Happy Hour: Sangrita

The Sangrita consists of two shots back to back, the first of tequila and the second a mixture of chiles, onion, orange and tomato juices, lime and salt, which adds up to something like a Mexican Bloody Mary. Strictly hardcore!

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon minced fresh green hot chili pepper (such as jalapeño or serrano; adjust amount according to ­taste)
• 9 ounces orange ­juice
• 3 ounces tomato ­juice
• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (from 1 medium ­lime)
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped white ­onion
• 1 teaspoon ­salt
• 12 ounces high­-­quality aged ­tequila

Instructions

Place the minced pepper, orange juice, tomato juice, lime juice, onion, and salt in a blender and pulse until smooth. Strain the liquid into shot glasses. Serve alongside 1 1/2­-­ to 2­-­ounce shots of ­tequila.

Source: Colin Cowie

Happy Hour: Cuba Libre

Cuba Libres can be made with light rum, but most people prefer a good-quality dark rum. They can also be made at varying strengths - anywhere from a single shot of liquor to half a glass. Be sure to ask your guest's preference.

Ingredients
1 1/2 ounces rum
Coca-Cola
Lemon wedges for garnish

Instructions
Fill a highball glass with ice. Add 1 1/2 ounces (or more) of rum and top off the glass with Coca-Cola. Garnish with a wedge of lemon.

Source: Colin Cowie

Happy Hour: Swamp Sangria

Ingredients

Serves 12

5 lady apples
1 bunch (about 8 ounces) green seedless grapes
1 bunch (about 8 ounces) red seedless grapes
2 bottles dry white wine, chilled
2 cups sparkling apple cider, chilled
6 tablespoons poire William (pear-flavored eau-de-vie)

Directions

1. Put apples and grapes into an ice-filled punch bowl. Pour in wine, cider, and poire William. Gently stir. (Source: Martha Stewart)

Happy Hour: Bellini

Ingredients

3 oz Champagne or sparkling wine
1 oz fresh white peach juice

Instructions

Pour the peach juice into a champagne flute. Fill the glass with the Champagne or sparkling wine.

Source: Colin Cowie

Happy Hour: Ponana Souk

This is a potent, refreshing, and memorable cocktail. The Amaretto gives it just a hint of that inimitable bittersweet almond flavor.

Ingredients
2 1/2 to 3 ounces Amaretto ­liqueur
10 to 12 ounces vodka
10 to 12 ounces peach ­schnapps
10 to 12 ounces cranberry ­juice
10 to 12 ounces pineapple ­juice
6 sprigs fresh mint, for ­garnish

Instructions
Pour all the ingredients into a pitcher and stir. Divide among 6 rocks glasses over ice with a sprig of fresh mint in each ­glass.

Source: Colin Cowie

Happy Hour: Pomergranate Martini

Ingredients

• 2 ounces pomegranate juice
• 3 ounces Absolute Citron vodka OR white tequila
• 1 ounce Cointreau liquor
• Squeeze of lemon

Instructions

Pour ingredients into a shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously. Strain into chilled martini glass. Put pomegranate seeds into glass as garnish.

Source: Colin Cowie

Happy Hour: Russian Beauty

Ingredients

2 parts Stolichnaya® elit™ vodka
7 rose petals (4 red, 3 white)

Instructions

1. Stack three red and three white rose petals and slice into fine strips.

2. Place the petal strips into the bottom of a chilled martini glass.

3. Pour Stolichnaya® elit™into a shaker full of ice, shake well, and strain over the rose petal strips.

4. Garnish glass with the final red rose petal.

Source: Colin Cowie

Happy Hour: Super Bull Highball

As elegant as this cocktail looks, it's loaded with tons of energy. A little Red Bull does just the right trick to keep you ahead of the game.

Ingredients
2 ounces Citrus Vodka
3 ounces Red Bull
3 ounces Lemon Gatorade
1 ounce Cranberry Juice Cocktail

Instructions
1. In a shaker, combine the Vodka, Red Bull, and Gatorade. Add ice and shake well. Pour into in an ice-filled highball glass and top with cranberry juice.

2. Garnish with a wedge of lemon and a slice of star fruit.

Source: Colin Cowie

Happy Hour: Lemon Drop Martini

Ingredients

1/4 ounce fresh lemon juice
1/2 ounce Cointreau or Triple Sec
2 ounces Citrus Vodka
1 lemon wheel, for garnish

Instructions

1. Shake all the ingredients well with ice and strain into a chilled martini glass with a sugared rim. Float a thin wheel of lemon on top of the drink.

2. To serve as a shooter, use the recipe above and strain into 3 1-ounce shot glasses. Cover the mouth of the glass with a wheel of lemon that has been dusted with sugar.

Variation using Lemon Drop Mixer

• 1 ounces of Vodka
• 2 ounces of Stirrings Lemon Drop Mixer

1. In a cocktail shaker, combine Vodka, 2 ounces of Stirrings Lemon Drop Mixer and a glass of ice.

2. Shake well and strain into a chilled martini glass rimmed with Stirrings Lemon Sugar.

Source: Colin Cowie

Happy Hour: Fruity Iced Tea (non-alcoholic)

Fruit-flavored iced tea is one of the most popular drinks in America today. Some are made with black teas and fruit essences; others are herbal blends of flowers, leaves, herbs or citrus rinds. You can use one of the many tea bag products available or come up with your own blend.

Ingredients
Mango puree
1 tablespoon passion fruit
Iced tea
Club soda (optional)
Mint sprig

Instructions

1. Pour a bit of mango puree into a glass, add a tablespoon of passion fruit, then fill the glass with iced tea or a mixture of iced tea and club soda.

2. Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint and you have the perfect luncheon cocktail.

Another favorite is what I call the Te-llini: freshly brewed iced tea with a splash of peach nectar! Yet another refreshing idea: bottled raspberry juice and iced tea, garnished with a few fresh raspberries.

Source: Colin Cowie

Happy Hour: Mangorita

Ingredients

• 12 ounces ­tequila
• 4 ounces Triple ­Sec
• 1 cup peeled, sliced fresh mango (from 1 large or 2 medium mangoes; or substitute 1/2 pint mango ­sorbet)

Instructions

1. Chill 6 martini ­glasses.

2. Place all the ingredients in a blender full of ice and blend until smooth. Pour into chilled martini glasses and serve.

Source: Colin Cowie

Happy Hour: Sea Breeze

Ingredients
2 ounces vodka
3 ounces grapefruit juice
3 ounces cranberry juice
1 scoop crushed ice

Instructions
Mix all the ingredients, except the ice, in a shaker. Place the crushed ice in a highball glass and fill with the vodka mixture.

Source: Colin Cowie

Happy Hour: Cetnenario Cat's Eye

Ingredients
1 1/2 ounces Gran Centenario Plata Tequila
1 ounce sweetened passion fruit puree
1 ounce fresh orange juice

Instructions

Blend all ingredients well with ice and pour into a chilled glass. Garnish with an orange peel and cherry if desired.

Source: Colin Cowie

Happy Hour: Sour Apple Martini

Ingredients
2 parts vodka
1 part sour apple schnapps
1 part ginger ale
Splash of lime juice

Instructions
1. In an ice shaker, add vodka, schnapps, and lime juice and shake vigorously.

2. Strain into a cocktail glass and add ginger ale.

3. Garnish with a thin slice of green apple.

Source: Colin Cowie

Happy Hour: Eclipse

Ingredients
2 oz Don Julio Anejo
2 oz grapefruit Juice
1 oz spicy honey
3/4 oz fresh lime
Dash of Peychauds bitters

Instructions
Pour all ingredients into cocktail shaker and shake vigorously. Rim a Martini glass with sea salt and sugar in the raw. Strain the elixir into the glass.

Source: Colin Cowie

Happy Hour: Guava Margarita

Ingredients
2 oz Don Julio Blanco
1 oz Guava Purée
3/4 oz fresh lime juice
Agave nectar

Instructions

Mix all ingredients and shake well. Rim a rocks glass with finely chopped lime and pink sea salt. Pour over ice into the glass.

Source: Colin Cowie

Happy Hour: Frozen Daiquiri

Ingredients
1 ounce light or dark rum, tequila, vodka or gin
4 ounces daiquiri mixer
1/4 cup fruit (optional)

Instructions
In a blender, combine all the ingredients with 1 1/2 cups ice. Blend until smooth and serve immediately.

Source: Colin Cowie

Happy Hour: Cherry Infusion Fruit Fizz

Ingredients:
1 1/2 oz Skyy Infusions Cherry Vodka
1 oz cranberry juice
1 oz orange juice
1 oz pineapple juice
1/2 oz grenadine
Seltzer

Combine the vodka and juices in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and pour contents into pint or tall glass. Top with grenadine and seltzer.
{Source: Cocktail Times}

Happy Hour: Mandarin Wave

Ingredients:
- 2 oz sake
- 1 oz Absolut mandarin
- 1/4 oz fresh lemon juice
- 1 oz honey syrup
- 1 oz fresh orange juice
Garnish: orange peel

Mix all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with orange peel. To make honey simple syrup, mix 4 parts honey to 1 part hot water. (Cocktail by Yuri Kato, Photo by National Honey Board) {Source: Cocktail Times}

Happy Hour: Brazilian Sangria

Ingredients:
- 1 lime, diced
- 2-3 bar spoons of sugar
- 3/4 oz. Agua Luca cachaca
- 1 oz. red wine
- 3/4 oz of passion puree

In a rocks glass add lime and sugar. Muddle the lime and sugar together. Add the rest of the ingredients. Shake vigorously and serve in a rocks glass. Garnish with sugarcane and lime. (Cocktail developed by Clark Clark, Bar Marche, NYC) {Source: Cocktail Times}