California Summer sunsets are our favorites.

Our Summer series of cocktails continues with The Perfect Peach 🍑 • 1/2 Peach • 3 Bing Cherries • 1.5 oz. White Rum • 0.5 oz. Fresh Lime Juice • 0.25 oz. Demerara Syrup Muddle the peach and cherries in a cocktail shaker until all the juice is released, add everything else and shake for 10 seconds. With a cocktail strainer and a fine mesh strainer strain into a chilled coupe and enjoy!

On our way down to San Diego for the Labor Day weekend Friday night we just had to stop at one of our favorite places, Nick’s in San Clemente, for their amazing, incredible, delicious Buttermilk Fried Chicken and a Maple Manhattan. Served boneless on a mountain of whipped mashed potatoes with a buttermilk biscuit, country gravy and roasted sweet corn on the cob, it’s the kind of comfort food you don’t even have to need comforting to enjoy. Check out our website (link in our profile) to learn about Nick’s Maple Manhattan. Highly recommended!

When the Summer sun is setting, it’s time to put down the shades and pick up a well-made cocktail. Cheers!

Our view from the tasting room terrace at Justin Vineyards and Winery. Enjoy their flagship Isosceles (especially the 94pt rated 2013 vintage) or one of their other outstanding blends like the 2014 Savant or the amazing 2014 Trilateral, a classic Rhone GSM. 🍷 Cheers!

A New Spin on an Old Favorite — The Maple Manhattan at Nick’s San Clemente.

It’s #NationalCheeseburgerDay, folks. We hope you enjoyed yours–fixed just the way you like it–as much we did, accompanied by an ice cold Corona! Cheers! 🍔🍻

Just two ingredients, a world class vodka shaken vigorously with ice and olives, result in the clean, crisp taste of this classic. Beautiful beach setting optional.

Bulleit Rye with a twist of lemon and a proper whiskey rock. Clean, crisp, simple and perfect for decompressing after a long day at the office. Here’s mud in yer eye. Cheers! 🥃

Featuring Woodford Reserve bourbon, lavender simple syrup, black walnut bitters and, of course, the single block ice cube: the Out of Fashion at The Gallery in Westlake Village, California.

In case you ever wondered, “Who are these people living The Drinking Life?” Here’s a “hello!” from a couple of us (I’m the one in the middle). Thank you for following and all of your support!

A classic Old Fashioned at The Grill in Westlake Village, California.

A 007 Christmas: the Vesper. 3 oz.. of Gordon’s Gin, 1 oz. of Tito’s Vodka and 0.5 oz. of Lillet Blanc, shaken (of course) until it’s ice cold and served with a thin slice of lemon peel. Cheers!

This is how to do movie night right: at Cinepolis in Westlake Village, California.

The Well-Mannered Dirty Martini. Ketel One Vodka a hint of Dolin Vermouth and just the right amount of olive brine, courtesy of the excellent bar staff of The Cheesecake Factory.

A relaxing evening next to the pool, Wayfarers off, SeaVees trunks on, and waiting patiently for what’s in the cocktail shaker at the bar. Summer rules.

From the very clever and creative mixologist, Eli, at Wood and Vine in Hollywood, California, The Bitter Truth: Angostura Bitters, Alysian Vermouth, Rittenhouse Rye, Honey Ginger and fresh lemon. Incredibly good.

This is Jeff (say hi, Jeff!), resident genius mixologist at Twenty 88 Bistro, a hidden gem in Old Town Camarillo, California. Delicious food, artful and creative cocktails, and fantastic wines make this place a must if you’re ever in town. And tell Jeff we said hi.

Tito’s Vodka misted with Dolin Vermouth and, because we like it real dirty, extra olive brine on the side, baby.

Enjoying a bit of the fare at Wood and Vine in Hollywood, California. Brussel Sprouts, House Cut Fries, Rigatoni and Whiskey Cheese and to drink: a NY City Capitol of France and a Black Manhattan. All delicious.

The tasting room at Area 5.1 Winery, is outta this world! It’s okay to laugh, folks, that was a joke. But their wines sure aren’t! Anyway… If you’re in Santa Barbara, head to the Funk Zone and check them out. Wonderful wines paired with tasty snacks. The UFO conspiracy theories are a value added bonus!

The weather’s getting warmer (at least it is here in La La Land). A perfect time for classic refreshment: the Pimm’s Cup. Pimm’s #1, Fever Tree Ginger Ale, fresh lemon and cucumber and our little twist on the classic recipe, in honor of Derby Day, fresh mint. Enjoy!

Lunch at the oyster bar at Lure Fish House in Camarillo, California. A great way to officially kick off the weekend! Fresh, delicious oysters and seafood, an awesome happy hour scene, and the famous 50/50 Clam Chowder (half New England and half spicy Veracruz clam chowder) make Lure Fish House, at any of their SoCal locations, a fantastic choice!

The Perfect Manhattan featuring Knob Creek Rye. Stir it with a half part each of sweet and dry vermouth and two dashes of angostura bitters over cracked ice and serve it up with a Luxardo cherry. It’s… What’s the word we’re searching for?… oh yes, it’s PERFECT.

The view from our favorite seat in the house at The Local Table in Newbury Park, California.

This is a Negroni, expertly prepared by our friend and favorite mixologist, Christopher, at The Local Table in Newbury Park, California.

Simple and refreshing, The Grapefruit Martini. 2 oz. Belvedere Vodka, 1 oz. Bols Triple Sec 1 oz. fresh pink grapefruit juice 0.5 oz. fresh lemon juice Sugared half rim and a grapefruit peel and voilà! Cheers!

Vodka Martini the way they make ’em at Paul Martin’s American Grill in Westlake Village, California. Tito’s Vodka, slightly dirty and shaken, of course.🍸Great cocktails, prepared and served by superbly capable bartenders, a lively and friendly bar scene and fantastic, locally sourced and sustainable, seasonal food, makes Paul Martin’s American Grill the perfect place for after work cocktails with colleagues, happy hour with friends, or a really great date night (whether it be your first or your fiftieth).

A whiskey flight, or 🥃✈️ if you will, at The Six Calabasas. Maker’s 46 Bourbon, Jameson Gold Reserve Irish Whiskey, Templeton Rye, and Booker’s Bourbon. Now that’s what we call “friendly skies.”

An Angel’s Envy Bourbon Manhattan lovingly prepared by Angela, our mixologist, at an awesome new discovery (for us), Bravo Bravo in Mystic, Connecticut. Try her Chocolate Martini too. It is exquisite.

The Jimi Hendricks 🎸 Muddled mint and cucumber, Hendrick’s Gin and agave syrup. This one really shreds, guys. Cheers!

If your mom ever asks you if you’re eating your vegetables, know this: a well made Bloody Mary counts as a salad. Especially the delicious Bloody Mary at Jeannine’s in Montecito, CA. Ask for it extra spicy and while you’re at it, their brunch menu is fantastic so come hungry! Great food, great people and great service. We highly recommend!

Expertly prepared Old Fashioned by our bartender, Edwin at The Grill in Westlake Village, California.

Ladies and gentlemen, allow us to introduce you to the Champagne Lemonade cocktail. Absolut Citron (1.5 oz.) , Limoncello (0.5 oz.), fresh lemon juice (0.5 oz.), fresh lemonade (0.5 oz.) and torn fresh basil, shaken up and topped with a splash of your favorite Champagne. Just in time for Memorial Day weekends everywhere!

This… This is old school. The bar at Vincenzo’s Ristorante in Middlesex, New Jersey. “Try the veal, it’s the best in the city.” Know what I’m talkin’ about? Great Italian food–expertly prepared and served by a top-notch staff, classic cocktails, and a great wine list make Vincenzo’s a hidden treasure in the heart of The Garden State.

It’s 🐎 DERBY DAY! To honor this year’s Run for the Roses, we proudly present our Mint Julep featuring Eagle Rare Bourbon. Don’t forget to place your bets!

Mergers & Acquisitions is the name of this masterpiece and it comes to us courtesy of the mixologists at our favorite new discovery, Craft & Commerce. Come on in to this downtown San Diego gem where you can enjoy seasonal eats and awesome craft cocktails surrounded by old books and impressive, wall-mounted taxidermy, and order the original. Or, if you’re not going to be in the neighborhood any time soon and you just can’t wait… 1.5 oz. Rye 0.5 oz. Aquavit 0.25 oz. Sweet Vermouth 0.25 oz. Benedictine A dash each of Angostura and Peychaud Bitters Combine and shake with ice, strain into a coup and garnish with an orange peel. Cheers! #craftcommerce #sandiego #ryewhiskey #aquavit #benedictine #happyhour #drinkstagram #refill #drinkup #mixology #craftcocktails #drinkpics #cheers

All hail the Wine Tower at Eddie V’s, in San Diego, California! Fantastic seafood and steaks, artful cocktails and a deep wine list contained in a glass enclosed wine tower right in the middle of it all, accompanied by live jazz every night of the week. This place is a can’t miss if ever there was one. Go!

The reason you can barely see the Vermouth-soaked, blue cheese-stuffed olives (trust us, they’re there and they’re spectacular) is that this is what we call a “Filthy Martini.” Bottoms up!

One for the ladies: Monsieur Belvedere. Equal parts Belvedere Vodka and Pink Lemonade, add a splash of Cointreau and voila! Cheers!

Happy Negroni Week! We’re halfway through and on the downhill side to the weekend, guys, celebrate it in style!

A half dozen Willapa Bay oysters and a chilled bottle of Belvedere Vodka is our idea of Sunday brunch and a perfect segue into happy hour!

Props to Audrey Saunders, owner of Pegu Club in New York City and creator of the Old Cuban Cocktail. It is, in a word, amazing. Bacardi 8 Aged Rum (1.5 oz.) Fresh Lime Juice (3/4 oz.) Simple Syrup (1 oz.) Angostura Bitters (2 dashes) Mint Leaves (6-8) Champagne (2 oz.) Muddle the mint and combine all the ingredients except the Champagne in a shaker with crushed ice. Shake to chill, pour into a frosted cocktail glass, top off with the Champagne and garnish with mint. Cheers!

Sometimes you just need to keep it simple and knock back a Jack Daniel’s on the rocks.

Summer’s only ALMOST over, guys and dolls, so the Summer cocktail series continues with the Boulevardier. Hand crafted with love by Anisa, our super friendly and talented barkeep, at The Grill in Westlake Village, California. It’s just like a Negroni, but substitute your favorite Rye (Anisa went with Rittenhouse) for the gin. It’s a revelation. Cheers!

Catching an afternoon ballgame and enjoying a sandwich and a drink or two…or three at Winberie’s in Princeton, New Jersey. This is not your typical college bar (it’s Princeton after all) with 18 craft beers on tap, top shelf cocktails and classic American burgers, sandwiches and entrees. Cheers!

The best thing is a cool, Summer evening, feeling the warmth of a fire on the outside and the warmth of a good whisky over rocks on the inside. 🥃

Delicious refreshment for dad on this warm, sunny and happy Fathers’ Day with Prosecco Sangria. • 1 part Lamarca Prosecco • 1/4 part Orange Juice • 1/8 part Drillaud Blackberry Liqueur • Wholesome Organic Blue Agave Syrup to taste • Fresh, sliced lemons, limes and strawberries Cheers!

Crisp. Refreshing. Delicious. It’s our version of the Summertini. Hendrick’s Gin and a touch of Simple Syrup, stirred to perfection and served up with a slice of cucumber and a flamed lemon peel. Perfect for your 4th of July pool party!