VeeV, a new liqueur made from açaí fruit, is gaining popularity for both its fruity taste and eco-friendliness. Introducing a new liqueur into your cocktail-making repertoire can be a challenge, so here are some general tips and recipes to get you starte

VeeV can be substituted for vodka in any cocktail you currently make at home, especially if you prefer flavored vodka (like raspberry). To make basic cocktails using VeeV, try VeeV and tonic or VeeV and cranberry juice.

If you like to get fancy with your cocktails, you can substitute VeeV for the gin or vodka in a martini or substitute VeeV for the rum in a mojito. If blended frozen cocktails are more your style, mix VeeV, ice, limeade and a splash of lemon in the blender. Garnish with a paper umbrella for an instant vacation feel.

To really impress guests, break out the fresh fruit. The açaí flavor in VeeV mixes well with other berry flavors like blueberry and strawberry, as well as citrus and mint. It also makes a lovely compliment to champagne and club soda.

If you're still feeling a little lost, here are a couple of recipes to get you started:

Rainforest on the Rocks

Muddle eight sprigs of mint (preferably spearmint but peppermint will do) and a lime wedge in a mixing glass. If you've never "muddled" before, that basically means you mash the mint and the lime with a wooden utensil into the bottom of a glass. The purpose of muddling is to release the flavors in the fresh ingredients. After you muddle, add two ounces (a little more than a standard shot) of VeeV and one and a half ounces of watermelon juice. Toss a pinch of sugar and some ice in a cocktail shaker, shake and pour.

Veev Lemonade

Muddle four lemon wedges and four mint sprigs. Shake your fruity mess with ice and two ounces of VeeV in a cocktail shaker. Pour it into a glass with a little club soda on top. (Don't shake the club soda. That's messy.)

VeeV Açaí-tini

Shake two ounces of VeeV, an ounce of açaí juice and a liberal squeeze of fresh lime juice in a cocktail shaker. If you can't find açaí juice at your local supermarket, you can substitute cherry or cranberry juice. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and fill the rest of the glass with champagne. To impress friends, drop a raspberry or two into the glass for garnish.

Sources:
http://www.barnonedrinks.com/drinks/by_ingredient/v/veev-acai-spirit-9097.html
http://www.oodora.com/health-and-food/drinks/drink-for-a-good-cause-veev.html
http://www.novusvinum.com/spirits/veev.html

Written by Esther November

Whether it's the weekend and you want to party or you've had a long stressful day at work, sometimes you desperately need to just wind down and relax. And hitting a bar with friends can really help you not only to relax but to have fun too! But let's face it: San Francisco has a lot of bars to choose from. The problem is that you won't know whether you'll want to avoid a certain bar until you're already there. You won't be disappointed visiting one of these five bars in San Francisco.

Best Bars in San Francisco No. 1: The Knockout

The Knockout is located at 3223 Mission St. in the Bernal Heights neighborhood. They are known for having live DJs throughout the entire week. The Knockout offers a full bar to their patrons with Happy Hour from 5 to 8 p.m. ($1 off every drink). One of the fun aspects of The Knockout is their photo booth. There is nothing like taking a picture of yourself and your friends while you are intoxicated so you'll all have something to laugh at later. You can also play pool or video games while sipping your drink. The Knockout is usually more packed on the weekends, but you'll find many people going for their Thursday Bingo night. For every drink you order on Thursday nights, you get a new bingo card and have the chance to win prizes. Some of the prizes may be cheesy but it's still a lot of fun. The Knockout is open Monday through Sunday 5 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Best Bars in San Francisco No. 2: Lucky 13

Lucky 13 is a great dive bar to go to, especially if you like to think of yourself as a beer connoisseur. They have a wide selection of beers on tap (as well as a full bar). Drinks are affordable with beers starting at $4. There is a patio you can go out on to smoke so you won't have to leave the scene for a smoke break. Lucky 13 has on scene entertainment such as a jukebox, games, a photo booth, pool table and a television. If you get a case of the munchies, they have free popcorn available to bar patrons. Happy Hour runs every day from 4 to 8 p.m. Lucky 13 is located at 2140 Market St. in the Castro neighborhood.

Best Bars in San Francisco No. 3: EZ5

The EZ5 bar is located at 684 Commercial St. in the Financial District area. They have a full bar, Happy Hour drink specials and a DJ. If you're looking for something fun to try, EZ5 Jell-O shots are only a buck. The EZ5 also offers complimentary snacks.

Best Bars in San Francisco No. 4: Wish

Wish is a small intimate bar in the Soma neighborhood located at 1539 Folsom St. Happy Hour is from 5 to 8 p.m. with certain drinks and draft beers only $3. Free popcorn is available for hungry patrons. There is a live DJ, though there isn't really room to dance. If you like a busy scene, go on the weekends when it is packed.

Best Bars in San Francisco No. 5: Tunnel Top

Tunnel Top is a moderately priced bar located at 601 Bush St. in the Union Square neighborhood. Tunnel Top has a DJ and an upstairs dance floor for those who want to get their groove on. The décor is cozy with an alcohol bottle chandelier hanging from the ceiling. Tunnel Top is acash-only bar so make sure you have plenty on hand.

Written by Shannon Wilson

At the end of a busy day in "America's Finest City," which is of course San Diego, evenings spent at the right local bar can be consummate. There are a couple of popular local bars where you can enjoy drinks but a favorite stands out with Epazote's Z Ocean Bar in Del Mar.

Here happy hour is from 3 to 7 p.m. seven days a week. This is a great bar for appetizers and excellent bar drinks. For $5, patrons can select from among five bar drinks including well drinks, a cabernet, a chardonnay, a margarita shaker, several different martinis and five choices of appetizers designated from the bar's menu.

Expect a crowd age 21 and up as Epazote's overlooks the beach where volleyball and other sports go on for hours. The crowd is energetic and the beachfront scenery is amazing. Epazote's takes happy hour to a different level on Tuesday when patrons enjoy happy hour and bar drinks until last call. This is one of the best deals in the area, possibly the country, as it is situated on some of the richest real estate in America. Epazote's Z Ocean Bar in Del Mar is located at 1555 Camino Del Mar. Stop by and you are sure to be impressed.

Written by J. Rica Middlebrooks

If you're looking for the perfect bar for a date in New York City, surprisingly you don't have to look farther than the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which has several bars and is open until 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

The Balcony Bar is open on Fridays and Saturdays from 4 p.m. and serves finger foods as well as beer, wine, liquor and a good assortment of mixed drinks. In addition to traditional cocktails the Balcony Bar offers a number of martini-style drinks. These include both a refreshing apple martini that avoids the cliched and not very good sour apple mix, a pomegranate martini that looks like a cosmopolitan but is considerably more bitter and a blueberry martini made with lillet. Their traditional mojitos are also quite good, although the sangria leaves a lot to be desired. Cocktails run about $10.

The Balcony Bar is a decidedly romantic spot with low lighting and live classical music. What makes it a great choice is that it's as casual or as fancy as you'd like, with patrons showing up in everything from jeans to elegant dresses before a night on the town. It definitely makes a great first stop of the night.

Other bar options at the Metropolitan Museum of Art are the Rooftop Bar and Cafe, which is only open weather permitting. In addition to fruity martinis and finger food, the Rooftop Bar also offers a selection of frozen drinks and is a more appropriate venue for a group of friends than the Balcony Bar, which isn't good for groups both due to space limitations and atmosphere.

Finally, the Petrie Court Cafe and Wine Bar offers a full menu in addition to elegant snack foods and desserts and boasts an extensive wine list both by the glass and the bottle. While mixed drinks are available here, they are not featured, so don't expect anything unique. The bar is open until 10:30 p.m., but the last seating for dinner is at 8:30.

For information on all the drinking and dining options at the museum, visit their Web site.

Written by Racheline Maltese

Home to some of the world's trendiest clubs, upscale bars and lounges, Miami boasts a round-the-clock party scene with plenty of opportunities to sample unique concoctions from professional mixologists. Local bars fill up well before happy hour to toast the day with bar drinks you won't find anywhere on the coast. Be prepared for a lineup of tempting martini recipes, fresh flavor infusions and classic drinks made with a twist of exotic fruit; the latest trends from the local mixology scene include eco-friendly alcohols, organic liquors and specialty beers from around the globe.

Mixologists at local bars in Miami have become cocktail designers extraordinaire with their lineup of exotic bar drinks infused with fresh flavors from the tropics. Head over to venues like Sushi Samba Dromo on Lincoln Road to try the samba dragon, a mango rum, guarana and ginger cocktail that will take you on a brief trip to the far east. Or, try your luck at the M-Bar on Brickell Key Drive to pick out one of hundreds of martinis from this signature martini bar. This place hits the spot with creative cocktails fit for a king (or queen). From the sunrise martini to the chocolate raspberry dessert-like 'tini,' you'll have plenty of ways to experience the best of Biscayne Bay.

If it's a poolside experience you're after, the Bahia at the Four Seasons will give you plenty of reasons to toast to the sunset. The venue serves up exotic mojitos and martinis by the pool after 5 p.m. And when the night calls for a glamorous bar-hop, don't miss the Opium Garden and Prive lounge on your route. The Asian-inspired club and modern lounge feature some of the best bar drinks in the city. Make table reservations for signature mixed drinks, bottles of champagne and liquor brands from around the world.

Local mixology trends in Miami go one step further with eco drinks and green cocktails for a fresh spin on the classics. Make your way to the Rose Bar inside the The Delano hotel where they serve Veev, the first eco-friendly liquor. It is made from the Brazilian açaí berry and rich in antioxidants. Ask for a cosmopolitan - or nearly any other cocktail - to be made with it and you'll be plesantly surprised with the unique flavor you discover.

The Miami Vice cocktail isn't the only drink you'll want to track down at the nearest bar. South Beach is home to dozens of tropical concoctions that make partying in the city an extraordinary experience!

Written by Sabah Karimi