It’s National Chocolate Mint Day! At least, according to one of the many “National Day” or “National Food Holiday” websites. I should probably pick one and stick to it. My reference used to be Foodimentary. But the site no longer exists. Oh, there’s a book! *1 minute later* OK, I just bought the book. It’llContinue reading 2-in-1 International Recipe Card Collection: Mocha Mint (1977)
How cute is the cover of this early 1960s cocktail booklet? It never really occurred to me to see if “Cuervo,” as in “JOSE CUERVO” was a word in Spanish. I took high school Spanish (the minimum 2 years required for graduation) and we never got to types of birds. Jose Cuervo literally translates toContinue reading Sangrita Cuervo (early 60s-ish)
RIP President Carter. Although not everyone has fond memories of his presidency, wow oh wow did he go on to build a lasting legacy. He will be remembered as a kind gentleman who (in my humble opinion) exemplifies what it means to be a Christian. The man got himself a Nobel Peace Prize, for fuck’sContinue reading The Jimmy Carter Cocktail (1977)
It’s a snow day in Baltimore and that means one thing–a post about cocktails! Full disclosure: I wanted to share these before New Year’s Day, but I’m lazy. And distracted. And lazy. Let’s be honest. I’m just really, really lazy. But better late than never, right? These two new Bloody Marys are the result ofContinue reading Snow Day Bloody Marys (Hemingway and Doritos)
Damn, Rudy. It’s just not right to drink cider and Smirnoff when it’s 80 degrees out! Well, that’s all I got. I never thought I’d be sweating so much in November. Why’s it so warm? Well, baby, there’s this thing called global warming. Yeah? Yeah. All that coal and gas we’re burning right now—it’s gonnaContinue reading Smirnoff Adam’s Apple, 1972 (alternate version)
When we first introduced this drink, we were of two minds about it. “Tastes as fresh-faced as summer, we said. But was it, perhaps, a trifle “unsophisticated?” By this time the Bullfrog has acquired a modest but growing following who don’t seem to have any problems with it at all. Which raises the question: canContinue reading The Smirnoff Bullfrog (1975)
Last month I decided to revisit that odd 1981 calendar with the missing cover. I have it on my fridge so every once in a while I’m inspired to give one (or two) of the drinks a spin. Those all seem to be pretty standard. Although the Harvey Wallbanger has fallen out of favor. DoContinue reading May 1981 Pink Lady & Mint Julep
Yes, I am well aware that I just posted the Easter Brunch. This, however, is a different kind of brunch. A brunch for two. A private brunch. A bedroom brunch. I was inspired to bust out this brunch because of the inclusion of the Bloody Bullshot–a variation of the questionable beef-based libation called the Bullshot,Continue reading The Smirnoff Bedroom Brunch (1971)
Happy National Whiskey Day! To celebrate I brought out my trusty 2-in-1 International Recipe Card Collection for Mixed Drinks and Hors D’oeuvre and found the Perfect Manhattan on card 65 from the Blends & Rye section. Mr. Sauce, Esq. is a fan of a Manhattan–it his most requested cocktail when he comes home from a longContinue reading 2-in-1 International Recipe Card Collection: Perfect Manhattan (1977)
From 1977. Smirnoff (a long-time member of Europe’s elite) had found its way to the dinner table. However, there was no proper food at this dinner table. Because these are models. The main course is Smirnoff Bullshots (beef bouillon and lime wedge)–the touch of protein staves off hunger. The lime prevents scurvy. It was a deliciousContinue reading Smirnoff Bullshot
I do not like rum, so I wasn’t dying to celebrate National Hot Buttered Rum Day, but I knew that I had a couple of recipes for this cocktail and the weather was just cool enough for a hot drink to be appropriate. So I picked up some little bottles and I made two versions.Continue reading National Hot Buttered Rum Day
Earlier this month I hosted my annual Christmas party, The Holly Ball (a.k.a the Ball Party). At the Holly Ball, all the food is ball-shaped. This was the 4th Holly Ball*** (5th if you count the inaugural party, A Very Manny Christmas–a celebration for my friend Manny’s 50th birthday). Speaking of Manny, I am usingContinue reading Holly Ball 2022
The Peppermint Martini (an interim idea). Somebody once said, “if the perfect martini is ever created, it won’t be a martini.” Until now, two things stood between the martini and perfection: Gin and Vermouth. Substitute Smirnoff for gin and you’re halfway home. But what can you substitute for vermouth? We haven’t found it yet, butContinue reading Smirnoff Peppermint Martini (1972)
Today is National Pumpkin Day and October is National Pumpkin Month! Here’s something pumpkin-related. A friend of ours recently found himself with some unexpected guests, a bottle of Smirnoff, and a supply of root beer. Neither he nor anyone present had mixed Smirnoff and root beer before. But the occasion called for a drink, theContinue reading Smirnoff Charlie Burch (1975)
Let’s crack open one of my favorite cookbooks from my collection, Benson & Hedges 100’s Presents Drink Recipes from 100 of the Greatest Bars (1979). Don’t you love the cover? My little eye spies a Martini, a Daquiri, and a Long Island Iced Tea. Since I decided to feature this book on Facebook and InstagramContinue reading Benson & Hedges 100’s Presents Drink Recipes from 100 of the Greatest Bars: Traffic Light (1979)
It’s Smirnoff Southpaw Season! If America has a beverage to call its own, it must be cola. In fact, we took good old cola so for granted that in our search for interesting things to mix with Smirnoff, we overlooked it until now.So it was with a sense of correcting this oversight that we mixedContinue reading Smirnoff Southpaw (1975)
Happy National Tequila Day! In 1974, Montezuma Tequila released a series of magazine advertisements based around the Aztec calendar, which they called The Ancient Tequila Arts of Montezuma. This ancient calendar, called the Sun Stone, has an inner ring of twenty symbols, one for each day of the Aztec week. These symbols also suggests whatContinue reading National Tequila Day: The Ancient Tequila Arts of Montezuma (1974)
It’s National Daiquiri Day! Here’s an advertisement for the Smirnoff Daiquiri, which they call a “modest invention.” We were caught recently with an unexpected hankering for something different. Thumbed through a recipe book and decided on the daiquiri. The recipe called for a liquor we never use. So we improvised, and discovered the Smirnoff Daiquiri.Continue reading Smirnoff Daquiri (1973)
