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

A call drink is a mixed bar drink that specifies the brand of liquor you want in the glass. You might say, for example, that you want a Bacardi and coke rather than letting the bartender choose which type of rum you prefer. You could even get more specific and say you want a Bacardi 151 and coke.

The benefit of ordering call drinks is that you always know the quality of the liquor you'll be drinking. When you leave it up to the bartender, you might receive a drink made from the lowest-quality liquor in the bar, or you might wind up overpaying for an expensive drink you can't afford. Since prices are based on the ingredients in each drink, it pays to be specific.

The ordering of call drinks has become more popular in recent years because there are far more options available at your local bar. Many patrons, for example, have begun requesting Veev in their mixed drinks instead of more common options.

Furthermore, when you order call drinks, you immediately identify yourself as a connoisseur. The bartender and all nearby patrons will assume you know what you're talking about, and suddenly those around you will be asking for recommendations. This elevates your status at the bar and might even score you a date.

When ordering call drinks, you should always give the brand of liquor first, followed by the mixer. In other words, you should say you want a Tanqueray and tonic rather than a tonic and Tanqueray. Alternatively, you can give the bartender the name of the mixer, then name two or three brands of liquor you appreciate.

It is important to note that call drinks are usually more expensive than well drinks. When you order rum and coke, for example, the bartender is going to serve you Coca-Cola with the well brand of rum, which is usually much lower quality than any of their call brands. Therefore, you shouldn't order call drinks unless you can afford them on your tab.

Written by Steve Thompson

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

However, if you aren't willing to try a little variety in your drinking habits, you'll be missing out on some great opportunities, not to mention great taste. VeeV is one of the most popular drinks right now, both as a shooter and as a prime ingredient in favorite cocktails.

First, the hangover potential with VeeV is minimal compared to other liquor choices. When you decide to spend a night throwing back drinks with your friends, you won't have to worry about whether or not you've stocked up on aspirin and orange juice. Furthermore, VeeV is considered a "green" drink, which means that its production is intended to promote environmental causes.

VeeV is made with a particularly interesting fruit, called açaí, which is native to Brazil and chocked full of helpful antioxidants. Rather than letting the negative effects of alcohol build in your system, the açaí fruit helps to sluice those toxins out of your body.

The makers of VeeV have also pledged to donate $1 from the sale of every bottle to the Sustainable Açaí Project, which is a nonprofit organization dedicated to farming and preserving the rain forest. This obviously strikes a chord with those who are concerned about the environment and wish to contribute to its preservation.

Unfortunately, it might be difficult to find VeeV in your local bar, as the distribution has thus far been very exclusive. However, if you continue to request it as a replacement for some of the more traditional liquor, you might find a nice surprise in your friendly, neighborhood bar.

This might also be a great time to start experimenting with VeeV recipes. You won't want to be behind the times once VeeV becomes a national, alcoholic-drink staple, and you might as well have fun with it. To learn more about VeeV, visit the official website.

Written by Steve Thompson

Sharing adult beverages with your friends is a great way to spend an evening together and have an overall great time. While there are numerous drink combinations available, there are also many eco-friendly drinks that can provide you with great tasting beverages that are friendly to the environment.

There are many eco-friendly drinks available to purchase and even make. Some of the most popular eco-friendly drink choices include organic wine and beer. Organically developed beverages have been produced with the highest green standards, thus their production is not harmful to the environment. VeeV is another eco-friendly alcoholic beverage. Made from the Brazilian açaí berry, it can be swapped for vodka in any cocktail. VeeV is the industry's first certified carbon-neutral company, and it donates $1 per bottle to the Brazilian rainforest.

The importance of choosing eco-friendly drinks, or green drinks, does not only help your body, by not consuming various chemicals and toxins, but also the environment greatly benefits from these green drinks. Choosing to purchase eco-friendly drinks means the overall production of greenhouse gases due to fuel-intensive transporting, such as through trucks and airplanes, is dramatically reduced.

Many major metropolitan cities have bars and other establishments that serve eco-friendly drinks. An example of such places is the Butterfly Social Club and the Funky Buddha Lounge, both located in Chicago, Illinois. These establishments are aiding the cause of green living, which are having a major impact on both local and worldwide green levels.

Eco-friendly drinks are not only becoming more popular among the mainstream, but they offer the everyday individual an opportunity to help the environment one drink at a time. While adult beverages are a mainstay in our society, consuming eco-friendly drinks will ensure our world will be around long enough for future generations to enjoy this social tradition.

Sources:

http://www.greenyour.com/home/kitchen-cooking/cooking/tips/serve-eco-friendly-food

http://chicago.metromix.com/bars-and-clubs/article/eco-lixirs/168268/content

Written by Jonathan McLelland

R.I.P. Here lies Vodka, born in a common still in the European vodka belt sometime in the middle ages, died on the rocks in a nondescript cosmopolitan lounge at the start of the 21st century.

The body isn't yet in the grave, but the stone cutter and grave digger are standing by.

It's been a long time since straight vodka (or vodka drunk "neat," as they say in Scandinavia and Eastern Europe) has been considered anything short of yawn-worthy. Determined to postpone its inevitable demise, vodka quietly spirited itself into a variety of trendy liquids in a desperate bid to cast itself as an essential ingredient for the nouveau social drinking experience. In its travels, vodka struggled to identify itself as cosmopolitan, pairing up with ingredients far from its pedestrian Eastern European origins.

But instead of reinvigorating its reputation, vodka became a laughingstock. Vodka's first effort to bolster its flagging reputation saw it latching onto poor Red Bull, the Austrian energy drink. Rejected by Red Bull, which packs a punch by itself and has no need for an albatross like vodka dimming its effects, vodka's desperation took a ludicrous turn. Knowing that it would never again bask in those glory days of vodka shots, vodka tonics and the staple martini, vodka scurried off to Vermont for infusions of (oh, please try to be sensitive and not laugh too hard) - cow's milk and maple syrup. Even vodka could see that the result was lame.

When competitor Brazilian VeeV hit the markets, poor, befuddled vodka simultaneously grasped at faint marriage prospects with South American guarana and Asian ginseng but was soundly rebuffed. VeeV, açaí fruit-derived liquor with acerola cherry and prickly pear accents, not only outdid vodka drinks in the taste and sophistication categories, it lured in remaining vodka loyalists with its eco-friendly aura. With VeeV boasting 57-percent more antioxidants than popular pomegranate and 30-percent more cardiac-protective anthocyanins than red wine, vodka seemed to accept its looming diagnosis and crept away toward oblivion.

VeeV cheerfully filled the glasses once reserved for vodka and innovations sprung forth. From simple pairings with lime and club soda to intertwining with cucumber, basil, mint and tea rose fusion, newcomer VeeV's versatility fed the perception that VeeV is destined to become even more ubiquitous than vodka once was.

And what of those whispered rumors of a last-ditch vodka comeback? No, folks aren't drinking vodka again.

Wine X Magazine reported in its current issue that some young Irish and Brits have resorted to snorting pure vodka through straws. Its VeeV folks are drinking. Vodka is destined to spend its final days in the dank, dark nasal passages of retrograde British Isles bar-goers.

Written by Carol Bengle Gilbert

Namely, international spies. "Vodka martini. Shaken, not stirred." Why shaken and not stirred? I suppose that stipulation was to make James Bond, who travels around wearing a tux, look very cool. Bond knows what he wants, even if the drink is just a mixture of vodka and vermouth, shaken with ice and served up with an olive. Kind of lame when you think of it that way.

Alright, I have to admit that vodka does go well in a screwdriver, a drink first invented, it is said, by Texas oil workers. It consists of vodka and orange juice, stirred up, but not necessarily with a screwdriver. But you can easily swap the vodka for something better, like VeeV. This spirit is made with the açaí berry, which grows in the rainforest of Brazil. For every bottle of VeeV sold, $1 is donated to the Brazilian Rainforest. Açaí berries offer a wealth of health benefits. They are rich in antioxidants and heart-healthy anthocyanins. When you drink a cocktail make with VeeV - instead of vodka - you are doing a service to your own health as well as that of our planet.

What better drink to recline with, whether you're on the beach, the deck of a cruise ship or even your own porch? Can vodka provide the same pleasure? I think not.

Written by Mark Whittington

Little did the Shecky's reporters know that they would discover VeeV.

What is VeeV? It's an alternative to vodka in mixed drinks. It comes from açaíberries grown in the Brazilian rainforest.

Is that a typo for the second "V" to be a capitalized in "VeeV"? No. In fact, the way that VeeV is catching on in New York City, we might end up with "NeW YorK CitY"!

Well, it was a tough job, but someone had to do it. The reporters from Shecky's said they sampled "more than 100 of the finest liquids in a three-hour span." But in the process of drinking their way through NYC, they made a VeeV discovery that no doubt helped them avoid the effects of a hangover.

The Shecky's team from New York City said, "What's new and trendy? How about VeeV, the world's first spirit made fromaçaí, which has more antioxidants than pomegranate - it tastes like grape juice, which isn't necessarily a bad thing."

Not a bad thing at all. Not a bad thing indeed. Here's a VeeV cocktail recipe that is among those that are becoming popular in New York City:

VeeV Eco Lemonade

Ingredients:

four lemon wedges

four sprigs of mint

two ounces of VeeV açaí spirit

club soda

Instructions: Muddle four lemon wedges and four mint sprigs in a mixing glass. Add VeeV and ice in a cocktail shaker and shake. Pour into a glass, top with club soda and garnish with fresh mint.

Written by Michael Thompson

You see it in the new, hot restaurants and bars calling Chicago home. Many present dishes and drinks that are a product of culinary fusions to create something new and exciting. Menus like this make you think twice about what you eat and reawaken your sense of taste after it has already adapted to what it knows.

Like restaurants, the local bars and their bartenders in Chicago are finding a way to maintain what is integral to the art of bartending while still mixing conventional drinks. Local mixology has made it possible for even the most common bar drinks to take on a new spin when liquors like VeeV are introduced.

If you haven't already tried it, VeeV is more than a trendy liquor - it is the first spirit to use açaí berries, a fruit common to Brazil and considered one of the healthiest foods in the world. VeeV has also found its way into several local bars in Chicago that are not new to mixing things up.

In fact, a couple standout drinks from local bars have captured Chicago's worldly flare and proven that Chicago mixologists are at the head of the class. Here are two recipes that use VeeV to create something that will set off every taste bud long after sliding down your throat.

Summer Samba

By Todd Appel of Crimson Lounge, Chicago

1.5 oz. VeeV, 2 oz. passion fruit juice, ½ oz. fresh lime juice, ¼ oz. simple syrup

Mix all ingredients in a glass with ice, shake well and serve on the rocks. Garnish with a seasonal fruit of choice.

Jussara de Melon

By DJ Love of The Drawing Room, Chicago

1.5 oz. VeeV, 1.5 oz. watermelon juice, ¾ oz. lime juice, ½ oz. agave nectar, ¾ oz. egg white

Mix all ingredients in a shaker with ice, shake, double strain into a martini glass and garnish with a watermelon slice.

Written by Sophia Sanchez

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

worries! Tropical mixed drinks are an excellent way to get the feel of a tropical beach without having to spend a few grand to make it happen.

A couple tiki torches, a package of paper umbrellas, a lounge chair or two added to the ingredients needed to make these tropical drink recipes at your home bar.

Tropical mixed drinks often include juice, fruit garnishes, amaretto, coconut, rum and lots of ice.

Nutty Colada

This tropical mixed drink is best served in a Collins glass with a funky straw and is sure to soothe your blues away. Combine three ounces of amaretto almond liqueur with three tablespoons of coconut milk. Then crush about three tablespoons of pineapple and blend everything together until smooth.

Tropical Breeze

The pinnacle of tropical mixed drinks, a "Tropical Breeze" should be served in a clear highball glass to show off its colors. Combine one shot of Bacardi, one shot of Curacao and one shot of coconut rum with two ounces of lime juice and three ounces of orange juice. Pour the mixture over a healthy dose of ice and stir with a straw. Voila! You have a tropical breeze, regardless of where you live.

Hawaiian King

You can have this drink even if you live in Alaska, and you'll feel like you've just been crowned on the beautiful beaches of Oahu. This is perfect for the drinking enthusiast who prefers to throw 'em back rather than sip. Simply drop half a shot of Crown Royal in a shot glass and follow with half a shot of pineapple liqueur.

Wave Rider

For the classier mixed drink occasion, the Wave Rider is served in a cocktail glass with your favorite fruit garnish. Simply combine two shots of Captain Morgan's Parrot Bay with two ounces of grapefruit juice and two ounces of pineapple juice. Pour over crushed ice in a cocktail glass and add a couple tablespoons of cranberry juice for good measure.

These tropical mixed drinks are all well and good, but I encourage you to experiment with your favorite alcohol. Mixed drinks are always more fun when you have concocted them yourself, and tropical beverages are as much about the garnishes and color as they are about taste!

My only advice: Make new tropical drink concoctions in small quantities first. If you try it and love it, invite your friends.

Written by Steve Thompson

Many people have grown tired of classic cocktails. The good news is that people invent interesting new variations onthese drinks every day.

Many classic cocktail recipes use grenadine, which is pomegranate-flavored syrup. For a variation on the flavor of these cocktails, you can use raspberry syrup. The color of the drink will remain almost the same, but the taste will be slightly different.

Lemon juice, lime juice, orange juice and pineapple juice can usually be interchanged in most cocktail recipes to create a new flavor. You can also add one of these to a lot of cocktails.

Adding fresh, frozen or canned fruit to mixed drinks is an interesting way to change up the mixed drink. In some cases, you can use frozen fruit instead of ice when mixing the drink.

If you are looking for a fruity drink, try adding half a cup of frozen strawberries and one ounce clof pineapple juice to a tequila sunrise. This a good drink enjoy on a warm summer day or when you are relaxing in the evening.

Some of the variations that I know of for a cosmopolitan are adding a quarter cup of canned pineapple to the mix. You can chill these in the refrigerator before you add them. You can try adding eight to ten frozen white grapes to the mix instead of adding pineapple. The frozen grapes add a different texture to the drink. Around the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, try adding half a cup of cranberries or 2 ounces of cranberry juice to the cocktail to make it more festive.

As for the spicy drinks, such as the bloody mary, you can change the taste of these by adding flavored tomato juice instead of plain tomato juice. For example, you can use Spicy Hot V8 to add more heat to the drink. You can also try adding Cholula instead of Tabasco for an interesting flavor.

Basically, you just have to try different ingredients added into the basic recipe of your choice. If you are willing to try some unique suggestions at least once, you will be well on your way to discovering your own unique ideas for your cocktails.

Written by Casey L. Holley

VeeV

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

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

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

I was a bartender many years ago at a place in Cambridge, Mass., called The Swiss Alps, though it's no longer there. This was a bit before the frozen drink came into vogue. Certainly there were some favorites back then that are still as popular as ever. Let's take a look.

Cosmopolitans are very popular, especially after the attention they received in the television show "Sex and the City." There are many ways to make a cosmo, but traditionally they are made with vodka and cointreau with a fruit juice. Bartenders often make them with cranberry, lemon or lime juice. For a unique fruity twist, skip the vodka and instead use Veev, which is made from açaí, an antioxidant-rich berry from Brazil.

In August 2007, the United States Senate declared that September be recognized as National Bourbon Heritage Month. While this may not have much impact on the average consumer, it is an honor for the craftsmen in the bourbon industry, as it highlights the important role that bourbon has played in this country's history. The old fashioned is a classic bourbon whiskey drink that I used to serve frequently. As the name suggests, it is quite historical; it has been served since the 1800s. The old fashioned has a lot of tastes mixed together and several variations of it have developed over the years. I made it simply. Some bartenders just add sugar to the alcohol but the sugar should be melted in water first. We were a busy bar so I used syrup, which was a pre-made mix of sugar and water. I added bitters to the bourbon whiskey, a little water and either a cherry or an orange slice depending on what the kitchen had for me.

The last two drinks are my personal favorites. The sombrero and either white or black Russians are often ordered without people knowing the names. The alcohol can be coffee brandy, which is distilled from coffee beans, or coffee liqueurs. Using coffee liqueurs, which in my experience is the more common way to have a sombrero, is perfect for an after-dinner drink because of their sweetness. They are also wonderful alone. I prefer the coffee liqueur Kahlua. If you order a sombrero you'll get the least expensive coffee liqueur. Pay the extra amount for Kahlua. Another tip is how to drink this. You may ask for Kahlua and cream, which is delicious. For an even more delicious taste ask that it be shaken and you'll have some foam on top. If you put coffee brandy or liqueur together with vodka you'll get a black Russian, though I suggest replacing the vodka with Veev for a truly unique beverage. If you add cream to this you'll get a white Russian.

If you've been to a resort or on a cruise you know that frozen drinks are a hit. I mentioned these two venues because frozen drinks and warm weather go together very well. The piña colada, which means pineapple (piña) and strained (colada) in Spanish, is made by mixing pineapple juice with coconut cream and rum, then blending it all with ice to make it a frozen beverage.

If you want something frozen with whipped cream on the top but perhaps not with the telltale color of the original piña colada (other flavors have come to be) you might want to go with a frozen daiquiri, which combines rum, triple sec, lime juice, sugar and ice. You can find flavored daiquiris just like you can with the piña colada.

Another favorite is the frozen margarita. You'll get a very different taste with the tequila and orange flavored liqueur that are the hallmarks of this drink. If you have the willpower and want a frozen drink that doesn't look too adorned, skip the whip cream!

Finally a very special drink to serve for special occasions, such as with dessert for Thanksgiving or your other holiday meal, is Godiva Chocolate Liqueur. It's a wonderful gift to bring because the bottle is so beautiful and it is hard not to love. It comes in white chocolate (my favorite) or dark chocolate.

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pi%C3%B1a_colada
http://migration.kentucky.gov/newsroom/travel/bourbonheritage.htm

Written by jobythebay

Do you remember Peggy from the TV show "Married with Children?" She was the bonbon eating, bouffant wearing mom of the Bundy family. Everything she did was outdated, including her choice for drink. What was it? Vodka.

For a while now, vodka has been passé. Most people will only drink it if they are out of beer or wine. Then, they have to mix other things with their vodka like Red Bull or juice. It's a way to rework a drink that by itself is lame. Yet, the final sign that vodka is going out of style is the fact that manufactures of it are turning to celebrities for help.

In October 2007, music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs signed on with Ciroc vodka. Not only did he get a lucrative deal, he also got full reigns of their marketing program. Why? Ciroc vodka needed a way to make their drink exciting to people under the age of 40 and the only way to do it was to get an appealing figurehead.

Well, only time will tell us if Sean "Diddy" Combs can pull this one off. He's a marketing genius, but even this kind of person can fail sometimes if the product is shaky. Considering vodka's reputation, Combs may have bitten off more than he can chew.

So what should you do in the face of vodka? Drink VeeV instead. You can still enjoy all your favorite cocktails, just have the bartender swap vodka for VeeV. VeeV is a spirit made with the açaí berry, which is full of antioxidants. Stay in the now. Leave vodka to the Peggy Bundys of the world.

Written by Stephanie Modkins

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