Cocktail Curiosity

Mojito Madness

You can't sit at a bar nowadays without someone ordering up a Mojito...its the rage, the Pomegranate of 2007, the hippest cocktail concoction...BUT do you know its past?

A few fun facts about Mojitos:

1. Though there are a few that credit Sir Francis Drake for the firs form of the Mojito, traditionalists believe it was created just 80 miles south of Key West in the country of Cuba.

2. The most famous supporter of the Mojito = Ernest Hemingway from his times in Cuba as well as the Keys.

3. A traditional Mojito consists of fresh mint or spearmint muddled with ice, limes and pure sugar cane extract. Add some rum of your likings and a splash of seltzer and viola...a great summertime refreshment.

4. The name Mojito comes from the word MOJO

For more in depth details and drink recipes, check out Bacardi's Mojito site.

What is Port?

Port is a style of wine from the northern part of Portugal. It is fortified, which formally helped it survive the cross-Atlantic voyage made by ships in the past.

It is traditionally blended using the following grapes: Touriga Nacional, Tinto Cão, Tinta Barroca, Tinta Roriz, and Touriga Francesa. (I really wish i knew more about these grapes, but I know together they make some damn good after dinner drinks.)

Click here to learn everything you might want to know about Port.

Sweet Beer from Sweetwater...

Do you happen to love BEER? How about a Atlanta brewery putting together some of the best brews in the country.

Introducing Sweetwater Brewing Company!

The 420 is legendary and catching on all over the east coast.

The Blue is a great light beer with a hint of blueberry...perfect for a meal on the water.

And everyone loves a Hummer....this is their version of a Belgium white ale and its DAMN good.

Find it, drink it, enjoy it!

Tipping in not a city in China...

Customary Tipping throughout the world:

USA - 20% unless its very crowded and you want another round....

Round up to the nearest dollar: Belgium, Greece, France, Italy, Switzerland

No money necessary: China, Germany, Japan, Scandinavia, New Zealand

Thanks to The Perfect Buzz for the information.

Drunk, Buzzed, Hammered...

10 other ways of saying "drunk"

Tipsy

Under the Table

Zonked

Plastered

Inebriated

Loaded

Cockeyed

Bent

Ripped

Sauced

Green With Envy...

There is a spirit called Chartreuse that only 2 living monks in the entire world know the recipe for. Its herbal and its the closest thing to legal Absinthe that one get get here in the states. They have various grades - green and yellow - VEP and normal - but regardless of your poison you pick its strong and full of terroir. Yup, the term that describes so many European wines is possibly the best fit for Chartreuse...

If you thought Grappa was interesting...Chartreuse will leave your head spinning.

In Honor of Cinco De Mayo

A Mexican Holiday deserves a Mexican morsel of information....

Here are some interesting things about Corona:

- Brewed in the Grupo Modelo Brewery in Mexico

- Grupo Modelo is 50% owned by Anheuser-Busch...yup, the #1 Mexican Beer is half American owned. Viva America...

- The lime has nothing to do with flavor or even flies, but to mask the typical "skunky" odor that beers in clear or green bottles experience due to sunlight exposure

and thanks to our friends at Wikipedia for the following fun Corona Trivia:

Corona was rock star Jim Morrison's favorite beer (along with Tecate).

Actor and director Clint Eastwood is an avid Corona drinker.

During the 1994 FIFA World Cup in Boston, the Argentine soccer team was allowed to drink Corona during dinner meals.

The Grupo Modelo is the current owner of the Mexican soccer team Santos Laguna from the city of Torreon, Coahuila, Mexico.

Cocktail Grande

Thanks to YAERO for this fun tidbit...

During the reign of William III, a garden fountain was once used as a giant punch bowl. The recipe included 560 gallons of brandy, 1200 pounds of sugar, 25,000 lemons, 20 gallons of lime juice, and five pounds of nutmeg. The bartender rowed around in a small boat, filling up guests' punch cups.

Oldest Building That's a Bar...

Fun Fact: Did you know that the oldest building in America that is still being used as a bar today is Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop in New Orleans. This bar is a favorite destination for tourists and locals in the Big Easy. It was built in the 1700s and has survived fires, floods and all sorts of fun while being an active participant in the Crescent City nightlife.  Also no sunglasses needed at night, there are no lights in the building, just candles placed throughout for eerie fun!

Beer over water...

...did you know that back in Colonial days people drank more beer than water - in fact historians have shown that more beer traveled on the Mayflower than its H2O counterpart. This was based on the tradition of highly polluted water throughout Europe and the knowledge that beer was safer to consume.