Cocktail Pairing: Summer Rolls and Zen Gardens
June 26, 2015 1:49 pm 56 CommentsUsing complementing flavors and ingredients is the first step in creating a fabulous cocktail pairing, so today I’ll be showing how... View Article
Author Archives for Tara Shinn
About Tara Shinn
Director of Mixology for Premier Innovations Group
Mission: Making Mixology Easy for Everyone!
@TaraShinn
Are you getting enough antioxidants from your cocktails?
June 13, 2015 3:09 pm 24 CommentsWe all know that making healthy choices can be hard- especially when the weekend rolls around. Luckily, berries have tons of... View Article
Forget Dying Your Easter Eggs- Try an Easter Egg Cocktail Instead!
April 4, 2015 4:02 pm Leave your thoughtsWhy waste time dying Easter eggs when you can use them to make a pretty pastel hued Easter egg cocktail... View Article
Using cocktail gastriques
March 26, 2015 6:37 pm Leave your thoughtsIf you’re an avid diner I’m sure you’ve seen the term “gastrique” used on a menu at least a few... View Article
Infuse Some Candy Cane Vodka for the Holidays!
December 12, 2014 3:39 pm Leave your thoughtsThis year, I decided to go a bit more crafty than normal for gifts (I fully blame Pintrest by the... View Article
The perfect Thanksgiving cocktail: Cran-Apple Cider
November 20, 2014 4:58 pm Leave your thoughtsWhat’s a celebration without the perfect Thanksgiving cocktail? Whether you’re hosting Thanksgiving dinner, or don’t want to show up empty... View Article
Up the Boos for your Halloween Happy Hour!
October 31, 2014 2:30 pm Leave your thoughtsNot sure what to serve at your Halloween party or just need a quick pre-game cocktail before Halloween Happy Hour?... View Article
How to make pixie syrup for cocktails
October 9, 2014 7:28 pm Leave your thoughtsEveryone knows that candy is the best part of Halloween- now you can turn it into a cocktail! This simple... View Article
Top 5 tools every home bar should have
September 18, 2014 10:37 pm Leave your thoughtsWhether your experimenting with new cocktail trends or just love a good Martini, having the right tools (and knowing how... View Article
What’s 10x better than a Moscow Mule? A Latvian one of course!
September 11, 2014 4:36 pm Leave your thoughtsWho doesn’t love a good Moscow mule? They’re spicy, citrusy, and if made properly, super cold due to the traditional... View Article
celebrate labor day with the real maguire
August 29, 2014 2:41 pm Leave your thoughtsLabor day weekend is upon us, and we all know what that means- Sunday Funday cocktails!! We work hard all... View Article
How to make herbal sugars for rimming
August 7, 2014 10:39 pm Leave your thoughtsWe all know how a cinnamon sugar rim can take a fresh apple-tini to a new level- so why... View Article
Growing a cocktail garden: Part 3- Drying Herbs
July 18, 2014 12:22 am Leave your thoughtsYou cocktail garden should be in full bloom at this point (refer to How to Grow A Cocktail Garden: Part... View Article
How to make a Strawberry Shrub
June 27, 2014 7:56 pm 2 CommentsCondensing the flavor of seasonal ripe fruit, then preserving it with vinegar is know as a shrub, and is an... View Article
How to make your own sweet tea vodka in 10 minutes!
June 13, 2014 12:23 am Leave your thoughtsSweet tea vodka comes in many different flavors and sizes (and prices!)- but they all have one thing in common:... View Article
Heading out to eat? Why not BYOV?
May 30, 2014 5:51 am Leave your thoughtsWe’re all familiar with the BYOB concept (it’s when you bring you own booze to a restaurant or eatery without... View Article
Memorable Memorial Day Cocktails!
May 22, 2014 11:20 pm Leave your thoughtsMemorial Day weekend officially kicks off today and you’ve already picked up the burgers, dogs and corn- but what about... View Article
Growing a Cocktail Garden: Part 2
May 16, 2014 6:25 pm Leave your thoughtsNow that your soil is prepped and your seedling are starting to grow (See Growing a Cocktail Garden: Part 1),... View Article
Check out these top spring cocktails!
April 25, 2014 4:00 pm 4 CommentsSpring is here, so why not celebrate with a nice refreshing spring cocktail? Here are the top 3 from the... View Article
Egg white cocktails: Make a foam using nitrous oxide instead!
April 21, 2014 4:58 pm Leave your thoughtsEgg white cocktails: We all love ’em for the silky texture and mouthfeel with the added bonus of that signature... View Article
Growing a cocktail Garden: Part 1
April 18, 2014 4:00 pm Leave your thoughtsSummer cocktails require fresh ingredients, and you can’t get any fresher than plucking them from your own backyard, so why... View Article
How to make carbonated cocktails using a soda siphon!
March 29, 2014 9:00 am 6 CommentsEveryone loves a bit of bubble in their cocktail, but sodas can be sugary and high in calories. What if... View Article
Dress up your Lemondrop!
March 21, 2014 9:00 am 1 CommentSpring is officially here, and for us that means sun, fun and lemondrop martinis! There are dozens of lemondrop recipes... View Article
Try a Cucumber Melon-Tini: The Perfect St. Patrick’s Day cocktail!
March 14, 2014 9:00 am Leave your thoughtsYou don’t need to be Irish to be excited for Saint Patrick’s Day, if fact there’s only one real necessity:... View Article
How to smoke cocktails using a smoking gun
March 7, 2014 9:00 am Leave your thoughtsIn response to some of the MixBook cocktails, we received some requests for a complete tutorial on how to smoke... View Article
Indulge yourself this Fat Tuesday with a “Carnival Sin” cocktail!
February 28, 2014 9:00 am 1 CommentFat Tuesday is just a few days away, and even if you’re still contemplating where to celebrate, make sure you... View Article
Clique Vodka Sponsors History Uncorked: Poptastic! Art of Burton Morris
February 21, 2014 9:00 am Leave your thoughtsClique Vodka is proud to be sponsoring the 16th annual History Uncorked event tonight at the History Center featuring Burton... View Article
How to make strawberry rose garnishes!
February 14, 2014 9:00 am Leave your thoughtsWhy pay big money for real roses when it takes 2 minutes to carve up some edible ones? Surprise your... View Article
Make your own Crème de Cacao for Valentine’s Day!
February 7, 2014 9:00 am Leave your thoughtsValentine’s Day is fast approaching and for the ladies that usually means 1 thing= chocolate. Whether you’re single, or celebrating... View Article
In the Limelight: Chinese New Year’s cocktails with Mixologist Kory Husson
January 31, 2014 9:00 am Leave your thoughtsToday is Chinese New Year or Spring festival, and marks the start of the Lantern festival- a celebration that will... View Article
Use this Polar Vortex chill to your advantage and make some stunning cocktails this weekend!
January 24, 2014 1:51 pm Leave your thoughtsWhen the world is your freezer, why not use this Polar Vortex to your advantage and try out some of... View Article
Power up with these immune boosting cocktail recipes!
January 18, 2014 7:33 pm 4 CommentsGot the sniffles? Runny nose? Try one of these immune boosting cocktail recipes to make sure you kick that cold... View Article
The Top 10 Biggest Vodka Myths
January 10, 2014 12:30 pm 3 CommentsSo you think you know about vodka? See how many of these top 10 vodka myths had you fooled. 10.... View Article
Low calorie cocktails: 4 simple rules to follow
January 3, 2014 9:00 am Leave your thoughtsAmericans drink about 20% of their calories, so stick to those New Year’s resolutions by following these 4 simple rules... View Article
5 Fun and Easy New Year’s Eve Cocktail Recipes!
December 31, 2013 9:00 am Leave your thoughtsWhether you’re hosting a New Year’s Eve party this year, or just want to try a few tasty cocktails before... View Article
Tips, tricks and recipes for making holiday vodka infusions!
December 13, 2013 9:00 am 1 CommentMaking your own infused vodka for the Holidays is not only a fabulous way of creating unique cocktails for your... View Article
Host the perfect holiday gathering with “The Partystarter!”
December 6, 2013 9:00 am Leave your thoughtsHosting the perfect Holiday party is never effortless- it takes planning, excellent timing, and attention to detail to pull off... View Article
End a perfect Thanksgiving meal with a Pumpkin Pie Martini!
November 22, 2013 9:00 am Leave your thoughtsAside from the turkey (which I’m pretty sure wouldn’t taste very good in a cocktail) I think we can all... View Article
This is a Mandatory Cocktail We Cant Figure Out
November 21, 2013 11:53 am Leave your thoughtsIt’s been 6 weeks since the Affordable Care Act (or ObamaCare) was initiated on Oct. 1st, and let’s face it-... View Article
Warm up with a hot cocktail!
November 8, 2013 9:00 am Leave your thoughtsWith temperatures dropping all over the place, there’s no reason you should have to settle for ice cold cocktails all... View Article
Make your own flavored sours mix for this “FireDancer” cocktail!
November 1, 2013 10:39 am Leave your thoughtsFor this deliciously delicate cocktail the trick is all in the mix- papaya sours mix that is. Making flavored sours... View Article
Use Zevia all natural sodas for sugar free Halloween cocktails!
October 26, 2013 4:43 pm Leave your thoughtsIf you’ve been searching for a way to cut down the amount of sugar in your cocktails, search no more!... View Article
This delightfully gory Halloween cocktail is actually light and sweet!
October 25, 2013 9:00 am Leave your thoughtsHalloween is almost here, and what better way to curl up to a scary movie that with a gory Halloween... View Article
Make pumpkin infused vodka for this spooky Halloween cocktail!
October 18, 2013 3:35 pm Leave your thoughtsIt’s pretty hard to miss the pumpkin craze going on, it’s in everything from coffee to butter right now, so... View Article
Pittsburgh Yellow Cab celebrates 100 years with a “Hail, Yes!”
October 16, 2013 3:11 pm Leave your thoughtsPittsburgh Yellow Cab, a division of the Pittsburgh Transportation Group, celebrates 100 years of “Moving Pittsburgh Forward” this year. To... View Article
Ward off colds with this carrot juice cocktail!
October 11, 2013 9:00 am Leave your thoughtsFall is fully upon us, and that means a lot of temperature changes and a constant chill in the air.... View Article
Toast National Vodka Day with this “Back in Blackberry” cocktail recipe!
October 4, 2013 9:00 am Leave your thoughtsIt’s here again- National Vodka Day! Accounting for almost 25% of liquor sales, vodka is still the most popular spirit in... View Article
Cocktail Creation 101
October 3, 2013 9:00 am Leave your thoughtsSo you’ve already mastered your shake, and know how to stir up the perfect martini (congrats!), but for The National... View Article
Jump into Fall with this warm “Johnny Appleseed” cocktail!
September 27, 2013 9:00 am Leave your thoughtsIf you have never warmed up with a hot cup of apple cider on a blustery Fall day- you don’t... View Article
Homemade raspberry hibiscus syrup lends an exotic flavor to this “Hibis-Kiss” cocktail
September 20, 2013 9:00 am Leave your thoughtsUsing flavored simple syrups is always a quick and easy way to bring a ton of flavor to basic cocktails,... View Article
Take your sangria to the next level by stacking it!
September 13, 2013 9:00 am Leave your thoughtsSangria is undeniably the most loved wine cocktail, probably because it’s so versatile. You can make it with red, white,... View Article
Who’s ready for some Steelers football?
September 6, 2013 5:26 pm Leave your thoughtsOf course we are all excited to jump back into the NFL season, which means there will undoubtedly be some... View Article
Take a day trip to “Kiwi West!”
August 23, 2013 9:00 am Leave your thoughtsSummer is just flying by so fast, I feel like I haven’t even had any time to enjoy it! Well,... View Article
Relax this weekend with a refreshing “Zen Garden”
August 16, 2013 9:00 am Leave your thoughtsOne of my favorite ways to relieve stress is gardening, and right now is my favorite time of the year.... View Article
Check out these amazing Shark Week cocktails!
August 10, 2013 4:20 pm Leave your thoughtsWe’re almost through Shark Week, and if you are not sipping on some themed cocktails yet- We have a bunch... View Article
Get the good times rollin’ with an Aloe-El!
August 2, 2013 1:55 pm Leave your thoughtsExtracting aloe gel from a plant can be time consuming, sticky and slightly dangerous if you don’t remove the entire... View Article
Try making your own orange infused vodka!
July 26, 2013 11:14 am Leave your thoughtsThis week’s cocktail, Pirate City, incorporates 2 different homemade ingredients: Homemade orange infused vodka, and homemade orange liqueur! Part I... View Article
Who says you have to drink rum on National Daiquiri Day?
July 19, 2013 3:11 pm Leave your thoughtsThe daiquiri is one of the few cocktails whose modified version is far more popular than the original- probably because... View Article
National Blueberry What?
July 12, 2013 10:48 am Leave your thoughtsWell, we all know it’s National Blueberry Month (What! You didn’t?). No worries, you still have time to celebrate! After... View Article
Make infused vodka in minutes with the “Insta-fusion!”
July 6, 2013 10:47 am Leave your thoughtsMaking infused vodka by steeping it with fruit, vegetables, herbs and spices is a great way to flavor cocktails... View Article
Be sure you’re “Kool’n The Gang” down with this festive 4th of July cocktail!
July 2, 2013 1:49 pm Leave your thoughtsOn Thursday everything in sight will be dressed up in red white and blue, so why not make sure your... View Article
Need a fantastic 4th of July Cocktail? Go on “The Expedition!”
June 28, 2013 10:30 am Leave your thoughtsThis year, forget the sweet red, white and blue drinks and try a 4th of July cocktail with character! “The... View Article
Try a “Midsummer Swim” on Summer Solstice!
June 21, 2013 5:13 pm Leave your thoughtsToday is the longest day of the year, most oftenly called Midsummer’s Eve or Summer Solstice. Taking that into consideration,... View Article
Wondering how to spend National Martini Day?
June 19, 2013 4:58 pm Leave your thoughtsThere’s no better excuse for stirring up a martini than National Martini Day! The martini has evolved quite bit from... View Article
Looking for the perfect Father’s Day Cocktail?
June 14, 2013 9:00 am Leave your thoughtsIf you’ve been combing the interwebs looking for the perfect Father’s Day cocktail to make Dad on his day of... View Article
Try this summery Basil Lemondrop Martini recipe!
May 31, 2013 9:00 am Leave your thoughtsFresher ingredients undeniably make for better quality cocktails, so most of my favorite summer drinks always utilize things from the... View Article
Add “The Dude” to Your Memorial Day Wardobe
May 24, 2013 9:00 am 14 CommentsIt’s Memorial Day weekend, and we already know that for most of us this means an extra day off, so... View Article
Going to the beach? Make sure you bring this delicious cocktail recipe!
May 17, 2013 4:18 pm Leave your thoughtsIt feels like summer has finally arrived, and for me that means spending far less time indoors mixing cocktails, and... View Article
Give mom some “En-Lighten-Mint” this weekend!
May 10, 2013 11:14 am Leave your thoughtsFor mother’s day brunch this weekend, show mom how much you appreciate all she does with this simple cucumber recipe.... View Article
Check out this tasty skinny margarita recipe: “Blood Orange Faux-Rita”
May 3, 2013 11:01 am Leave your thoughtsI know everyone is pumped about celebrating Cinco de Mayo this weekend, but do yourself a favor and skip all... View Article
The “Perfect Pair” Martini!
April 26, 2013 9:00 am Leave your thoughtsThe “perfect pair” of anything always good news- perfect pair of cards, perfect pair of jeans, or my personal favorite-... View Article
Have you ever tried smoking a cocktail?
April 19, 2013 10:50 am 1 CommentIt’s the 3rd weekend in April, and we all know what that means. It’s time to take your cocktail adventures... View Article
Celebrate the “Day of Reckoning” with a liquid reward!
April 13, 2013 2:16 pm Leave your thoughtsWell, it’s just a few days away. April 15th. The national “Day of Reckoning,” is the the cutoff for paying... View Article
Wake up with a Colombian Colada
April 5, 2013 11:13 am Comments Off on Wake up with a Colombian ColadaEverybody needs a little caffeine boost from time to time after a long day at work, but you don’t have... View Article
Surprise someone with a “Mexy Mango” for April Fool’s Day
March 29, 2013 9:00 am Leave your thoughtsWell pranksters, your day is nearing and I’m sure you’ve been cooking up some fun ideas for April Fool’s Day,... View Article
Get into the game with a “March Madness” cocktail using Clique Vodka!
March 22, 2013 9:00 am Leave your thoughtsThere are 16 college basketball games this weekend, so there’s no doubt in my mind that there will be a... View Article
Travel Over The Rainbow This Weekend
March 14, 2013 12:07 pm Leave your thoughtsIn light of the big holiday weekend I thought I would surprise you with a bonus shot recipe, and this... View Article
Go green this weekend with a “Shamrock Shaker!”
March 13, 2013 9:00 am Leave your thoughtsWe all lucked out a bit this year, with St. Paddy’s Day falling on Sunday- It’s almost like getting 2... View Article
Get “Pretty In Pink” for International Women’s Day!
March 8, 2013 11:37 am Leave your thoughtsIn 1910 a woman named Clara Zetkin stood up at the 2nd International Conference for Working Women in Copenhagen and... View Article
Take a mental vacation with a Greyhound Station
March 1, 2013 9:00 am Leave your thoughtsWith spring fast approaching, I can’t help but get a little excited for all the concerts, festivals, and trips I’ll... View Article
Sick of Snow? Curl Up with a “Purple Rain”
February 22, 2013 9:00 am Leave your thoughtsWith just under a week of February left, I can’t be the only one getting a bit tired of all... View Article
A remarkable cocktail is always Worth The Wait
February 14, 2013 2:12 pm Leave your thoughtsFor all the single people out there today, I have the perfect cocktail that is sweet, tangy and bubbly. It... View Article
Make your sweetheart The Perfect Angel today!
February 14, 2013 9:00 am Leave your thoughtsToday on Valentine’s Day, I have the prefect cocktail for after a special dinner, and delicious enough to whip up... View Article
Get the party started with a:
February 12, 2013 9:00 am Leave your thoughtsThe last day of carnival season has arrived! Mardi Gras, French for Fat Tuesday, is the biggest street party of... View Article
Rough week? Treat your self to a little:
February 8, 2013 9:00 am Leave your thoughtsThis is the perfect little shooter you can shake up in just a few seconds any time you need a... View Article
Get ready for the game with:
February 3, 2013 3:05 pm Leave your thoughtsYou can’t enjoy the big game without a few themed cocktails, so today I’ve got a 2 easy ones you... View Article
Treat yourself to a tropical getaway with:
February 1, 2013 9:00 am Leave your thoughtsTomorrow is Feb 2nd, and of course that means that our favorite furry friend, Punxsutawney Phil, will deliver the weather... View Article
Warm up today with a:
January 25, 2013 9:00 am Leave your thoughtsThere’s nothing quite like a spicy cocktail to warm you up when it’s cold outside- and it’s COLD out there.... View Article
So tasty, yet so simple it’s:
January 18, 2013 9:00 am Leave your thoughtsOne of the great things about cocktails is the ability to “pear” (haha) interesting flavors together in ways you may... View Article
End your workweek with an:
January 11, 2013 9:00 am Leave your thoughtsThank goodness it’s Friday. After a the first full work week of the new year, I’m certainly ready for the... View Article
Pump it up with a….
January 4, 2013 7:10 pm Leave your thoughtsIt seems like every few months a new superfruit loaded with antioxidants floods the market, promising to fight free radicals... View Article
Let this one tickle your taste buds this NYE:
December 28, 2012 9:00 am Leave your thoughtsAre you excited for New Years yet!? I am. It’s my favorite holiday of the year- a time to reflect... View Article
Need a little extra holiday spirit?
December 24, 2012 9:00 am Leave your thoughtsIt’s Christmas Eve, which means that the holidays have snuck up on me yet again. There are still a few... View Article
Did Anyone Else Survive?
December 21, 2012 9:00 am Leave your thoughtsIs there anyone alive out there? Good. We made is through yet another “End of The Earth” prediction. We all... View Article
A Sweet Retreat
December 14, 2012 9:00 am Leave your thoughtsThis truly decadent dessert martini was created to liquefy one of my favorite chocolate candies, and even though it doesn’t... View Article
Deadbeet
December 7, 2012 4:23 pm Leave your thoughtsEven though the first week of December has already flown by, it hasn’t really sunk in yet. I can still... View Article
Stealing the Spotlight
December 1, 2012 4:16 pm Leave your thoughtsIn light of all the new changes going on with Clique Vodka, today I have a magnificent cocktail that is... View Article