We are nearing the end of the first month of 2012 and let’s all be honest, maybe we aren’t doing as well as promised with our New Year’s resolutions. Although we all may be climbing out from the holiday guilt of eating and drinking and being merry … a lot… some of us still may be doing… some. Below are some helpful suggestions of ways to reduce the cocktail calories.
Frosty Light Margaritas
Lime wedges
Kosher salt for the glasses’ rims
1/2 cup juice from Mexican limes or fresh limes
1/4 cup Tequila Cazadores or Milagro
1 1/2 tablespoons of Cointreau or Aquavera (orange-flavored liqueur)
2 1/2-3 tablespoons superfine sugar
12 ice cubes
1. Run a lime wedge around the edge of each glass. Then dip rims into a saucer filled with the Kosher salt.
2. Put the remaining ingredients into a blender; blend until the ice cubes are chipped and the mixture becomes frothy.
3. Pour the mixture into the prepared glasses; garnish with lime.
Mojito
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 lime
3 sprigs mint
1.5 ounces light Bacardi Rum
soda water
1. Put the sugar in a highball glass (or any 8-12 ounce glass) and squeeze 1/2 of a small lime.
2. Toss squeezed lime in glass.
3. Add mint sprigs and muddle for a moment.
4. Add Bacardi Rum, handful of ice, and fill with chilled soda water.
Bombay Magic
Half a shot glass Cointreau
1/4 shot glass of Titos’ Vodka
lemon juice
club soda
mint leaf
1. Squeeze 1/2 lemon.
2. Pour half a shot glass of Cointreau, 1/4 shot glass of Titos’ Vodka.
3. Top it off with club soda and use a mint leaf for garnishing.
All three of these cocktails are approximately 150 calories and simply delicious. There are also light beers available, but calorie for calorie you will may find that you will enjoy one of these fun cocktails because they are packed with more flavor. Remember, most of the calories in cocktails come from the high sugar mixers, so the fresher the drink the easier it is to drink to your health!
Cheers!
Lipman Brothers and the R.S. Lipman Company are honored to represent outstanding wineries, distillers, and breweries from around the globe. The following are just a few that have been singled out for special recognition in 2011.
Every year, Wine Enthusiast Magazine honors those who epitomize the culture of wine with the Wine Star Awards. We are thrilled that several of the Wine Star Award recipients are a part of what we do here at Lipman.Wente Vineyards is America’s oldest continuously operated family-owned winery and was named the American Winery of the Year. Charlotte Voisey of William Grant & Sons (Hendrick’s Gin, Milagro Tequila, Sailor Jerry) was named Mixologist of the Year while David S. Taub, CEO of Palm Bay International was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award and Georg Josef and Maximilian Riedel of Riedel Glassware received the Generations of Innovation Award. All recipients will be honored at a reception at The New York Public Library on January 30, 2012.
Additional notable achievements are Unibroue Don de Dieu Triple Wheat Ale taking the number one spot in Wine Enthusiast Magazine’s Top 25 Beers of 2011. Another great product that topped out at number one on Wine Enthusiast’s 100 Must Have Wines of 2011 is Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi Nipozzano Riserva 2007 (Chianti Rufina).
Additionally, F. Paul Pacult’s Spirits Journal is instituting an annual F. Paul Pacult’s Spirits Journal Hall of Fame. Each year no more than five spirits will be inducted into their “Hall of Fame”. Included in the inaugural year’s picks are, Highland Park 18yr Single Malt Whisky (Scotland) calling it the “The quintessential whisky; the ultimate expression of the distiller’s art and magic, and The Best Spirit in the World”. Also inducted into the Hall of Fame was Cointreau Liqueur (France), “the perfect liqueur in every sense of the word…An indispensable spirit in scores of legendary cocktails (Sidecar, Margarita) and contemporary cocktails (Cosmopolitan), and when tasted side-by-side with its wannabes, it trounces all with startling conviction.”
The prestigious Ultimate Spirits Challenge rated Michael Collins Blended Irish Whiskey a “96” Ultimate Recommendation, #1 Irish Whiskey and the Chairman’s Trophy Winner for 2011. Some of our beers also did awfully well at The Great American Beer Festival. Rogue Ales’ Hazelnut Brown Nectar and Smoke Ale received Gold Medals as did Ommegang Brewery with their Belgian-Style Witte and Flying Dog’s Horn Dog Barleywine. Silver Medals were bestowed upon Lakefront Brewery’s Gluten-Free New Grist, Oskar Blues’Mama’s Little Yella Pils and Napa Smith’s, Organic IPA. Oskar Blues captured a Bronze Medal for their Old Chub Scotch Ale.
However, we have saved what we believe is the best for last. In February 2011, The Malt Advocate (Now Whisky Advocate) awarded Angelo Lucchesi a Lifetime Achievement Award. Angelo was the very first salesman for Jack Daniel’s, beginning his career with this legendary distillery in 1953. Angelo has been a tireless champion of Jack Daniel’s and for all America
n Whiskey. In 2011 the Jack Daniel’s Distillery celebrated Angelo and his accomplishments alongside his 90th birthday with the Angelo Lucchesi Commemorative Bottle. Lipman Brothers has a long standing relationship with Angelo, as Lipman Brothers is the first distributor of Jack Daniel’s worldwide. We couldn’t be prouder of Angelo and all that he has done to help build Jack Daniel’s into the brand it is today. Just as a side note…. This author, is the proud owner of an autographed bottle.
