Two Guys Walk Into A Bar (From Zeus News)

Everything you want to know about Blue Curaçao:

Curaçao is a liqueur flavored with the dried peels of Larahas, a type of orange grown on the island of Curaçao. A non-native plant, Larahas developed from the sweet Valencia orange transplanted by Spanish explorers; the nutrient-poor soil and arid climate of Curaçao changed the fruit’s taste, creating the Laraha.

Initially discovered by accident, the drink was first developed and marketed by the Senior family (a Jewish family of Spanish descent) in the 19th century. To create the liqueur, the peels of the Laraha are dried, bringing out their sweetly fragranced oils. After soaking in a still with alcohol and water for several days, the peels are removed and other spices are added.

The liqueur has an orange flavor with varying degrees of bitterness. It is produced clear, and can have blue, green, orange, or red coloring added. The most common blue Curaçao is primarily used as an exotic coloring agent in cocktails and other mixed drinks.

Blue Curaçao is one of the secret ingredients in “Voodoo Koolaid“, one of the Golden Lion’s signature drinks.

Try some this weekend in a “Blue Motorcycle”

Blue Motorcycle Recipe
3/4 oz gin
3/4 oz vodka
3/4 oz rum
1/2 oz blue curacao
1/4 oz sour mix
Sprite ® to balance

In a hurricane or pint glass, pour in all ingredients. Box with a shaker and serve. Garnish with an orange wedge.

Boxing is a bartending term meaning pour the drink from mixing glass to shaker a couple of times to blend the ingredients. Bartenders use the boxing method when preparing drinks using carbonated mixers. To cover a carbonated drink with a top and shake can get a bit messy!

Thanks for reading. Have a great week!

Today’s Drink Recipe: Hawaiian Cosmo

Hawaiian Cosmo
2 oz vodka
1 oz apple juice
1 oz pineapple juice
1/2 oz lime juice

Chill a cocktail glass. Pour vodka and juices into a shaker with ice. Strain into the glass and enjoy. Garnish with a pineapple wedge or wheel if desired.

Two Guys Walk Into A Bar (From Zeus News)

Welcome back to “Two Guys Walk Into A Bar”. Thanks for reading. This week we will learn about cachaça, a distilled liquor from Brazil.

Unknown to many outside Brazil, the cultural significance of cachaça ( Pronounced “KA SHA SA”) ranks among soccer, carnival, and samba. Although non-Brazilian’s compare cachaça to rum, their only similarity is that they both originate from sugarcane. The major difference between cachaça and rum is that rum is usually made from molasses, a by-product from refineries that boil the cane juice to extract as much sugar crystals as possible. And cachaça is made from fresh sugarcane juice that’s fermented and distilled.

Cachaça first gained popularity among slaves and peasants during Brazil’s colonial period but the spirit has recently become a favorite domestically and internationally regardless of the drinker’s class.

No one knows for sure who began cachaça production, but everyone agrees that it began somewhere between 1530 and 1550. Around this time, sugarcane had been introduced to Brazil as a cash crop by their colonial motherland Portugal. Slaves, who planted and harvested the sugarcane, were given leftover cane juice from the milling process and let it ferment to produce an alcoholic beverage.Over the years better distilled cachaças were developed and soon people started to drink it on dinner tables in colonial Brazil. Shortly after slavery was banned in 1888, the monarchy was ousted and progressive leaders declared Brazil a modern Republic, national pride began to simmer throughout the country.

By the 1920s, cachaça had become a symbol of Brazilian identity, produced and consumed throughout the nation by diverse ethic and social groups.

At The Golden Lion we recently started serving Agua Luca cachaça. Água Luca is distilled from the fermented juice of high quality, hand-cut sugar cane within 24 hours of harvesting, employing artisanal techniques and traditions which have been refined over 450 years. It is then filtered 12 times to produce a smooth and lively finish. The quality of Água Luca’s sugar cane, when combined with its meticulous production process, imparts a lighter, cleaner taste and aroma than other cachaças or molasses-based rums.

Among its accolades, Água Luca proudly holds the Gold Medal of the 2006 International Cane Spirits Competition and the Silver Medal of the 2005 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Try Agua Luca in a hand made caipirinha at home or at the Golden Lion.

Caipirinha
1 1/2 oz cachaça

1 tbsp whole sugar

Juice of 1 lime

Slice the lime into eighths and drop into a double old-fashioned glass. Add sugar. Using a muddler or bar spoon, smash the lime wedges and sugar together to release the juice into the glass. Leaving the limes in the glass, cover with ice. Pour the cachaça over the ice. Dump the whole drink into a shaker and shake. Pour back into the glass and serve.

Pick Up Lines

Since I get the pleasure of watching pick ups in progress….I enjoy these samples of pick up lines

–Oh, I’m sorry! I thought that was a Braille name tag
— That’s a nice shirt. Can I talk you out of it?
— Hey… I might not be the cutest one here… but I am the only one talking to you.
— You look so hot that you must be real reason for global warming.
— You know – I ain’t this tall. I’m just sitting on my wallet.
— Do you believe in love at first sight… or should I walk by again?
— My face is leaving in 15 minutes. Be on it.
— Do you know what’d look good on you? Me.
— You smell kinda pretty. Wanna smell me?
— I may not be Fred Flintstone but I can make your bed rock

And of course, my favorite current pickup lines (these are actual lines i have heard)

Girl: “I am so drunk”

Guy:”Is my surfboard safe there?” (From a guy that i have never seen with a surfboard)

Girl:”I go to the 500 tomorrow, then I go home to Ohio.”

Just some samples from this weekend. LOL

What A Night!

had a busy night at work tonight because of Daytona 500 traffic! I have to say it was a pleasure working with my crew tonight.

A special shoutout to David Lane, my co-bartender. We rock!!!

Creamed Corn & Vanilla Pudding

After reading David Wondrich’s column in my newest issue of Esquire magazine called $30 Hooch, I couldn’t wait to get out and grab myself a bottle or two of some of these delicious sounding whiskeys he wrote about. For the record his list of the best whiskeys that can be had from between $30 & $35 is as follows

Woodford Reserve ($31.99)
Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year ($29.99)
Bushmills Black Bush ($33.99)
Chivas Regal 12 ($29.99)
Suntory Yamakazi 12 Year Single Malt($34.99)

So here I am sipping the vanilla goodness that is Woodford Reserve. I can assure you That over the next few weeks I will add the others to my home bar. Tonight I also bought a bottle of Knob Creek Bourbon that was on special for $20.99 (Sharp’s Discount Liquors, for the locals that like Knob Creek).

It got me thinking as I tried to find room on my liquor shelves “Tiki, you should inventory your bar”. So I did. Now I am going to bore you with the details.

Enjoy.

Tiki’s Liquor Inventory (in random order)
Italics indicate the item was received as a gift.

SPIRITS

Knob Creek Bourbon ( Kentucky, USA)
Woodford Reserve Bourbon (Kentucky, USA)
Ron Barcelo Imperial Rum (Dominican Republic)
Smirnoff Watermelon Vodka (USA)
Smirnoff Green Apple Vodka (USA)
Cristal Aguardiente (Colombia)
Captain Morgan Spiced Rum (Puerto Rico)
Canadian Club Whiskey (Ontario, Canada)
Jagermeister Herbal Liqueur (Germany)
Ron Bacardi Gold Rum (Puerto Rico)
Kentucky Gentleman Bourbon (Kentucky, USA)
Mr. Boston Triple Sec (Kentucky, USA)
Agavero Tequila Liqueur (Jalisco, Mexico)
Whaler’s Big Island Banana Rum (California, USA)
Whaler’s Great White Rum (California, USA)
Rhum Barbancourt Pango (Haiti)
Dekuyper Island Blue Pucker (Ohio, USA)
Dekuyper Sour Apple Pucker (Ohio, USA)
Sauza Gold Tequila (Mexico)
Absolut Vodka (Sweden)
Rhum Barbancourt 15 Year Reserve (Haiti)
Crown Royal Whisky (Connecticut, USA)
Peach “Brandy” (The hills of Georgia)

WINES

Gallo Dry Vermouth (Italy)
DuBonnet Rouge (France)
Fat Bastard Shiraz, 2002 (France)
Perrier-Jouet Champagne, 1995 (France)
Philippe-Lorraine Merlot, 2000 (California, USA)
Lindeman’s Bin 50 Shiraz, 2006 (Australia)
Buckley’s Chardonnay, 2004 (Australia)
Mouton Cadet White Bourdeaux, 2002 (France)
Mouton Cadet Red Bourdeaux, 2000 (France)
Quinta de S. Francisco 2003 Obidos (Portugal)
Kaesler Stonehorse Shiraz, 2005 (Australia)
Jacob’s Creek Shiraz-Cabernet, 2004 (Australia)
Ravenswood Vintner’s Reserve Shiraz, 2004 (Australia)
Sonoma Creek Cabernet, 1997 (California, USA)
Louis Jadot Baujolias-Villages, 2004 (France)

There you have it! Who wants a drink?!?

Two Guys Walk Into A Bar

Two Guys Walk Into A Bar is a new weekly feature I am writing for Zeus News, the official blog of The Golden Lion Cafe.

The Golden Lion is proud to offer two premium spirits, Agavero® Tequila Liqueur and PAMA® Pomegranate Liqueur. Both are featured in our Valentine’s night drink specials.

Agavero is an ultra-premium spirit that is created from a blend of 100% blue agave añejo and reposado tequilas hand blended with the essence of Damiana flower for unparalleled smoothness and taste.

Agavero is produced at Los Camichines Distillery in the Jalisco region of Mexico where the blue agave plant is grown. This officially designated region includes the state of Jalisco, parts of adjoining states and the town of tequila for which the spirit is named.

The master distiller selects the highest quality 100% blue agave añejo and reposado tequilas that have been separately aged in specially charred, French Limousin oak barrels. The añejo tequila is aged up to eighteen months and the reposado tequila is rested for nearly a year. The tequilas are combined and then hand blended with the essence of Damiana, a flower indigenous to the hot mountains of Jalisco that has been rumored for centuries to stir up the emotions among individuals.

At 64 proof, Agavero can be enjoyed straight, on the rocks or in a number of cocktails. Agavero is imported locally by Crillon Importers.

Try it in a Lovers’ Margarita on Valentine’s Day.

PAMA, the world’s first true pomegranate liqueur, captures the complex sweet, yet tart, taste and seductive color of pomegranates. PAMA is made with all-natural pomegranate juice, premium vodka, and a touch of imported tequila. Bottled at 34 proof PAMA is highly mixable, from the simple-PAMA and champagne-to the sublime, PAMA Mojito.

Try a PAMA Cosmopolitan with your sweetie this Thursday night.

The Recipes

Lovers’ Margarita (For Two)
2 0z Agavero Tequila Liqueur
1.5 oz 1800 Silver Tequila
Fresh Lime Juice
Sour mix taste

Served shaken over light ice in a sugar and salt rimmed coupette.

PAMA Cosmopolitan
1 1/2 oz PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur
3/4 oz Grand Marnier
1/2 of a lime hand pressed
Splash of cranberry juice
Lime Wheel Garnish

Shaken hard with ice. Strained into a chilled cocktail glass.

The Links

www.crillonimporters.com
www.pamaliqueur.com
www.agavero.com
www.1800tequila.com

History Minute: Satchel Paige nominated to Baseball Hall of Fame

February 9, 1971 : Satchel Paige nominated to Baseball Hall of Fame

On this day in 1971, pitcher Leroy “Satchel” Paige becomes the first
Negro League veteran to be nominated for the Baseball Hall of Fame. In
August of that year, Paige, a pitching legend known for his fastball,
showmanship and the longevity of his playing career, which spanned
five decades, was inducted. Joe DiMaggio once called Paige “the best
and fastest pitcher I’ve ever faced.”
Paige was born in Mobile, Alabama, most likely on July 7, 1906,
although the exact date remains a mystery. He earned his nickname,
Satchel, as a boy when he earned money carrying passengers’ bags at
train stations. Baseball was segregated when Paige started playing
baseball professionally in the 1920s, so he spent most of his career
pitching for Negro League teams around the United States. During the
winter season, he pitched for teams in the Caribbean and Central and
South America. As a barnstorming player who traveled thousands of
miles each season and played for whichever team met his asking price,
he pitched an estimated 2,500 games, had 300 shut-outs and 55
no-hitters. In one month in 1935, he reportedly pitched 29 consecutive
games.
In 1947, Jackie Robinson broke baseball’s color barrier and became the
first African American to play in the Major Leagues when he joined the
Brooklyn Dodgers. The following year, Paige also entered the majors,
signing with the Cleveland Indians and becoming, at age 42, baseball’s
oldest rookie. He helped the Indians win the pennant that year and
later played for the St. Louis Browns and Kansas City A’s.
Paige retired from the majors in 1953, but returned in 1965 to pitch
three innings for the Kansas City A’s. He was 59 at the time, making
him the oldest person ever to play in the Major Leagues. In addition
to being famous for his talent and longevity, Paige was also
well-known for his sense of humor and colorful observations on life,
including: “Don’t look back. Something might be gaining on you” and
“Age is a question of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t
matter.”

He died June 8, 1982, in Kansas City, Missouri.

Life and a Can Of Beer

Life and a Can of Beer

When things in your life seem almost to much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar… and the beer.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was. So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was. The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous “yes.” The professor then produced two cans of beer from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

“Now,” said the professor, as the laughter subsided, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things–your family, your children, your health, your friends, your favorite passions–things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

“The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, your car. The sand is everything else–the small stuff. If you put the sand into the jar first,” he continued, “there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house, and fix the disposal.

“Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.”

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the beer represented. The professor smiled. “I’m glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there’s always room for a couple of beers.”

Fat Tuesday Drink Recipe: Rainstorm

Eff the Hurricane, I prefer this myself. Best thing is it’s easier because it is hard to get ahold of passion fruit nectar or juice (required for an authentic hurricane).

So my favorite Mardi Gras drink, the Rainstorm:

1 oz vodka
1/2 oz coconut rum
1/2 oz melon liqueur
1 oz blue curacao
1 oz pineapple juice (or more to balance)
1 oz sour mix (or more to balance)

In a large glass, combine all ingredients EXCEPT the blue curacao. Shake shake shake! Top with the blue curacao, it will drizzle down into the rest of the drink.
Enjoy!