Tips and tricks of cocktails for parties, meals, or just relaxation with Mixologist Jeremy Parsons.

California Dreaming!

I recently got back from a trip to Los Angeles and Las Vegas. While there, I tried out the local drinks of choice and I found a couple of unusual mixes that I thought I would pass on to you this week.

Many of the martini bars that I spent time in offered various drinks that I had never heard of. What I found was that they were traditional cocktails that used blended fruit juice mixes to give a refreshing twist to classic recipes.

I found that these fruit mixes were generally a blend of two or three fruits. This bespoke attitude to bartending ensures that the ingredients do not separate while sitting. While this does take time it is certainly worth the wait. The recipes below are listed with the quantity of fruit that will have to be blended to make the drink.

Here are a few that I thought you might like:

Yellow Bird

1 oz. Malibu Rum
1/2 oz. Bacardi Rum
1/2 a banana
5 Strawberries
3 Rings of Pineapple
Blend into juice and shake with vodka.

Screwed Driver

1 oz. Vodka
3 oz. Freshly Squeezed Ugly Fruit Juice
2 Rings of Pineapple
Built over Ice
Blend into juice and shake with vodka.

Berry Cosmopolitan

1 oz. Vodka
2 oz. White Cranberry Juice
1/4 cup of Blueberries
1/4 cup of Raspberries
Blend into juice and shake with vodka.

Jeremy J. Parsons is the founder and owner of Cocktails the Fluid Experience, a Toronto-based beverage marketing and event management company that specializes in the alcohol industry. Jeremy creates new cocktails and martini recipes for many of the top brands in Canada. His work has taken him nationally to consult, launch and execute parties at some of the top restaurants, bars and galas where he and his staff bring out the latest and greatest liquid creations for your sampling pleasure. For more information on Jeremy and the services that he and his company provide please log on to www.beerchill.com or call them directly at 416.466.DRNK (3765).