Branding and bars have long gone hand in hand. But the days when cocktail napkins, swizzle sticks, cardboard coasters and matchbooks were the last word in tactile advertising are over. In today’s distracted culture, cocktail bars need something a little flashier to chisel their names into the drinker’s consciousness. Bars are now using stamped ice cubs to remind drinkers where they are but I am sure after the 2nd drink you will not remember. 
There’s something intriguing about whiskey that makes us revere it with awe — its name, after all, comes from the Gaelic uisce beatha, which means “water of life.” If it’s in fact the “water of life,” then let’s drink up! But before you lift that glass, you need to either A) buy the right kind of whiskey for your home or B) know what to order at the bar! There are several different whiskeys around the world and all are slightly different — made of different ingredients, and even given different names, like Scotch or Bourbon. So sidle up and find out what you should be looking for …
SCOTCH WHISKYS can only be produced in Scotland and are generally made from malted barley, distilled at least twice and aged for at least three years in oak barrels. Scotch typically has a smoky taste because peat (basically dirt) is used in the malting process.
There are two main types: single malt Scotch (made from malted barley) and single grain Scotch (made at a single distillery of malted barley and other grains, malted or unmalted).
Furthermore there are three blends: blended malt Scotch (a blend of single malt Scotch whiskies from different distilleries), blended grain Scotch (a blend of single grain Scotch whiskies from different distilleries) and blended Scotch (a blend of single malt Scotch and single grain Scotch).
IRISH WHISKEYS can only be produced in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland and are aged for at least three years. Unlike Scotch whiskies, Irish whiskeys have a cleaner taste since peat is not used in the malting process. Most Irish whiskeys are distilled three times from a mixture of malted and unmalted barley and other grains. This produces a whiskey that is much lighter and more neutral than most others.
AMERICAN WHISKEYS are generally aged in new charred oak barrels. Some of the most popular American whiskeys include Rye whiskey, Bourbon and Tennessee whiskey.
Whiskey is really best served “neat“ in a snifter at room temperature with no ice. This type of glass with its particular tulip-like shape helps the drinker enjoy the aroma and flavor. The heat of your hands also helps bring out more flavors in the whiskey.
When you get your whiskey, smell it, but be careful not to inhale abruptly as the alcohol will deaden your senses — it’s best to leave your mouth open as you smell the whiskey. Watch the video below for exact tips on drinking whiskey.
If you order a whiskey “on the rocks,” which means with ice, it will be served to you in an old-fashioned glass. It’s also quite common to order whiskey with water, which some drinkers say helps bring out the flavor of the whiskey. It’s a good idea to taste the whiskey first before adding water to see if it’s even needed. Try to use spring water instead of tap water, which contains chlorine that may react with the whiskey.
Grain whiskey refers to whiskey made from grains other than malted barley that’s distilled in a continuous column still, which produces a light-tasting whiskey. Grain whiskey is usually mixed with malt whiskey to create a blended whiskey.
Blended whiskey contains both malt whiskey and grain whiskey. It’s the most common kind of whiskey available. Brands include Dewar’s, Johnnie Walker, Seagram’s Seven Crown, and Chivas Regal.
Single malt whiskey is made from a single malted grain, traditionally barley, that is made in one distillery. The term is most often applied to Scotch whisky.
Single barrel whiskey means the entire bottle came from one barrel of whiskey instead of a blend from many barrels. This term is most often applied to Bourbons.
Straight whiskey is a term used for an American whiskey that is aged for 2 years or more in new charred white oak barrels.
This holiday season is off to a very merry start here at Mel and Rose as we are once again featured in O, The Oprah Magazine as the place to find this year’s spirit choice for Oprah’s Favorite Things. This is the fourth year in a row that the magazine has directed their fans to Mel and Rose to find Oprah’s favorite spirits.
Oprah turned her attention to American made vodka this year and Square One Organic Sprits, a boutique organic spirits maker, known for its sophisticated, multi-botanical approach to vodka based spirits, is an Oprah favorite. Made from 100% organic American rye, Oprah says: “…this is the vodka I use when mixing cocktails at home.”
And she couldn’t pick just one from the Square One portfolio, she loved them all. That’s why she asked Square One to create this beautiful gift box with all five Square One Organic Spirits along with delicious culinary-inspired cocktail recipes. It’s a perfect gift for the foodie or aspiring mixologist in your life. This entire package, decorated with whimsical illustrations of the botanicals that infuse the spirits, has a personal touch for corporate gift-giving as well. We have the entire Square One Organic Spirits Collection gift pack, or you can pick a few of your favorites and purchase the bottles individually.
1. The custom of bumping glasses with a “cheers” greeting came from old Rome where they used this method to make sure no one is trying to poison the other (bumping glasses makes the drink spill from one cup to the other). This tradition started even earlier in ancient Greece – where the host was to drink the first cup of wine to show his guests he does not intend to poison them.
Happy friends toasting red wine glasses
2. And if we mentioned Rome – In ancient Rome it was forbidden for women to drink wine. If a husband found his wife drinking wine he would be allowed, by law, to kill her.
3. An ancient civilization that did not like wine was Egypt. The old kings avoided wine from the belief that the red alcoholic beverage is actually the blood of men who tried to fight the gods and failed. This is why, according to the egyptians, what makes people act irrationally while drinking it (alcohol).
4. Do you like wine AND living extreme? If you visit Vietnam, ask your waiter a glass of cobra wine. This extreme beverage is rice-wine covered with snake blood that is killed on the spot. if you’d like you can add the snake’s heart to the mix as well.
5. During the prohibition period in the United States, grape juice concentrate manufacturers took advantage of the big drinking lust Americans had and put a great warning sticker on their product saying “After you mix the concentrate with water, please do not keep the mix in a barrel for 20 days – as it will turn into wine.”
6. The world champion of recognizing wine by smell was crowned in 2003. Richard Juhlin, a sport ed from sweden, was able to recognize 43 wines out of 50. For comparison – second place was only able to recognize 4 of them.
7. Although the temptation is great – try not to keep your wine in the kitchen. The heat there is too much and may damage the wine’s quality. the fridge is no place for a wine either since it is just too cold. Find a cool dark closet somewhere in the house where you can keep all your bottles, or just get a wine cellar.
8. If you own a collection of bottles – don’t keep them standing up – this can cause the cork to dry, shrink and oxygen\air might get in the bottle. always keep the bottles lying down (Unless its an artificial cork.)
9. A survey that was being held in said that women that drink 2 cups of wine a day tend to enjoy relationships more than women who don’t drink at all.
10. People who have wine phobia are called Oenophobia – and they really do exist. It might sound funny, but this phobia – just like others, cause them a lot of suffering, especially if they go out to restaurants a lot.
Now you can raise your glass be Happy!
OCEAN ORGANIC VODKA
We have to start with an Aloha as Ocean Vodka has been created in the beautiful island of Maui in Hawaiian Islands. This family owned operated distillery has released a new bottling featuring the best handcrafted vodka in the world for the environment. The crisp, natural, clean taste great to enjoy in cocktails or straight on ice
While champagne is never boring, an alternative to the classically served mimosa is a welcome treat. Whip up a sassy new cocktail and salute the winter season with our sparkling pomegranate and clementine cocktail recipe.
This cocktail is all about fresh clementines and pomegranate juice. It’s super easy to make, and the beautiful color gradient of this cocktail will generate ooohs and ahhhhs from its lucky recipients.
This sparkling cocktail is stunning to serve and they’re outrageously delicious! Enjoy!
Cuba Libre with Bacardi Rum
Even if you are not an expert in making drinks, it doesn’t get any simpler than rum and coke.
Here are the ingredients in this amazing cocktail.
1 oz Bacardi Gold Rum
3 oz Coca-Cola
Garnish: Lime wedge
Glass: Tall
All you need to do is add all of the ingredients to a tall glass filled with ice. Garnish with a lime wedge and say Cheers!
Trust me – This is not a espresso made with hot water for the coffee lover.
This is the story of the cocktail Americano. A creation of Americans abroad and the bartenders who served them in Italy. An Americano was first served in Gaspare Campari’s bar, Cafe Campari in The Campari region of Italy. It was the 1860s and there were plenty of American expatriates around. The drink was originally known as the “Milano-Torino” because Campari is from Milan, where Cafe Campari is located.
Campari creator Gaspare Campari was from Torino and he settled in Milan, where he created the startling orange Campari – the world’s top-selling bitters. He brought sweet vermouth with him from Torino and combined the two signature liquors into this drink, stirring them with soda water – hence the original name. The Italians soon noticed that many Americans enjoyed the cocktail. Eventually the cocktail became known as the “Americano”. The Americano is also a classic aperitif, often served before dinner to cleanse the palate and awaken the appetite.
We love the Americano too. It has a low alcohol content, and we can easily adjust the bitterness. The bitter citrus flavor of the Campari is incredibly refreshing – a palate cleanser on a hot day. The sweet vermouth balances it out just enough with a sweet muskiness, and the soda water makes what could be a very strong and overwhelming drink into a tingling refresher for a hot evening. Serve with citrus slices.
The Americano
1 1/2 ounces Campari
1 1/2 ounces sweet vermouth
Club soda or seltzer
Orange slice for garnish
Fill up an old-fashioned tumbler with ice. You can also water this down a bit more and use a highball; we often do this when we want a long cool drink but not a lot of alcohol.
Pour the Campari and vermouth over the ice and top up with seltzer.
The “Grapefruit in a Coupe” is a refreshing reprisal of the Gin and Tonic classic, using grapefruit and a splash of fresh lemon juice, without overpowering the subtleties in flavor of BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® Gin:
2 parts BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® Gin
1 part Grapefruit Infused Vermouth Syrup*
0.75 part Fresh Lemon Juice…
1 part Egg White
Garnish with a twist of Grapefruit
*Grapefruit Infused Vermouth Syrup
1 part Dolin Dry Vermouth
0.5 part Sugar
4 twists Grapefruit
4 twists Lime
Mix Grapefruit Infused Vermouth Syrup ingredients together over low heat until flavors combine and sugar is dissolved. Strain mixture and let cool before using. Add Bombay Sapphire Gin, Grapefruit Infused Vermouth Syrup, Fresh Lemon Juice, and Egg White to mixing glass. Shake vigorously until mixture is frothy. Pour into chilled coupe glass. Garnish with grapefruit twist.
The classic Collins gets a black-cherry makeover.
Garnish: Cherry
Glass: Highball
Add the vodka, lemon juice and simple syrup to a highball glass filled with ice. Fill with club soda and garnish with a cherry.
Mel and Rose Blog 
