#010 OUR BEST VANILLA MARTINI RECIPE

Winter is here and when I think of the holiday season visions of frosty, creamy, coffee cocktails come to mind. Meres and I like to sip delicious martinis in front of a roaring fire so we had to come up with the perfect vanilla martini recipe with that hint of coffee flavor. Make no mistake; this is not your typical dessert cocktail. This holiday martini packs a major bang and is stout enough to bring a little extra bliss to the New Year!

Meres and I are proud to divulge our top secret drink recipe for the Vanilla Haze Martini. The inspiration for combining these particular flavors came together as a result of a wonderful hot coffee drink called the vanilla haze latte. We wanted to recreate the essence of this fabulous warming drink but in the form of a yummy cocktail. The finished product became this festive drink that was reminiscent of winter but delicious enough to be sipped any time of the year. It invokes the tastes of fresh vanilla bean, hazelnut, with a hint of coffee. Enjoy!




Vanilla Haze Martini

1 oz Licor 43
2 oz Vanilla Vodka (we prefer Absolut Vanilia ® )
½ oz Bailey’s Irish Cream ®
½ oz Godiva White Chocolate Liqueur ®
½ oz Frangelico ®
¼ oz Kahlua ®
healthy splash of light cream (half and half may be substituted)
fresh vanilla bean
***optional-hazelnut syrup for rimming the glass

Take the vanilla bean and cut it length wise. Then cut it once more in half. (You’ll save half of the bean as a garnish) With your knife, scrape the inner vanilla bean pod and put aside. Take an ice cold martini glass and rim it with hazelnut syrup. (This is optional) Put the glass back into the freezer until you are ready for pouring in your drink.

Fill a shaker half full of roughly crushed ice cubes. Pour all of the liquid ingredients into the shaker. Put the lid on the shaker and shake briskly for about 10 seconds or until you see frost form on the vessel. Strain the drink into your very chilled martini glass. Take the knife with the moist vanilla bean pods on it and scrape them off into the drink. (This will seriously bump up the vanilla flavor in the most heavenly way!) Use the remaining half of the bean as a garnish. Scrumptious!

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Love everybody in the room,
BlondeMav

#009: THE SEXUAL HANGOVER (A KILLER CHOCOLATE MARTINI)

We’ve got a new look for the New Year. Ditched the brown backgrounds. Improved our font. Much sexier. So sexy, in fact, that everyone reading this entry is deserving of the Sexual Hangover Martini (pictured in front, with Mav's Caramel Apple Martini in back).

I have an arsenal of about five go-to drinks that never disappoint or let me down. The Sexual Hangover is at the top of that list – most often employed in the following circumstances:

1) After sex
2) Amidst a chocolate craving
3) To treat pain (we’re talking sex injuries, menstrual cramps and/or psychic pain)

The Sexual Hangover is deeply chocolate tasting, spicy and has just enough cream to smooth out the drink without making it heavy. Oh, and it packs a punch. This isn’t a martini that tastes just like chocolate milk. You’ll know you are indulging in a very adult delight when you take a sip of this baby. The recipe that follows is for a solid 4 oz. drink.

The Sexual Hangover

1 ½ oz. Chocolate Vodka
½ oz. Vanilla Vodka
1 oz. Dark Crème de Cacao (*)
2/3 oz. Starbucks Cream Liqueur (%)
1/3 oz. Cinnamon Schnapps (#)

- Drizzle martini glass with chocolate syrup and/or rim with chocolate cocoa powder
- Shake, strain, pour and enjoy!

I implore you to try this drink. It puts most chocolate martinis you’ll find in a bar to shame.

Bye.
Mere

(*) Preferred: Bols or DeKupyer Dark Crème de Cacao; Also works: Godiva Liqueur
(%) Also works: Bailey’s Irish Cream or Kahlua cut w/ Cream
(#) Preferred: Aftershocks; Also works: Goldschlager

PRODUCT #02: A DELICIOUS WILD "TURKEY DAY" LIQUEUR REVIEW

American Honey

 

(If you're lucky you can find it packaged with the free bonus!)

Meres & I are fond of many things; but one of our favorites is trying new libations. In perusing our somewhat limited local liquor store, we came across something intriguing and quite divine. From the fine folks that created Wild Turkey Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey® comes the only true bourbon based liqueur & it packs a punch at a full 71 proof. It’s called Wild Turkey American Honey Liqueur ® & it is certainly worth your while to give it a try. This reasonably priced treat is the perfect warming spirit to combat even the frostiest winter night. It’s also Thanksgiving week so what could be more appropriate than a Wild Turkey beverage?

There are a lot of people out there who are not accustomed to ordering bourbon. Even Blonde Meres had to be coaxed into giving the American Honey a try. I've noticed that it seems bourbon is considered by many to be either a "gentleman’s drink" or one consumed by good ‘ole Southern guys. Personally, I find bourbon to be delicious & there are a variety of brands that I tend to enjoy. (Especially on the rocks with a splash of soda or cola and a little twist of lemon or lime.)

American Honey Liqueur has the distinct flavor of rich bourbon but the hint of honey makes it quite palatable for those not used to drinking straight whiskey. It has just the right amount of sweetness to make the honey essence shine through. I’ve found it’s a bit hard to find recipes for its use but it tastes wonderful when it’s chilled and served neat or as a shot. It is currently being marketed with Kahlua Mocha ®. A one to one ratio of these two liqueurs makes a terrific shot that tastes very similar to a tootsie roll. Meres likes it with a little ice as a nice sipper. I’ve concocted my own little cocktail that I think our readers will find to their liking.

Mav’s American Honey Recipe

¾ oz Wild Turkey American Honey Liqueur®
1 oz Jack Daniels (or whiskey of choice)

Pour over ice in a high ball glass and then top off with cola or golden ginger ale and a squeeze of lemon! Tasty!

Thanks so much for stopping by our blog. Please feel free to leave comments or questions and we hope you’ll visit often.

Love everybody in the room,
Mav

PRODUCT #01: AMARULA, "THE SPIRIT OF AFRICA" REVIEW

Mav and I have an extensive liquor cabinet. Due to job constraints and the current economic climate, we keep a well-stocked bar. Drinks on the town are too expensive for what we’ll typically get: something that is off-balance, weak and/or nuclear colored. Throw in late working hours, the immediate proximity of a comfortable bed… and, most nights, it just makes more sense to drink at home. You can call us lushes but don’t call us stupid. This is the life...

While we’re talking luxury… out of sheer dedication to the craft of cocktail mixing, I actually went to South Africa to pick up a bottle of this creamy ambrosia called Amarula. Okay, well, not precisely. A generous elder family member rounded up the offspring and hauled us all over there for a two-week safari (I can’t complain)! We sampled South African wines outside Cape Town and spent several days “roughing it” in Kruger National Park. If this were an adventure/travel blog, I could spend pages detailing the trip; but in the spirit of the majestic animals we encountered in the bush, I’ll cut right to the chase. If you have the means, go there.Amarula Fruit Cream

My curiosity for this liqueur preceded my trip to South Africa, so I was very excited to learn more about Amarula from its native drinkers. Since apartheid, South Africa’s government has been working to increase the country’s global visibility and share the spoils of its break-taking and richly endowed land. In the alcohol sector, South Africa has found international markets for their South African wines, delicious brandies and Amarula. The brandy may be a little hard to come by, but most Americans should be able to find a nice South African wine and a bottle of Amarula in a nearby liquor store.

As the label mentions, Amarula is derived from a fruit grown on Africa’s Marula trees. The sweet Marula bark is a favorite food source for roaming elephants and it’s common to see partially stripped trees while wandering the bush. Our guide also mentioned it’s common for natives to use Marula leaves for tea. Amarula is basically produced with Marula fruit juice and the additions of sugar, alcohol and cream. The final product tastes like an exotic caramel cream. The fruitiness is a definite undertone but it’s by no means overpowering.

Amarula is a very creamy liqueur and has a heavy, luxurious mouth feel. In terms of viscosity, I’d say it’s a close approximate to Bailey’s Irish Cream. In a mixed drink with lots going on, Amarula and Bailey’s are interchangeable but there are some definite differences in flavor. Amarula is sort of the premium vanilla to Bailey’s rich chocolate. Amarula really shines when you let those fruity, exotic undertones shine. The liqueur is great over ice and it stands up well to orange and citrus vodkas as well as rum. Mav and I have already concocted a slew of drinks with this delightful South African import. We’ll be sure to share but, until then, get this drink into your bar.

Overall Rating: 5/5

Typical Price: $20 - $25

Bonus Shot: The Springbok

This is a traditional South African shot/sipper named after one of the myriad of deer species roaming the bush. Best served chilled. Tastes like mint chocolate chip ice cream!

1 ounce crème de menthe (clear/green)
½ ounce Amarula, floated on top

Bye.

Meres

PENANCE AND PRODUCT REVIEWS

So we’re going to scrap that whole aforementioned vlog idea, and just try to stick with semi-regular posts. If you’ve read this blog before, apologies and thanks for coming back! Mav and I have been on hiatus from posting due to, well: vacation, football season, the elections and several other distractions. To warm y’all back up, I’m going to throw some quick product reviews up within the next 24 hours and then work on posting another magnificent BOB Drinks original. Stay tuned.

Bye.
Meres

Incoming Reviews…

#008: BLUE MOUNTAIN MARTINI

***Updated 12/21/o8: Thanks to the new iLike widget, you can hear Blue Mountain for yourself. Check out our sidebar -- play a song as you read this entry! We've posted a 5 song sample of some of their early material (it's all that's currently available through the iLike service).

Summer, summer, summer time! Mav and I have been busy down here with assorted side projects and the time-consuming pursuit of tans and pool-side leisure, all sans laptop of course. So while we haven’t been consistent with posting recipes, I assure you we’ve been consistent with drinking cocktails. Time to share…

Back-story: This particular drink was inspired by a recent trip to see one of our favorite bands, Blue Mountain. Mav has been friends with the band members for a number of years, so we try to support them whenever we can. Despite our bias, Blue Mountain is simply superb and considered a seminal band in the Americana/Rock-a-billy/Alternative Country movement. The current incarnation features Cary Hudson on lead guitar/harmonica/vocals, Laurie Stirratt on bass guitar/vocals and Frank Couch on drums/vocals. They’re probably one of the best bands you’ve never heard of for any number of reasons -- geography and timing, included. A quick history: they formed a number of years ago in Oxford, Mississippi, as an offshoot of The Hilltops (another fantastic, now-defunt band featuring Cary Hudson, John Stirratt {of Wilco fame}, Laurie Stirratt and Hank Sossaman). Blue Mountain quickly picked up a huge following, primarily through tours of the Southeast, the Midwest and pockets of the North. The band toured relentlessly (as they still do), turned out three CDs and, right before breaking on the national scene, disbanded due to souring personal relationships. But now, after nearly a decade-long hiatus, Blue Mountain has re-united with a more mature and refined sound. They are one of those bands that creates impeccable CDs (with such excellent musicians, it’s not hard) AND they really shine on stage. You can see them over and over again – each experience is different, each tune arranged a little differently, each set crafted to the band’s whim. They are the sound of true-blue American summer – one of those memory-soaked summers that appeals to anyone, living just about anywhere. Rootsy but not country. Relaxed American rock, with a touch of the blues and just the right amount of twang.

July 2008: We went to see Blue Mountain at an outdoor concert in Waverly, Alabama. They are touring hard as they build into their August release of a pair of new CDs -- "Midnight in Mississippi" and "Omnibus". Mav and I had some time to chat with the trio about their upcoming albums and touring schedule [for more on that, see below] before they took to the stage and started sending their intoxicating music drifting on out into the night. We also obliged their requests for some mixed drinks to take onstage (the “band beer” was skunked). So we made them and now give you…The Blue Mountain Martini. We should note, the band drank this on ice and ahem, perhaps on the stiff side. Feel free to experiment.

Without further ado, the concoction:
1) Vodka – regular or a blend of regular, citron and/or orange will work 

2) X-Rated Fushion Liqueur – this trendy liqueur is a great mixer, especially if you are going for that sweet-tart taste. The label calls the liqueur a mixture of blood orange, mango and passion fruit. When Mav first tried it, the first thing that hit her was grapefruit. I agree the citrus is the primary element here, followed up by a subtle tropical undertone. This is a vodka based liqueur so obviously it blends well with vodkas. I also think it would make a great mixer with tequila, as I’ve always found orange citrus (versus lemon citrus) to be a better match with cactus juice.

***Bonus Drink! TEQUILA SHOT – instead of salt and a slice of lemon, try chasing your shot with an orange slice. The sweetness of the orange helps cut the tequila’s bite.

3) Chambord – any raspberry liqueur will work. For our purposes, it will just serve as an accent

4) Pomegranate juice

5) Fresh lime juice

The recipe:

Mix… 1.5 oz. Vodka
1.5 oz. X-Rated Fushion Liqueur
splash of pomegranate juice
squeeze of lime

Rim… frosted martini glass with sugar and drizzle Chambord down the sides
Shake... Strain...

Pour...  enjoy!

Bye.

Meres

More on Blue Mountain:
Official Website (tour/CD info)
Broadmoor Records (song samples, CD info)
Amazon.com Artist (music for sale / see also iTunes, etc)

Article in Blurt Magazine (click the June cover to view online)

Photo: "Charlotte" by Daniel Coston

#007 CARAMEL APPLE MARTINI WITH A KICK

(I'm doing some serious martini research!)


Hi y'all and thanks for stopping by. The popular apple martini beverage gets a little "Blonde on Blonde Action" doctoring in this edition of our blog. Since my incredible girlfriend is a bit on the hot & spicy side, I like to make my Apple Martini recipe reflect a bit of Blonde Mers so therefore, without further ado, I present the INCREDIBLY scrumptious Caramel Apple Martini recipe. (with a kick of course!)

This martini recipe is one we obtained from Drinkmixers.com. We made a little Saucy Southern Style variation to it & feel it is now sweet perfection!



INGREDIENTS:

1 ounce Vodka (we've really been enjoying Van Gogh Vodka)
1 ounce Apple Vodka (Smirnoff works perfectly)
2 ounces Apple Schnapps
1 ounce Dekuyper Buttershots Schnapps





¼ ounce After Shock Cinnamon Liqueur (Goldshlager also works)





1 splash of cranberry juice
Garnish: Caramel Syrup for the rimming process

This drink is not only delicious but also gives that perfect little buzz that we all strive for. This martini is ridiculously easy to make & is guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

All you have to do is chill your martini glass & then when ready to prepare the cocktail rim it with some caramel syrup. Then get out your trusty cocktail shaker of choice and fill it half full with ice cubes. (I prefer to throw in a couple of the fake cubes as they chill the drink without watering it down.) Pour in all of the above ingredients & shake for about 30 seconds to get your drink nice and cold. Strain into your caramel rimmed frosty martini glass. That’s it!

The After Shock gives it a nice little warm kick that Blonde Mers & I thoroughly enjoy & we know you will too. It makes us all warm & tingly & who isn’t a fan of that? Beware: These are very addictive & are so tasty you might not realize how strong they are. Cheers!

On a side note, please take a moment to leave us a comment. We would love to hear from you if you have been enjoying our cocktail recipes. Also, if you’d like to link us to your blog that would be terrific. Take care & there is so much more to come! (yes-the Blonde on Blonde media experience is going to be functional VERY soon.)





Love everybody in the room,
Blonde Mav

#006 OUR BEST GRAND MARNIER MARGARITA RECIPE

It’s been a while since we’ve posted so I feel obligated to hit up our readers with the most deee-lushious margarita recipe. Since we take great delight in sampling a variety of alcoholic beverages, it is always our goal to bring to you the perfect drink recipe. In fact, I would have to say we consider this the best top shelf margarita recipe we've tasted! Mers & I have had a lot to celebrate recently. What better way to do so than with a spectacular summer sipper? This tequila laden concoction is one we discovered compliments of Grand Marnier ®.

INGREDIENTS

1 part Grand Marnier ® liqueur
2 parts Jose Cuervo Tradicional ® or other Premium Tequila
1 part freshly squeezed lime juice
1 part simple syrup

(Simple Syrup note)-This is so EASY to make. Just take a boiler and put in one cup of water and one cup of sugar. Simmer over low heat until it dissolves into the simple syrup. Store it in the fridge as it comes in quite handy for a variety of other cocktails.

Now here is how WE put it together Blonde on Blonde Action style!

Fill a shaker approximately half full of crushed ice cubes. Pour in all of the above ingredients above & shake away! Run a lime wedge along the edge of a Margarita Glass & then roll the rim in coarse salt. Strain the ice cold tropical drink into the glass & garnish with a lime wheel. (the fresh squeezed lime juice is crucial-it takes about 2 limes to get a healthy ounce of lime juice)

Note: We do offer a variation that is a little less expensive but still entirely delicious….you can substitute the Grand Marnier ® with another premium orange liqueur called Gran Gala ®. The taste is very similar to the more expensive GM but the price is much more reasonable. We like to use good quality tequila as the lower end brands can really negatively affect the taste of the beverage.

It looks like this>>>>>

So we suggest that you gather up the ingredients, mix away & you will certainly love this fabulous margarita. (Festive glassware & faux fruit shaped ice cubes add a bit o' flair to the drink)

As a lucky bonus for me, Mers tends to find tequila to be a bit of an aphrodisiac. I tend to think she is one so it’s win-win at our house!

On a final note, we keep promising our live video bartending tutorials and indeed they are in the works. If you are enjoying the cocktail recipes & our occasional bits of banter then please add us to your RSS feed. We also belong to several of the social networking sites so if you could give us a thumbs up or leave a comment that would be terrific. Thanks so much for stopping by and enjoy your cocktail!

Love everybody in the room,
BlondeMav

#005 MORIR SONANDO, TO DIE DREAMING

If I am dreaming let me never awake, if I am awake let me never sleep. Chinese Proverb. Or, a common reaction to [sleeping with Mav] tasting Licor 43 for the first time. I’ll get to the drink recipe in just a moment but let me start by extolling the virtues of this Spanish liqueur. Mav and I had been reading the buzz around Cuarenta y Tres for some time, but we never could find it in the package stores here in ‘bama (I can’t imagine why). Mav also assured me the perfect Key Lime Martini NEEDED the addition of Licor 43 to get it right (we’re still tinkering with a recipe… and we’re close, so check back). During a trip to Birmingham, we finally found the stuff and, clearly, we had no choice but to plunk down $40 – it can be found for less. If you are not familiar with the liqueur, here’s a succinct list of Licor 43’s virtues (aside from being a golden-hued, surefire path towards orgasm… as all my favorite things are):

Uno) It’s sweet, as most liqueurs should be (but not in an overly saccharine or artificial way). Licor 43 is a fantastic mixer but unlike some other liqueurs, it’s also great on its own. Serve it neat or over ice.

Dos) It’s delicious, with a predominantly vanilla taste and just a hint of citrus. All you really need to know is: as Dr. Pepper is to soda, Licor 43 is to liqueurs. There are others like it (Tuaca, Navan) but none that really match its combination of flavors or its feel rolling around your mouth.

Tres) It’s warming, even when chilled. Licor 43 is delightful going down; its natural warmth also makes it a great match for tequila-based drinks.

Cuatro) It’s potent, with a much higher proof than most liqueurs. This is always a good thing in a mixer. If you can get a taste than compares to schnapps in flavor and sweetness, and then up the alcohol content… well then, that’s a good investment. Licor 43 is just over 60 proof, while most schnapps run from 20-50 proof.
The long and short of all that: stock your bar with this stuff. Onto the current drink of choice, Morir Sonando. The drink, in its non-alcoholic form, originated in the Domican Republic and it’s name literally translates as “to die dreaming” (but you can read about all that, here). Anyway, I’ve been feeling a bit under the weather recently, so when Mav suggested our usual after-work cocktail, I opted for a pussy drink with Vitamin C and a touch of poetry to its name. If you want something refreshing and relaxing, here is the summer drink for you… tastes like a Creamsicle:

Suck on this…
1 ounce Licor 43
½ ounce Vodka
1 ½ ounces Orange Juice
2 ounces Milk
splash of club soda

Pour ingredients in a tumbler filled with ice, give it all a good shake a strain the foamy mixture into a clean highball, also filled with ice. Serve with a straw.

Bye.
BlondMers

#004 The MINT-A-LICIOUS MOJITO

For returning guests, welcome to our little drink mixing blog. BlondeMers & I have sworn to only provide recipes for the most delectable cocktails imaginable. Since we are blogging from deep down in Alabama, we thought we’d provide a recipe that is not only easy breezy to make, but is perfect for sipping out on the veranda, (cause down here we all have verandas of course). After much consideration we decided that nothing fits the bill better than a long cold tall Mojito! This scrumptious beverage will not only tickle your taste buds, but it will tickle your nose as a bonus.

Recipe Courtesy of “Fine Living”

Mojito Ingredients:
fresh mint

fresh lime juice

white or light rum

club soda

limes

ice (a couple of the handy little artificial cubes keep the glass cool)

superfine sugar

Simple sugar syrup: Ahead of time, heat equal parts of sugar and water in a saucepan until sugar is completely dissolved. Pour into a container — it will keep for a couple of weeks in refrigerator.

Cocktail: Place mint leaves and a tablespoon of simple syrup in a glass and mash mint and syrup with spoon to release the minty flavor. (We use a wooden muddler instead of a spoon). Add lime juice and two shots of rum and shake. Pour over glass filled with ice then top with club soda. Garnish and enjoy. (If you'll notice in the first photo I'm using the "aqua cubes" in addition to regular ice to keep my beverage extra frosty. For more information on these great little cubes that I continuously find uses for, refer to the prior blog entitled #001 Ice Ice Baby.

So there you have it! In my opinion this version makes the best Mojito. I like to garnish mine with a straw & of course a tall leggy blonde.

Love everybody in the room,

BlondeMav

Notable: Our next blog should finally have a little multi-media action for ya so please add us to your bookmark & come back for a peek. We are unveiling; or perhaps a better word would be “unleashing” several new features including the long promised personally demonstrated drink mixing tutorials.

#003 POMEGRANATE MARGATINI

Like most couples, Sundays for Mav and me are all about long mornings in bed, prolonging the showering process, mindless television and good cookin’. Of course, mixing the above tranquilizers with a self-concocted depressant never hurts. If you are looking for a nice drink to kick back with on your Sunday… I have your fix.


This will be a quick post because we’re in the process of trying to get our video entertainment online. So, without further ado, the Pomegranate Margatini. As the name implies, this is a martini recipe but it’s one that could totally work over ice.


Complements Food+Wine…
1 ½ ounce Tequila (silver is preferred)
1 ½ ounce Pomegranate juice
1 ounce Triple Sec
2/3 ounce Fresh lime juice

Pour ingredients into a chilled cocktail shaker or tumbler. Show ‘em some arm-to-shoulder action (count this as your Sunday exercise!). Pour into a chilled martini glass rimmed with coarse salt. Garnish with a twist of lime. Take outside. Sip in the sun. Dispense salty and sweet kisses.

Bye.
BlondeMers

Drink Tip #001-ICE-ICE BABY

As you will notice if you have been a prior visitor to our blog, we sometimes submit our own entries. Mers did the last one detailing our creamy & delicious “Blonde on Blonde Action” drink. I thought I’d share with you a little item I found that will keep your drinks extra chilly & really make that glass sweat when you turn up the heat.

For around four bucks I picked up these cute little “aqua cubes”.

It’s simplicity at its finest! Simply pop them in your glass of choice & put it in the freezer. Not only do you get the benefit of the frosty glass but these nifty little faux ice cubes will keep any tasty beverage extra cool. They’re also fun to plunk into one of our delicious martini concoctions to keep it chilled while consuming, yet not watering down the cocktail itself.

You can find these little “delights from the beverage gods” at many department stores. For the low retail price of about 4 dollars it’s certainly a worthy purchase in my humble opinion.

Now go to the fridge, pick out your favorite liqueur, put on some lounge-ish music & have a little libation relaxation!


***Notable-We’ve been promising to venture into the zany world of video bartending. Granted neither my girlfriend nor myself is going to mimic the fine artistry behind the bar as demonstrated by Tom Cruise in the classic film “Cocktail”. However, we believe strongly in our taste buds & therefore think that you will enjoy the beverages in spite of the “modestly skilled” preparation you will soon be able to view. Our video extravaganza is in the works so check back often and please feel free to comment.

Love everybody in the room,

BlondeMav

#002 BLONDE ON BLONDE ACTION

Without any further ado, the namesake drink. It’s a sipper, best enjoyed over ice and alongside someone equally delectable. I work a nightside shift and usually pull into my driveway at about 11:30 pm - the perfect time for a drink (and I usually need one by then, too). This is not an exotic drink or anything extravagant… but if you want something cool, creamy and with a bit of a relaxing kick, then you really can’t go wrong with some Blonde on Blonde Action. It’s my go-to.

You'll need:
1 ounce Vanilla Vodka
1 ounce Starbucks Cream Liqueur
1/2 ounce Starbucks Coffee Liqueur
1/2 ounce Butterscotch Schnapps
1 ounce strong coffee or espresso

Puttin' it together (bit by bit...)


This is not even worth numbering. Combine the liquor in a shaker with some ice, add a healthy splash of leftover coffee and give it a quick, brisk shake. Pour the contents over a chilled lowball glass filled with ice. Straw optional.


Girlfriend mandatory.

Bye.
BlondeMers

***We have some pretty strong feelings about the different coffee-based liqueurs. Please check back this week for some side-by-side comparisons. First up: Starbucks, the Sipper from Seattle VS reigning standard and Master of the Mudslide, Kahlua…

#001 CARROT CAKE MARTINI

So our blog’s name is a riff on an original drink recipe of ours. It would make sense to start with that drink (we’ll get to it soon) but for this inaugural recipe post, we want to offer something that will have you begging for more. The Carrot Cake Martini will do just that. Admittedly, our recipe was taken from one found through grouprecipes.com. But when you find something this good, you’ve got to share. Hands down, this martini has it all: 1) it’s insanely simple, 2) it’s delicious and impeccably balanced and 3) it’s a bit of an aphrodisiac.

Get ready... to drink:

1 1/2 ounce Vanilla Vodka

1 ounce Butterscotch Liqueur

1/2 ounce Cinnamon Schnapps

Get ready... to rim:

Assorted drink paraphernalia

Cinnamon graham crackers

Granulated sugar

Cream cheese

Get ready... to ravage:

Ready? Set? Go!

1. Fill shaker half full with ice cubes and chips.

2. Add liquor. Nothing fancy here - just measure and pour.

3. Swirl and let stand while preparing martini glass rim.

4. Smear a small amount of cream cheese on the rim of your glass. Press into finely crushed graham and sugar.

5. Get that drink, give it a good shake, strain, pour and enjoy.

Love everybody in the room. Bye.
M&M

LICK-HER BASICS

or a starter guide to OUR bar.

Before we start throwing up drink recipes, we wanted to let you know there are some really quick and easy preparation techniques that we follow.

1. Frost all glasses, both those used for preparation and drinking. We’re talking martini glasses, shot glasses, shakers and highballs. The colder the better, unless it’s in bed with you.

2. Chill most liquors, particularly vodkas and cream-based drinks.

3. Use smaller chips of ice when possible. It’s simple science - a little collision theory at work. The more little pieces sidling up against one another, the more they will hit, chip and melt… and the colder your drink will get.

4. In general, we’re shakers. Not stirrers. (But sometimes we muddle). The key to shaking a great drink is looking for this:

...you want to shake until you get a nice, frosty shaking vessel. And once poured, little frosty swirls should glisten on the surface of your drink.

Unless otherwise noted (and with the obvious exception of hot drinks), all of our recipes will employ these techniques. So if you want to do it just like us (how sweet!) keep these basics in mind.

Love everybody in the room. Bye.

M&M

SUCKING HEAD, PINCHING TAIL

We'll use this post as a way of introduction and perhaps, for some, as a cultural/culinary taste of the South. So this weekend didn't suck... much. For those that may not be familiar with the fine art of crawfish consumption, let us enlighten you. The title of this blog refers to a method of extracting the meat from the mudbug (and there's not much there). We won't go into the gory details (you can read about it here) but suffice to say it's a messy, crude and delicious process made better by good friends, great music and a beer or cocktail or both -- much the same way this blog is meant to be enjoyed.

Anyway, as promised this post is meant to serve as a means of introduction. Blonde on Blonde Action is maintained by the two of us, from our home in Alabama. If you haven't put it together yet, that's us in the upper left hand corner of this website. You'll get to know us individually as we continue to post on various and sundry topics. But for now, you are getting the package deal. As we conceived this blog, we want to offer tasty drink recipes on a regular basis. But our plan also involved peppering those posts with anecdotes and random miscellany from our lives. And here's the thing: we know there are plenty of people doing this. But we promise they are not as hot as us. Where else can you find orgasmically good cocktail recipes and read about the adventures of two girls in love? And don't say Ourchart.com.

We hope to get a video element up and running soon; but as we tinker with our new electronic toys, you'll have to deal with some rudimentary posts.

Love everybody in the room. Bye.

M&M

APERITIF (ACCENT-A-GOOOOO, OMITTED...SORRY!)

Aperitif (n.) [ah-per-i-teef]

1. a small drink of alcoholic liquor taken to stimulate the appetite before a meal.

Hi, first off: thanks for visiting. Given we are new to the world of blogging and haven't promoted this site as of yet, heaven knows what drew you here and what you are expecting. Consider this our aperitif of sorts.

Our full menu of blogging fun (COMING SOON):

• Cocktail recipes: this is really an excuse for us to drink and play at bartending. We hope to post frequent drink recipes, complete with hot, steamy video tutorials showing off our vast superiority in the fine art of mixology (and our complete ignorance in the way of bartending etiquette). But we can promise this: the drinks... will be good. Tasty even. In all seriousness, we'll stand by our recipes. They are tried and true (and most likely being sampled at the time of posting).


• Slice of life: anecdotes, witticisms, and zany antics from our humble home in the heart of Alabama. All delivered in mixed media form and proving blonde, contrary to popular belief, is a synonym for MENSA member.


• Shameless plugs: we have some pretty cool friends. And they are doing some pretty cool things that more people ought to know about. We'll try to reign this in, but from time to time, we hope to throw up some links and musings regarding our favorite people, places and activities.

Love everybody in the room. Bye.

M&M