Happy New Year!

To toast the new year, I thought I'd do a cocktail post, highlighting some of the delicious libations we've enjoyed in 2011... Wishing you all a happy healthy 2012!!

This year, Barcade - this cool bar that features a constantly rotating selection of craft beers as well as old school arcade cames - opened up another location in Jersey City, right around the corner from us. On this particular visit, Fisherman's beers from Cape Ann Brewing Company in Massachusetts were the featured beers on tap; you can see our colorful selections above and their descriptions below: 

Another time I ordered a nice cider from California but don't remember the name... I did take a picture though, because look at the color! So light!

Enjoying a summer afternoon with a couple of German beers at Zeppelin Hall, our local Biergarten:

A couple of Jimmy's yummy Micheladas below, also superb in the summertime. His basic recipe: about a 1/4" of Worcester sauce at the bottom of a pint glass, 6 or 7 drops Tabasco (we like'm spicy), a little salt, fresh squeezed lime juice, and a nice Modelo Especial (or any other Mexican beer). Sometimes he uses Maggi seasoning sauce... you can also use soy sauce, or lemon juice etc. So refreshing! 

Herradura Reposado. Couple drops of lime, sipped and savored. THE best:

A lovely margarita... tequila, triple sec, fresh squeezed lime juice, a drop of agave nectar, and salt. the perfect favorite cocktail in my book:

Here are some fun cocktails Jimmy and I had at The Spotted Pig one time... his was a Satan's Whiskers: gin, two different vermouths, triple sec and orange. The frothy looking one was mine: a Pisco Sour, made with Barsol Pisco Quebranta (a brandy from Peru), lime, simple syrup, raw egg white and Angostura Bitters. Really nice, and so pretty!

Now here is my cocktail of choice, besides a margarita: the Side Car. Maybe I love it so much because it's very much like a margarita, but with cognac or brandy instead of tequila, and lemon juice instead of lime. Oh and sugar on the rim instead of salt. I guess the only common ingredient is the triple sec or cointreau.... Anyway, it's a classic, and so good! I'm pretty sure I turned the whole family on to them this Christmas...

And last but not least, Pink Champagne!!! 

Cheers! Salud! Cin cin! Zum wohl! Prost! Egészségedre! And Happy New Year!!!