drink

Tru Blood Beverage For True Fun

Filed under: Dining

Who'd have thought that blood was just a little bit carbonated? In the world of Tru Blood it is - citrus flavored too. As a kid you probably enacted something you saw on TV or in a movie during play time. It didn't work like it did on screen, but it still felt fun, and you got to identify with your favorite characters. A whole generation of Star Trek fans do this on a somewhat regular basis. Tru Blood, the beverage, is a movie prop come to life for your hip vampire wanna-be moments. With the popularity of the undead at record levels - from vamps to zombies - it makes total sense to release a real (err, less blood-like) version of the synthetic blood beverage from the HBO series Tru Blood.

The bottle has be pretty perfectly replicated, along with the label and the color. To my knowledge there is just one "blood type" available, O Positive. The creators of the drink wanted the look and feel (not taste) of the drink to resemble as much as possible the product from the series. Check the gallery below for a long list of ingredients included to make the drink just viscous enough, with the right mixture of "blood red" and "punch red" to make the drink fun as well as appetizing. The label remarks that it is blood orange flavored. I can sort of taste that, though it feels more like citrusy fruit punch on my tongue. There is a mysterious quality to the taste, being very sweet, thick going down, and expensive. Actually, given how sweet it is, it isn't that caloric. A whole bottle is one serving size and 99 calories. Part of that is thanks to the addition of sucralose (Splenda) in addition to cane sugar in the drink. For this price, I am happy to see the omission of high fructose corn syrup.

When is a non-alcoholic beverage a luxury item? When it costs about $30 for four bottles. $29.95 is what you will pay (with shipping) to get a four pack of Tru Blood. You can buy it in larger amounts though, but not for much less I presume. A luxury item should be unnecessary, fun, and make you feel good (while being a little decadent). Tru Blood delivers in that department. Envision the drink being the star of a vampire theme or Halloween party, or even just a good prop to have around while watching the upcoming season 3 of the television show. The drink website even offers suggestions on cocktails made with the stuff. Add vodka to enjoy a "Fangbanger," or how about mixing Tru Blood with Citron, Cointreau, and lime juice for a "Plasmopolitan." Personally, I am going to go enjoy another glass. With each sip my ongoing thirst for human blood decreases, just a bit. Learn more or get some Tru Blood beverage here.

Ariel Adams publishes the website aBlogtoRead.com.

Gallery: True Blood Beverage

Tags: beverage, Blood, drink, HBO, review, Tru, tru blood beverage, True

Ooba, Sparkling Hibiscus Drink

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Forgoing the alcohol at a summer event can sometimes make you feel less than festive. One way to get around that is to try a different type of drink. Ooba is the first sparkling hibiscus flower beverage. The drink is made with purified water, hibiscus extract, pure cane sugar and and natural flavor essences. It comes in six flavors blending hibiscus with lime, orange, vanilla, pineapple and blackberry flavors. The makers of Ooba say that the Hibiscus Sabdariffa Extract has benefits including the reduction of high blood pressure and lowering bad cholesterol levels. I can't speak to that but it is pleasant with floral and berry notes and makes a nice change from the usual fare. A 12-pack sells for around $24.

Source

Tags: beverage, drink, non-alcoholic, ooba

Maestro Dobel Diamond Tequila

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

Maestro Dobel, just launched this month, is the first ever diamond tequila. What does that mean? Apparently it means that it's incredibly clear, incredibly strong, and incredibly expensive. It's a blend of 3 different types of tequila, and in keeping with the diamond theme the creators of Maestro Dobel measure its superiority according to 4 C's: clarity, complexity, crispness, and craftsmanship.

Look for Maestro Dobel starting this month in select establishments in Los Angeles, Boston, Milwaukee and Atlanta with a suggested retail price of $74.99.

Gallery: How to Drink Maestro Dobel:

Source

Tags: alcohol, drink, drinks, liquor, maestro dobel, MaestroDobel, spirits, tequila

The Drink Station

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets, Spirits

These mobile bar systems are always interesting to me because everything is so condensed and cute, and I think if I had one I'd be having outdoor parties every weekend just so I'd have an excuse to wheel it out. This Drink Station by Opulent Items is imported from Germany and has features including a refrigerator, ice machine, flute holders, bottle bins, and wooden serving shelf. It comes pre-assembled (except for some of the minor side attachments) but heads up, the ice machine reservoir doesn't fill itself (you can't hook it up to a water source to fill automatically) and although you can wheel it around wherever you want, you'll have to stay close to a power outlet if you want the fridge to stay cold. It sells for $10,000.

Via Martini Groove

Source

Tags: bar, drink, drink station, DrinkStation, liquor, mobile bar, mobile drink station, MobileBar, MobileDrinkStation, opulent items, OpulentItems, spirits

Hennesy Ellipse Cognac

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

I'm especially liking the bottle of this Hennesy Ellipse Cognac from Harrod's, but obviously that's probably the least important part. Combining all the talents of master blenders from 7 generations dating back to 1800 and including Hennesy's very first master blender, Jean Fillioux, it combines the best of all seven masters for "an intensely complex bouquet with hints of candied fruit, wild roses and rancio."

No mention of who designed that beautiful presentation? Hm. £3350

Via Lussorian

Source

Tags: alcohol, cognac, drink, drinks, harrods, hennesy, spirit, spirits

to22 Says No Martini Without an Olive!

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Spirits

Don't take olives in your martini? Well then this is definitely not the glass for you, because this martini glass by to22 can't do without at least one olive. When designing this glass the thought was that "the olive has become the signature element of a martini, and yet it is treated almost as an afterthought."
Now when to22 went to give the olive greater importance they weren't messing around! The olive is so important to a drink in this glass that you can't have one without it, literally. The olive is used to plug a hole in the bottom of the glass.

Great idea and I love it! But I will say this: this is not a glass I'll hold over my lap or walk around with...you know, just in case.

Source

Tags: alcohol, drink, drinks, glass, glasses, glassware, martini, olive, olives, spirits, to22

7 of the Craziest Luxury Vodkas

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

Vodka connoisseur? Or maybe I should say vodka collector? There are any number of top-of-the-line varieties out there but when it comes to style and unique design a few of them stick way out of the crowd. Here are 7 of the most outrageous luxury vodkas:

Gold Flakes Supreme Quadruple distilled ultra-premium vodka with 24 carat gold flakes floating throughout.
DIVA Triple distilled and filtered through crushed diamonds and gemstones, it also has a pillar containing precious gems running up through the center of the bottle.
Tommy Gun Vodka It comes in a glass bottle shaped like a machine gun. And sorry, the gun doesn't actually fire vodka (yet).
Go Wodka Extreme Comes in toothpaste tube-type bottles and is available in 3 flavors. Currently only sold in Austria and Germany.
Garlic Vodka Yikes (not a good drink for a date!). Touted as both enhancing the flavors of certain meals and warding off illness, you can also opt for horseradish flavored vodka, if you prefer.
Cactus Vodka It's the only "prickly pear" flavored vodka in the world, which means it's slightly sweet and slightly pink.
Twistee Shots Uses the idea of yin and yang and is meant to mix two distinct and different flavors in one drink.

Via Book of Joe

Source

Tags: alcohol, drink, drinks, gold, spirits, vodka

The $51 Margarita

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Spirits

When you think of environments where you might find an outrageously expensive drink a western theme with beef brisket and bull-riding probably doesn't come to mind. But then all kinds of strange things happen in New York, and the restaurant located in Rockefeller Center called Johnny Utah's is no exception. That expensive drink is a $51 margarita called the Vault, and it's made with Herradura Suprema tequila, grilled lime juice, and agave syrup. Seems pretty simple, but then usually simple is best.

Source

Tags: alcohol, beverage, beverages, cocktail, cocktails, drink, drinks, johnny utah, johnny utah's, johnny utahs, JohnnyUtah, JohnnyUtah's, JohnnyUtahs, margarita, new york, new york city, NewYork, NewYorkCity, ny, nyc, restaurant, spirits, tequila, vault

The World's Most Expensive Beer

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

There are different ways to measure it, but it seems pretty clear that the exclusive title of "world's most expensive beer" goes to Vielle Bon Secours, which is available in London in a bar called Bierdrome and sells for around $39 a pint. Anybody ever had it? Is it worth that kind of cash?

Other contenders on the list include Samuel Adams limited edition Utopia, which sells for $100 per 24 oz bottle, and a mystery beer that some poor sap in New Zealand accidentally paid $2,595 for a pint of.

Source

Tags: alcohol, beer, beverage, drink, drinks, most expensive, MostExpensive, sam adams, SamAdams, samuel adams, SamuelAdams, spirits, Vielle Bon Secours, VielleBonSecours

The Billionaire's Cocktail

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

First off, it's not a cocktail that costs a billion dollars (although I'm sure there's one out there, somewhere...) but instead a cocktail designed for a billionaire. That would be an intimidating job I think, to create a drink especially for a specific, very rich, person. Calvin Ayre, billionaire founder of Bodog.com is that person, and The Liquid Muse is the creator of his signature drink, Billion-Ayre's Bet.

Based on his choice spirit Bombay Sapphire, the drink also includes grapefruit juice, Campari, lime, and champagne. See the complete recipe here, and think: what would your signature cocktail be?

Source

Tags: billionaire, bombay sapphire, BombaySapphire, cocktail, drink, drinks, entertainment-awards, rich, signature, spirits, wealthy

Million Dollar Coconut Brandy...Any Takers?

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

Mendis is introducing the world's first ultra-premium coconut brandy, and they're not shy about making a big deal about it. Mendis coconut brandy is an all-natural, clear brandy with delicate tones of coconut, vanilla, and chocolate and a "velvety sweet texture." It's recommended neat or on the rocks, but can also be enjoyed mixed.

The very first bottle of this very first coconut brandy is going up for sale in August for $1 million dollars. So if you're the type to collect "firsts," or really love coconut flavored drinks, or just happened to have an extra million or so burning a hole in your pocket, then you might want to hurry and buy that first fancy bottle as it rolls off the product line (well, I'm sure it doesn't actually roll, do you think?) before somebody else does. Or if you're like me, and even if you had it really wouldn't spend that kinda money on a single bottle of anything, you can enter to win the second bottle for free -- along with a luxury trip to go pick it up and personal security to help you hold on to your pricey little prize.

So how much do you think it would go for on eBay?

Source

Tags: alcohol, brandy, coconut, dollars, drink, drinks, enter to win, EnterToWin, free, mendis, million, spirits, win

The Teastick

by Nicole Weston (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

Tea is very popular right now and from white and green teas to black tea, consumers are switching to loose-leaf teas, which deliver more flavor per cup. Described as one of the ideal tea infusers by Imbibe magazine, the Teastick is a great little gadget to complement your favorite loose-leaf tea. It is made of a solid piece of stainless steel with tiny holes that allow water into its main chamber to soak the tea leaves. The holes are small enough to keep even the finest teas out of the cup, while still brewing it to your exact specifications. The teastick has a small hook on top to prevent it from sliding into mugs and cups and can also be used as a stirrer, if you take milk or sugar. Price: $18.

Source

Tags: drink, drinks, tea, tea leaves, teastick, The Teastick, TheTeastick, trend

Hot Cocktail Idea: Celery Straws

by Nicole Weston (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Spirits

While you might not call something made of celery a luxury item, it is fairly easy to envision this celery straw making an appearance at posh brunches, on cruises or anywhere else that a refreshing Bloody Mary may be found. The straws are made of celery that has been grown with a hollow center, turning it into an edible straw. The novel swizzle sticks were engineered by Duda Farm Fresh Foods in Florida, but there is no consumer release date yet.

Which is too bad, because now I feel like a Bloody Mary.

[via boingboing]

Tags: bloody mary, celery, cocktail, drink, drinks, sticks, straw, straws, swizzle stick

Most Expensive Champagnes 2006

by Nicole Weston (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

How much do you spend on an average bottle of champagne during the holidays? $30? $130? $400? High quality champagnes are labor-intensive and their prices usually reflect the quality and craftsmanship that went into them. Their prices also reflect the luxury lifestyle that is associated with champagne and what consumers are willing to pay for it. Forbes has a list of the most expensive champagnes of 2006 just in time for the New Year. Going by the list prices, the list includes:

Krug, Clos du Mesnil 1995 ($750)
Bollinger Blanc de Noirs Vieilles Vignes Françaises 1998 ($575)
Dom Pérignon Rosé 1996 ($400)
Salon Le Mesnil 1996 ($300)
Krug 1995 ($200)

Source

Tags: 2006, alcohol, champagne, champagnes, drink, drinks, forbes, Most Expensive, MostExpensive, spirits, wine

Jura-Capresso Z-Series Cup Warmer

by Nicole Weston (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

We haven't seen any additions to the Z-series line from Jura for quite some time, though there are several machines out, but the Jura-Capresso Z-Series Cup Warmer is an interesting accessory for the collection. The free-standing kitchen gadget allows you to quickly and conveniently heat your espresso cups, which results in better tasting shots that hold heat longer than the would in an unwarmed cup. Some espresso machines have a cup-warmed built into the top, but that only allows for a handful of glasses to be heated, while this warmer can hand 24 espresso cups or 16 coffee cups at once. Price: $1000.

Source

Tags: capresso, coffee, drink, espresso, gadget, jura, kitchen

drink

Featured Galleries

HuffPost AOL Social News Most Popular

Also on AOL