#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