Maker’s Mark salutes America with special patriotic – Red, White and Blue bottles.

As Independence Day nears, there is no better way to toast America’s birthday this 4th of July, than with Maker’s Mark Kentucky straight bourbon whisky – a truly all American spirit.

Maker’s Mark is located in Loretto, Kentucky. The Maker’s Mark distillery is the world’s oldest operating bourbon whisky distillery and a National Historic Landmark.

Special for the holiday, Maker’s Mark is selling tri-packs with three 375 ml. bottles sealed in red, white and blue wax.

These packs will be sold for a limited time only in select U.S. states (see below) and will retail for $29.99 (prices vary by state).

Looking for a tasty drink recipes? Maker’s Mark suggests the following refreshing cocktails with your red, white and blue bottles for a memorable 4th of July barbecue and anytime throughout the summer.

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Kentucky Lemonade
Yield – 1 serving

Ingredients:
* 1 1/2 parts Maker’s Mark
* 1/2 part triple sec
* 4 parts of lemonade
* 2 parts lemon & lime soda

Directions:
Pour Maker’s Mark, triple sec, lemonade and soda into a shaker. Shake and pour over crushed ice.

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Maker’s Ice Cream Float
Yield – 2 servings

Ingredients:
* 1 cup of vanilla ice cream
* 1/4 cup Maker’s Mark
* 1 tsp. vanilla extract
* Freshly grated nutmeg (to taste)

Directions:
Combine bourbon, ice cream and vanilla in a blender and process until smooth. Pour into glasses and service with a sprinkle of nutmeg.

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* Red, White and Blue Tri-Packs Available in the Following States: AL, AZ, CA, CO, DE, FL, IL, KY, LA, MI, MS, MT, NC, NE, NH, NY (Upstate & Metro), OR, OH, PA, TX, WA, WY.

For additional recipes, please see Maker’s Mark Mint Julep

Summer is quickly approaching. Just in time, Belvedere Vodka is launching a new flavor within its popular line of macerated, premium vodkas: Belvedere Pink Grapefruit.

Belvedere Pink Grapefruit is Belvedere Vodka’s latest innovation and the most naturally expressive, authentic, fresh grapefruit essence available in the flavored super premium vodka category.

Belvedere Vodka was first introduced to North America back in 1996. The company was the first to create a new standard for excellence in the crowded vodka category. As a market leader, Belvedere Vodka is credited with creating the luxury vodka segment.

Discriminating vodka enthusiasts truly appreciate know the distinctive character and uncompromising integrity of Belvedere Vodka.

As the most versatile Maceration flavor to date, Belvedere Pink Grapefruit is distilled from whole pink grapefruits (another first for Belvedere Vodka) and carefully combined with Spanish spring lemons and fresh ginger.

You won’t find any artificial additives in Belvedere Pink Grapefruit. The drink is best served either chilled or combined with complementary mixers. It also pairs perfectly with Mediterranean as well as Pan-Asian cuisines — the perfect summertime food.

Belvedere Pink Grapefruit is 40 percent alcohol by volume (ABV).

The tasting notes for Belvedere Pink Grapefruit include:

o Nose: A rush of bright and refreshing sweet citrus lift, with notes of ripe grapefruit flesh, spicy ginger, and a hint of vanilla.

o Palate: Soft, sweet and rich with a velvety texture and vivid pink grapefruit tartness tempered by hints of warming ginger and lemon peel. Medium-bodied with a good balance of acidity and spice.

o Finish: Sustained notes of fresh citrus with a persistent sweet spice and warmth; soft cream and vanilla back palate.

Belvedere Pink Grapefruit will be available in top restaurants, bars and wine and spirits stores starting in May.

Take a look below for several fresh new Belvedere Pink Grapefruit cocktail recipes that were created by Claire Smith – Belvedere Vodka’s Head of Spirit Creation and Mixology.

Belvedere Pink Sour
– 1.5 oz Belvedere Pink Grapefruit
– ½ oz lemon juice
– ½ oz simple syrup
– Dash egg white
– Dry shake, add ice and re-shake.
– Pour over cubed ice into a rocks glass and garnish with a lemon or pink grapefruit wheel

Belvedere Pink Yuzu Sour
1.5 oz Belvedere Pink Grapefruit
– ½ lemon juice
– 1/3 oz Yuzu juice
– ½ honey
– Dash egg white
– Mix Belvedere Pink Grapefruit and honey until the honey is dissolved.
– Add rest of ingredients and dry shake.
– Add ice and re-shake.
– Strain into a couple glass and drop a little Peychaud bitters onto the foam top.

Belvedere Pink Twinkle
– 50ml/2 oz  Belvedere Pink Grapefruit
– 15ml/ ¼ oz  St Germain elderflower liqueur
– 25ml/ ¾ oz  Moet
– Shake first 2 ingredients and pour into a chilled martini glass.
– Top with Moet. Garnish with a lemon twist.

Belvedere Pink Salty Dog
– 1.5 oz Belvedere Pink Grapefruit
– 4 oz Premium or freshly squeezed pink grapefruit juice
– Rim a rocks glass or small wine goblet with Malden sea salt.
– Fill glass with ice and pour over the ingredients. Garnish with a pink grapefruit slice.

Belvedere Pink Ginger Cosmo
– 1.5 oz Belvedere Pink Grapefruit
– ¼ oz Canton Ginger Liqueur
– ¼ oz lime juice
– ½ oz Ocean Spray Cranberry juice
– Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled martini glass.
– Garnish with a pink grapefruit twist.

For information on all of Belvedere Vodka’s products, please visit: http://www.belvederevodka.com/

Courtesy of: XS Nightclub

The extravagant XS Nightclub at Encore in Las Vegas, not only offers one of the most luxurious and ultra chic nightclubs anywhere, it serves up one of the most expensive cocktails in the world.

The signature cocktail at the XS Nightclub is simply titled, “Ono“.

The Ono cocktail is a mixture of the rare Charles Heidsieck 1981 Champagne Charlie, as well as Louis XIII de Remy Martin Black Pearl cognac.

You may want to sit down for this one. An Ono will cost you an eye-popping $10,000 !

But it’s not just a drink. Men customers also get an accompanying pair of Mont Blanc cuff links that are made of 18-karat gold and genuine stingray leather featuring the solid gold XS logos.

For the ladies, the Ono comes an 18-karat gold necklace plus a Tahitian black pearl that hangs from a diamond resting beneath a gold XS logo.

This specialty drink at XS is lavishly served in a jewel-encrusted champagne glass and placed on a specially designed tray.

XS Nightclub
3131 Las Vegas Blvd. S
(702) 770-0097

If you are looking for a power statement, then nothing says you have arrived than drinking a fine martini. Martinis are a well known status symbol of the rich and famous.

Ever notice how good you feel when you are drinking a martini with your friends or business colleagues?

There is definitely something special about the unique shape of a martini glass. Even better is the seductive drink inside.

Unlike other cocktail glasses, a martini glass has a unique style that sets them apart. The distinctive appearance makes them likely the most popular cocktail glass anywhere.

Media advertisers have long ago understood the power of a martini. They often use martinis to demonstrate a debonair look as when a man or woman raises a martini glass for celebratory toast. Martinis are often seen in magazines that feature celebrities and the ultra rich.

There are several different ways to serve a martini. They are most often served stirred in a chilled glass or shaken with a the perfect blend of gin and white vermouth.

Many bar establishments will serve martinis with ice cubes that are coated in Vermouth Spritzer. This will save on the cost of replenishment.

It appears that Vodka is the alcohol of choice and replacing traditional gin. Many people today will choose to order vodka martinis.

To serve a wonderful tasting martini will require a special blend of ingredients. Of course, the most popular method of serving a martini cocktail is with an olive. But others have tried various alternatives, including chocolate, cherries, as well as various citrus fruit.

The martini shaker is the best way to make the perfect martini. It’s usually made of stainless steel, and is used to vigorously shake the liquid ingredients (gin or vodka and other ingredients) and ice together for the perfect blend. The drink is then strained and poured into a very chilled martini glass.

One of the most important things to remember is that when you serve a martini, never let the glass reach room temperature. Keep the glass ice cold and you will be the star at the party.

The famous Kentucky Derby is fast approaching and will be held on May 1st. The Kentucky Derby is the first jewel of the highly coveted Triple Crown.

As the race nears, it’s time to celebrate a quintessential American experience. It’s the best and most exciting two minutes of sports anywhere. So whether you celebrate the Kentucky Derby in your seersucker suit or finest Sunday dress and hat.

Even if you are not from Kentucky or often called the “Blue Grass state”, celebrate the horse racing tradition in fine Derby fashion with a Maker’s Mark Mint Julep!

Maker’s Mark is one of Kentucky’s finest bourbons. The company’s bourbon is made from soft red winter wheat, instead of rye.

Maker’s Mark bourbon features a smooth flavor that makes it picture perfect for mixing delicious cocktails.

Here’s a recipe to make your own Maker’s Mark Mint Julep cocktail.

“The Perfect Mint Julep”

(Serves 4 to 6 people)

Ingredients:

1L Maker’s Mark

Lots of fresh spearmint

Distilled water

Granulated sugar

Powdered sugar

1. To prepare the mint extract, remove about 40 small mint leaves – wash and place in a small mixing bowl. Cover with 3 parts of Maker’s Mark. Allow the leaves to soak for 15 minutes. Then gather the leaves in a clean, soap-free piece of cotton cloth and wring the mint bundle over the bowl of whisky. Dip the bundle again and repeat the process several times. Then set aside.

2. To prepare the simple syrup, mix 1 cup of granulated sugar and 1 cup of water in a cooking pot. Heat to dissolve the sugar. Stir constantly so the sugar does not burn. Set aside to cool.

3. To prepare the Mint Julep mixture, pour 3 ½ cups of Maker’s Mark into a large pitcher. Add 1 cup of the simple syrup to the bowl.

4. Now, begin adding the mint extract a tablespoon at a time to the julep mixture. Each batch of mint extract is different, so you must taste and smell after each tablespoon is added. You may have to leave the room a time or two to clear your nose. The tendency is to use too much mint. You are looking for a soft mint aroma and taste – generally about 3 tablespoons.

5. When you think it’s right, pour the whole mixture back into the empty liter bottle and refrigerate it for at least 24 hours to “marry” the flavors.

6. To serve the Mint Julep, fill each glass (preferably a silver Mint Julep cup) half full with shaved ice. Insert a sprig of mint, and then pack in more ice to about an inch over the top of the cup. Then, insert a straw that has been cut to one inch above the top of the cup so the nose is forced close to the mint when sipping the julep.

7. When frost forms on the cup, pour the refrigerated julep mixture over the ice and add a sprinkle of powdered sugar to the top of the ice. Then serve.

For additional information, please go to: Maker’s Mark

Looking for a different way to have fun? Leave the driving to somebody else, and try a wine-tasting tour in a hired limousine.

You and your friends can enjoy all the luxury amenities of today’s modern limousine. Now sit back and relax, while sipping tasty wines and leaving the driving to a limo professional.

California is known around the world for its vast number of world-class wineries. But don’t be surprised, if you don’t have  a boutique or even major winery near where you live.

Many smaller wineries feature wines from grapes that are well suited to that particular area’s soil and climate. What better way to discover those winery gems but by taking a limo tour. Invite your friends and visit these establishments. Discover local flavors and enjoy an entertaining way to spend a day.

Hiring a limousine to arrange our wine tasting tour adds a touch of class and sophistication to the outing. Your guests will be free to sample various wines, and not worry about getting a little tipsy or more importantly, going over the legal drinking limit.

Today’s modern limousines offer an extensive variety of amenities. Most include beverage bars, complimentary drinks, as well as audio and video entertainment for your enjoyment, as you drive from place to place.

Most vineyards use trained tour guides and knowledgeable wine connoisseurs to assist your wine tasting experience. Call ahead to see what each winery offers. Wineries do serve breads and crackers to help cleanse the palate between tasting samples.

Many will offer fruit, cheese and nut platters as well. Larger wineries have on-site restaurants offering from quaint to a fine dining experience.

Remember to do your research to maximize your outing. call ahead to determine what wineries you want to visit. Educating your guests with information about each winery will add a taste of etiquette your guests will appreciate.

Another idea is to create a wine evaluation sheet that you hand out to each member of your party. They can write down their wine tasting thoughts and opinions during each stop. Sharing these comments with others is both informational and entertaining.

So what are you waiting for. Plan out your trip, invite your guests and enjoy a memorable trip you will not soon forget.

Courtesy of: Dos Lunas

The margarita is most popular cocktail in the U.S. What better way to celebrate the tasty drink than to party it up on “Margarita Day”, held annually on February 22.

Premium tequila maker Dos Lunas Tequila is encouraging everybody (above legal drinking age of course) to sit back and enjoy a delicious Dos Lunas Margarita.

Although here are other legacy accounts, the original Margarita recipe was invented in the Ciudad Juarez-El Paso region (where Dos Lunas is headquartered) on July 4, 1942 by Francisco “Pancho” Morales.

At the time, Francisco Morales was a bartender at a bar named Tommy’s Place. This is according to The Old Mr. Boston Official Bartender’s Guide (a book that professional and home bartenders alike call the “Bible of Booze”).

Morales improvised the drink after a customer ordered a Magnolia, which was a drink recipe that Pancho was not familiar with. Morales only knew that the cocktail contained Cointreau.

The drink’s popularity immediately grew after Morales, who was an instructor at the local bartender’s school, began teaching the Margarita recipe to his students. The name Margarita is Spanish for “daisy.”

The original Margarita recipe is very simple. Start with 2 parts silver tequila, 1 part Triple Sec, and 1 part fresh lime juice). Like most cocktails, there are numerous variations out there but tequila lovers enjoy them all. variations of this delicious recipe. Happy Margarita Day!

Here is a healthy, modern version of an excellent classic recipe for a Dos Agaves Margarita (makes 1 Margarita)

– 1/2 ounce Agave Nectar (available at your local grocery or health food store)
– 2 ounces Dos Lunas Reposado Tequila, all natural and made from 100 percent Blue Agave
– 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice

In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine Dos Lunas Reposado Tequila, agave nectar and lime juice. Shake the mixture vigorously, and finally strain into a glass.

Dos Lunas Tequila was launched in 2006 and produces a line of award-winning ultra-premium handcrafted tequila made from 100% of the finest Blue Agave. Each Dos Lunas product is bottled and filled by hand: Dos Lunas Silver ($36.99), Dos Lunas Reposado ($44.99), Dos Lunas Anejo ($49.99), and Dos Lunas Grand Reserve ($2,500).

Dos Lunas Tequila is headquartered in El Paso, TX, and their tequila is all-natural and chemical free. Dos Lunas is also 100% pesticide free and is available in over 25 states in the United States and Canada.

For more information, please visit www.doslunas.com or call (866) DE-AGAVE

TY KU presents a wide variety of spirits, including Premium Liqueur, Premium Sake, Ultra Premium Sake, and Soju.

TY KU is a hit amongst celebrity including: Jay-Z, Leonardo DiCaprio, Gisele Bündchen, Bon Jovi, Jessica Biel, Jamie Foxx, Jeremy Piven, Jessica Simpson, John Mayer, Rosario Dawson, Ne-Yo, and Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps.

It seems everybody’s watching their calorie intake these days. Here’s a comparison of TY KU Soju vs. Vodka
* 40% fewer calories with a lighter, smoother taste—perfect for skinny cocktails
* Natural flavor catalyst instead of vodka’s added flavors and sugars.

TY KU’s delicious spirits are made with age-old ingredients combined with a unique modern flavor profile and striking, sexy package. TY KU blends Eastern tradition and Western ingenuity, embracing the company’s Mantra of “Respect Tradition, Embrace Tomorrow.”

With Valentine’s Day quickly approaching, here are some specialty TY KU cocktails just for Valentine’s Day. Even better, these tasty cocktails are each under 100 calories … so drink up!

Burning Love
1.5 oz. TY KU Sake
Cinnamon Hearts
93 Calories

Ginger Crush
1.5 TY KU sake
2 oz. Diet Ginger Ale
Ginger Snap Cookie
85 Calories

Will You Be My TY-tini?
1.5oz TY KU Liqueur
1.5oz TY KU Soju
Squeeze of Lime
Splash of Diet Sprite
94 Calories

Melt My Heart Mojito
1.5 oz. TY KU Liqueur
1 oz. Diet Sprite
Squeeze of Lemon
Squeeze of Orange
81 Calories

For many years, fine wine has been a satisfying and enjoyable complement to a lovely meal at a restaurant.

Wine tasting in a restaurant is a very rich and rewarding experience. Once you have made your wine selection, there are a number of steps involved in properly tasting the wine that will make the wine tasting experience even more pleasurable.

1) Smell the Cork: Detecting the aroma from the cork will tell how well the wine has been taken care of. Once the cork has been removed from the bottle, examine it to make sure it is not dry, cracked, or has mold growing from it. If the cork is dry on both ends, this means that oxygenation took place which affects the taste. If everything looks good, (one end containing wine and the other end dry) smell the end of the cork that contains wine. It should not have any unusual aroma such as a musty or sharp smell.

2) Smell the Wine: Pour a small amount of wine in a glass. (No more than few ounces in a glass) Hold your glass and gently swirl it around. This will cause the wine’s aroma to be released. Raise the glass to your nose and breathe in. Take a few seconds to get a sense of the aroma. Detecting distinct flavors tells you that the wine is good. If you detect any musty odors or a vinegar type odor, the wine has likely gone bad. When you smell the wine, make a note of any distinct aromas. For instance, white wines can have such aromas as flowers, grapefruit, peaches, apples, and other citrus. Red wines can smell like prunes, raspberries, cherries, etc.

3) Tasting the Wine: Take a small sip of the wine. Breathe in as you sip the wine so that you get the full aroma. Do not swallow the wine right away. Move it around a bit in your mouth to get all of the flavors. Note how long the taste stays in your mouth after swallowing. As well, note how it feels and tastes in your mouth. Is it acidic, fruity, or have a strong alcohol taste? Or, do the flavors blend well together and leave a nice flavor in the mouth that is not too weak or strong? Note if your mouth feels like it is drying out or if it feel refreshed. As well, is the texture of the wine smooth and silky or is it harsh and fizzy.

When ordering wine with your meal, always select wine based on you and your guests’ personal tastes. When choosing a wine with a particular meal, most people follow the general rule: “white wine with lighter foods and red wine with heavier foods.”

It is important to select a wine that you will enjoy, regardless of what you are eating. If you are unsure of what to select, your server will be able to offer some helpful tips.

Learning to smell and taste wine, including the characteristics of a fine wine, will go long way to ensuring you made the right wine selection.

Wine is a wonderful and satisfying complement to a meal at any restaurant. Knowing how to properly taste the wine will make the dining experience even more satisfying.

Gurkha is a luxury cigar brand, known for its smooth cigars and unique packaging. Gurkha Cigars have often been called “The Rolls Royce of Cigars.”

The company originated in India in the early 20th century, but is now located in the Honduras. But the luxury cigars, with their various blends of tobacco come from all over the Americas, including the fertile Cibao Valley of the Dominican Republic.

Gurkha cigars are named after the fierce Nepalese warriors who in the early 19th century, won over the respect of the British army. Their combat skills have allowed them to bravely fight as special forces with the United Kingdom ever since.

The rich taste of Gurkha Cigars offer cigar lovers a wonderful to celebrate any major event such as weddings, anniversaries and New Year’s in luxury.

Gurkha boasts the most premium, high end cigars. They range from the most expensive cigar in the world – the His Majesty Reserve retailing at $750 to less expensive labels costing $12-$38. But regardless of the price, Gurkha still offers a very high quality stogie!

Many famous celebrities smoke the luxury stogie including – Matthew McConaughey, Alex Rodriguez, Joshua Jackson and Alec Baldwin.

The company has stated many times that their personal goal is to produce the finest vintage cigars in the world. With the high quality, luxury Gurkha cigars, they have truly accomplished that feat.

Gurkha Cigars

Chateau Petrus is probably the world’s most famous and most coveted fine wine. The fine wines of Pomerol have never actually been classified, and Château Pétrus is therefore considered an Unclassified Growth.

The official name is Chateau Petrus but even its label refers to it as simply “Petrus.”

The small vineyards (only 12 hectares) are planted with an approximate split of 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc. The wine is aged for twenty-two months in new oak barrels.

The vineyard’s grapes are usually harvested early and left to mature slowly. Extremely fruity, suggestions of berries, vanilla, mocha, and oak emanate from its rich purple robe. The wine’s finish is something to wait for as it slowly caresses the waiting palate.

The 1998 Pétrus Pomerol is a deep red colour and has a highly concentrated nose with notes of plum and black truffle. Upon swirling, it releases rich aromas of mocha. Concentration, balance and complexity are inseparable qualities of the 1998 Pétrus.

Good acidity matched with a tannin structure that is elegant but still slightly closed confirm the quality of the vintage and the skill of its master vintners. Dark fruit and a slight touch of pepper are integral to the persistent finish.

This particular Merlot was actually one of the favorite wines at the White House during the Kennedy years. Petrus Pomerol 1998 is a truly exquisite vintage and it should reach true maturity after the year 2012.

Petrus Pomerol 1998 sells for about $1,459 per bottle.