TGIF!

Thank Goodness It's Friday!!! I am especially excited about this weekend since it's gonna be a Girls Weekend! Some of my favorite aspects of this quintessential weekend (besides the camaraderie, girl talk, shopping, etc) are, of course, the cocktails! And what's better than sitting on the water with your girlfriend(s) and sipping a fun festive martini? Listening to the waves roll in and the gossip roll out! Love it!!! So take the time this weekend and make a cocktail for your loved one, whether it be a girlfriend, boyfriend, sister, brother, mother or neighbor. Water and/or waves are optional but do try this Lemon Drop Martini for Two!!!

Lemon Drop Martini:

• Juice of 6 lemons
• 4 tablespoons of sugar
• 6 fresh mint leaves
• 8 ounces of Stoli vodka
• extra sugar for the glass rim

Combine the lemon juice, 4 tablespoons of sugar, and vodka in your ice filled martini shaker. Shake well and pour into two sugar rimmed martini glasses (To rim the glasses, run a lemon wedge around the edge of the glass and then roll edge in sugar). I love garnish so throw a little lemon slice on the glass edge or top with a lemon twist!

*Hint*- I really enjoy ice cold martinis so I always pack my glasses with ice while I am mixing my concoction. And of course, knock the ice out before pouring in your Lemon Drop Martini.

Cold and Flu Season Cure = Bourbon

With all these cold, flu and bubonic plague bugs going around these days, we need a good-old-fashioned-feel-better concoction. Any good hot toddy made with a nice bourbon, honey and lemon will work but sometimes I don't like the heat. Maybe I want something cold or fizzy or both. Maybe a bourbon sling! And another round of Tylenol Cold and Congestion...

Bourbon Sling:

• 2 1/2 ounces of bourbon
• 1/2 ounce of Southern Comfort
• 1/2 fresh lemon juice
• 5 to 6 ounces of chilled club soda
• lemon wedge

Shake the liquid ingredients except the club soda vigorously with ice. Strain into an ice-filled highball glass. Top with club soda and gently stir. Squeeze the lemon wedge over the drink and drop it in.

ABSOLUT(ely) MANGO!

Since this evening is the Charleston Absolut Mango Bartender Challenge and "Mango Mixoff", I thought I would include a tropical libation of the mango variety. Absolut Mango is very potent (in my humble opinion). It has a strong nose of juicy mango probably due to the fact that it is made exclusively of natural ingredients and has no added sugar. As a result, the best way to initially try the Absolut Mango is neat. However, if you are looking for a little more kicked up fun I would try an Absolut Mango Mojito!

Absolut Mango Mojito:

• 3 ounces of Absolut Mango
• Juice of 1 lime
• 1 1/2 ounces of simple syrup
• 1 tablespoon of very fine sugar
• Soda water
• Mint leaves

Muddle mint leaves with sugar in a long drink glass and add crushed ice. Build the vodka, lime juice and syrup over the ice and stir. Top up with soda water and more ice. Garnish with mint leaves and bits of mango.