If you believe the experts, whoever they might be, vodka is supposed to be one of the most popular hard drinks in the world. Up until recently, the various types of flavored and straight vodka beverages could make the claim that they are the premier mixer of choice in a variety of staple drinks.

Red bull, the college student's staple drink, mixes reasonably well with vodka; and who could imagine a cosmopolitan, vodka martini, assorted bar drinks such as the screwdriver, cocktail recipes, Jell-O vodka shots and other vodka drinks without, well, vodka?

Apparently the folks from VeeV are not buying into the old-world hype of easy vodka mixes, and they have come out in defense of those discerning bar and club patrons thus far condemned to the same old, distilled liquid made from fermented rye, wheat, beet molasses or potatoes. Instead, VeeV offers something so new and unique that it could not help but take the sophisticated centers of the hip and trendy by storm.

Already patrons in Los Angeles, New York and Boston are asking for VeeV by name, and why not? Consider the following: vodka is made from fermented potatoes; VeeV is made from the açaí berry, a fruit considered to be a super food contender! Heart healthy, loaded with antioxidants and from the famed Brazilian rainforest, the açaí berry beats fermented potatoes hands down.

The profits of different types of vodka go into the pockets of big business, but VeeV donates $1 per bottle sold to protect the Brazilian Amazon rainforest and to ensure that the açaí berries are not over harvested. Ecologically sound, environmentally responsible and healthy to boot, once again VeeV sends the various types and brands of vodka packing.

Last but not least, the buzz on the healthy qualities of the açaí berry aside -- and never minding the fact that VeeV contains organic ingredients -- consider that it is a bona fide replacement ingredient in easy and complex vodka drinks. Replace the vodka in your favorite cocktail recipes, martinis, cosmopolitans or screwdrivers and live a little!

With the arrival of an ecologically sound drink containing one of the world's super foods, the end of vodka draws near.

Written by Sylvia Cochran

If you're looking for variations on classic cocktail recipes, you won't have to look far to find them. In recent years, many old-fashioned mixed drinks have been reinvented into beverages that are fresh and new. Also, the introduction of new alcoholic drinks into the market has revolutionized the way that we approach our evening cocktails. VeeV, made from the antioxidant-rich Brazilian açaí berry, is the ultimate replacement for boring and bland beverages such as vodka and gin. After tasting this exotic spirit, with its hints of prickly pear cactus and acerola cherry, you'll be hooked. VeeV is also the best choice for drinkers who are interested in protecting the environment, since it is the only spirit in the world that has been certified as carbon neutral.

If you're not fond of the high bills associated with drinking in bars, then making cocktails at home is the way to go. The recipes which are available in cookbooks and on the web are endless. You can come up with your own cocktail recipes simply by using existing recipes as a basis. Just add an ounce of daring and a dash of ingenuity, and you're sure to create a winner. Here are just a few to get you started.

How to Make a Martini

The classic martini recipe contains about three ounces of gin, a half ounce of dry vermouth and a green olive or twist of lemon. Variations on this recipe include the Gibson, which is made with two cocktail onions instead of the olive, and the Gimlet, which incorporates a bit of lime cordial. More recent variations include the Appletini, which includes apple liqueur, and the chocolate martini, which may contain a combination of chocolate liqueurs and chocolate syrup.

The Cosmopolitan

Traditionally made from vodka and triple sec, along with lime and cranberry juice, the Cosmopolitan is another mixed drink that can easily be altered to suit the drinker's tastes. Replacing the vodka with VeeV will help to enhance the fruity flavor of this popular beverage. Use sweetened lime juice or cranberry juice for a tastier combination. One cosmopolitan recipe uses blood orange to enhance the orange flavor of the triple sec. The Cosmobellini includes white peach puree and Prosecco sparkling wine for added flavor and sweetness.

Long Island Iced Tea

Here's another alcoholic drink that has many possible variations. To create a healthier and tastier version of this classic drink, replace the vodka with one part VeeV, and add equal parts gin, rum, tequila and triple sec. Instead of sour mix, add fresh squeezed lemon or lime juice. Replace the cola with a splash of strong, brewed tea with a hint of citrus flavor.

The Bloody Mary

This classic drink is famous for its versatility. Try making a vegetarian, vitamin-enriched Bloody Mary cocktail by mixing three ounces of V8 Juice, one and a half ounces VeeV, one tablespoon fresh squeezed lemon juice, a dash of soy sauce along with a small amount of salt, pepper and hot sauce. Make a spicy Bloody Mary by adding horseradish, chili powder and cumin. You could make this drink milder by cutting back on the spices. Or you could make it a Five-Alarm Mary by ramping up the pepper sauce to maximum proportions. Whatever your preferences, there's a recipe that will please your palate.

Written by Jennifer Claerr

Sources:

Sean Paajenen, "Long Island Iced Tea." About.com

Colleen Graham, "Bloody Mary." About.com

Colleen Graham, "Cosmopolitan." About.com

"Cosmobellini Recipe." Drinksmixer.com

Cosmopolitan, manhattan, martini... you'll hear these names frivolously thrown around any upscale bar or club.

Intoday's world, we aren't as frivolous with our clothes, our food or our cleaning products. The world is becoming eco-conscious, and consumers are searching for eco-friendly products to help them go green. Why stop when you order a drink at the bar? Eco-friendly cocktails are the newest trend for the environmentally conscious consumer.

Organic Beer and Wine
MSNBC recently reported on this growing trend in the United States and commented that organic beer and wine are the first eco-friendly alcoholic drinks that many consumers encounter. For a beer or wine to be classified as organic, like Peak Organic Beer and products from The Organic Wine Company, the beverages need to meet the standards set by the USDA's National Organic Program. By doing so, they can be considered organic, and consumers can be sure they are helping the environment with their beer or wine choice.

Organic Juice, Fruit and Vegetables
If you can't go without your favorite alcoholic cocktail at a party, consider adding to it with organic fruit and vegetables. Making a mimosa? Be sure to add Tropicana's organic orange juice. If you want a martini, add a Rawganique organic olive to your drink. Even if the alcohol itself isn't eco-friendly, there's no reason not to spice it up with a green mixer or garnish. Many cocktails have started adding organic tea as a mixer. What will they think of next?

Green Business Habits
Another way to go green with your cocktail choice is to select beverages whose companies have environmentally friendly practices. The açaí berries used in VeeV, for example, are not only harvested from sustainable forests, but the company donates $1 for every bottle purchased back to the Brazilian rainforest. Seek out companies like VeeV, who make the word "eco-conscious" part of their business practice.

Eco-friendly cocktails are the newest trend for the environmentally conscious consumer. From organic beer, wine, mixers and garnishes to companies that make going green part of their business plan, selecting eco-friendly drinks is a lifestyle change you won't have to suffer through. The options for green cocktails are limitless if you open up your mind when ordering at the bar.

Sources:

MSNBC; Organic Booze Becomes Cocktail Trend at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25098479/

Peak Organic Beer at http://www.peakbrewing.com/

Organic Wine Company at http://www.theorganicwinecompany.com/

Rawganique at http://www.rawganique.com/Food-raw-organic-olives.htm

SmartsCo at http://www.smartsco.com/content/view/108/66/

Veev at http://www.veevlife.com/

Written by Kelly Herdrich

Going green gets even better when cocktail parties and special toasts are enhanced with some eco-friendly drinks; isn't it high time you enjoyed some cocktails with a conscience?

When you've made a commitment to live life on the greener side, it's easier than you think to mix up a lineup of green drinks that wow the crowds and the planet. Eco-friendly beverages can include açaí berry martinis, fresh fruit mojitos and cucumber cocktails made with a planet-friendly alcohol for the base.

Using fresh fruit and organic juice as a flavoring and then garnishing the cocktail with wedges of lime or lemon is all you need to put together a few eco drinks that support your green living habits.

A few eco drink recipes to try this season:

Açaí Berry Martinis
The Brazilian açaí berry has been deemed one of the world's superfoods and is chock full of heart-healthy compounds. Using Veev, an alcohol made with the açaí berry, will enhance the flavor of any martini, and it will be beautiful when garnished with fresh berries. Try this one straight up for a 'healthy-tini' that is sure to become a crowd favorite.

Cucumber Spritzers
Cucumber adds a crisp and cool flavor to drinks on the rocks, and a spritzer made with a few slices of fresh cucmber and lime delivers an invigorating surprise. Fresh cucumber-infused cocktails are leading the eco drinks menus at dozens of bars and restaurants across the country.

Berry Mojitos
From blackberries to strawberries, the classic mojito goes green with fresh fruit infusions - and it will have you convinced you're sipping on a tasty fruit punch. Just add a sprig or two of fresh mint and sugar to the bottom of the glass, then load up on fruit for an intense tropical flavor.

Pomegranate Veev Cosmopolitan
Pomegranate goes mainstream with the Veev cosmopolitan, the perfect way to kick off a night of revelry. Fresh pomegranate juice can be mixed with Veev and the cosmo is finished off with a wedge of lime or a handful of fresh berries.

Passion Fruit Punch
If the night calls for entertaining a large crowd, an eco-friendly punch is sure to impress even the most discerning cocktail critic. Mix together fresh passion fruit juice, rum, organic strawberries, pineapple and oranges for a tasty addition to the drinks table.

Written by Sabah Karimi