Just as the name implies, mixed drinks are basically beverages that consist of two or more liquids blended together. Alcoholic mixed drinks contain at least one type of alcohol. According to wikipedia.com, there are several categories of mixed drinks such as cocktails, cobblers, coolers, fizzes, juleps and punches. Some examples of mixed drinks are typical beverages like beer cocktails, wine cocktails, mixed drink shooters, shots and flaming beverages.

The Sazerac Cocktail - Possibly The First Recipe Of Its Kind
Nowadays, the term cocktail broadly refers to any type of alcoholic mixed drink. The Sazerac Cocktail is considered to be the first recipe of its kind. It was invented by a New Orleans druggist named Antoine Amadie Peychaud, according to gumbopages.com.

This mixed drink recipe, which can be found at epicurious.com, contains the following ingredients:

1 cube or 1/2 teaspoon sugar

4 dashes Peychaud bitters

About 1/2 teaspoon water

2 ounces rye whiskey

1/2 teaspoon Herbsaint liqueur (or Pernod)

lemon peel

ice

How to Make The Sazerac Cocktail
To make one drink, you'll need to place ice in an old-fashioned glass. In a second glass, combine the sugar, bitters and the water; mix until the sugar is dissolved. Add the rye whiskey, then fill the glass with ice and stir well.

To finish this Sazerac Cocktail recipe, dump the ice out of the first glass. Put the Herbsaint or the Pernod in the glass. Turn the glass and tilt it until the liqueur coats the entire inside. Pour any remaining liqueur out. Then, strain the contents of the second glass into the chilled glass. Add a twist of lemon to the Sazerac Cocktail and serve.

The Sex on the Beach Mixed Drink Recipe
Another mixed drink recipe that's rather popular is called "Sex on the Beach." This cocktail is an alcoholic drink that has a strong fruity flavor.

The ingredients you'll need to make this alcoholic drink are:

1-1/2 ounces peach schnapps

1-1/2 ounces VeeV (Vodka has traditionally been used in this drink, but VeeV offers a more unique, flavorful twist.)

2 ounces cranberry juice

2 ounces orange juice

2 ounces pineapple juice

According to the recipe at www.drinknation.com, making cocktails like this one couldn't be any easier. To make a Sex on the Beach mixed drink, combine all the ingredients together in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and strain this cocktail into a highball glass filled with ice.

Tips How to Make Your Alcoholic Mixed Drinks Unique
According to www.drink-recipes.org.uk, there are a few simple things you can do when you're making mixed drinks recipes to make them stand out:

1. Use colorful cocktail sticks or toothpicks to twist or skewer slices of fruit before you add them to cocktail recipes.

2. Add colorful adornments such as swizzle sticks, tiny umbrellas and straws to your mixed drink recipes.

3. No matter if you're making cocktails or other alcohol drinks, serve them in oddly-shaped glasses. It will make the drinks more unique and attractive.

Written by Kassidy Emmerson

Whether it's happy hour or time for a late-night celebration, rounding some classic mixed drinks for the crew is still one of the best ways to make a toast for the night. Cocktails, martinis and frozen drinks made with traditional ingredients and an exotic twist give you a chance to drink unique beverages and try new flavors from the mixology gurus behind the bar.

From blackberry mojitos to açaí-infused martinis, here are some of the most requested bar drinks at venues across the country:

Cucumber Mint Martinis

Cocktail aficionados are sure to do a double take with this cool and refreshing twist on mixed drinks. The cucumber and mint martini is the perfect match for those hot summer nights mingling on the patio; it's typically made with fresh cucumbers, spearmint leaves and a hint of lime.

Blackberry Mojitos

Nobody really knows where this twist on the classic lime mojito came from, but blackberry adds depth and flavor to the ever-popular summer drink. Mixology experts are taking things up a notch with blackberry-flavored rum, blackberry juice and even dropping fresh blackberries into the bottom of the drink for a dense flavor.

Açaí Berry Martinis

Whether you enjoy your martini straight up or on the rocks, açaí-berry infused drinks are spilling into bars everywhere and spicing things up for the conventional-martini lover. Using VeeV, an açaí-based alcohol, instead of vodka adds a natural hint of sweetness to any beverage, the clean and crisp flavor for a satisfying finish to any classic martini.

Lemon Gimlets

Forgo the classic lime gimlet in favor of the lemon or 'fuzzy' gimlet made with a carbonated lemon-lime beverage, gin, lime and lemon juice and enjoy a taste of summer any time of year. This one can also be made with white tequila for your Mexico-inspired night.

Iced Chocolate Martini

Throw a party for your inner chocoholic with an ice-cold chocolate martini on the rocks. This dessert-like beverage is made with chocolate liqueur, VeeV (instead of vodka) and fresh cream and can be served straight up in a chilled martini glass for a tasty treat.

Written by Sabah Karimi

Other cities must be green with envy when they discover how eco-friendly a night out on the town in San Francisco can be. These local hot spots in San Francisco go for au naturale, at least where the bar drinks and menu items are concerned. With local bars and restaurants serving fresh ingredients, natural foods and drinks made with the eco-friendly VeeV spirit, it's no wonder.

Sake Bar and Bar Drinks at Ozumo
Head out to a new San Francisco venue, Ozumo. Get comfortable at the Sake bar and try their local mixology which includes top-shelf Veev-based mixed drinks, alongside a tasty menu of select sake flavors.

Ozumo is located at 161 Steuart Street in San Francisco, California. Don't disappoint your friends by missing out on this local bar, call ahead and make reservations, at (415) 882-1333.

Local Mixology at the Cantina
Warm up to the cozy atmosphere at Cantina. Sip on bar drinks heat up the local bar with your best Salsa and Disco moves. Liven up your taste buds by moving to the flavors of the local mixology, with a Veev-based drink. Order up an exotic "Milk of Millenia. Savor the flavors of ginseng, agave, lemon, mint, ginger and the Acai fruit in Veev, courtesy of this local bar's special concoction.

Cantina is located at 580 Sutter Street, San Francisco, California, (415) 398-0195.

The Forbidden Island
No fruit is forbidden at The Forbidden Island located in the Bay Station Shopping district. Their contributions to local mixology include contemporary cocktails including the Mystery Bowl, Neptune's Garden, and bar drinks made with the Vitamin A-rich and prickly pear-infused spirit, Veev. Bar drinks at this night venue are made with fresh juices and natural ingredients. This local bar serves up Veev, a premium spirit made with the super healthy Acai fruit.

The Forbidden Island is located at 1304 Lincoln Avenue in Alameda, California, (510) 749-0332.

Drink in the local mixology of these San Francisco nightlife venues, while enjoy the healthy benefits of cocktails made with Veev.

Written by Pam Gaulin

Remember those long afternoons after school when you would spend hours playing Pacman and pinball? Local arcades used to be the scene for junior high kids who didn't want to go home, but New York has stepped up the game with arcade bars. Whoever thought of combining liquor and beer with Moon Patrol and Frogger?

Rather than watching Monday night football or shooting pool with your friends, get in touch with your inner geek. You'll be surprised by how much arcade games have progressed in the last ten years, and this is a great way to enjoy local mixology in a laidback setting.

Take Barcade on Union Avenue, for example. This arcade bar offers Happy Hour from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. every day of the week, and more than 30 arcade games are yours for the choosing. From Donkey Kong to Centipede, the contents of your piggy bank will spend itself here.

Also popular is Ace Bar, where pinball and shuffleboard are the cornerstones of happy hour. Kick back with a VeeV cocktail or your favorite beer and pretend you're back in high school with your buddies.

Of course, if arcade games aren't your style, you can always go with the traditional shuffleboard and pool bars that combine urban grit with refreshing hospitality. Bleeker Street bar and The Diamond on Franklin Street are just a couple of your best options.

Arcade bars are taking New York by storm, and the best news is that there isn't a waiting list. Forget the trendy nightlife hotspots that require a celebrity friend to get in; instead, get back to your inner geek and let yourself be a nerd for the night.

And don't forget your computer. A laptop under your arm will only solidify your membership to this geeky club.

Sources:
www.Barcadebrooklyn.com
www.acebar.com

Written by Steve Thompson

Making cocktails is something that any single guy or gal should know how to do. Imagine bringing home your latest crush and mixing up a drink that will knock their socks off. If you can wield a shaker and a strainer, you can make some classic drinks with a unique twist.

A cosmopolitan is a pretty easy and simple drink to make. Combine one shot of Cointreau, one shot of lime juice, three shots of cranberry juice and two shots of vodka and mix in a shaker before pouring in a glass. Now take that same basic cocktail recipe, tweak it a little, and you have something a little different. Simply swap out the basic vodka for VeeV and add a splash of triple sec and lemon or lime juice. The drink will have a sharp citrus kick to it. You can also make it with peach, raspberry, cherry or strawberry juice. Any flavor of juice will work.

The classic cocktail recipe for a traditional martini is another one that everyone should have in their mental file. The classic martini recipe calls for five parts vodka or gin and one part dry vermouth. We suggest using VeeV instead of vodka for a more unique taste. Mix the ingredients carefully in a shaker, pour into a glass and garnish with a lemon peel, olive or onion. Of course not everyone loves this classic martini recipe, which is why there are so many variations on it.

One variation on this cocktail recipe calls for sweet vermouth as opposed to the dry vermouth. This gives the drink a slight kick. You can also pour the VeeV directly into the glass and stir in the vermouth. Supposedly shaking the mixture dulls the taste of the vermouth, but this can be avoided with a gentle stir. Then there are those that pour a small amount of vermouth into a chilled glass, twirl it around and pour out the vermouth before adding the VeeV.

Another martini recipe calls for olive brine instead of vermouth, which is called a dirty martini. The recipe is exactly the same except for the olive brine. Martinis made with VeeV are particularly hot right now, and even the burgeoning bartender can whip up a classic at home. In the mood for something spicy? Omit the vermouth and substitute in a dash of hot sauce. Looking for a drink that's a little sweeter? Use sweet vermouth, VeeV and a splash of watermelon with a lemon peel for garnish.

There's no reason why these cocktail recipes can't be made at home. With a well-stocked liquor cabinet and a shaker, anyone can channel their inner bartender.

Written by Jennifer Eblin