A stay on Key West is one of our favorite girlfriend getaways, but if you can’t get to Key West, sit back and relax with the Ocean Key Resort’s famous cocktails.

The resorts top mixologist Al Nelson suggests this to get you and a loved one in the mood for a romantic evening:

Cocktail Recipe from Sunset Pier

Cayo al Corazón (Key to the Heart)

In a pint glass filled with ice, add the following:

Ingredients:

• ¾ oz Mount Gay Rum (or your favorite gold rum)
• ½ oz Peach Schnapps
• ½ of Malibu Coconut Rum
• 1 oz of Orange Juice
• ¾ oz Pineapple Juice
• ¾ oz Cranberry Juice
• A dash of Angostura Bitters

Directions:

1. Shake well until very cold and then strain into a highball or Double Collins glass filled with ice.
2. Top with a splash of great champagne like Veuve Clicquot and garnish with cherry.

For more info, visit The Ocean Key Resort & Spa in Key West.

More SingleMindedWomen.com Cocktail Recipes

Fashion Week Cocktails

Holiday Cocktails: Spicy GingerMan

The Charlie Sheen Cocktails

Sugar Cookie
2-1/2oz Partida Resposado Tequila
1 Tsp Brown Sugar
Brown Sugar for garnish

Rim a cordial glass with brown sugar.  Add tequila and brown sugar into a shaker with ice and hake ingredients well.  Strain into glass.

Check out all our holiday cocktails here… ‘Tis The Season for Holiday Cocktails.

SPARKLING COCKTAILS
Merry Berry Cocktail
MARTINI Poinsettia Punch
Angel’s Dessert
Rosato Toast
Sparkling Ginger Daisy Punch

VODKA COCKTAILS
Purity Holiday Meringue
Purity Champagne Cocktail
Purity Egg Nog
Purity Holiday H20

DESSERT COCKTAILS
Snickerdoodle
Seven Layer Cookie
Chocolate Peppermint Cookie
Toasted Macaroon
Sugar Cookie

But O didn’t say goodbye to TV or tequila forever. She heads up her OWN Network and gave pal Rosie O’Donnell a chance to helm her own show again, “The Rosie Show.”  The friends got together on October 17 to toast the new show with what else? Tequila!

And finally we know what kind of tequila Oprah actually likes! Tequila Partida Blanco.

This is not the first time Oprah has celebrated a milestone with Tequila Partida. In fact, during her final days at Harpo Studios earlier this year, Oprah threw a special Happy Hour Partida-theme party for her entire staff along with her special guest Partida’s Founder, Chairman and CEO Gary Shansby.

Tequila Partida is a high quality and all natural tequila made from 100% blue agave.  And while Oprah may have the gusto to drink it straight up, we realize some might prefer a tequila cocktail instead. So we asked Partida to send over some delicious ones for you to try while you watch Rosie and reminisce about Oprah!

Tequila Cocktail Recipes

Partida Margarita with 100% Organic Agave Nectar

1 1/2 oz Partida Blanco Tequila
1 oz Fresh squeezed lime juice
3/4 oz Agave Nectar
3/4 oz Water

Shake all ingredients with ice in a shaker. Strain over fresh ice into a Margarita glass or Old-Fashioned glass. Taste for Balance.

Note: This is the Margarita recipe made World famous by Julio Bermejo at Tommy’s Mexican Restaurant in San Francisco.

Ruby Partida

1 1/2 oz Partida Reposado Tequila
1 1/2 oz Fresh Ruby Red Grapefruit juice
1/2 oz Cointreau
1/2 oz Fresh squeezed lemon juice
1/2 oz French Cassis.

Shake the first 4 ingredients in a shaker with ice. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
Dribble the 1/2 oz French Cassis down the inside of the glass so it will settle at the bottom.
Recipe by King Cocktail – Dale De Groff.

Big Spender

2 1/4 oz Partida Anejo Tequila
1 oz Winter Spiced 10yr Old Tawny Port
Dash of Angostura Bitters

In a mixing glass Stir all ingredients with ice. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with brandied cherries.

Recipe by Jacques Bezuidenhout – San Francisco

Scramble

1 1/2 oz Partida Blanco
1/2 oz Fresh squeezed lime juice
1/2 oz Fresh squeezed lemon juice
1/2 oz Agave Nectar
1/4 oz Crème de Mure (French Blackberry liqueur)

Shake all ingredients except for Crème de Mure with ice. Strain over crushed ice into a Old-Fashioned glass. Drizzle 1/4 oz Crème de Mure over the top and it will slowly bleed into the cocktail. Garnish with a Lemon Spiral twist and 3 Blackberries.

Recipe by Dre Masso & Henry Bessant from the World Wide Cocktail Club – London

Yerba Buena

2 oz Partida Reposado
8 to 10 Mint Sprigs
1/2 oz Fresh squeezed lime juice
1/2 oz Agave Nectar
Ginger Beer

Muddle Mint, Lime juice & Agave Nectar in a highball glass. Add ice to fill. Add Tequila & top with Ginger Beer. Stir with bar spoon. Garnish with Mint sprig & lime wheel.

Recipe adapted from Donna Scala of Bistro Don Giovanni in Napa California.

Sofia’s Swizzle

1 3/4 oz Partida Reposado Tequila
1 1/4 oz Organic unfiltered apple juice
1/4 oz Fresh squeezed lime juice
1/4 oz Velvet Falernum
Dash of Angostura Bitters
Ginger Beer

Shake the first 5 ingredients in a shaker with ice. Strain over fresh ice into a highball glass. Top up the rest of the cocktail with chilled Ginger Beer and garnish with a lime wedge.

Created by Jacques Bezuidenhout – San Francisco

Southern Heat

1 1/2 oz Partida Blanco Tequila
3/4 oz Cointreau
1 oz Fresh squeezed lime juice
6 slices of cucumber skinned
2 to 3 slices of Jalapeno’
1/4 oz Simple syrup

In a mixing glass muddle the cucumber, Jalapeno, lime juice and simple syrup. Add the ice, Partida Blanco Tequila & Cointreau. Shake and strain over fresh into an Old fashioned glass and garnish with cucumber slices fanned out.

Heated Affair

2 oz Partida Anejo Tequila
6 oz Hot Spiced Apple Cider
Heavy Cream

In a small warm wine glass add Tequila and hot apple cider. Float heavy cream. Garnish: Grate fresh Nutmeg over cream.

Apple Cider Preparation:

In a pot add Organic Apple Juice. Add winter spices like Cloves, Cinnamon Stick, All Spice, and Orange Peel. Start of by adding a few cloves one cinnamon stick etc so as to find the right-spiced apple cider flavor. You can always add more spice later. Bring everything to a low heat for about 15 mins. Taste for flavor. When the desired flavor is reached then take off stove. Strain out all the spices and orange peel. Serve warm and enjoy!

More SingleMindedWomen.com Cocktail Recipes
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Vodka Cocktails
Halloween Cocktail Recipes

Van Goghst Punch (serves 12)

*Created by The Cocktail Guru Jonathan Pogash
1 bottle Van Gogh Rich Dark Chocolate Vodka
12 oz orange juice
12 oz pomegranate juice
12 oz club soda or lemon-lime soda

Directions: Pour ingredients into large punch bowl or pitcher filled with ice and stir to chill and dilute.  Ladle or pour out into small punch glasses.

Garnish: Several sliced orange wheels

Milky Way Martini
2 oz Van Gogh Rich Dark Chocolate Vodka
½ oz Van Gogh Vanilla Vodka
1 oz Butterscotch Schnapps

Combine all ingredients into a shaker with ice.  Shake vigorously and pour into a chilled martini glass.

PepperMint Pattini

1-1/2 oz Van Gogh Rich Dark Chocolate Vodka
1/2 oz Crème de menthe
1/2 oz Chocolate Liqueur
1/2 oz Cream

Add all ingredients into a shaker with ice and shake vigorously.  Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with a Peppermint Pattie candy wedge.

Bazooka
½ oz. fresh egg white
½ oz. simple syrup
1 oz. lemon juice
2 oz. Bubble Gum flavored vodka like Three Olives (or make your own using the instructions below)

Directions for DIY Bubble Gum flavored vodka: . Place around 30 pieces of Dubble Bubble gum, each cut in half, into a bottle of vodka and leave for 24 hours. Then strain vodka and store in fridge.

To make the cocktail:  Combine all ingredients in a shaker, add ice, then shake and strain into a chilled glass.

by Eben Freeman, director of bar operations forAltamarea Group


Green Ghoul Martini with Blood Garnish
2 ounces Midori Melon Liqueur
2 ounces Mr. and Mrs. T Sweet and Sour Mix
1 ounce Vodka

 
Mix all ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well and strain into blood rimmed martini glass.

 
There are two ways to  make the “blood garnish.” One is by making hard
red candy, the other is much easier. Simply dip  the rim of a  martini glass into Smucker’s Raspberry Jam. The effect is not quite as dramatic, but it gets the job done!

Red Blood Candy Garnish
1 c. Sugar
1/2 c. Karo Syrup
1/2 c. Water
Red Food Coloring

Directions:
Combine sugar, syrup and water. Heat over low flame in a heavy duty pot, stirring continuously until the mixture reaches a stiff consistency (roughly 300 degrees so be careful!). Add food coloring and reduce the flame to very low.

While the mixture is still hot, carefully dip the rim of your cocktail glass into the liquid. The candy will drip creating a blood like effect on the glass.

Panamanian Devil 

*Created by The Cocktail Guru Jonathan Pogash
2 oz Ron Abuelo Añejo rum
1 oz chilled espresso
3 drops liquid smoke
1/4 oz simple syrup
Spray of Lucid Absinthe

Directions: Shake first four ingredients with ice and strain into martini glass rimmed with smoked chili powder.  Spray on top of drink some Lucid Absinthe.

Garnish: flamed orange peel

This year, get your guests back in the spirit with these frightful Halloween cocktail recipes from VOGA Italia Wine. But, just like Halloween candy, you may want to set limits on how many you can have before bedtime…

Bride of Frankenstein Halloween Cocktail

Ingredients:

4 oz VOGA Sparkling

1 oz Chambord Black Raspberry Liqueur

1 oz pineapple juice

Preparation:

Pour Chambord and juice into a Champagne flute. Top with VOGA Sparkling and garnish with a raspberry.

Vampire’s Kiss Halloween Cocktail

Ingredients:

1 1/2 oz vodka

1 1/2 oz VOGA Sparkling

3/4 oz grenadine

Red sugar for rimming

Preparation:

Rim the glass with red sugar. Pour chilled vodka and grenadine in a martini glass. Top with VOGA Sparkling.

Bloody Red-Rum Sangria Halloween Cocktail

Ingredients:

1 750ml bottle of spiced rum

1/2 bottle VOGA Merlot

6 oz. fresh lime juice

6 oz. triple sec liqueur

6 oz. simple syrup

2 limes sliced in thin wheels

2 red oranges sliced in thin wheels

Preparation:

Add all ingredients into a large punch bowl

Place in the refrigerator for at least two hours before serving.

Serve over ice in a punch glass.

More Halloween Articles from SingleMindedWomen.com

Cocktails and Candy Corns: Have a Groan Up Halloween

Halloween Fun: Eight Great Grown-Up Costume Ideas

Must-Have Halloween Products For Kids

The Empire Hotel

Some may call the Empire Hotel Fashion Week’s unofficial headquarters. It’s located just steps away from Lincoln Center where all the shows are taking place and fashion brands like Victoria’s Secret, Spanx, Lia Sophia and others have all set up shop at the iconic hotel. And with couture cocktails created especially for the week long event, can you blame them? First up is the fan favorite Don’t Feed the Models. Made with Organic cucumber  vodka and sweet mint, it’s a low cal cocktail, perfect for making sure you can zip up your dress for the after party. Craving Some Couture is another of the hotel’s creations. This is made with gin, Fresh Ruby Red Grapefruit & fresh Lemon.

Don't Feed the Models

And in honor of Moises De La Renta – who has designed a signature dress to be worn by the hotel’s Fashion Week Ambassadors – there is the Moises Fashion Fix. But to get that recipe, you have to head over to the lobby bar. And just in case you are having too much fun to actually make it over to Lincoln Center, a live feed of all the shows will be streaming at the hotel’s entrance.

Elle Style 360

You can visit elle.com to get a 360 degree look at the making of a fashion show and to check out the winner of the Fashion Forward Originals contest. But we can tell you what the VIPs will be drinking at the 360 after parties. Stoli Chocolat Razberi, of course. The spirit will be released for sale later this month, but attendees of the Sachika fashion show on September 13 will get first sip of Stoli’s decadent new spirit that combines the rich taste of chocolate with the fruity zing of raspberry.  Mix it with peach nectar for their Choco Raz Nectar or with mango juice and seltzer for the Chocolate Raz Mango Fizz. For a true treat, mix it with pomegranate juice for the Chocolate Raz Pome Twist (recipe below).

Trump SoHo

You didn’t think the Donald would pass up an opportunity to fill his Trump SoHo lounge and rooftop with models, did you? Here, they are pouring Consider the Catwalk – a mix of pear vodka, lemon juice, cranberry juice and a splash of Champagne. Not sparkling wine, but Champagne. This is a Trump property, after all.  The Sweet Velvet is another of the lounge’s specialties. This made with Zacapa rum, velvet falernum, grapefruit juice and a hint of lime juice. And since men have to drink too,  the Bowtie (recipe below) is a classic bourbon daisy dressed up with blackberries and mint as garnish. As an added bonus, guests who check in with FourSquare get 15% off their order.

Signature Cocktail: Stoli Chocolat Raz Pomegranate Twist

Created by Charlotte Voisey, Portfolio Ambassador, William Grant & Sons

2 parts Stoli Chocolat Razberi Vodka
1 parts Promegranate Juice
1 Squeeze of Lemon
Shake with ice and strain into martini glass

. Garnish with lemon slice

The Bowtie
(served at Trump SoHo)

2 parts Bourbon
1 part Simple Syrup
1/2 parts Fresh Lemon Juice
4 Blackberries
Mint Sprig

Combine bourbon, simple syrup and lemon juice in a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a rocks glass filled with fresh ice. Garnish with mint and blackberries.

This is still Cognac, but it is Cognac is blended with french red-wine grapes for a much smoother and lighter feel. It’s also got hints of blackberry and cherry as well nots of vanilla, honey and vine-peach flavors. Yeah. Yum.  The flavor profile and lower alcohol content (it’s just 18%) makes for a good mixer in cocktails and is affordable, despite the big brand name – a 750 ml bottle is just $24.99.

And just in time for the Fourth of July weekend, Courvoisier has done the work for you and created the Rosé, White and Blue – the perfect cocktail to sip during your all day BBQ.

We’d also recommend marinating some berries in the stuff for a few hours before spooning them over some vanilla ice cream for a refreshing and drunken dessert. Moses Laboy, head mixologist at Harlem’s acclaimed Red Rooster restaurant and fan of Rosé agrees. “ I think one of the many great things about Courvoisier Rose is its versatility I really think the dessert options with this product are endless. I would absolutely make a drunken fruit with Rose. I personally enjoy spending time in the kitchen, so I would say you can spike a pudding or ice cream with Courvoisier Rosé, too. I would probably add some simple syrup to it just to bring up the sugar content a little more, then reduce it on a stove top, let it rest and chill.”

Opt for blueberries and strawberries to keep with the patriotic theme or try Moses’ favorite – watermelon!

Rosé, White, and Blue
1 part Courvoisier® Rosé
1 part Thatcher’s™ Blueberry
3 parts Champagne
Shake first two ingredients and strain into chilled Champagne flute.

Top with Champagne. Garnish with raspberries and blueberries.

Want more tips from Moses on hosting your own Fourth of July BBQ bash? Here are his hints at food pairing and mixing the perfect cocktail.

We’ve got the recipe for the Rosé, White and Blue. What other mixers work well with Rosé Courvoisier for mixed drinks?

I enjoy cocktails that really showcase the spirit’s flavor profile, so I really enjoy experimenting with Rose and its sister product Courvoisier VSOP. I think these two marques of cognac really complement each other. Start with these two Courvoisier portfolio marques and then you can let your imagination run wild. Make some simple syrup, go to the supermarket and get a bottle of Angostura bitters, squeeze some fresh lime juice. Muddle some seasonal fruit. Just remember that the goal is to achieve balance in your flavor profile, so always start with less and gradually increase the amount of alcohol and mixers.

What are some good, light style cocktails to start drinking around the noon time to ensure you will still be awake for fireworks at night?

Anything sparkling is always a good way to go if you’re going to start early. You may want to go with something like The Pink Slipper (Courvoisier Rosé topped with Prosecco and a raspberry garnish) or maybe something a little more tropical like Courvoisier Rosé, guava nectar and topped with sparkling wine.

How do you transition from the lighter cocktails and food to heavier and stronger?

Bravely and without fear :)

What’s your ideal Fourth of July cocktail and party food?

Any well balanced cocktail or Tasty Courvoisier Rosé punch accompanied with hotdogs and med-rare cheese burgers with the works.

Make your own Rosé punch by mixing Courvoisier Rosé with orange juice and lemon lime soda. Garnish with a sprig of fresh lime.

“Food pairing can be challenging: get it wrong and the wine and food will both taste bad….ah, but get it right and the two become greater than the sum of the parts. Both wine and food can be lifted to a new level. I encourage people to experiment and try new pairings, and new combinations.”

The key is to know what is available and drink – and eat – what you like. That sounds like good advice to us!

As the weather shifts warmer, what are the ideal wines to drink during summer and why?
For me, part of the fun of wine is the variety of different colors, aromas and flavors. It’s analogous to music in a way, where you can select a wine or song based on your mood, the food you are eating, the people you are with, and the weather outside. On warm summer days I turn to crisp white wines, like Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Rose, and Chardonnay’s like our Calcaire which offer a little brighter acidity, and a more refreshing fruit profile. I also recommend Champagne and sparkling white wines.

How should someone choose a wine to pair with a grilled dish?
I general I think one should look for complimentary attributes. For instance the big, bold, spicey flavors of BBQ ribs need something that stands up to the flavors, and is not overpowered. Similarly, a lighter, more delicately flavored meal needs a wine that will compliment and not overpower the nuance of the food.

What dessert wines are ideal this time of year?
While technically not dessert wines, on a hot summer’s day, I prefer lighter, fresher aromatic white wines, with moderate levels of residual sugar. Some examples are Italian Moscato d’ Asti , Clos du Bois Malvasia Bianca (only sold at the winery), and even some sweeter German Rieslings or Alsatian whites. Because these wines have less sugar and they are lighter in body, they pair beautifully with fresh fruit and lighter desserts.

What should a wine novice look for on a summer wine list/menu?
First, I say drink what you like…..with the caveat that you shouldn’t be afraid to take a risk and try something new. Second, I’m a wine with food guy, and I think the wine should always go with the food. Although I turn to crisp whites on warm summer days, I’d still prefer Zinfandel, Cabernet or Shiraz with summer BBQ (ribs, brisket, etc). Just make sure the red wine is served at a cool temperature. If you serve a red wine too warm, it will accentuate the alcohol and make the wine seem hot and unbalanced. And if you are serving something lighter like grilled fish, I’d recommend going with the crisper whites. When in doubt go with Rose, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir, all of which are highly versatile wines when it comes to food pairing.

What is the best temperature to serve white wine: cold, chilled or room temperature?
Technically speaking you should serve a white wine chilled, but not too cold, as you lose some of the nuance in the aromas and flavors. But honestly, I say drink it however you like it. And on a hot summer day, I’d rather have my wine too cold, than too hot.

What are the differences between the Clos du Bois Classic, Reserve and Proprietary wines?
The principle differences between the three tiers of Clos du Bois wines are the appellation the grapes are being sourced from, and the barrels we use for aging the wines. The Classic Tier wines are our lowest price point, and they represent 90% of the total volume we produce at Clos du Bois. They are mainly “ North Coast ” appellated, meaning the North Coast of California. You can think of it as coastal vineyards North of San Francisco, mainly from Sonoma County , Mendocino County , Lake County , and Napa Valley . These wines are aged mainly in French Oak, with small quantities of Eastern European and American Oak used as well. The percentage of new oak is a little lower (~25%) than the other two tiers, and there is a portion of the blends which is aged in stainless steel tanks, as opposed to oak, to add a fruitier component to our final blends. The goal for this tier is to provide our customers with a consistent, elegant, yet approachable wine at a price point they can afford to drink every day. Our Sonoma Reserve wines represent our middle tier and are approximately 9% of our total production. They are all sourced from smaller AVA (American Viticultural Area) designated areas in Sonoma County .

The Sonoma Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon and Sonoma Reserve Merlot grapes are sourced from Alexander Valley . I believe Alexander Valley offers the best fruit expression for these grape varietals, and it is also where Clos du Bois’ home is located. And the Sonoma Reserve Chardonnay grapes are sourced from Russian River Valley , which in my opinion offers the best expression of the Chardonnay grape in Sonoma County , and arguably in the world. The Reserve wines are 100% barrel aged, approximately 30-35% new, and again it is predominantly French Oak. The Proprietary tier represents the top1% of the wines we produce at Clos du Bois. Calcaire is our proprietary Chardonnay, which as the name denotes is our tribute to the Chardonnay wines of white burgundy with their calcairous, limestone soils. This wine is 100% barrel fermented, with partial malolactic fermentation. It is sur lees aged, and stirred bi-monthly. Our goal is to produce a restrained, elegant Chardonnay, with citrus aromas and flavors, with a core of minerality. Marlstone is our proprietary Bordeaux red blend and it is the oldest Bordeaux red blend made in Sonoma County (we have been making it since 1978). The varietal composition changes each year, but it always consists of a core of Cabernet Sauvignon with the other Bordeaux varietals (Merlot, Malbec, Petite Verdot, Cabernet Franc) adding layers of color and flavor. The grapes are sourced from our best Alexander Valley benchland vineyards. The wine is 100% barrel aged in 100% French Oak for two years, with only the very best lots and individual barrels making the final blend.

Want to visit the Clos du Bois winery? Visit their website to schedule a tour and tasting.

Etty spent several years in New York City, working with the Wines of Chile. But when she decided to head back home to the West Coast to spend more time with her family, she realized the world of wine wasn’t as readily available to her. “My initial plan was to work for a wine importer. The problem is that LA is not a hub for wine importing. I interviewed with small importers but the opportunities were unappealing. I would have to go back 5 years instead of moving forward in my career. I’m not gonna chase a job. So I decided, I am going to make my career work around what I need which is to be here and with my family.”

When Etty started Plonk, she had a clear vision to deliver good quality wines that would otherwise, most likely, not be discovered.  What really sets the site apart from the other wine sites out there, aside from the fact that at Plonk (which is British and Australian slang for inexpensive wine) is committed to finding the best wine values under $30, is Etty herself. She personally tastes every wine she sells and accompanies that wine’s page with a video review explaining what that wine is all about. “The thing with the videos,” she explains, “is that not many people are doing them. Or anything interactive involving wine. That is the biggest problem with online retailers – there is no personal interaction, you really don’t know what you’re getting. Some people have a very male approach to wine in a regular guy kind of way that is probably appealing to a lot of younger guys, while others are very refined and almost intimidating.” But not everyone wants to that experience when they are trying to select the right wine to bring to their boss’ holiday party.

“I wanted to demystify wine, prove that it is not for snobs, but in a more feminine and approachable way. I want to shy away from intimidating people and the videos I make help people really get the wine. They are more willing to take a chance on something unfamiliar after seeing them.”

And fans are not just taking a chance on the wine, but on Etty, too. Customers will often email her with a dinner party menu and ask her for her pairing recommendations, or send a recipe her way  looking for advice on what wine to serve with it. ” I love bringing joy and pleasure to someone’s night. Not many online business owners get to interact with their customers in  that way. I am trying to put that message out there that I am available to help them, not just to sell to them.”

It’s just like going into a store or having your own personal wine concierge, but without leaving home. And let’s not forget the learning part. Etty is formally educated both nationally and internationally in wine making and tasting.  But that doesn’t mean that she has her sights set only on the  big producers.

“I’m really focused on smaller family wineries making wines from indigenous grapes. These wineries don’t have the money for marketing and advertising. But their wine deserves the attention.” The wines in the Plonk collection are almost all sourced from unfamiliar, exploratory territory. “Think small production, off the beaten path, mostly native grapes.”  Also, many of the wines on the site are organic, biodynamic and limited-production varietals.  Basically, Etty is taking that trip to Tuscany or Chile for you and meeting the local wine makers who are doing something amazing with their local grapes. And let’s not forget that under $30 price tag.

“Everything on the site is between $10-30 dollars. Nothing is below $10 because, in general, on a quality basis, it is difficult to find amazing, memorable wines for $8 dollars. But that sweet spot between $15-25 bucks is where you can find amazing, super high quality wines from around the globe. You just have to know where to find them.”

Lucky for us, Etty is doing the leg work.

The Plonk Wine Club is the perfect way to experiment with her findings. A monthly fee includes the delivery of 4 bottles of wine to your door step: 1 bottle of the Plonk Pick of the Month and 3 that will be featured in the monthly online wine tasting. You also receive admission to Plonk’s monthly online wine tastings where you can chat with other wine lovers about your new finds. Club members will also get a 10% discount on all wines purchased from the site for the rest of the year.

And Etty promises that everything you get will be good. “There are no dog wines here. Everything we offer is really good. It takes hours on wine.com to find these smaller, affordable, great quality wine makers. At Plonk, I am doing the editing for people. I want to open people’s eyes to new things. I want to show them there is more to life than just merlot.”

Like following your dreams.

We’ll drink to that!

Watch Etty’s review of 2009 Nicole Chanrion Domaine de la Voute des Crozes Côte de Brouilly.

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Van Gogh Vodka’s Ultimate Girls’ Night In

‘Mad Men’ Inspired Cocktails

The former heart throb declared himself a superhuman species and he was serious about it.

“I have a different constitution. I have a different brain; I have a different heart; I got tiger blood, man.”

He also declared that his DNA is that of an adonis and that his dog will chew up trolls that attempt to stop him. Stop him from what, we aren’t sure but since the start of the Charlie Sheen crazy tour, the former Two and a Half Men actor has not only become the center of media focus, but he is also the focus of many bartenders and mixologists around town.

The award winning Asian spirit TY KU has come up with their own signature drink that mimics a bloody mary, but calls for TY KU  – a potent spirit reminiscent of sake – instead.  Two hot spots in Manhattan have added their versions of a Tiger’s Blood Cocktail dedicated to Sheen to their menu and even rapper and media mogul P. Diddy has gotten on board the bandwagon by tweeting his recipe for a Sheen Tiger Blood Cocktail.

Too bad Sheen won’t get to have a taste of any of these creative cocktails. Because he’s totally sober now you know.

TY-ger Blood

3 oz. tomato juice
1.5 oz. TY KU Sake
pinch of wasabi
dash of soy sauce
squeeze of lime

Shake ingredients hard over ice. Garnish with celery stalk, and enjoy as you’re recovering from those night when you’re “winning!”

Tiger’s Blood with a dash of Adonis DNA

Tiger’s Blood is a fanciful hot take on the bloody mary and is available at the recently opened Moroccan inspired restaurant Hash Fifty Five in New York City ( 47 West 55th Street at 5th Avenue).

The cocktail is extremely potent: with a lovely fermented salty finish thanks to Bragg Aminos (a liquid protein concentrate, derived from soybeans); an unexpected smoothness thanks to harissa’s olive oil base; a complex back and front of the palate heat from ginger, chili peppers, and the two types of radish wich give the heat a familiar finish;  while exuding a wildly exotic aroma. The Glenmorangie Sherry and the beets in the red radish sauce give this cocktail a fat base note and an earthy leitmotif, while the olive juice, citrus and balsamic vinegar sing the highs.

Tiger’s Blood with a Dash of DNA recipe
Serves 2 1/2 men

Dash of Bragg Liquid Aminos
1/4 teaspoon harissa
1/4 red horseradish sauce
1/4 teaspoon wasabi powder
1/4 teaspoon Ras El Hanout
Dash of Glenmorangie Sherry
fresh grated ginger
dash of olive juice
dash of balsamic
2 ounces vodka
Pinch celery salt
7 drops Worcestershire
6 oz  tomato juice
lime juice
lemon juice salt & pepper

Combine all of the ingredients in a highball glass with ice, stir well, splash another dash of Aminos, garnish with lime and serve.

P. Diddy’s Charlie Sheen cocktail for Ciroc

Of course Diddy got in on the cocktail. He tweeted his recipe for the Tiger Blood cocktail he concocted for Ciroc vodka.

#WINNING! Drinking a #TIGERBLOOD -Ciroc Redberry + Cranberry Juice! ( @charliesheen live at http://ustre.am/uZYP)

The Ninth Ward Charlie Sheen Cocktail

Manhattan’s The Ninth Ward (180 2nd Avenue New York) is on board with a Sheen cocktail that’s made with the harshest of high proof alcohols – Catdaddy Carolina Moonshine. That stuff will knock your teeth out!

Two and a half parts Coke
A liberal pour of Catdaddy Carolina Moonshine

Mix well and pour into a glass rimmed with sugar (who knows what Sheen is actually using) and fill with ice. Garnish with a goddess sized cherry.