Wasted Wednesday Wharrgarbl...

We'll start out with some fun pics...

Here's a few new tastes I've picked up in last few months:

Pear Vodka is great with Red Bull and Apple Cider...

White Grape Vodka is also great with Red Bull and Apple Cider but also goes well with most sodas like Coke, Sprite, and Orange Soda...

Now don't go abandoning me because of this next post, but Bud Light Golden Wheat is surprisingly good! It tastes like a lighter Blue Moon (which I like alot but gets awfully heavy). It's a pretty darn good "drinking beer" and has become somewhat of a favorite House beer of mine lately. the drawback is that it's kind of hard to find. Give it a try before you lambaste me for saying something nice about a Bud Light...

I'll leave you with a new shot invention that I came up with for my birthday 2 days ago called the JagerMill which is a shot glass with half Jagermeister and half Bushmill's Irish Whiskey (you can sub Jameson or any other Irish Whiskey of your choice). It goes down smoother than it sounds and isn't quite as bad as you're thinking, but it hits like a freight train....

Some More Tuesday Tidbits

So, 4th of July went well. Lots of fireworks and of course lots of drinking. Some faves from the weekend:

Summer Solstice Cerveza Crema


One of my new favorite beers. It jumped right into top 5 status and shows no signs of ever falling out. This review from Beeradvocate.com sums it up perfectly:

"the aroma is quite subtle with just some touches of tofee and caramel.
the taste is malty in the malt ball sense, with a soft cream soda type flavor and smooth nutty toffee/caramel hits you mid palate. after that a soft sweet lemongrass type of flavor develops. it's somewhat bready, but not in the typical yeasty sort of way. soft and supple, this beer nails creaminess."

Go buy some immediately! The only drawback is that it runs about $12 a six-pack (if you can find it).

Peach Pucker

The old staple came through for me again. It's not quite as sweet as Peach Schnapps and you can drink a ton of it without passing out.

The Mexican Slut

On the advice of some friends, I tried it with Tequila first THEN pickle juice and I must say it was not as good that way. If you need a refresher, check out The original Mexican Slut post to see how it's done.

A warning to my drunk snowman brothers:


Yes, it can happen to you!

Even Storm Troopers need to cut loose sometimes



Till next time!

The Go Plate!

In my ongoing quest to bring you not only the latest and greatest alcoholic beverages, but also the coolest beer/alcohol related stuff, I present you with my latest find: The Go Plate!

I think the pics are pretty self explanitory but if you want to read more or buy some, Click Here

When in Rome Part 2 – The Tequila/Mexican Bar

When in Rome Part 2 – The Tequila/Mexican Bar

In the last edition of When in Rome I touched on Irish Pubs and how to not be a complete Douche by embarrassing yourself with a Bud Light or Pina Colada. In the spirit of keeping yourself free from merciless taunting in yet another temple of alcoholic consumption, I bring you “The Mexican/Tequila Bar”…


(pictured) One of my favorite tequila Bars in Denver is La Sandia at Stapleton.

For the sake of establishing this conversation, I am going to refer to a Mexican Bar as any type of bar or tavern that makes a real attempt at establishing a “Mexican” style theme. Most of these types of places serve Mexican food and many have Spanish names like “El Coyote”, or “Las Margaritas”, or “Frijoles Grandes”. For anyone here in Denver, “Casa Bonita” DOES NOT qualify as a Mexican Bar. Mexican bars typically have Hispanic style décor like bright colors, pictures/paintings of cactus, and signs advertising Corona or Margarita specials… A “Tequila Bar” may or may not follow any of the guidelines above, but they pretty much always advertise the fact that they are a Tequila Bar so they are pretty easy to spot.

Ok, so you’ve established that you have indeed entered a Mexican/Tequila Bar, now what? First of all, any Mexican beer is just fine (Corona, Tecate, Negro Modelo, Modelo Especial, Pacifico, Dos Equis, etc). Any drink with Tequila like a Margarita or Tequila Sunrise is also encouraged. What else you ask? Well, given its overwhelming popularity in Mexico and in the Mexican community here in the US, Bud and Bud Light are acceptable in a Mexican Bar. Another very acceptable alternative to beer and Tequila is Sangria. Sangria is usually pretty different everywhere you go as there is no “official recipe” so try it before you buy it.

Now on to the most important part any visit to the Mexican/Tequila Bar… Shots. Tequila is the only acceptable shot in a Tequila Bar. If you don’t like Tequila, refraining from shots is probably your best bet, although many higher end (read: expensive) Tequilas are quite smooth and have almost nothing in common with cheap well or Cuervo shots. Try a Premium or Super Premium Tequila like Don Julio, Herradura, or Cabo Wabo and see if they don’t change your mind about Tequila. Shots in a regular Mexican bar (read: not a Tequila Bar) are a little easier. Any shots that are on special or advertised in the table tent or menu are fine although Tequila is still preferred.

There you have it. Hopefully you can now go into the world and seek out a Mexican or Tequila Bar and not have people pointing at you and talking behind your back. If so, my job here is done.

Random Weekend Alcohol Check

What have I been drinking this weekend? I'm glad you asked:

Cruzan Raspberry Rum: Awesome stuff straight out of the bottle!



New Belgium Sunshine Wheat: A great summer wheat beer. Light with a hint of citrus. I could drink this stuff for hours (and I did). Also, to answer you question, yes I did drink cans because we were at the pool for a good part of the day yesterday.



Smirnoff White Grape Vodka: Great flavor but a little much to drink straight. Awesome with Red Bull.

Mojo IPA

Mojo IPA by Boulder Beer Company

Type of beer: IPA (India Pale Ale) "an ale that is light amber to copper in color, medium to medium-high alcohol by volume, with hoppy, bitter and sometimes malty flavor." (from wikipedia)



This is a very decent IPA that is fairly typical of the style. It has a golden amber color to it with a nice head that leaves plenty of lacing on the side of the glass.

The smell is a big hit of hops up front with a lingering citrus undertone.

The taste is very hoppy up front with a slight bite of grapefruit and malt on the finish. Clean citrus notes are ever-present and it finishes smooth with a great bite at the very end. I'm a fan of IPAs for the most part and this did not disappoint in the least. I love hops and this beer provided that in spades.

Final Answer: This stuff is great and I would highly recommend it to anyone who likes IPAs. The casual light beer drinker would not be able to handle the hops and people who don't care for beer with over-the-top flavors would also be advised to stay away.

Billy's Chilies Beer Review

Billy's Chilies Beer by Twisted Pine Brewing Co, Colorado.



Ok, so this beer intrigued me when I saw it at Total beverage the other night as I was building my own six-pack (neatest idea ever). The label says it is made with jalapeño, anaheim, fresno, errano, and habanero peppers. How neat is that, right? So I grabbed one and decided that last night was the night to pop it open and give it a go.

First thing you notice is the smell. I am a huge chili fan so the smell was great to me. It smells like a jar of fresh chili salsa. Basically it smells like when you open a can of diced green chilies or jalapeños. So far so good.

The taste wasn't quite as good. It basically was like taking a coors light and draining jalapeno and habanero juice into it. It had a nice chili burn in the back of your throat which was a real plus for me, but the flavor was just not that great. I guess I was expecting something a little more full bodied than I got and was pretty disappointed. It's not that it was terrible, it just wasn't great. I would probably not buy anymore in the future.

Final Answer: I would recommend you try it if you are a fan of chilies. It is a neat novelty beer, but not one I would buy on a regular basis as it is a bit awkward tasting.

Xingu Beer Review and a Beer Commitment

So I spent the weekend in Orlando Florida (aka, the surface of the sun)and happened to eat dinner at a fantastic Brazilian Steak House called Texas De Brazil. It was at this wondrous meat-lover's fantasy come true that I got to taste a Brazilian Beer that I had never tried before called Xingu Black Beer. So, I offer up this review for your visual consumption:

Xingu Black Beer:




Type of Beer: (From Wikipedia.org) Schwarzbier, or "black beer," is a German dark lager beer. It has an opaque, black color and a full, chocolatey or coffee flavor. Although they share some similar flavors they are quite a bit milder tasting and less bitter than British Stouts or Porters.

ABV: 4.70%

Brewed By: Cervejaria Sul Brasileira (Brazil)

This beer poured an almost solid black color with a thick, very decent sized head. It had very malty, almost sweet, and mild roasted smells to it. The taste was right along the same path with a creamy, malty, slightly roasted caramel taste with some light coffee undertones to it. It was extremely easy to drink and i enjoyed it alot. The only disappointment was a noticeable lack of hops flavor. I'm definitely more of a hop-head when it comes to beer so this was a bit of a letdown. I wasn't that disappointed though because I did order another one (and another after that). I really can't stress enough what a drinkable beer this is and it really complimented the steak-fest that I was enjoying.

Verdict: Enjoyable, easy drinking exotic beer with just enough maltyness to make up for it's lack of hops. I will definitely be buying again and I recommend that you do too.

---------------------------------------------

My commitment: I think it would be a cool idea to try to commit to doing 5 beer reviews per week for a month. That's 20 beers that I've never laid taste buds on that I will be trying and posting about over the next month. I'll still do plenty of my traditional non-beer review posting on shots, bars, humor, etc so don't stop reading if you're not a "beer person" because there will still be plenty for you!

Thanks for stopping by and I'll be back soon.

Wisdom of Norm from Cheers

I'm 33 and like most people my age, I grew up watching Cheers. As a child, I don't think I ever really understood the intricacies of the characters that populated everyone's favorite fictional watering hole, but I do now. Only in reruns can I now pick up on exactly how sad these people's lives really were. Honestly though, I think I can now look back on Norm as the wisest and funniest of the bunch. I've scoured the internet for some of his best one-liners (and 2 and 3 liners too) and have assembled his wisdom here for the Drink Dummy masses...

Coach: Can I draw you a beer, Norm?
Norm: No, I know what they look like. Just pour me one.

Woody: Hey, Mr. Peterson, what's the story?
Norm: Boy meets beer. Boy drinks beer. Boy gets another beer.

Sam: What's new, Normie?
Norm: Terrorists, Sam. They've taken over my stomach. They're demanding beer.

Woody: What's going down, Mr. Peterson?
Norm: My cheeks on this barstool.

Woody: How would a beer feel, Mr. Peterson?
Norm: Pretty nervous if I was in the room.

Woody: What's your pleasure, Mr. Peterson?
Norm: Boxer shorts and loose shoes. But I'll settle for a beer.

Sam: Hey, how's life treating you there, Norm?
Norm: Beats me. ... Then it kicks me and leaves me for dead.

Woody: What can I do for you, Mr. Peterson?
Norm: Elope with my wife.

Sam: Beer, Norm?
Norm: Have I gotten that predictable? Good.

Coach: How's a beer sound, Norm?
Norm: I dunno. I usually finish them before they get a word in.

Good stuff! Words to live by if you ask me. Anyway, since I'm already here posting this, I think I'll leave you with an awesome shot recipe:

Mind Eraser

Ingredients:

* 3-4 cubes Ice
* 1/2 shot Kahlua
* 1/2 shot Vodka
* 1 shot Sprite to taste

Place ice cubes in a small, narrow glass. Add the Kahlua, then the vodka and then the Sprite.

Do not stir or shake, drink through a straw all at once. Drink should be layered.

A Mexican Slut (Don't worry, it's a shot).

So, some friends and I were at a happy hour earlier this week at a local dive called Doc's here in Denver. This is not a fancy place or really the kind of place you would expect to find new things so it figured to be a nice relaxed happy hour with a couple of pitchers of Coors Light (on special) and maybe a standard shot or two of Jager with some good friends.

Imagine my surprise when I asked our waitress if they had any shot specials. She apparently misunderstood me and thought I was asking for "special shots" so she busted out with the Mexican Slut. According to her, a few customers had come into the bar a week or so ago and told her about a shot called a Mexican Slut that they claim is very popular in Chicago where they had just moved from.

Intrigued, I leaned in and asked "So, what's in it and how much will it cost me?" She responded back with the following: "A Mexican Slut is a shot of pickle juice followed immediately by a shot of Tequila.

Unsure if this sounded even remotely palatable, I turned to my friend Sommer and raised my eyebrow. Sommer loves pickles, so she quickly responds that we should give it a try. No one else at the table would agree so I ordered two and waited uneasily...

So, sure enough, it arrives as a two piece shot, a shot glass of pickle juice and a shot glass of well tequila garnished with a lemon. A minute or so of curious study and trepidation followed it's arrival. Finally, a "Cheers!", the clanking of shot glasses and down goes the pickle juice followed by the tequila followed in turn by the lemon...

Wow. It was actually really good. I like tequila but can have a lot of problems with well. The pickle juice really helped take the edge off of a very unsmooth well tequila and the lemon was a perfect compliment to the overall flavor profile of the shot. Ultimately, for the price ($3) this was a decent shot with some incredible flavors and was surprisingly smooth and easy to drink. I ended up getting two...

In summary, give it a try the next time you're out. It may not be your thing, but it may end up joining your shot repertoire.

Alcohol Party

So I was looking around youtube and I found this video by stand-up comic Jim Breur and I thought it was pretty funny so I'm sharing it with you...

When in Rome - A Guide to Bar Themes #1 (Irish Pubs)

Sushi Bar, Sports Tavern, etc... The purpose of this series of articles is to save people from making fatal mistakes in these specialized places of alcohol consumption. We've all seen it right? If you haven't, you might be a perpetrator. read on as we start with Irish Pubs! here is a picture of the Irish rover here in Denver, CO. It is one of my faves:




Irish Pub - I admit to being very partial towards the Irish Pub. I love the atmosphere, I love the culture and I love the alcohol. Please don't be the guy who orders a Corona or a Bud Light at an Irish Pub. What is preferable is any Irish Beer or liquor.

Common Irish Beers include: Guinness, Smithwick's, Murphy's, and Beamish. Though not really Irish (made by Coors), Killian's Irish Red is also acceptable. This list is not exhaustive as many Irish Pubs will feature several excellent (though not well known) Irish beers that are not listed above. If you can confirm it is Irish, it is acceptable.

Irish Liquors include, but are not limited to (see above): Jameson's, Bushmills, Tullamore Dew, Baliey's Irish Creme, and almost any Meade.

Also acceptable is any British or Scottish Beers and liquor (ie: Newcastle, Bass, Strongbow, and any type of Scotch). Basically, try to fit in. Don't get a Bud Light, try something new and different. Get out of you comfort zone. Trust me, people notice the guy sipping a Pina Colada at an Irish Pub. I'm just sayin'

Next in the series - Sports Bar

Visions of the Weekend...

So, I got an e-mail forwarded to me yesterday with a bunch of pictures of the worst hang-over moments imaginable. Some of them I found quite entertaining, some not so much, and some VERY NSFW. Since I post most of this blog from work, I have decided to leave out the NSFW ones (and some of the not funny ones) and post these warnings of the dreaded "next morning" here at Drink Dummy. So without further ado:














Sadly, these pictures do nothing to quell my thirst for a nice big glass of beer and a a half dozen shots. It's weird, because I myself have been in similar positions as the ones above, yet I shall not be denied! I have the next week off of work and I intend to make the most of it...

Tuesday Tidbits and More Flasks

So, I'm at work, trying to find some inspiration to work and I cannot. It's the day after a long Memorial Day weekend and I just can't bring myself to concentrate, so I figure it's a good time for some alcohol related musings...

Not Your Father's Flasks (Revisited): I found the best way to sneak liquor onto the golf course (or at least to not look like an alcoholic on the golf course). I bring you the Kooler Klub Golf Club Flask


Holds 48 oz. of you favorite beverages. It's insulated for hot and cold drinks and is easy to clean. Buy it HERE.

Avid Bird Watcher (or just want to pretend you are)? Check out the Barnoculars Binocular Flask:



Holds 16 oz.(8 in each barrel) and can be bought HERE


It isn't often that I find a liquor that I really don't like, but I found one, Absinthe. Basically it tasted like someone soaked a whole box of Good and Plenty's (black licorice candy) in a bottle of Everclear for about a month. It was not good. Well, I guess that's not fair to say as I really think it might just not be good by itself. So, to make my peace with Absinthe, I will attempt to find some kind of use for it in the coming weeks and I will report back to you when I find a shot/cocktail recipe that makes good use of it's not-so-subtle licorice flavor.

My top 5 list of canned domestic beer (in order of cost-to-taste ratio):

1. PBR
2. Busch Light
3. Keystone Light
4. Coors (regular, not light)
5. Miller Light

Ok, I have to get some work done now... See you soon.

Long Time No See...

Hey there! I know, I know, I've been gone for an inexcusably long time. Well, I've decided to make a conscious effort to keep this blog up to date and relevant. Relevant to what you ask? I don't know. We'll have to figure that out as we go.

So what have I been up to? Well, drinking a lot as always of course. I've discovered some great stuff like white grape and raspberry flavored vodkas and Guinness' new 250 anniversary stout. I've also discovered some not so great stuff like corn whiskey (moonshine). For those of you who have not tried the Guinness 250 Stout, here are the details:

Guinness 250 Anniversary Draught
Alcohol: 5 percent by volume
Calories: 136.3 per 11.2 ounces
Brewing: Made with a double brew stream that combines two types of malts, ale and stout. Carbonated. Uses Guinness yeast, triple hops and roasted barley.
Pour: A one-part pour, at an angle.
Date: Launches in the U.S. April 24, in Australia and Singapore later.

Now, I personally think this stuff is top notch! I love it. It is a bit different from traditional Guinness as it is carbonated rather than nitrogenated like the original. Guinness is my all time favorite and the 250 is a close second. GO out and try it if you haven't yet as it's only around for a few more months.

Another great thing I've discovered is Fresca Peach Citrus (pictured below):


Combined with Peach schnapps or Peach Pucker, it is a dream come true! Go get some.

Well, I think my time is up, so I'll catch you again soon. I promise! Cheers.

Not Your Father's Flasks...

So, I'm looking at flasks the other day online and I was somewhat surprised to find not only a vast array of traditional flasks, but also a whole slew of "flaskesque" items that run the gambit from pretty cool to just plain ridiculous. Today's DrinkDummy is about some of the items I came across.

Flip-Flop Flask




They claim each flip-flop will hold 4 shots worth of liquor (3 oz.) Seems tailor made for the beach or outdoor summer concerts. They also have a built in bottle opener!

The Sippin' Seat

Perfect for sporting events!

Cell Phone Flask

Pretty much good to go anywhere! Looks like a cell phone, especially when in it's case.

Beer Belly Flask

WTF? Doesn't seem like this would really work in a real life setting. Seems like people would catch on that your belly was shrinking... hmmm...

Well, there you have it, the best of the "Flaskesque". See you next time.

Shot Repertoires

Everyone has their "shot repertoire" as I like to call it. This is the (usually short) list of shots that any given person immediately thinks of when someone at the bar says "let's do shots!" Think about it. When it's your turn to pick the shots, you know you run through 3 to 5 shots that your comfortable with and that spring to mind first. that's your "shot repertoire". It's not like you object to shots outside of these, but these are your comfort shots, your bread and butter, your peeps.

I have a repertoire myself and that's what I would like to share with you today.

#1 Jager Bomb
Ingredients:

* 1 1/2 oz Jägermeister
* 1/2 can Red Bull energy drink

Preparation:

1. Fill a shot glass with Jägermeister.
2. Drop the shot glass into an highball glass, or other tall glass, filled with a half of a can of Red Bull. Drink like a madman!

#2 Irish Car Bomb
Ingredients:

* 3/4 pint Guinness
* 1/2 shot Irish cream liqueur
* 1/2 shot Irish whiskey

Preparation:

1. Pour the Irish cream liqueur into a shot glass.
2. Pour the Irish whiskey on top.
3. Pour the Guinness into a pint glass or beer mug 1/2 to 3/4 of the way full and let settle.
4. Drop the shot glass into the Guinness and chug.

#3 The Jameson Bomb (Ok, my friends and I made this one up but it rocks)
Ingredients:

* 1 1/2 oz Jameson Irish Whiskey
* 1/2 can Red Bull energy drink

Preparation:

1. Fill a shot glass with Jameson.
2. Drop the shot glass into a glass filled with a half of a can of Red Bull. Slam. Finish with a Cherry.

#4 Red-Headed Slut
Ingredients:

* 1 oz Jagermeister
* 1 oz peach schnapps
* 2 oz cranberry juice

Preparation:

1. Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
2. Shake well.
3. Strain into a shot or old-fashioned glass.

#5 Tuaca Bomb
Ingredients:

* 1 1/2 oz Tuaca
* 1/2 can Red Bull energy drink

Preparation:

1. Fill a shot glass with tuaca.
2. Drop the shot glass into a glass filled with a half of a can of Red Bull. Slam it back.



That is my repertoire. You can draw a few conclusions from it like: I like Jager, I like "bomb shots", I like Red Bull. All true. I for one am always on the lookout for more shots to expand my repertoire, but it's tough to get away from your favorites. Make an effort and I will too.

What Makes a Dive a Dive?

What makes a "dive bar" a dive bar? According to Wikipedia:

A dive bar, or simply a dive, is a down market drinking establishment serving a working class (or poorer) clientèle.

The term "dive" dates from the London of the 19th century when younger men wanted somewhere slightly more risqué to spend their afternoons than the great clubs frequented by their fathers. They formed more informal clubs where they smoked and drank coffee.[citation needed]

The Shorter Oxford Dictionary indicates that in the U.S in the 1880s, it referred to an illegal drinking den or place of low repute, especially in a cellar or similar place. It has also been used to refer to opium dens. More recently, in Canada at least, it is associated with cheap and dirty accommodation (such as fleabag motels and run-down rooming), as well as with prostitution and other disreputable or illegal activities.

While most of this doesn't seem to apply to a modern day dive, I thought some other internet research was in order. I found multiple message boards and such with interesting things like: "a dive has no food and no windows", and "the bathrooms are what defines a dive", and my favorite "a dive is any bar with me in it". Since I don't think any of those definitions really helped either, I was forced to look inward.

Here are my thoughts on the "dive bar". To me, a dive is a bar that feels "non-corporate". By that I mean you find stuff like home-made menus, graffiti that never gets cleaned, bartenders and waitresses taking shots, a stool at the bar that has seemingly always been broken (and probably always will be), at least one sign above the bar threatening people with physical harm if they walk-out on their tab, a broken juke-box, etc...

Have you ever been drinking at a place where the waitress asks you to finish up your current drink so she can use the glass for your next drink? That's a dive.
How about those places with $5 pitchers of PBR or $1 pints of Natural Light? Also a dive.
Have you ever taken your waitress home for a night of drunken passion? Probably happened at a dive.
If you walk into a bar and someone is passed out sleeping at the bar with a drink in front of them, you've just entered a dive.
Can't find your bartender because he's back in the kitchen frying up your wings? It's a dive.
Does it seem like making it in the urinal (or toilet) is completely optional? I'm gonna say dive.

A lot of Corporate chains these days are trying to pass themselves off as "dive-esque" but don't let them fool you. You can spot corporate bars. Some good indications are: clipboards and thermometers (real dives don't do safety and temp checks), uniforms of any kind (stink of corporate identity), overly pleasant wait staff or bartenders (it usually takes a few visits for them to come around and treat you like a regular at a real dive), topshelf drink specials (like $1 off Grey Goose or $10 Beefeater Martinis), and clean restrooms (total corporate give-away).

I guess we all have our own personal definitions of what constitutes a "dive bar", but I think we can all agree that they have the best drink specials, the best company, and feel the most like home.

Is There Anything Better?

Is there anything in the world better than the first sip of an ice cold beer after a long day's work? Honestly it doesn't even matter to me what kind sometimes. Even crap like Keystone Light or PBR taste like gold medal champions with that first glorious icy cold gulp. I personally believe that if you disagree with that statement then one of two things must be true about you. Either you really aren't a "beer person" or you have way too easy of a job.

Now when I say not a "beer person", I don't mean you don't like beer. I just mean that you are not one of the beer passionate people who would (and sometimes do) do almost anything for a beer (any kind of beer). There are people out there who are passionate about a particular kind of beer like Guinness or Czechvar (both outstanding by the way) but they tend to be looked at by "beer people" as "beer snobs". I am a "beer person". I love all beer. Obviously I greatly prefer some beers over others, but I have no problem grabbing a 30 pack of Keystone Light for house beer when it's on sale for $12.99. If I'm watching the game and the bar has a $5 Coors Light pitcher special, guess what I'm drinking for the rest of that game.

Now, I'm not downgrading "beer snobs". They have a very prominent place in the great alcoholic ecosystem of which we all play important roles. If everyone was a "beer person" there would really only be a couple kinds of beer. "Beer snobs" keep the non-Anheiser-Busch/Miller-Coors breweries in business which we can all agree is a good thing.

Anyway, I just wanted to say that I've had a long day at work and I am really looking forward to that first frosty gulp of beer (whatever it is) in about an hour when I get home. Cheers!

A Black 8-Ball

Every once in awhile, friends can surprise you. You think you've seen all their alcoholic tricks a hundred times and then they spring one on you. That happened to me yesterday while watching the NFL Playoffs.

A quick run to the LQ resulted in the acquisition of several 40 oz. of Old English (always an old school/cost effective maneuver) and a 24 oz of Guinness. To my surprise, my friend quickly drank half of his Old English (OE from here on out) and proceeded to fill the rest of his bottle with Guinness. Now, I'm a lover of Black and Tans to be sure, but The OE and the Guinness did not layer like that. Rather they mixed into an obsidian liquid unlike any I'd ever witnessed. So I asked what he was doing there and he replied "It's a Black 8-Ball". Appalled (but also curious) I asked for a taste. It was wonderful! I love Guinness above all beers and am normally dumb-founded and outraged when it is diluted or combined with something that takes away from it's true beauty, but this Black 8-Ball was something different. It was different in a good way. Give it a try and let me know what you think!

Shots

I have recently stumbled upon the following article via Modern Drunkard Magazine and I had to share it with anyone and everyone who will listen. The Art of the Shot is a masterpiece of shot etiquette. It should be read and shared by all who would even entertain the notion of possibly ever partaking in the social ritual of the shot. It contains the fundamental rules and faux pas of the shot and it's closest relation, the toast. Read it, read it again and commit it to memory.

While we are on the subject of shots, I would like to share with you one of my favorites. It appears to be an original (I haven't seen it anywhere else) of a bar near my house in Arvada, CO. It is a bomb shot (kind of) and you will need a 12 oz beer mug (or glass) and a standard shot glass. I will do my best with the description but I don't know about the actual quantities. Without further ado:

The Jacob's Ladder

You will need:
Cranberry juice
Pineapple juice
Raspberry vodka
Triple Sec
Light Beer

Pour about a half inch or so of cranberry juice in the mug. Then place the shot glass into the bottom of the mug (in the cranberry juice). Then fill the shot glass with raspberry vodka. Then add a layer of pineapple juice into the glass. Next, pour about a half oz of Triple Sec over the shot glass. You should be pretty close to the top of the glass by now (three quarters of an inch to an inch from the top). Lastly, finish the shot off with a light beer up to the top of the glass.

Now, I realize this seems awfully big for a shot (it really is intimidating) but it goes down very smoothly. Go try it and you can thank me later!

The Gator Bomb *revised* (The Day After)

My Gators did their part last night and I did mine. We did a Gator Bomb every time the Gators scored (and one before the game and one after as well). We revised it from the previous post because I am currently riding a 3 month+ streak of no soda (Pepsi and Coke are reeling) by dropping the UV Raspberry Vodka into a glass of Crystal Light Mango that we whipped up pre-game. The result was undeniably wonderful. The UV Raspberry Vodka was surprisingly smooth and finished well. I had never tried UV Vodka before and I was very impressed (will buy again). Warning on the Gator Bombs though: they sneak up on you. The Vodka is so smooth and the Crystal Light did a great job of covering the alcohol taste so it was very easy to lose track of how many we had (5 by my count). Some of my friends tried the traditional Gator Bomb as described previously and their reactions were also quite positive.

Congrats Gators!

The Gator Bomb

So, I'm a huge Florida Gators fan and tonight is the big game against Oklahoma. Of course, I begin my search in earnest for an appropriate gator-related shot to down every time we score and I come across "The Gator Bomb". I'm intrigued to say the least. A Gator Bomb is:

A Shot of UV Raspberry Vodka (nice blue color) dropped into a cup of Sunkist Orange soda. According to the instructions, you should pour the Sunkist from cup to cup a few times to get rid of some of the fizz.

I for one am going to rush out and buy the necessary ingredients and drink my gator tail off tonight. My prediction: Gators 48, Sooners 32. Mark it down my friends, I'll be back to gloat in the morning (but not too early).