Another cool idea

To continue on the ice theme from my last post, here is something else to try at your next house party. Ice cube shot glasses! Some friends of mine brought these bad boys out and they were a complete hit! They attempted to make one out of Coke which quickly melted into a syrupy, sticky mess; I definitely don't recommend this. Captain Morgan on Coca-Cola rocks per my last post sounds like a much better bet.

Of course these do melt and you will find liquor spilling out of the bottom of the shot glasses within a few minutes, but your shots will be ice cold and they are fun while they last! Chilling your liquor is a good idea as it will help extend the lifespan of these freezing cold glasses. Having a sink around to throw the discarded melting shot glasses into is a good idea as well! You can pick up a mold to make these shot glasses here.

What's cooler than being cool?

Ice cold!

Did you ever enjoy homemade popsicles as a kid? You know what I'm talking about; those fun plastic molds filled with fruit juice that your mother froze overnight to trick you into getting more nutrition when you thought you were getting dessert. Oh so sneaky she was! The plastic molds aren't even necessary, as I remember making ours out of dixie cups and wooden popsicle sticks (and you thought those were only used for arts and crafts). At any rate, here is a fun adult-only twist on the classic homemade popsicle.

Playing off of that idea, another icey option is to freeze juice ice cubes. Juice cubes! I've found that cranberry juice freezes well but you can play with other juices if you prefer grapefruit or pineapple or papaya...whatever you like. If your cubes aren't completely freezing, try watering them down a little. I like to make a madras with a twist using cranberry cubes. The colors contrast beautifully and the flavors are classic. Fill a highball glass with your brightly colored cubes. Add one and a half ounces of vodka and fill with orange juice. It's a screwdriver that turns into a madras as the ice melts! Try experimenting with different combinations. Oh, the possibilities!

Welcome to Mixology Mythology!

Bartending is more than just pouring draft beers and blending frozen margaritas. It is more than just a way to make a quick bill. It isn't glamorous and it is hard work. It is a culture unto itself, a seperate world within the service industry sector. There are specialized products, certain procedures and unwritten conventions that work to form a recognizable community within the late night world that is bartending. Sure, there are differences from one bar to another. Your local dive bar is going to be a different experience than a high volume club downtown. But there are things that won't, or shouldn't, change; for example, your dirty martini should taste just as good no matter where you order it.

From comedian to showman to therapist, the bartender is a shape shifter of the most extraordinary kind. The bartender will crack jokes, crack your shell, and, occasionally, crack bottles on their way down from a high flying toss (although catching the bottle is a much better idea, but more on flairing later). This blog is dedicated to the art of bartending. Be it a post about a drink recipe on the rise or information on appropriate bar etiquette, this blog will be useful to both the bar regular and the bartender. Cheers, readers!