BLOODY MAY INSPIRED HEIRLOOM TOMATO VODKA TAPAS

A tomato, some salt and a pickle walk into a bar. . . . .
Bacon Vodka and Pickle Vodka Infused HEIRLOOM TOMATOES
WAIT, don't cringe and click away! These lovely little bites of Bloody Mary inspired tapas are delicious, thanks to both those vodka flavors. Plain vodka is just boring with this recipe. Trust me, I did all three and the plain vodka tomatoes might as well have been totally sober.
This whole recipe was actually inspired by a bottle of Naked Jay BIG DILL sent to me as a sample which I really liked. I am a big dill pickle fan though and if you're not don't use the dill pickle vodka. You can use tomato vodka but that seems a little redundant to me. The addition of using my Homemade Bacon Vodka on some of the tomatoes was because I wanted another flavor in some of the tomatoes.
I tossed them all together for this presentation. I like the idea that you don't know which flavor you're going to get. Feel free to put the different flavors in different serving dishes if you like, not everyone likes a surprise.
You'll want to serve these up with some lovely choices of dipping salts. Here I've used (from the bottom of the photo up) Cypress Black Lava Salt Flakes (in the pile), some marvelously earthy Truffle Salt, some Himalayan Pink Salt and some wonderfully smoky Artisan Salt Company Salish Alder Smoked Salt.
Bacon and Pickle Vodka Infused HEIRLOOM TOMATO TAPAS Think of these as edible cocktails!
INGREDIENTS Tomatoes 1 Pint of Mini Heirloom Tomatoes Homenade Bacon Vodka Pickle Vodka Dill Weed Black Lava Salt Flakes Truffle Salt Himalayan Pink Salt Salish Alder Smoked Salt
Presentation:  3 or 4 Small Serving Containers for the Salt, Serving Bowl(s) for the Tomatoes, Serving Platter
Tools: Toothpicks, Small Bowls, Medium Metal Strainer
DIRECTIONS: Poke quite a few small holes in all the tomatoes with a toothpick, place the tomatoes in small bowls and cover them with your choice of flavor infused vodka. Do this for all the different flavored vodkas you're working with. I added fresh dill weed to the pickle vodka tomatoes and some course black pepper to all of the tomatoes. Let these sit overnight or even for a couple of days. The longer the tomatoes sit the longer they will soak up the flavor - up to about 3 days. Pour the tomatoes through a medium metal strainer over a bowl - you want to drain the vodka off but DON'T THROW IT AWAY ... chill that vodka and serve it with the tomatoes in cold shot glasses, it's a lovely drink to have with this dish. Plate everything up and enjoy.
Next time I might try adding some fresh, crushed garlic to the plain vodka, it might help pop the flavor up a bit. Another combination that would be nice would be some fresh basil and a couple of teaspoons of balsamic and add some mozzarella balls to the plate.
 
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CERSEI'S REVENGE Game Of Thrones Rum Pineapple Cocktail

"She never forgets a slight, real or imagined. She takes caution for cowardice and dissent for defiance. And she is greedy. Greedy for power, for honour, for love." ~ George R.R. Martin, A Dance with Dragons (A Song of Ice and Fire, #5)
Warning! Spoilers ahead!
So here we are at the end of season 6. All the dragons have returned, Daenerys is back in command with Tyrion beside her as her right hand Imp, Arya is a person again, Jon Snow survived the Battle of the Bastards, Sansa is finally a widow, Jaime completed his storming the castle task and poor, beleaguered Cersei is facing execution without the possibility of the right to a trial by combat. Too bad about that nixed trial by combat, with The Mountain, aka Ser Robert Strong, as her champion that would have been an easy out for her, right?
There has been much speculation as to whether our favorite blond villainess will meet her end at the end of season 6. Some are laying bets on the execution, while others speculate sororicide by her brother/lover Jaime over that nasty blue wildfire stash. I'm betting on the return of Cersei next season, whether alive or as a vengeful spectre. She's a survivor and, shhhhhhh, she's reportedly getting $500k per episode to continue her nefarious scheming. And don't think she won't be hell bent on revenge.

CERSEI'S REVENGE Beautiful. Powerful. Dangerous.
INGREDIENTS 2 Oz. Cruzan Black Strap Rum 1 Oz. Cruzan 151 Rum 2 Oz. Fresh Pineapple Juice 1 Oz. Fresh Lime Juice 1 Tablespoon Orgeat Syrup Splash Ginger Beer Ice
GARNISH: 1 Pineapple Juice Ice Sphere, Fresh Mint Sprig, Rum Soaked Cocktail Cherry
TOOLS: Ice Mold, Cocktail Shaker, Strainer
GLASS: Old Fashioned
DIRECTIONS: Fill a round ice mold with fresh pineapple juice and freeze. Cover nice quality cocktail cherries with some of the Cruzan 151 and let soak overnight. Add all the ingredients except the overproof rum to a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake until chilled. Strain over the pineapple ice sphere in a chilled glass. Float the Cruzan 151 on top, garnish and serve icy cold.
Be sure to try out all my other Game of Thrones cocktails over the long wait for our return to the Land of Ice and Fire next year.
"Tears aren't a woman's only weapon." ~ Cersei Lannister
 
Updated 6-2018 PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY

KEY LIME PIE MARTINI Cocktail Recipe

This is one of the first cocktails I ever created and it's still one of my favorites. I love a Key Lime Pie but it has to be in a standard short crust pastry pie shell, not a graham cracker crust and I prefer a brûléed meringue topping over whipped cream. There's a lot of versions out there, but that's my favorite style and the one I styled my original KLPM recipe around.

My first version of my Key Lime Pie Martini recipe called for limeade concentrate instead of key lime juice because the first time I made the cocktail I used actual Key limes and drove myself crazy trying to juice the little buggers without a decent juicer. Key limes are small and hard and I spent forever rolling them around trying to loosen up the juice inside. So I tried a frozen limeade for my next version and, though it didn't have that Key lime flavor, it made a pretty decent, and way easier, drink. It also had the sweetener already included. Plus, Key limes aren't always available and I could keep frozen limeade always on hand in the freezer.
Now I have a juicer so there's no excuse for not using fresh Key lime juice when they're in season. Gotta love the mod-cons, especially if you're in the cocktail business. I do love my juicers, especially when it comes to extracting Key lime juice.

The

KEY LIME PIE

MARTINI

INGREDIENTS:2 Oz. Vanilla Vodka1-1/2 Oz. Fresh Key Lime Juice 1 Oz. Simple Syrup2 Oz. Heavy Cream or Half & Half
Garnish: Pie Crust and Sugar Rim, Lime Slice
Tools: Juicer, Cocktail shaker
Glass: Cocktail
DIRECTIONS:Blind bake a single layer of sugared, prepared pie crust, cool, then crumble. Mix with a teaspoon of sugar. I added in a bit of green sugar crystals for extra color. Dip the glass rim in some lime juice then into the crumbled pie crust mixture. Chill glass in the freezer.Add ingredients to a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake until icy cold.Strain into the chilled glass and serve.
VOICEOVER VIDEO WITH INGREDIENTS AND DIRECTIONS:

National Key Lime Pie Day is September 23rd.
GET THIS COCKTAIL RECIPE DESIGN ON TEES & CLOTHING, POSTERS, PARTY ACCESSORIES, STICKERS & CARDS:

Updated 9/2025 PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY

CHOCOLATE ECLAIR EDIBLE COCKTAILS

You may wonder why you are getting two different versions of this edible cocktail. There's two versions because I had tons of lovely custard cocktail gel left over after making the samples for the photo shoot. Why not make a pudding cocktail too? So I did.
I hand made these chocolate cups because my chocolate mold did not come in time. You can also buy ready made chocolate cups at Amazon. I'm doing that next time, it's just plain easier - though I did infuse my chocolate cups with a nice little pinch of sea salt.
You can also make your own alcohol infused whipped cream.
Tip: If you want a firmer custard cocktail gel to serve without the chocolate cups just add one additional package of gelatin to the custard recipe.
CHOCOLATE ECLAIR EDIBLE COCKTAILS (Jello Shots)
INGREDIENTS 1 Small Box of Instant Vanilla Pudding 1 Pkg. Knox Gelatin 1-1/2 cups cold whole milk 1 C. Cake Vodka minus 3 Tablespoons 3 Tablespoons of Caramel Sauce Chocolate Sauce 1/2 C. Dark Chocolate Chips Alcohol Infused Whipped Cream Dark Chocolate Shavings Pinch of Sea Salt Spray Cooking Oil
TOOLS Measuring Cups & Spoons, 8"x8" Cake Pan, Large Spoon, Medium Mixing Bowl, Whip, Double Boiler (or equivalent),  Chocolate Cup Molds, Small Martini Glass
DIRECTIONS FOR THE CUSTARD COCKTAIL GEL
Spray your cake pan and set aside. Mix the caramel sauce in with the cake vodka and set aside. Place the milk into your saucepan and sprinkle the Knox in, stir and allow to settle for a minute or two. Heat on low setting until the gelatin is completely dissolved, about 2 to 3 minutes or so. Remove from heat and set the gelatin milk mixture aside. In a separate bowl add the remaining 1 cup of milk and the pudding mix and beat for about 1 minute or until the pudding is completely incorporated. Add in the gelatin milk mixture, mix well. Immediately add the 1 cup of cake vodka/caramel sauce mixture and mix for another minute. Pour into your greased cake pan and let set for at least an hour. Once your pudding gel has set up you are ready to cut or scoop.
DIRECTIONS FOR THE CHOCOLATE CUPS
Melt your chocolate chips in a double boiler until smooth and creamy. Avoid getting any liquid into your chocolate as this will cause the chocolate to seize up. Add a pinch of salt and gently stir in. Pour this into chocolate cup molds and put in the fridge to set up.
ASSEMBLY FOR THE CUSTARD COCKTAIL GEL
Spoon a dollop of the alcohol infused whipped cream into the cup leaving enough room to set in the custard gel. Gently place your custard cocktail gel into the whipped cream. Shave on some dark chocolate and plate.
ASSEMBLY FOR THE CHOCOLATE ECLAIR PUDDING MARTINI
Scoop some little spoonfuls of the cocktail gel custard into a small martini glass leaving some open spaces. Pour the chocolate syrup around the pieces and let it drip down into the spaces. Top off with the alcohol infused caramel whipped cream. Shave on some dark chocolate and serve.

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SIP OF STREEP, A Chocolate Meryl Streep Martini

There's a hilarious Instagram account called Taste Of Streep that takes Meryl Streep and Photoshops her into all types of food. It tickles me funny. If you're a Streep fan and a foodie you can't help but enjoy these photo mash-ups, they're just perfectly silly and fun.
Besides the requisite doughnut, cannoli, pizza, et al., they have dropped Meryl into a glass of milk, a cup of coffee, a beer, a glass of wine and a pina colada but they neglected a martini.
As a huge Meryl fan, and since it's Ms. Streep's birthday today, I just can't let that go ignored ...

SIP OF STREEP A Chocolate Meryl Martini Mash-up
INGREDIENTS 1 Oz. Chocolate Vodka 1Oz. Chocolate Liqueur 1/2 Oz. Irish Cream 2 Dashes Coffee Bitters Splash of Cream Ice
Garnish: Chocolate shavings
Tools: Cocktail shaker, Strainer
DIRECTIONS: Shake ingredients with ice until chilled, strain into chilled cocktail glass, garnish with chocolate shavings, serve.
My favorite Meryl Streep Movies? From 1 to 4:
   

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PEACHES & CREAM MARTINI Cocktail Recipe

June 21st is National Peaches and Cream Day. Now, most people would slice up a peach and pour some cream over it to celebrate but you know me, I add booze. Yeah, I sliced up some peaches and I added some cream in the form of half & half but then I took it to my happy hour place and poured in some vanilla vodka, some peach schnapps and a little sugar and spice.
Delicious!
THE PEACHES & CREAM MARTINI    INGREDIENTS 1-1/2 Oz. Vanilla Vodka
1 Oz. Peach Schnapps
1 Fresh Peach, Pureed
1 Oz. Half & Half
1/2 C. Sugar w/ 1 Tsp. Nutmeg
Fresh Peach Slice Ice
DIRECTIONS:  Dip your glass rim in some of the Peach Schnapps and then into the sugar and nutmeg mixture and chill in the freezer. Add a cup of ice to a cocktail shaker then pour in the vanilla vodka, peach schnapps, pureed peach, half & half. (Add an optional bit of that extra nutmeg sugar mixture if your peaches need sweetening.)  Shake until well blended and chilled, strain into your cold cocktail glass, garnish with peach slice and serve.

Updated 6-2019

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FATHER'S DAY COCKTAILS

Father's Day calls for some manly cocktails. None of those pink girly drinks, nothing with a cocktail umbrella, nothing watered down with loads of fruit juices, just strong, muscle man, testosterone approved booze for Dad!

Here are some great bespoke guy drinks with male appeal. Not a bit of frilly in the bunch. Every one pairs well with power tools, cigars and sports. There's serious machismo here, don't say I didn't warn you.

CRAFT COCKTAILS (with MORE POWER!) FOR FATHER'S DAY AVIATION BASEBALL INSPIRED COCKTAILS BLACKBERRY NEGRONI BLACK PANTHER BLOOD ORANGE BLACKBERRY BOURBON SOUR BOOMERANG BOURBON OLD FASHIONED CAFE NOIR COCKTAIL CHURCHILL COCKTAIL GHOST OF MY PAPPY (For my Dad, a Bourbon man) GOLD NUGGET GOLD RUSH PICKLED GIBSON HAMMERED NAIL MANHATTAN MAPLE WHISKEY SOUR NEGRONI NIGHT'S WATCH COFFEE TODDY RYE RACKETEER ROBERT BURNS COCKTAIL SAGZERAC SAMCRO BLOODY BOILERMAKER SMOKY DIRTY MARTINI SPICY MOLE RUM OLD FASHIONED VIEUX CARRÉ WHISKEY SOUR VODKA MARTINEZ
Wishing all the Dads out there a Happy Father's Day!
Updated 6-2019 PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY