Dear 007: The Only Thing Shaking Is Our Heads...

It's that classic line, "shaken, not stirred," made famous by none other than James Bond.  

In the next movie of 007 series, "Skyfall," it looks like Mr. Bond will be replacing his traditional martini with the Dutch beer, Heineken.  This comes as a surprise to us here at On The Rocks... as, though we do enjoy a good tall-one, a classic martini signifies class, not to take anything away from beer aficionados. 




This sudden and very drastic transition for Mr. Bond is a goldmine for Heineken.  The movie, set to launch later this year, is one of 2012's most anticipated and Heineken recognizes that.  


2012 marks the 50th anniversary for the series of films and the Dutch beer company has plans in the works for a massive ad campaign which includes the "new James Bond" played by the returning double agent, Daniel Craig.


I guess all we can do is wait.  There's no harm in change is there?  I mean, we do it all the time to our martinis...

Hangovers: Our Advice...

Being that On The Rocks... writes about alcohol, it only felt proper to provide readers with effective ways to cure that dreaded hangover.  We attribute the results to MensHealth.com, as this was an article written by Brittany Risher back in 2006.

______________________________________________




Water



The consumption of H2O is a must!  Being that you dehydrate your body when you consume alcohol, replenishing it with water is the first step to curing, and even avoiding morning hangovers.

______________________________________________

Coffee


A traditional morning cup o' joe is enjoyed by many, so, it's not unnatural to crave coffee the morning after a long night of drinking.  Studies show that caffeine is a natural remedy for headaches, yet, caffeine also causes dehydration.  This results in a negative/positive, so, if you so desire, make sure you drink water with that morning brew.
______________________________________________




More Alcohol


The saying "the best cure to a hangover is another one" doesn't exist out of sheer randomness.  The truth is, a morning cocktail DOES alleviate hangovers, but, it doesn't get rid of them.  All a morning drink does is numb the pain.  Doctors don't recommend this form of treatment, and also attribute this practice to what they call alcohol dependency.  




______________________________________________


Toast or Crackers

A hangover simply boils down to blood sugar levels.  Naturally, when your body's blood sugar levels dip, your liver reacts by breaking down carbs into glucose.  Yet, when you drink, your liver is very busy metabolizing the alcohol that it doesn't have time to compensate for blood sugar levels and they as a result, remain low.  Toast or crackers are a easy way to replenish your body with carbs so your liver can convert them into glucose.

______________________________________________

Food (Before or After?)

Eating a meal prior to drinking is very important.  When food is in your stomach, it slows down alcohol's absorption rate, thus, making it's effects not so instantaneous and dramatic.  While you may wake in the morning craving a big meal, devouring one won't effectively treat your hangover, it'll just satisfy your hunger.  Eat before you drink!

______________________________________________

Pain Medication

What do you do when you have a pounding headache?  Over course, you reach in your medicine cabinet and grab a couple Tylenol.  With respect to hangovers, doctors say this practice is ok, but users be aware.  Avoid steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like Tylenol and Advil.  Stick to non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin and ibuprofen.  This is because your liver is busy combating the alcohol still in your system.  So loading it with painkillers means either your liver will slightly filter the drug, or, worst case, not filter it at all.  This could lead to serious liver damage!

______________________________________________

Exercise

Go on.  Sweat it out.  The idea is to increase the endorphines in your body.  Just make sure you keep a handy bottle of cold water nearby!

Your Luck's About to Change...

Tomorrow is Friday the 13th, everyone's favorite unlucky, and, in recent history, "deadly" day.

There are a multitude of theories as to why specifically Friday the 13th is designated as "the day". But the concept was not made popular until the film "Friday the 13th," starring everyone's favorite slasher, Jason Voorhees, was released.

Historically, Friday the 13th is predominantly a western culture phenominon.  In Spanish-speaking countries, Tuesday the 13th is their "day of bad luck". Uniquely, for Italian pop-culture, Friday the 17th is considered their unlucky day because in their culture, 13 is regarded as a lucky number.


So, let's change the stereotype.  On The Rocks... has put something special in a glass for you, and no, it's not blood or bad luck.  Let's just say, your luck's about to change.
______________________________________________


Lucky 'Ole Jason






Drink Type: Martini


Ingredients:
1.5 oz of vodka
1.5 oz of pomegranate juice
1.5 oz blood orange juice (1 blood orange)
1 tbl of agave syrup
1 lime wedge


Instructions:
Mix all ingredients in a martini shaker with ice.  Squeeze blood orange and lime wedge.  Shake vigorously and strain into a chilled martini glass.  Garnish with pomegranate seeds and sugar coated blood orange slice.


Description:
YUMMMMMM!!! In our opinion, vodka is by far the best liquor to make martinis with.  It compliments nearly every mixture you can throw at it.  We just happen to love pomegranate juice, not only because it's healthy, but it just tastes so delicious!  Throw in a bit of the citrusy blood orange and lime flavors along with the delectable sweetness of agave syrup, and walla, you've created a masterpiece.  This drink is incredible.  Perfect for nearly any occasion: dinner, barbecues, weddings, ANYTHING!  Unique? Yes.  Colorful?  Yes.  Tasty?  Absolutely.  On The Rocks... says, if you ever find yourself standing at a bar or at home craving a cocktail, put this one at the top of your list, you can't go wrong!

Houston, We've Got a Problem

One of man's greatest accomplishments has been it's voyage into outer-space. It's an environment entirely opposite of the one on which we exist, Earth.

On April 11, 1970, NASA launched it's seventh manned mission of the American Apollo space program, Apollo 13, the third of which was intended to land on the Moon. During the shuttle's journey, it encountered a multitude of malfunctions that crippled the module along with it's three astronauts onboard.

The damaged Apollo 13 service module

Despite limited power, loss of heating, a shortage of portable water, a jury-rigged carbon dioxide removal system, and a heroic reentry into Earth's atmosphere, the shuttle and it's three passengers all returned home safely, making a splash landing in the South Pacific Ocean.

Apollo 13's crew returning home hours after their splash landing
in the South Pacific

It recognition of man's outer-space accomplishments, and specifically, the Apollo 13 mission gone disastrous, On The Rocks... would like to introduce a cocktail that is out of this world; no pun intended.

______________________________________________

The Apollo 13






Drink Type: Martini


Ingredients:
3.5 oz of vodka
.5 oz of blackberry brandy

Edible gold-flakes

Lemon slice for garnish


Instructions:
Pour all ingredients EXCEPT for the gold-flakes into a cocktail shaker with ice.  Shake vigorously and strain into a chilled martini glass.  Sprinkle gold-flakes on top and garnish rim with a lemon slice.


Description:
This drink is more representational than pleasurable.  It's quite obvious that the black color signifies outer-space.  Symbolically, what's unique about it is first, the gold-flakes, identifying stars and second, the lemon slice, representational of our sun.  Taste-wise, we are not fans. Blackberry for a drink? Not our forte, and in all honesty, the only reason this drink got three stars is for it's presentation and symbolism.  Since On The Rocks... is only here to present drinks to you, we won't tell you whether or not to try this martini.  But we will say, trust our judgement. Ironically, the failure of flavor of this martini is, in a funny fashion, is representational of Apollo 13's failed mission.  

A Titanic Cocktail

The RMS Titanic docked at the port of Southhampton, England
just prior to her departure.

On April 10th, 1912, the R.M.S. Titanic left the port of Southhampton, England on it's maiden voyage to steam steadily to New York. Sadly, four days into her voyage, the "unsinkable" ship struck an iceberg, sending the vessel nearly 12,500 feet deep to the sea-floor.  Of the 2, 224 passengers, 1,514 people lost their lives.  It remains still till this day, one of the most notable disasters in history.

April 14th will mark the ship's 100-year anniversary, and with the recently release of the famed film Titanic 3D, On The Rocks... wanted to pay hommage to a day that will live in infamy. 

______________________________________________

The Deadly Deep Blue Sea

Drink Type: Cocktail

Ingredients:

1 oz of dry vermouth

1 oz of gin

1.5 oz of blue curacao

.25 teaspoon of anisette

1 dash of orange bitters

Instructions:

In a cocktail shaker, mix all ingredients and shake until blended into a blue color.  In a rocks glass, add cracked ice and strain drink from shaker to glass.  Garnish with fruit if desired.

Description:

While One The Rocks... isn't much of a gin drinker, we were pleasantly surprised with this drink.  The bartender was very creative when designing the cocktail.  The blue curcacao, while providing flavor, was also chosen as a representation of the sea, and it's colored result resembles murky ocean water.  The orange bitters does a fantastic job of subduing the gin's overpowering flavor, and yet, is significant in terms of the bitter feelings families had after the ship's sinking.  All in all, the drink is slightly fruity, not overbearing, just very pleasantly flavorful.  This is a great cocktail and we definitely recommend this.

The Easter Bunny's Liquid Dessert

This past Sunday was Easter, and with all the bunny rabbits and baskets fill with painted eggs, On The Rocks... wanted to introduce a cocktail, not to sip during dinner, but for after. It's sweet, smooth, and awfully delicious. Happy Easter everybody!
______________________________________________


Caramel Cadbury Egg Martini






Drink Type: Martini


Ingredients: 
1 - 1.5 oz of Baily's Irish Cream with caramel
1/2 ounce crème de cacao
1 oz of caramel syrup
1 oz of cream
.5 tablespoon of Hershey's Chocolate Syrup plus extra for rim


Instructions:
Drizzle chocolate syrup around rim of martini glass. In a cocktail shaker, place all ingredient in with ice and shake until all the chocolate is completely incorporated. Strain contents into glass.


Description:
Dessert really is not necessary.  This martini is DELICIOUS! We wouldn't advise this drink if you're looking for a buzz, largely because there is very little alcohol in it. There are slight traces thanks to the Baily's, but you will mostly notice the smooth and sweet blend of the chocolate and caramel. It's a big on the heavy side which is precisely why we say dessert won't be needed, but on the upside, this drink will undoubtably fulfill your sweet-tooth. On The Rocks... says GO FOR IT!

Gin & Jewse

As many are aware of, this weekend was Passover. For those who aren't familiar with what Passover is, it is a Jewish holiday that celebrates the freeing of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt.  The holiday is synonymous with Matzo, the crispy flatbread made solely from water and flour.


On The Rocks... thought, in commemoration of the holiday and it's history, a cocktail would be suffice. Mazel tov!
______________________________________________


Gin & Jewse

Drink Type: Cocktail


Ingredients:
1.5 oz. of gin
2 oz of Manischewitz
1 oz of fruit juice


Instructions:
In shaker, add ice along with specified ingredients.  Shake vigorously and strain into a chilled martini glass.  Garnish with matching wedge of fruit if desired.


Description:
Well, we think unique is the perfect description. We have NEVER thought of using Manischewitz in a cocktail, yet, it was surprisingly delicious!  We decided on using cherry juice for our drink, but, as stated above, the type of juice used is strictly preference based. The drink is smooth. While gin isn't our favorite of liquors, the Manischewitz does a wonderful job of softening the liquor's flavor. The chosen fruit juice is very important as we couldn't imagine this cocktail with a citrus fruit. Something about orange or pineapple and Manischewitz doesn't sit well with us. This cocktail is wonderful for festive occasions, a great replacement for a glass of wine. Le chiem.