Beer is a no brainer when you’re grilling out. But the dancing really starts happening once the cocktails hit the scene. Here are three Memorial Day Cocktails to celebrate and remember with family this coming Monday.
My Bartending Days Slinging Cocktails
I always thought to be a bartender you had to go to school for it and get a license. Turns out, hardly any bartenders go to “bartending school” and most of them have just been in the industry for awhile. Also turns out you can make a lot of money bartending. I know this because after finishing the World Race in 2007 I waited tables for a year before bartending for another year.
I loved it. I met so many cool people, I learned about different alcohols (which is kind of like cooking) and I got to work my butt of on the crazy summer nights when folks came in right off of the lake. On top of which, I still keep in touch with some of the friends I worked with four years ago. I know my story isn’t the norm, but I definitely had a good experience.
Katie’s Amazing Margaritas
I can’t take credit for this recipe. But hands down, it’s the best margarita I’ve ever had. Katie is my mom’s friend and she said I could share her recipe. I used to babysit her kids, but sometimes I invite myself over to her house just so I can have a margarita. Also, sometimes she’s not even making them and I invite myself over and ask her to make them. Never judge me.
Beer Margarita
Photo Credit: Larry (Creative Commons)
- ½ cup of tequila
- ¼ cup of Cointreau
- 1½ cups of Jose Cuervo margarita mix
- 1 Corona
- Kosher salt for garnish
- Lime for Garnish
- Put tequila, cointreau, margarita mix and beer in a blender and mix. But whatever you do, do not add ice to the blender. For goodness sake do not ruin the world's best margarita by making it a blended drink.
- Dip rims of 4 glasses in kosher salt, fill with ice and margarita.
Cucumber Gin Mojitos
We had these with dear friends in the south of Spain in 2012. Since gin is made from a variety of herbs, and there’s cucumbers in this one, I like to think I might as well be drinking a salad.
Cucumber Gin Mojito
Photo Credit: Ciera Holzenthal (Creative Commons)
- 10 mint leaves
- 3 cucumber slices
- 2 tablespoons of sugar
- ½ of a juicy lime cut into wedges
- 1 ounce of gin
- club soda
- ice
- Muddle together sugar, lime wedges, cucumber and mint. Once juices have all released, pour in gin and shake in a cocktail shaker.
- Pour gin mixture over of cup full of ice. Top with club soda and stir well. Stir well, sugar doesn't always melt very easily. Garnish with mint leaf and lime.
Long Island Ice Tea
These suckers can be deadly. Not that I would ever know from personal experience, I just hear that they are. So unless you like looking and sounding like a dumb-dumb, make sure you only drink one and eat lots of food. You should also make sure you’re not around people who haven’t seen you do karaoke and you should also put on an extra layer of clothing (on account of how sometimes you realize an hour later you’re no longer wearing pants).
Long Island Ice Tea
Photo Credit: Alex Brown (Creative Commons)
- 1 ounce of vodka
- 1 ounce of gin
- 1 ounce of rum
- 1 ounce of high quality tequila
- ½ ounce of triple sec
- 2 ounces of sour mix
- coke
- Fill the cocktail shaker ¾ of the way full of ice. Put in vodka, gin, rum, tequila, triple sec and sour. Shake like you're Shakira on stage at your first concert. This is the key.
- Divide (ice and all) between two glasses (if a lot of space remains, fill with more ice) and top with to the brim with coke.
- Take a nap.
What will you be drinking this Memorial Day?
You don't need a culinary degree to make sophisticated food. I want to improve your food education. Sometimes I travel and wear new clothes, and I'll tell you about that, too.
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