Good Drinking

Best Portable Drinks for Parties

Share your best ideas

One of my best friends is having us over for a barbecue on Friday and I'd like to bring something to drink that's fun but affordable AND portable. I do enjoy making punch (spiked or otherwise) but I always do the sherbert punch that's quite messy and not at all portable. You can pack the ingredients and put it together at the event itself, but it just takes so much longer. I'd like to keep cleanup to a minimum!

Obviously we could opt for coolers of some sort, but not only are those often just not as good (share your favorites if you have them!) but they can also be pricey. If there's something that's as portable I can make that is at least semi-homemade, that would be an awesome solution.

So what kinds of portable drinks do you enjoy? Do you have any go-to favorites for parties? Post your ideas in the chat!

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Food & Beverage

Recipes

Alcohol

Rum: It's What's for Happy Hour

What is your favorite rum drink?

Rum grog. Is there nothing more warming and comforting on a winter's night? Winter seems pretty far away at the moment, but rum can be enjoyed every season. Its sugary base makes it one of the tastiest and most popular alcohols. If summertime peaches are your thing, a Fuzzy Sunset, which features peaches and cream, may be the perfect way to relax this afternoon. A Malibu Bay Breeze is the perfect summery rum drink for pineapple lovers, and Rum Punch is always a classic for parties.

Do you like a bit of a kick in your drinks? Try the Old Battle Axe, which features a peppery blend in your rum. Need something pretty to serve to guests? Try the Lava Flow, which incorporates strawberries and coconut cream for a decadent finish.

What is your favorite rum drink? Share it in the chat.

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Alcohol

To Freeze or Not to Freeze?

How do you like your margaritas?

We are in the heart of a deep, dank summer, and if you love your frozen drinks during happy hour, I totally get it. Frosty, frozen drinks are a great comfort on sticky, humid days, and they even provide relief from the dry heat. But you know what? I'll still take my margarita on the rocks, thanks.

As much as I enjoy a frozen drink, there's just something about an ice cold margarita. For me, beer and margs need to be cold, but not frozen. (Think frozen beer isn't a thing? Check out the link!) A lightly salted rim around a refreshing margarita is awesome to me no matter the weather, but I really don't have a good reason behind it aside from personal preference.

What about you? Can you make a better case for a margarita on the rocks--or frozen, for that matter?

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Experimenting with Trendy Drinks

Sample some of these popular cocktails

Traveling a lot this summer? These popular place-based cocktails across the United States should make it on your bucket list! They are among this season's most popular drinks in local bars in North America. In Baltimore, for example, there is the Rooted In cocktail, which is a play on beets. From beet juice to beet vinegar, beets are definitely the star of this drink, but it's tapered with some honey, ginger and parsley. The alcohol? Gin, baby.

If you're not on the East Coast this summer, you can head to San Francisco and sample the Royal Bombay Yacht Club, which is designed around some heat. A combo of chile liqueur, mint and lime is surprisingly refreshing, even in the summer sunshine--not that SF ever stays unbearably hot for long!

What place-based drink have you tried this summer that has your head spinning? Share your favorite spirits in the chat below.

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Liquor

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Beer & Wine

Hangover Cures

Share your favorites

Some people swear by certain hangover cures, while others claim that only time can really "cure" a night of getting hammered. Whichever camp you belong to, you have to admit that some people have some really interesting ideas! From enormous, greasy breakfasts to weird drinks, most people have heard of something that works for someone. Whether it really works, well, you be the judge!

Water and aspirin are the most commonly suggested and helpful remedies, for obvious reasons, but some swear by Gatorade and other electrolyte drinks. Coffee helps lots of people recover from a hangover, and recovering your blood sugar levels after all of that booze with some toast or crackers, eaten slowly, has been said to help many drinkers, too.

What do you think is the best remedy for a night of drinking? Share what has worked for you in the chat.

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Alcohol

Boozy Ice Cream

Have your treat and drink it, too!

Now that summer is in full swing, it's time to mix two fun things together: your favorite drinks and your favorite ice cream! Boozy ice cream is one of the most fun items used to celebrate the summer months. Not only is it cool and refreshing, but it combines dessert and drinks to create something delightfully naughty. There are entire restaurants devoted to boozy ice cream beverages and if you have one near you, be sure to seek it out this summer!

If you don't have one, try making one of these sweet drinks this summer. From margarita pops to mimosa floats, there is sure to be something to tickle your fancy. Enjoy it with friends or on a rare afternoon alone. This source of boozy ice cream also delivers nationwide!

What is your favorite way to enjoy booze with ice cream? Share your recipes in the chat!

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Food & Beverage

Desserts/Sweets

Alcohol

Fourth of July Cocktails

Use these ideas or share your own

Have you been preparing your Fourth of July menus yet? If so, this list of 24 cocktails is a perfect place to find ideas for your drinks menu. The common theme among these drinks, of course, is the color scheme: most of them are a combination of red, white and blue. There is even a layered shot called The Fourth of July that features all of the colors of the American flag!

From red, white and blue jello shots to the non-alcoholic and gorgeous Patriotic Cocktail, you are bound to find something perfect for your celebration in the list.

Do you already have a drinks menu planned? If so, share your recipes in the chat!

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Alcohol

Liquor

National Cognac Day

Did you forget to celebrate?

June 4 was National Cognac Day. Did you miss out? If so, it's not too late to celebrate! Cognac is one of those expensive drinks that you normally enjoy plain on the rocks, but a cocktail made with Cognac is not unheard of. If you prefer your drinks to be a little more on the mild side than the wild side, there are all sorts of cocktails you can try out to see if you like Cognac in the process.

The Almond Crusta is both beautiful and tasty, which is no surprise since it calls for almond syrup, Junipero gin and some lemon juice. Looking for something a little more sophisticated? Try the Sidecar, which calls for Cointreau, lemon juice and a sugary rim.

What is your favorite way to drink Cognac? Tell us in the chat!

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Liquor

Alcohol

Best Quality Drink Syrups

What do you use?

When I first started making my own drinks at home, I made the mistake of purchasing the cheapest flavor syrup I could find. It couldn't be that bad, right? I didn't think there would be a huge difference but holy cow, was it disgusting. I learned drink syrups are some of the ingredients that you do want to spend a bit more on to make sure you get the flavors you are really after.

In my research, it seems that Monin may be the best brand of syrup to use in making drinks. Not only have I read great reviews and experienced well-made products with this syrup, but I also see that they have a great variety of flavors available, from almond and amaretto to toasted marshmallow and toffee nut. It looks like they even have some affordable sizes available that are almost as cheap as the poorly-made flavors that I previously purchased, so there's little risk in trying them out.

Have you used these syrups? Which drink flavorings do you use when you mix drinks at home?

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Fruity Summer Drinks

Cool off with one of these favorites

When it comes to summer, there's a lot to love. From longer days to time off with friends and family, it's the favorite time of year for many people. One of the best things about the hot season is the number of fruity drinks that are available! With so much fruit in season, it's a great time of year to enjoy fruity beverages.

Why not make a bucket list of a few summer drinks you'd like to sample this year? Maybe you'd like to try a margarita with blood orange juice or a peach moon with orange juice. There are plenty of fruit-flavored drink mixes if you don't want to mess with real fruit, of course, but fruit does add to the fresh element. Maybe a watermelon sangria with pineapple sounds up your alley, or some pineapple ginger prosecco punch could quench your thirst. Pick a couple to try this summer and you may have a new favorite!

What is your favorite summer fruity, boozy beverage? Share your recipes in the chat below.

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