You already know that I’m on Twitter A LOT. So, I come across quite a few things every week that I ‘favorite’ so that I can come back to it later, or in the case of a cocktail…add to my recipe book later. Here are a few things I came across last week.

Mulled Beer, an interesting twist on a traditional warm drink, from Magda’s Cauldron http://bit.ly/1136aPp

Black Swan: Vodka, blackberries and lemonade http://pinterest.com/pin/122793527311609203/ …

Pear & Cranberry Liqueur http://wp.me/p263aE-lx

Dirt Road Milkshake Shooters with Jack Daniels whiskey http://pinterest.com/pin/122793527311606229/ …

#cocktail In The Reeds: Gin, Sweet vermouth, Maraschino Liqueur, Lime juice http://tinyurl.com/c5hysux

Grab a bottle(s) n give Thx! #WhatsSippin. @girlmeetsglass provided great suggestions on last nite’s show. OnDemand http://bit.ly/QTTQjt

Just a couple of cocktails to take you through the weekend. Enjoy!!

Garrick Club Punch by David Wondrich

• 4 Lemons
• .5 cup Superfine sugar
• 1 cup Fresh lemon juice, strained
• 1 (750-mL) bottle Gin*
• 4 oz Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur or Grand Marnier
• 24 oz Seltzer water or club soda, chilled

Glass: Punch or highball

Preparation

Peel the lemons with a vegetable peeler, avoiding the white pith. Muddle the peels with the sugar in a 3-quart pitcher or punch bowl and let stand for 30 minutes. Add the lemon juice and stir until the sugar has dissolved. Add the gin and Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur or Grand Marnier, and stir. Fill the pitcher or bowl halfway with ice and add the seltzer or club soda. Stir again and serve in individual punch or highball glasses.

Lennart by Mr. Mixologist

• 1.5 oz Xante
• 0.5 oz Fresh squeezed lime juice
• Sprite or 7 Up

Glass: Highball

Preparation

Pour the Xante and lime juice into the highball glass filled with ice. Top with Sprite and garnish with a lime wedge.

Awesome happens when you least expect it. I’m on twitter all day, not always chatting, sometimes just being a voyeur. I saw a tweet from @TheLiquidMuse AKA Natalie Bovis who was in town and was planning an impromptu meet-and-greet/book signing at The Passenger that night. I went back and forth with should I go, should I not. The drinks are good, I don’t need to spend any more money…blah blah. The Passenger may be a 6 min drive from my job so I talked myself into it. And The Passenger has really really good drinks!!

I get there and order something amazing and head to the back where the signing would take place. I’m the 1st and only one here. True confession - I’m a bit on the shy side. I’m saying this to say that now, since it’s just me and her, I have to say something…but WHAT?? Natalie is so amazing, she just talked away. And had me cracking up. Her current book Edible Cocktails is about everything I’m into right now. Making your own syrups, infusions and incorporating fresh fruits and herbs into drinks. A little bit about The Liquid Muse:

• She’s been in the hospitality industry since age 14 and finally decided to start a cocktail blog, had to do something with all that knowledge in her head.
• 1st book Preggatinis
• 2nd book The Bubbly Bride
• This book, Edible Cocktails. She signed mine by the way :-P
• Has her own small garden in Santa Fe
• Lived in Spain for a year
• Brand Ambassador for Fre of Sutter Home, featured their cocktails in her 1st book
• Writes for the consumer
• Gets behind the bar in her spare time, trains younger bartenders loves to interact with the patrons.

Did I also mention that she is my BFF in my head?? And to further this point, I saw her at Tales of the Cocktail and she remembered me and we took camera phone pics at Whiskey Blue. How cool is that?!

I’ve made several cocktails, syrups, infusions from this book so far. My favs have to be the Summer Sangria, Ice Wine Martini, Shiraz Negroni and the Pineapple Syrup. I plan to feature some of the recipes in my blog in the coming weeks. I’ll probably end up making quite a few of the cocktails, especially since there is so much fresh fruit available in the summer.

Clearly you need this book in your life!! Purchase yours on Amazon ASAP!!

The weather has cooled off quite a bit this week. Here’s a cocktail recipe to keep you warm. But be careful, this ain’t your Grandma’s cider!

Gintender’s Carmel Cider

1.5 oz of Caramel Vodka
0.5 oz of Becherovka liqueur
5.0 oz of cider or pressed apple juice
Dash of ground cloves

Heat and stir with cinnamon stick.

From thegintender.com