur from the manufacturer or the representing PR agency to use and test for the purposes of this review. This did not affect the outcome of this review.

Toast to the Weekend: Let It Snow!

A CNN report this week stated that every state in the US except Florida had experienced some snow so far this winter. So, in honor of Jack Frost, here are some winter-themed beverages to enjoy around the fireplace or just snuggled up under your favorite quilt or blanket this weekend. Cheers & have a great one!

(Source)

Avalanche
Mix together all the ingredients together in a blender – vodka, De Kuyper Crème de Bananes, Disaronno Amaretto, De Kuyper Crème de Cacao, single cream and half a peeled banana with some crushed ice. Pour the blended mixture into a high ball glass and garnish with a slice of banana and a sprig of mint if desired.

Downhill Racer
Continuing with a wintery ski-ing theme, this cocktail is another way of warming yourself through after a hard day on the slopes (or at the office!!). Mix together the Disaronno Amaretto, light rum (such as Bacardi), pineapple juice and lime juice. Shake together with cubed ice and strain into a tumbler filled with crushed ice. If you want to show off, garnish with a pineapple leaf for that little extra something …


Snowball
The main ingredient of a classic Snowball is Warninks Advocaat. Advocaat is a traditional drink in Holland and Warninks has been made there since 1616. Made from only 4 ingredients – brandy, egg yolks, sugar and vanilla – served neat it is like drinking alcoholic custard – yummy! But for the classic snowball, mix the Warninks Advocaat with the lime cordial and pour into an ice filled highball glass. Top up with lemonade as desired.

Toast to the Weekend: Tea Time with a Kick

Everyone has a recipe for an iced tea with a little kick. There are even famous iced teas with no actual tea in them. But what to do during the winter months, when a hot cup of tea is used to keep away the chill? Why not kick it up a notch with this recipe? A minty green tea beverage, with white rum. Not too complicated a cocktail, but strong enough to suit any taste. Cheers to a fabulous weekend!

Green Tea Tokyo
(source)

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

•2 oz white rum

•1 tbsp honey

•5 sprigs of mint

•2 tbsp sugar syrup (see link below)

•6 oz hot green tea

Preparation:
Combine ingredients in a mug, and serve. If you want to strain out the mint, let it sit for 2-3 minutes before removing the sprigs.

Toast to the Weekend: Hot Toddy

Here in NYC, it seems that everyone is walking around with the sniffles. The weather has been that of a typical NYC Fall--rainy and cold one day, warm and sunny the next. Mix that with all of the seasonal colds & flu going around, and at the end of the week, you are certain to feel like you just want to curl up on the couch with a warm blanket and something warm to drink.

This Hot Toddy is sure to warm you up from the inside out--and quickly if you don't sip slowly. While this allrecipes.com concotion calls for whiskey, you can substitute most "brown liquors" (I'm partial to spiced rum or some nice brandy myself...).

Keep warm, and have a delicious weekend!

Hot Toddy
(recipe courtesy Allrecipes.com)

Ingredients
1 teaspoon honey
2 fluid ounces boiling water
1 1/2 fluid ounces whiskey
3 whole cloves
1 cinnamon stick
1 slice lemon
1 pinch ground nutmeg

Directions
Pour the honey, boiling water, and whiskey into a mug. Spice it with the cloves and cinnamon, and put in the slice of lemon. Let the mixture stand for 5 minutes so the flavors can mingle, then sprinkle with a pinch of nutmeg before serving.

Toast to the Weekend: Dear Summer

It's hard to believe that Labor Day Weekend is upon us. There seems to be no time of year that goes faster than the season of Summer. And while we know that summer is still making its last stand until September 22 here in the US, with the start of school and the temperatures growing cool and Fall fashion fully upon us, we think it is only fitting to toast to a fabulous summer 2009. It was definitely fun while it lasted, summer. We'll see you again Memorial Day 2010.

Be sure to revel in the last days of Summer this Labor Day with some of these delicious cocktails. Cheers!

Pomegranate Margaritas – This recipe makes over 30 drinks and calls for white tequila, cranberry juice cocktail, pomegranate juice, Triple Sec, frozen limeade and cranberry juice, corn syrup and sparkling sugar.

Champagne Sangria – This simple recipe is from Giada De Laurentiis and calls for Prosecco or French Champagne, orange juice and a few other tasty ingredients.

Black Velvet – Who knew you could mix beer with sparkling wine?

Beer ‘Garitas – You’ll need limeade concentrate, tequila, orange liqueur, beer and some crushed ice.

Blue Margarita – You’ll need frozen margarita mix, tequila, blue curacao liqueur and lime juice. Pretty!

Watermelon-Mint Margaritas – Besides watermelon, this recipe uses tequila, sugar, lime, mint leaves and sugar.

Lime Chile Beer – Start with a light-bodied wheat beer, add some fresh lime juice, sugar, coarse salt and a pinch of chili powder.

Frozen Cranberry Margaritos – Tequila, orange liqueur, lime juice, mojito mix and cranberry sauce rounds out this drink.

Blueberry-Coconut Slush – This one is for the kids! Combine pineapple sherbet or sorbet, blueberries, coconut milk and shredded coconut. How refreshing.

Lemon Soda Float – Move over root beer floats! There’s a new float in town!

Toast to the Weekend: Patriotic Spirits

We love it when the Fourth of July falls on a Saturday and the three day weekend that holds so much promise as the summer kicks into high gear! Regardless of how you feel about what the holiday stands for, it can always be seen as a time to gather with family and friends and cherish the freedom that we have and to honor & salute those who are around the world defending it.

And what better way to serve up a great toast than with a Patriotic-themed cocktail? We are turning to the folks over at FineLiving.com, who are serving up 8 All-American cocktails that will be sure to be a hit as you enjoy your family cookout or are sitting in the perfect spot to watch the fireworks (or are looking to create some of your own)! We are looking forward to trying A.J.'s American Punch. Be sure to let us know if you try any of the recipes featured, and which are your favorites.

Cheers & have a great and safe weekend!

Toast to the Weekend: What's Your Sign?

We were looking for a drink to toast Editor-In-Chief Ms. Aja B. on the occasion of her 32 Birthday. Yes, she is definitely a Cuba Libre type of girl, but she also has an adventerous side.



When we found Zodiac Cocktails, courtesy of UK's In The Spirit, we knew we had found the perfect cocktail to toast our favorite Twin! An easy to make mix of vodka, De Kuyper Blue Curaçao with orange juice and lime cordial, we love this recipe for Green Eyes, and think she will too!





Check out the cocktails for your Zodiac sign here. And a Happy Birthday to all the Geminis & Cancers celebrating their born day in the month of June!

Toast to the Weekend: Low Calorie Cocktails

Is anyone else still feeling the effects of all of those hamburgers, hot dogs, ribs, potato salad, cole slaw, chicken that were consumed over the Memorial Day Weekend? I know I am. But with the weekend here, what can a lady getting ready to mix and mingle with the ladies sip on to save some calories, but still enjoy something with a little kick?

Leave it to our new favorite website DrinkoftheWeek.com to provide us with the perfect solution. Check out this recipe for a low calorie Cooler and Iced Tea, and then head on over to their website for a few more.

Zen Cooler (150 Calories)
1 oz. Zen Green Tea Liqueur
Top with Fresca
Mix and serve over ice in a tall glass.


Zen Iced Tea (150 Calories)
1 oz. Zen Green Tea LiqueurTop with Crystal Light Iced Tea
Mix and serve over ice in a tall glass with a lemon wedge garnish.

Toast to the Weekend: Curvy Cocktails

We just couldn't wait to reveal one of our new series for the Summer! And since Memorial Day Weekend is the "Unofficial" Start of the Summer Season, we though it would be a great time to introduce our new column, "Toast to the Weekend", which will feature a delicious cocktail for you to enjoy at that Cookout or while hosting brunch with the girls!

We are kicking things off with a hit from our recent Curves & Cocktails event in New York City, the Curvy Girl and the Curvytini, courtesy of ToMA Vodka!

Curvy Girl
1 1/2 oz ToMA vodka

1/2 oz peach schnapps

3 oz pineapple juice

Mix all and serve over ice.

Curytini
Toma Vodka
Triple Sec
Fresh Lime Juice
Cranberry Juice
Lime Garnish

Mix the first for ingredients and serve over ice. Garnish with a slice of lime.