No ice please.

Cocktails are often associated with white sandy beaches, parasols, neon signs, sunshine and handsome bartenders called ‘Jack’.  Thanks to the Quickten team you don’t have to wait until summer in fact you don’t even need Jack. Try some of these tasty tipples to melt away the chill of winter:

1. The Godfather – 1 measure Amaretto, 2 measure whisky. Serve in a tumbler over ice.
2. Mulled wine/gluhwein –750ml bottle merlot, 2/3 cup of Demerara sugar, juice and rind of 1 orange, 2 cinnamon stick, 4 cloves, 2 cardamom pods, 1 bay leaf, rind of ½ lemon,  large pinch fresh grated nutmeg. Put everything in a pan, heat until the sugar has dissolved. Don’t boil.
3. Boston Sidecar – 1 measure brandy, 1 measure light rum, 1 measure orange liqueur, and 1 tsp lemon or lime juice. Mix in a shaker with ice, strain and serve.
4. The Sazerac – 1 ½ measure bourbon, 3 dashes bitters, ¼ measure absinthe, ¾ measure simple syrup*. Chill a tumbler with ice. In a separate glass mix the simple syrup with the bitters, add the bourbon and ice stir. Discard the ice from the tumbler and rinse with the absinthe to coat the glass. Strain the bourbon and bitters into the chilled absinthe coated glass, discard the ice. Squeeze a lemon twist over the top off the glass.
5. Irish coffee – 1 measure Irish whiskey, hot coffee, whipped cream.
6. Brandy Sangaree – Simple syrup, 2 measures brandy, splash of port, fresh ground nutmeg to garnish. Mix the simple syrup in a glass, add the brandy top with port and sprinkle nutmeg on the top. To make a longer drink add soda water after the brandy, top with port.
7. Brandy Alexander – 1 measure cream, 1 measure brandy, 1 measure of crème de cacao, nutmeg to garnish. Mix the brandy, crème de cacao and cream in a shaker with ice. Strain and serve with fresh grated nutmeg on top.
8. Tom and Jerry – 1 egg, 1tsp icing sugar, 1 measure brandy, 1 measure dark rum, hot milk, freshly grated nutmeg to garnish. Separate the egg white from yolk beat them separately. Fold eggs together and put into a heart proof glass. Add the sugar, rum and brand. Top with hot milk and stir.
9. Moscow Mule – 2 measures vodka, 1 measure of lime juice, fresh mint, ginger beer, Demerara sugar, 3 drops of bitters. Muddle the sugar and mint in a tall glass, add the vodka and lime. Then ice, ginger beer and bitters. Stir and serve.
10. Vodka Martin – 2 measures vodka, 1 tsp vermouth, olive, lemon rind twist. Chill martini glass with ice. In separate glass chill vodka with ice. Empty ice from martini glass and rinse with the vermouth. Strain the chilled vodka into martini glass. Add lemon twist and an olive.

Summer time where you are reading this or off to the islands? Watch out for the top ten summer time cocktails coming soon.

*Simple syrup: 1 tsp powdered sugar (icing or fine sugar), dissolved with 1 tsp water

For the purpose of this post I have used a 25ml/1oz jigger as 1 measure.

Drink responsibly.

Cannon Ball!

You have an important party coming up at your house and you really need to make sure it goes well.  With this in mind The Quick Ten tam have put together a Top ten List for tips which will save you from having a disaster on your hands.  Just keep us in mind next time you have a party though and maybe set some beers aside for us or even send us an invite!

So lets begin!

1. Chill your warm beer/wine that’s not in the fridge fast by placing them in a tub of ice water and salt – Find out more here: http://howto.yellow.co.nz/food-drink/wine-and-beer/how-to-chill-a-beer-fast/
2. Use a BBQ to cook the food.  It’s easy and can cater to the masses.
3. Prep the toilets and stock up with plenty of toilet paper.
4. Tell you neighbors before the big night so that they are not shocked by the amount of noise so as to avoid a call from the local noise control.  Even better yet, if you are friendly with your neighbors invite them over and they will be doping shots of Jagermeister in no time!
5. Music, Music and more music.  Make sure you have enough variety to keep the mood going and upping the tempo over the night as people have a few more drinks is always a good idea.  If you cannot be bothered sorting this and have some extra cash then source a good DJ.
6. Use social media.  Sure it might be a bit naff but set-up an event on your facebook account so at least you can have a running total on who is coming and who is not coming.  Therefore when you go to get supplies you will have  a good idea of numbers attending.  You can even engage further with them and get them to vote on music, food, alcohol etc they wan to have.
7. Prepare for rain.  If it’s going to be an outdoor party then prep for rain even if you live in California.  Some options are; Patio Umbrellas, plastic sheets or covers on the floor for when they storm the house, clear out the garage for an additional space.
8. Keep the numbers manageable especially if you are going to be hitting the booze quite hard.  If you can cope with 50 then invite 40 so as you are not having to fight fires all night….hopefully not literally.
9. Carbo load.  Buy food that is heavy and will soak up alcohol and lessen the nights debauchery.
10. Be a responsible host and provide transport options for people leaving the party.  This could be anything from a taxi number to a map of where the local train or bus station is.

Great NZ Vines

New Zealand is fast becoming one of the finest wine producing countries in the world.  Their world renowned range of Sauvignon Blanc’s has really put them on the map.  But now they are starting to conquer the world with other great varieties of grapes that they use to create their varietal wine.  But what are the top grape varieties in New Zealand?

1. Sauvignon Blanc
2. Chardonnay
3. Pinot Noir
4. Merlot
5. Riesling
6. Cabernet Sauvignon
7. Chenin Blanc
8. Pinot Gris
9. Gamay Noir
10. Syrah

For a great choice of wines then look no further than Wild South’s white label range.  They have vineyard’s throughout both Wairau and Awatere valleys in the South Island of New Zealand.

CLICK HERE TO ORDER WILD SOUTH

Boxing Day for Santa.

Drinking alcohol is a favourite past time of many people but who takes it more seriously than others? Which country can claim to consume the most alcohol per capita? Not too sure if the country who wins this award should be proud of their achievement but then again they probably wouldn’t remember it anyway.

1. Luxembourg - 14.9 litres per capita
2. Ireland- 14.2 litres per capita
3. Portugal - 13 litres per capita
4. Hungary - 12.3 litres per capita
5. Czech Republic - 11.8 litres per capita
6. Spain - 11.7 litres per capita
7. Denmark - 11.5 litres per capita
8. Austria - 11.3 litres per capita
9. Switzerland - 11.2 litres per capita
10. France - 10.5 litres per capita

Alcohol!

We have all needed Aphrodisacs at some time…well we have anyway so sit back and enjoy our Top Ten list  of the best Aphrodisacs.

1. Alcohol (in moderation)
2. Viagra
3. Oysters
4. Chocolate
5. Truffle
6. Vanilla
7. Pomegranate
8. Honey
9. Banana
10. Blowfish

Water, water, glorious water!

Most of us have gone through the pain and suffering of a self induced, hedonistic hangover.  At the time you thought it was the best idea to keep drinking till 4am and get up for work at 7am whilst slurring the famour words of “I’m not even drunk”

Well we know the hurt you go through, therefore thequickten now present to you the best foods for curing your hangover.

1. Water, water and more water
2. Watermelon
3. Caffeine
4. Salted peanuts
5. Sports Drinks
6. Sausages, Bacon and eggs (combined)
7. Banana
8. Potatoes
9. Grapes
10. Bread