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Celebrating National Pina Colada Day

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……..With Summer in full swing, there is no better way to fight off the hot and sticky days of July than to cool down with a nice cold and icy drink. In search of the perfect drink, look no further than the Pina Colada, which celebrates it’s national holiday on July 10th. For years The Pina Colada has gained popularity and notoriety all in the same thanks to cheesy songs, over exposure in restaurant bars, and just plain bad bartenders, but for the sake of the classic cocktail we’ll share the proper ways to make one, as well as some delicious spins on the original recipe.
…..Pina Colada is spanish for “Strained Pineapple”, and has a bit of a muddled history. It’s creations dates back to the 1800’s where Puerto Rican pirate Roberto Cofresí, to boost his crew’s morale gave them a beverage or cocktail that contained coconut, pineapple and white rum. This was what would be later known as the famous piña colada. With his death in 1825, the recipe for the piña colada was lost.
…..The Pina Colada is then re-introduced in Peurto Rico on August 16, 1954 at the Caribe Hilton’s Beachcomber Bar in San Juan, Puerto Rico by its alleged creator, Ramon “Monchito” Marrero. Apparently, the hotel management had expressly requested Monchito to mix a new signature drink that would delight the demanding palates of its starstudded clientele. Monchito accepted the challenge, and after 3 intense months of blending, shaking and experimenting, the first piña colada was born. But it doesn’t stop there, also laying claim to the invention is the Barrachina Restaurant in Peurto Rico which claims in 1963 that while on a trip to South America, Mr Barrachina met a bartender who he worked with to create a drink containing pineapple juice, condensed milk, coconut creme, and ice in a blender.
…..So obviously it’s questionable history has a lot to do with its various recipes now in circulation. In addition to the various recipes claiming to be the original, there are also several variations that are purposefully different replacing specific ingredients or adding in additional ones. These variations include:

Chi Chi – Substituting the Rum with Vodka
The Miami Vice – Half of a Strawberry Daiquiri poured over a Pina Colada
The Staten Island Ferry – Coconut Rum and Pineapple Juice over ice

Today, if you go into 10 bars you will probably taste 10 different recipes, and combine that with the ability to make them at home with “ready to drink” recipes sold at your local package store (I don’t recommend these), and you’ve got a lot to choose from. Here are some of my favorite Pina Colada recipes:

Pina Colada:

  • 1 1/2 cup ice
  • 1/2 cup diced pineapple, frozen
  • 2 ounces pineapple juice
  • 2 ounces Coco Lopez coconut cream
  • 1 1/2 ounces white rum
  • 1 ounce dark rum
  • Pineapple slices
Put the ice, frozen pineapple, juice, coconut cream, and the white and dark rums into a blender. Blend until smooth and frosty. Pour the drink into 2 glasses and garnish the rim with pineapple slices.
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Banana Colada 
  • 3 ripe bananas, peeled and quartered
  • 18 ounces unsweetened pineapple juice
  • 4 ounces coconut milk
  • 3 ounces dark rum
  • 2 cups ice
  • 1/4 cup toasted coconut
Place bananas and pineapple juice in a blender and blend until smooth. Add coconut milk, rum and ice and mix until frothy. Garnish with toasted coconut.
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Strawberry Colada (Miamia Vice)
  • 2 oz Frozen Strawberries (Or Strawberry Puree)
  • 1 oz Light Rum
  • 1 oz Coconut Rum
  • 1/2 oz Coconut milk
  • 1/2 oz Simple Syrup
  • 1/1 Cup of ice
In a blender combine all ingredients and blend until desired consistency. Pour into a chilled glass and garnish with a sliced Strawberry.
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Now if this doesn’t keep you busy this weekend than nothing will. Enjoy and remember to drink responsibly. Class Dismissed !

 

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News

Cruzan Rum adds Strawberry to their Portfolio

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Deerfield, Ill. – May 3, 2011 – Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Inc. [Fortune Brands, Inc. (NYSE:FO)], the leading American spirits company, and Cruzan® Rum, the legendary rum of St. Croix, today announced the official launch of their newest flavored rum, Cruzan Strawberry. Crafted with fine Cruzan rum, all-natural flavors, and cane sugar, it combines the taste of ripe strawberries with a touch of ginger, putting a new spin on the strawberry flavor.

“Strawberry is a natural addition to the Cruzan portfolio, mainly because our fans have endorsed it as the next flavor of choice,” said Kim Washington, Senior Director of Rums and Vodkas at Beam Global. “It’s the number one flavor ordered by consumers in rum drinks, and since May is National Strawberry Month, the timing of this addition is perfect.”

The unique pairing of strawberry and ginger is the type of innovation people have grown to expect from Cruzan, which pioneered the flavored rum category. The Cruzan Strawberry recipe is handcrafted by the Nelthropp family, who has been making rum on the island of St. Croix for generations.

Tasting Notes and Aroma

  • Taste – Ripe, wild strawberry coupled with subtle ginger root
  • Aroma – Fresh and juicy strawberry
  • Finish – Smooth with a light spiced ginger finish

 

How to Enjoy Cruzan Strawberry

  • Cruzan Strawberry enhances classic rum cocktails such as the Mojito, Skinny Mojito, Daiquiri, Cuba Libre, and Rum Runner

Strawberry is the 11th flavor in Cruzan’s portfolio of flavored spirits. Like all Cruzan rum, quality is a main differentiator. Cruzan contains all-natural flavors, and the five-column distillation process removes unwanted impurities; the result is a cleaner spirit with some of the lowest levels of fusel oils. Cruzan is named for the people of St. Croix and is distilled at an historic estate that started producing sugar and molasses in 1760.

“This is an exciting new addition to the Cruzan family; one that truly embodies the relaxed vibe of the islands,” said Gary Nelthropp, Cruzan Rum’s Master Distiller. “We developed the Strawberry recipe with classic cocktails in mind—the ginger gives this spirit a subtle, spicy finish, so it breathes some new life into favorite summer drinks.”

Cruzan Strawberry Recipes

CRUZAN® STRAWBERRY GINGER DAIQUIRI

2 parts Cruzan® Strawberry Rum

1.5 parts fresh lime juice

1.5 parts simple syrup

Fill mixing glass with ¾ ice. Add all ingredients and shake for 5 sec. Pour into chilled martini glass. Garnish with a lime wedge.

CRUZAN® MOJITO WITH A TWIST
2 parts Cruzan® Strawberry Rum
2 tsp. sugar
3-4 mint leaves

Juice of half a lime

Club soda

Muddle sugar, mint, lime juice, and a splash of club soda together in a tall glass. Add rum and garnish with a strawberry.

 

Pricing and Availability

Cruzan Strawberry is currently available nationwide at a suggested retail price of $15.99.

In addition to Cruzan Strawberry, the Cruzan portfolio also consists of 10 other flavored rums, as well as Cruzan® 9 Spiced Rum, Cruzan® Aged Light Rum, Cruzan® Aged Dark Rum, Cruzan® Single Barrel Estate Rum, and Cruzan® Black Strap Rum. For more information about Cruzan Rum, and for additional cocktail recipes created with the full line of rums, visit www.facebook.com/CruzanRum or www.cruzanrum.com.

Press Release Courtesy of BeamGlobal.com

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Recipes

Spring Fever: Spring Cocktail Recipes

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The sun is shining, the snow is melting (hopefully), and the green grass that has alluded you for months is starting to show again. That’s right, Spring is finally here. For those of you up north, the transition from Winter to Spring is one of the most anticipated times of the year. Having spent 18 years of my life in the North before moving to the scorching South, it’s ironic that I now anticipate the transition from Summer to Fall more than anything. But now is the time for you to put away the procrastinations of Winter and complete your Spring cleaning, filing of taxes, and planning your Summer vacations or stay-cations. After all is said and done, you’ll want to treat yourself to a deliciously refreshing cocktail on your patio, porch, or whatever relaxing spot you’ve made for yourself. Here are a few excellent cocktails to help you usher in the essence of Spring:

Lynchburg Lemonade
1 oz Jack Daniels
1 oz Triple Sec
1 oz Sweet N Sour Mix
4 oz Lemon Lime Soda (Try the new Citrus Blast Product!)

Add all ingredients except the soda into a shaker filled with ice. Shake and strain into a chilled collins glass and top off with 7 up. Garnish with a Lemon Wedge.


Spiked Arnold Palmer (The John Daly) – Great for Making Pitchers
2 Oz Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka
2 Oz Lemonade (Preferably home made)
Garnish with a lemon wedge

Rum Ting Cocktail
2 oz Wray & Nephew Jamaican Rum
Juice of one half a lime
4 oz Ting Grapefruit Soda (Hard to find so substitute with other grapefruit sodas if you must)

Pour your rum into a tall glass filled with ice. Add in Lime juice and top with your soda and that’s it! Tasty, refreshing, perfect for spring and summer.

Red Berry Blast (Created by the Professional Drinker)
1.5 oz Ciroc Red Berry
3 oz Lemonade
1 oz Lemon Lime Soda
.25 oz Grenadine

Add your Vodka and Lemonade into a shaker filled with ice. Shake and strain into a chilled glass. Top off with your Sprite and then add in a dash of grenadine. Garnish with a lime wheel

Hope your enjoyed today’s lecture. There is no reason for you NOT to have a drink in your hand. Don’t forget to become a fan of ours on FaceBook !

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Reviews

My Cherri Amor: Stoli Wild Cherri Vodka Review

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Today for review we have the latest addition to the Stolichnaya Vodka Portfolio. Being a big fan of both Stoli Vodka and Cherry flavored anything, it seemed only natural to give this one a try. Those unfamiliar with the brand need definitely consider adding Stoli original to your liquor cabinet. Unlike many quality brands on the shelves today, the price you pay is actually of equal value if not undervalued for the quality of vodka you receive.

Aroma: If you are a cherry lover, this one will be quite appealing. The first thing that hits you is the perfectly captured strong sense of cherry aroma. Though the initial press release mentions vanilla tones, I don’t notice any. The tartness of the cherry and familiar vodka smell are most apparent.

Taste: When enjoyed straight, specifically in shot form, the taste of vodka dominates over the flavor of the cherry at first leaving a natural cherry and medicinal taste to linger. Though cough syrup is not a popular after taste it’s a taste that has become mostly associated with Cherry Vodkas, but is in fact similar to the true taste of cherry which Stoli captures perfectly. When added to popular mixers the cherry flavor becomes more apparent. It’s almost as if the additional sugar added from your favorite mixer combines with the natural medicinal cherry tone to bring you a more familiar cherry taste offered by popular beverage companies such as minute maid or Tropicana. Pick up a bottle today and try giving one of your classic vodka cocktails a cherry spin.

Price: 19.99 USD (avg)
Grade: B

Stoli Wild Cherri Ricky

2 oz Stoli Cherri
1/2 oz Lime Juice
4 oz Lemon Lime Soda


Stoli Cherri Smash

1 1/2 oz of Stoli Wild Cherri
3/4 oz of Lemon Juice
3/4 oz of Simple Syrup
4 brandied cherries
Splash of cherry cola

Summer Kool-Aid

2 oz Stoli Cherri
4 oz Lemonade
3/4 oz Simple Syrup
1/2 oz Lime Juice

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