Raise Your Glass Series: Beer

Happy New Year!  The SMS Mixology family is delighted that everyone made it through the holiday season safely.  Our team did some brainstorming on topics to share with you, and we decided that a big part of entertaining with beverages in a stylish way is very connected to the tools that you use.  Form and function are very important in the selection of barware, glassware, and bar tools.  We will be taking you through a virtual tour of the basic things that you will need for creative beverage entertaining.  This series of posts will be based on glassware, and this particular post will focus on the different types of Beer Glasses.

PINT

 This is the standard style of glass for serving beer.  It has tapered walls, and is great for serving American and English lagers.  It typically comes in two sizes: Imperial, which holds 20 ounces, and the Standard, holding 16 ounces.

PILSNER

 Pilsner glasses are long narrow glasses designed to consolidate the heads of pilsners and other lagers.  This design is vital for the look and taste of particular beers.

WEIZEN

 This is a large, curvy pilsner styled glass, with a large bulb-like top portion, specifically designed to show off the heads of wheat beers.

SEIDEL

Many of us are familiar with this style of glass as the traditional beer mug.  The handles and thick glass walls help keep the beer icy cold.

TULIP

 This is a beautiful bulb shaped glass with a trumpet shaped mouth that will sometimes have a footed, short stemmed base.  The glass' bulb shape is great for capturing aromas.  It is also the optimal design for supporting the large heads of select beers and ales.

 CHALICE/GOBLET

This bowl-like wide mouthed glass is great for serving abbey styled ales.  They are often designed with ridging or other indentations to stimulate the carbonation of the beer.









When considering your serving options for your next frosty brew, consider the nature of your beer, and how you will be serving it.  Many of these glasses offer an opportunity for a dressed up presentation of your basic beer.  Likewise, if you have a special ale, or lager, you will definitely want to serve it in a way that will highlight their best features.  Get creative, and enjoy a beer with your friends in a new and innovative way that will make you look like a beer expert.  But if you really want to wow a large crowd, feel free to engage the services of a certified mixologist, like SMS Mixology, so that you can get quality cocktails, guest service, and be freed up to enjoy your event.  Drink responsibly, and raise a glass with the Spirits of Style!

Be sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

Cool Drinks for Cold Days - Hot Beverages with Style

Welcome to the mid-point of Winter—Valentine's Day has come and gone, and with it many of the sexy cocktails that kept you entertained and enamored.  This month, we have decided to explore hot elixirs that are as cool as they are warmly enchanting.
 

According to Wikipedia, a Hot Toddy is defined as “a mixed drink made of liquor and water with sugar and spices and served hot. Hot toddy recipes vary and are traditionally drunk before going to bed, or in wet or cold weather.”

We offer the following recipes as variations of the Hot Toddy to keep you toasty as you weather the remainder of winter.

Classic Hot Toddy

Ingredients:

• 1 oz brandy, whiskey or rum
• 1 Tbsp honey
• 1/4 lemon
• 1 cup hot water
• 1 tea bag

Preparation:

Coat the bottom of a mug or an Irish coffee glass with honey.  Add the liquor and the juice of the lemon quarter.  On the side, heat water in a tea kettle and add the tea bag to make hot tea.  Pour the steaming tea into the glass and stir.

 

Hot Buttered Rum

Ingredients:

• 1 small slice soft butter
• 1 tsp brown sugar
• optional spices to taste: ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, allspice
• vanilla extract
• 2 oz dark rum
• hot water

Preparation:

Place the butter, sugar and spices at the bottom of an Irish coffee glass or mug.  Mix well or muddle.  Pour in the rum and hot water.  Stir.

French Connection Coffee (Also known as Café Amore)

Ingredients:

• 1 oz Cognac
• 1 oz amaretto
• black coffee
• whipped cream
• shaved almonds for garnish

Preparation:

Pour the Cognac and amaretto into an Irish coffee glass.  Fill with hot coffee.  Top with whipped cream.  Garnish with shaved almonds.

We hope that you are inspired to seek the warmth of these hot, yet socially cool winter drinks.  Again, you are encouraged to use your imagination, and take note from these cocktails presented as inspiration.   Entertaining with intimate groups can be effortless with these beverages, but if you really want to wow a large crowd, feel free to engage the services of a certified mixologist, like SMS Mixology, so that you can get quality cocktails, guest service, and be freed up to enjoy your event.  Drink responsibly, explore and enjoy the rest of winter with the Spirits of Style!

Be sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

Be Svelte in the Spirits of Style for 2012!

Happy New Year, and welcome to 2012!  We have noticed that every new year begins with a spirit of restraint.  For the last two months, everyone has indulged in the most decadent foods and beverages.  January brings us back to reality consuming in a manner that will be more health conscious.  While cocktails are not health foods by any means, we have done some research, and would like to inspire you with some options that will allow you to imbibe for less than 100 calories per cocktail.  While you are honoring your resolutions for healthier living, you will still be able to enjoy yourself.

 

Skinny Iced Tea

Ingredients:

1 shot Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka

Sugar-free lemonade (Minute Maid Light or Crystal Light)

Lemon wedge for garnish

Directions: Fill 1 glass with ice, pour 1 shot of Firefly, fill glass with light lemonade, and garnish with lemon wedge.  Calories: 70 (approximate)

Fruity White Sangria

Ingredients:

12-oz. can mango juice

12-oz. can pineapple juice

Liter bottle of seltzer

1 Bottle white wine

1 Cup cubed fruit (pineapple, orange, etc.)

Ice

Directions: Cube fruit. Pour all the ingredients into a serving pitcher and add ice. Stir and refrigerate so flavors blend. Makes 10 eight-ounce servings.

Calories: 94 (Calorie count varies based on fruit used.)

Bellini

Ingredients

2 oz Dry Champagne

3 oz  Peach Juice

1/8 Peach Wedge

Directions: 

Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice and shake for 10-15 seconds. Be careful shaking the beverage, because it includes carbonation.  You can wrap the shaker in a towel before shaking. Pour into a 5oz champagne flute, garnish and serve.

Try any of these excellent low calorie cocktails on for size!  They provide a great way to entertain while keeping the resolution to watch your caloric intake.  Keep in mind, however, if you need to serve any kind of mixed drinks to a large group, seek the skills of a professional.  SMS Mixology provides tastefully unique beverages, and services that will allow you to mix and mingle with your guests, instead of being stuck in the background mixing drinks.  Enjoy 2012, beginning with the Spirits of Style!

Be sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!
 

'Tis the Season to be Jolly

Happy Holidays!  During this most festive season of the year, you may find yourself overwhelmed with various details, such as finding innovative ways to accommodate your guests during seasonal celebrations.  Have no fear--while we typically focus on the stylish spirits of the cocktail variety, we remain grounded in the belief that a beverage should be able to dazzle, with or without alcohol.  Since it is all about taste, we seek to inspire you with the following family friendly recipes, and encourage you to enjoy them with the merry spirit of the season:

Christmas Juice Punch

• 2 quart(s) Apple Juice
• 2 quart(s) Cranberry Juice
• 2 bottle(s) Ginger Ale
• 1 cup(s) Lemon Juice
• 1 cup(s) Sugar

Mix well all the ingredients -except Ginger Ale- in a punch bowl. Add ice cubes and the Ginger Ale and serve in punch cups.
  
Sparkling Punch

Ingredients

• 2 lemons
• 3 large oranges
• 1 (6 ounce) can frozen lemonade concentrate
• 1 liter club soda
• 2 (750 milliliter) bottles sparkling apple cider
• 1 tablespoon white sugar
• 2 trays ice cubes

Directions

1. Thinly slice the lemons and the oranges and place in a large punch bowl. Pour in the thawed lemonade. Gently stir in the club soda and the sparkling apple cider. Add sugar to taste. Add ice.

Chilled Christmas Punch

Ingredients

• 2 cups water
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 (46 fluid ounce) can pineapple juice, chilled
• 4 cups cranberry-apple juice, chilled
• 1 liter ginger ale, chilled

Directions

1. In a saucepan, bring the water, sugar and cinnamon to a boil; stir until sugar is dissolved. Chill. Just before serving, combine the syrup mixture, juices and ginger ale in a punch bowl or large pitcher. Serve over ice.

These colorful and fresh flavored punch mixes are sure to delight!  They will be the beverage centerpiece of any 'spirit-free' event.  However, if you need to responsibly and economically serve mixed drinks to a large group, seek the skills of a professional.  SMS Mixology provides tastefully unique beverages, and services that will allow you to mix and mingle with your guests, instead of being stuck in the background mixing drinks.  Enjoy responsibly, and remember to entertain this Holiday Season with the spirits of style!



Be sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!
 

Have a Wild Turkey Thanksgiving

For our readers in the United States, Thanksgiving is the time for gathering with family and friends to give thanks for the many blessings that we have in our lives.  Usually, the Thanksgiving feast is marked by the serving of turkey, the honorary bird of the holiday.  We are encouraging you aspiring hosts and hostesses to make turkey the centerpiece of your Thanksgiving celebration—Wild Turkey®, to be exact.

According to Wikipedia, Wild Turkey® is a popular brand of Bourbon Whiskey.  Bourbon whiskey is a barrel aged distilled spirit, made primarily of corn.  The frequent use of Bourbon Whiskey in Southern cooking reflects the versatility of the flavor profiles that are infused into the spirit via the wooden aging casks.  These flavors include hints of molasses, caramel, vanilla, pecans, cinnamon, licorice and brown sugar.  Since these flavor profiles inhabit many of the favorite dishes associated with and consumed at Thanksgiving, we have assembled some Wild Turkey® infused beverages to serve with your holiday feasts:

Cherry Gobbler

• 2 oz Wild Turkey® bourbon whiskey
• 3/4 oz grenadine syrup 
• 3 1/2 oz Mello Yello® citrus soda

Pour the Wild Turkey® bourbon whiskey and grenadine into a cocktail shaker half-filled with ice cubes. Shake well, and strain into a highball glass filled with ice cubes. Add Mello Yellow®, and serve.

Thanksgiving Cocktail

• 1/2 oz. Brandy, apple
• 1 1/2 oz. Bourbon (Wild Turkey®)
• 4 oz. Cranberry Juice
• 1 tsp. Lime Juice
• 1 wedge Lime

Build over ice in a collins glass. Garnish with a lime wedge.

 Golden Schnoozeberry

• 1/2 oz. Rumple Minze
• 1 1/2 oz. Bourbon (Wild Turkey®)
• Fill with 7-up®
• 1 wedge Lime

Fill glass with ice. Pour Wild Turkey® and Schnapps® over ice. Squeeze lime wedge in drink and drop in. Fill with 7-up®.

As always, we encourage you to step outside of your comfort zone to see what this spirit will do in varied cocktails.  Get creative, go wild!  However, if you need to seek the skills of a professional, keep in mind that you can always look to a mixologist, like SMS Mixology, for something unique, and services that allow you to mix and mingle with your guests, not stuck in the background mixing drinks.  Enjoy responsibly, and remember to entertain this Thanksgiving with the spirits of style!

Be sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

Harvesting the Flavors of Fall

Crisp air, cool breezes, and the robust flavors of the harvest.  Fall is here, and is another excellent reason to gather friends and family to raise a glass to celebrate life!  Traditional Fall harvest foods are as tantalizing to the eyes, as they are to the taste buds, such as the colorful varieties of apples, corn, and pumpkins and berries.  Likewise, your beverage choices can reflect the stylish variety of the harvest, with flavorful juice or puree bases, and the sultry warmth of dark spirits.  Here are few recipes for your inspiration...

Spiced Apple Cider

Ingredients:

1 1/4 oz. Spiced Rum
6 oz. Apple Cider (Hot)

Preparation:

Rim glass with sugar and cinnamon. Add hot cider and rum.

Pumpkin Martini

Ingredients:

1/2 oz Sylk Cream Liqueur

2 oz vanilla vodka

1/2 oz pumpkin puree (or pumpkin liqueur or pumpkin spice syrup)

1 tsp whipped cream

cinnamon stick for garnish

Preparation:

Pour the Sylk Liqueur and vodka into a shaker filled with ice.

Shake well

Add the pumpkin puree (or liqueur or syrup)

Shake again

Strain into a chilled cocktail glass

Top with a teaspoon of whipped cream

Garnish with a cinnamon stick 

In observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we suggest this drink, and ask that you remember those who have been impacted by this disease, and support research to find a cure.

p.i.n.k. Ribbon Cocktail

Ingredients:

2 oz p.i.n.k. Vodka

1 oz Cointreau

3/4 oz cranberry juice

3/4 oz black currant juice

splash of sour mix

 

Preparation:

Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice.

Shake well. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

Again, you are encouraged to use your imagination, and take note from these cocktails presented as inspiration.   Entertaining with intimate groups can be effortless, but if you really want to wow a large crowd, feel free to engage the services of a certified mixologist, like SMS Mixology, so that you can get quality cocktails, guest service, and be freed up to enjoy your event.  Drink responsibly, explore and enjoy all that Fall has to offer with the Spirits of Style!

Don't forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

Getting "Jack Wild": Exploring the Versatility of Jack Daniels

With summer behind us, our staff contemplated some subjects to share with our reading audience.  It occurred to us to explore the versatility of one of America's highly flavored spirits, namely, Jack Daniels Whiskey.  Jack Daniels is one of the country's most popular liquors.  It is a sour mash Tennessee Whiskey, which is often filtered through maple charcoal before aging in oak barrels.  This versatile spirit is widely used as much in cooking, as it is in preparing drinks.

Since Jack Daniels' deep, oaky flavor profiles enhance both food and beverage flavors, we encourage you to explore and take liberties with this dynamic cocktail component.  We researched, in an effort to bring you some recipes to try.  We found hundreds of them, using common cocktail building components, and some surprising ones.  We found the recipes to be daring, and bold, and the majority of them were similarly named, in a Not Safe for Work (NSFW) way.  Therefore, in the true spirit of the boldness of Jack Daniels, we encourage you to experiment with your favorite flavors to come up with your own unique recipes.  Try your hand with:

• Citrus juices
• Vegetable juices
• Herbs
• Soft Drinks
• Other Hard Liquors
• Schnapps (any flavor)
• Flavored or unflavored mineral water
• Fresh lemonade
• Wine
• Beer

As a matter of fact, simply presenting Jack over ice will make an excellent beverage for an impromptu gathering.  Likewise, as you entertain, Jack Daniels with its golden brown color, will look great in almost any type of glass. Our team conducted an online search for Jack Daniels inspired barware, and found as many variations for presentation as we found recipes.  All the more reason to let your imagination fly as you present your beverages to your guests.  For example, serve casually in canning jars, for that "antique, down home" feel.  For upscale dining or entertaining, any standard rock glass or Collins glass will help this liquor and its components catch the light and look stylish as a result.

Again, we encourage you to step outside of your comfort zone to see what the smooth finish of this liquor will do in varied cocktails.  Have fun, get wild with Jack!  But if you need to seek the skills of a professional, keep in mind that you can always look to a mixolgist, like SMS Mixology, for something unique, and services to keep you in the mix with your guests, and not just mixing drinks.  Enjoy responsibly, and remember to entertain with the spirits of style!


Be sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!