In 1864, George Lett first brewed the rich, red beer that would become known and loved as George Killian’s Irish Red. His simple inspiration? He wanted a beer he could share with friends and family in his local pub in Enniscorthy, Ireland. Nearly 150 years later, George Killian’s Irish Red is returning to its roots with a complete re-launch of the brand leading into St. Patrick’s Day.

Killian’s is introducing bolder, modernized packaging that more prominently calls out its Irish heritage. The brand’s subtle transformation continues right down to the beer itself. The recipe update results in a rich, roasted, full-bodied, well-balanced lager that maintains the beer’s deep ruby red color, but links it more closely to the beer George first brewed back in Enniscorthy.

“George Lett brewed a beer for his friends, and it’s our friends we have in mind as we reintroduce the new look and taste of George Killian’s Irish Red,” said Katie Cowan, Killian’s brand manager. “This is a more robust, more complex lager, but still balanced and easy to drink with friends. It goes great with a wide variety of popular pub food, like wings, burgers and fish and chips.”

Killian’s will celebrate its makeover by giving fans a chance to win a trip to Ireland. Now through March 21, Killian’s fans aged 21 and up can visit Facebook.com/GeorgeKillians to submit a photo of themselves and friends having a great time. A panel of judges will narrow down the photos to 10 finalists. Killian’s will post finalists at Facebook.com/GeorgeKillians on March 26, and eligible voters will determine the winner.

Also, through “30 Days, 30 Giveaways,” Killian’s is giving fans a chance to win prizes, such as dartboards, barstools, neons and golf equipment. Killian’s fans aged 21 and older can enter daily Feb. 17 through March 17 by clicking the “St. Pat’s 2012” tab on Facebook.com/GeorgeKillians.

For complete rules and details on how to enter, visit www.GeorgeKillians.com.

About George Killian’s Irish Red
George Killian’s Irish Red is an authentic Irish lager based on an original family recipe that dates back to 1864 in Enniscorthy, Ireland. George Killian first brewed a ruby ale that later became the inspiration for George Killian’s Irish Red. He used only pure spring water and the finest caramel malts roasted longer and slower to give his brew a rich red color and distinctive taste. The beer is still known for its rich amber color and thick, creamy head. More information is available at www.GeorgeKillians.com or at Facebook.com/GeorgeKillians.

The American Homebrewers Association (AHA) reached a milestone this month with more than 30,000 members. The 34-year-old not-for-profit organization has reached this record number thanks in part to the hobby's recent growth in popularity. Current estimates indicate that approximately 1 million Americans are making their own beer and wine at home.

New Liqueur Combines Distinctive Taste of Fresh-Roasted Coffee, Rich Chocolate and Light Tequila

Patrón Spirits announces the launch of the first brand extension for the highly successful Patrón XO Cafe coffee liqueur line. Available in the first quarter of 2012, the new Patrón XO Cafe Dark Cocoa combines high-quality Patrón Silver tequila and the light essence of coffee with an extraordinary chocolate flavor to create a unique and enjoyable ultra-premium liqueur.

“Patrón XO Cafe has quickly become one of the fastest-growing products in our portfolio, and the success and excitement surrounding this brand has definitely energized the coffee liqueur category overall,” said Ed Brown, President and CEO of Patrón Spirits International. “When we looked at how we could build on what makes Patrón XO Cafe so special, chocolate was such a natural fit,” Brown added.

Chocolate, a word that originates in Mexico’s Aztec cuisine, has been used as a drink for nearly all of its history. The high-quality Criollo variety of chocolate in Patrón XO Cafe Dark Cocoa is produced in Mexico’s Tabasco region. The coffee comes from the Mexican states of Veracruz and Chiapas.

Distilled at 60 proof, Patrón XO Cafe Dark Cocoa is characterized by its deep, dark brown color, and an aroma of fresh coffee balanced with cocoa. The taste is dry, not sweet like many other coffee liqueurs, combining the rich flavors of fresh-roasted coffee, fine chocolate and light tequila. The finish is smooth, yet dry.

“Patrón XO Cafe has always been one my proudest achievements,” said Francisco Alcaraz, Patrón’s master distiller who created the recipe for the entire line of Patrón tequilas and liqueurs. “And, I’m very excited to present Patrón XO Cafe Dark Cocoa, an elegant spirit with a precise, balanced blend of Patrón tequila, coffee and rich chocolate that took several years to perfect.”

About Patrón Spirits
Simply Perfect in every way, Patrón tequila is an ultra-premium luxury white spirit that’s delicious on the rocks, and mixes flawlessly into most any cocktail. From the highest-quality Weber Blue agave plants grown in the highlands of Jalisco, Mexico, to the centuries-old distillation process, to the signed, handcrafted glass bottles, Patrón is produced with unparalleled attention to detail. Imported and marketed by The Patrón Spirits Company, additional brands in the portfolio consist of Gran Patrón Burdeos, Gran Patrón Platinum, Patrón Silver, Patrón Reposado, Patrón Añejo, and Patrón Citrónge (extra fine orange liqueur), as well as Pyrat XO Reserve and Pyrat Cask 1623 Caribbean rums, and Ultimat ultra-premium vodka. For more information and cocktail recipes like the one above, please visit www.patrontequila.com.

The sixth edition of Bols Around the World, the global bartending competition launched by Lucas Bols in 2006, has officially started.

Bols Around the World is looking for the most inspiring, talented and charismatic bartenders across five continents. In the coming four months, they will be competing for 12 places at the Grand Finale to be held in Amsterdam in May 2012.To make it to the final, bartenders will compete in three heats that will test the three facets of the true bartender.

This is a call to all true bartenders. Those bartenders who master the art of mixing, the fundamentals of bartending and above all those passionate individuals who live the profession at their hearts and portray their own personalities and life experiences through their creations.

As an international bartender brand, we are constantly on the lookout for new industry trends and trendsetters. Our aim: to build a strong bartender community. In order to connect with the best people we ask for your help to get the message out there.

For more info visit www.bolsaroundtheworld.com

Although the winter citrus season was off to a late start in 2012, markets are beginning to be flooded with a wealth of gorgeous citrus fruits, beckoning bartenders and cocktail enthusiasts to serve up drinks highlighting the fresh juices. One such blink-and-you’ll-miss-it fruit is the vaunted blood orange, with its namesake sanguine hue and intoxicating aroma and taste.

Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur is a premium liqueur made with native Sicilian Sanguinello blood oranges picked at the peak of ripeness, bottling the magic for year-round enjoyment. The peak of this fleeting season, however, marks the occasion for pert, luscious cocktails made with both fresh blood oranges and Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur—a bracing remedy for the winter doldrums!

Accomplished San Francisco bartender and Solerno Brand Ambassador Jackie Patterson has concocted an array of cocktail recipes to herald the peak of the season.

Star Ruby

• 1 oz Solerno
• 1 oz fresh blood orange juice
• 1 oz Lillet Rouge
• 1 oz Hendrick’s Gin

Shake ingredients with ice and fine strain into a chilled coupe glass.  Garnish with an orange twist.

Blood Orange Fizz

• 1 oz Solerno
• 1 oz Hendrick’s Gin
• ½  oz fresh blood orange juice
• ¾ oz fresh lemon juice
• ½ oz simple syrup
• ½ oz egg white
• 1 oz soda water
• 2 drops orange flower water

Dry shake all ingredients except soda.  Hard shake with ice and fine strain into a chilled fizz glass that already has the 1 oz of soda water in the bottom of the glass.  Garnish with 2 drops of orange flower water.

Blood Orange Zinger

• 1 oz Stoli O
• 1 oz Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur
• 1 oz fresh blood orange juice
• ½ oz simple syrup
• ½ oz fresh lemon juice
• 4 oz ginger beer

Shake ingredients except ginger beer with ice.  Strain into a tall glass over fresh ice, fill with Ginger Beer and stir to incorporate.  Garnish with a blood orange slice and a chunk of candied ginger.

Neroli

• 1 ½ oz Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur
• ½ oz Aperol
• 1 oz fresh orange juice (or blood orange juice!)
• 1 ¾ oz Prosecco

Build ingredients over ice and stir to incorporate and chill. Garnish with a blood orange slice.

Solerno & Sparkling

• 1 oz Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur
• 5 oz dry sparkling wine

Pour over ice in a tall glass and garnish with several thinly sliced blood orange wheels.

Name: RockdaBELLE aka ROX

Hometown: ATL – Baby

Nationality: Black American

Birthday: I celebrate from January 14 – February 13

Sign: Aquarius

Where Are You a Bartender: Bartending Barbelles Mobile Bartending

How Many Years Bartending: Three cool years

Favorite Cocktail: GA Peach Sweet Tea (Carolina Sweet Tea, sour mix, Peach Schnapps, Ciroc Peach)

Favorite Beer: Oooh I like wine coolers still *hangs head*

Favorite Shot: Vegas Bomb (Crown Royal, Peach Schnapps, cranberry juice, Red Bull)

Favorite Bar In The World To Have A Drink: Wherever Diddy was in the Ciroc commercial LUCK BE A LADY

Links: www.facebook.com/bartendingbarbelles

Twist this tray of shot glasses left, right, sideways, even upside down and these gravity defying shot glasses will never fall off! Great for serving guests, made of vibrantly colored plastic with magnetic stainless steel bases, each shot glass holds 1.5 oz. Set of six shot glasses and one stainless steel serving tray. Serving tray measures 7.5" x 7.5".

Product Features:

• Unique and fun gravity-defying shot glasses
• Perfect for cocktail parties and girls night out
• Designed from vibrantly colored plastic with magnetic stainless steel bases; set of six shot glasses and one stainless s
• Serving tray measures 7.5" x 7.5"; each holds 1.5oz; arrives gift boxed

Buy them here! Homewetbar.com

Voli Vodka, a low calorie vodka brand (on average this vodka has between 25% and 40% less calories than leading brands) is  the perfect choice of spirit to entertain your single girlfriends this Valentine's Day.  Let's stay healthy this year and NOT gain weight…After all-Valentine's Day can be depressing for some of us and lead to over-eating.  Here are some Voli Vodka cocktails that will go great with your Valentine-themed party.

The Flirt

• 2 oz. Voli Raspberry Cocoa
• 5 fresh raspberries
• 1 lemon wedge
• 1 lime wedge
• 1/2 oz. simple syrup
• Prosecco (an Italian white wine)

Muddle raspberries, lemon, lime and syrup.  Add other ingredients and ice.  Shake and strain.  Top with Prosecco.  Garnish with fresh raspberries. 

Blushing Berry

• 2 oz. Voli Raspberry Cocoa
• 1/2 oz. raspberry liquor
• Diet cranberry juice

Build ingredients over ice and stir.  Garnish with fresh raspberries and lime twist.

How about a neat way to serve up some shots at your party?  You can mix up a delicious Voli Vodka shot and serve it in a unique chocolate shot glass for your guests.  You can purchase the Dobla Dark Belgian chocolate shot glass from Kegworks.com for $8.95 for a package of 12 or you can make them yourself if you have the time.  It's a great way to incorporate a little chocolate to your party.  If you're making them yourself, be sure to use dark chocolate, which is actually healthier for you!   You can find an easy recipe on eHow.com.

Shakerato Shot

• 1 oz. Voli Espresso Vanilla
• 1/2 oz. espresso
• Mix ingredients together and serve in a delicious chocolate shot glass!

When you think of Valentine's Day snacks, you probably envision lots of CHOCOLATE, cupcakes, cookies, and other high-fat foods.  We want to keep this party healthy and low-fat. Here are some great suggestions.

Well, you need some chocolate.  It IS Valentine's Day after all!  But how about some chocolate covered strawberries?  You can make them a bit healthier by using the same dark chocolate you used if you made your own chocolate covered shot glasses (if the chocolate is at least 60% cocoa it is considered to be healthy).

Since this is a brunch (and you will probably appreciate a little bread to soak up the alcohol you will be consuming!) bagels would be a great choice.  To keep it healthy, serve whole wheat bagels with some pink cream cheese.  You can also serve a vegetable platter with the pink cream cheese as well.  You will incorporate a little Valentine color and keep it healthy at the same time!

Fruit kabobs are also a great snack.  There are lots of red fruits you can add to your skewers such as cherries, raspberries, strawberries, and red apples.

How about some heart-shaped chips and salsa?  A very simple and healthy snack to make, simply cut some whole wheat tortillas into heart shapes, brush with some olive oil, sprinkle with a little salt and bake at 425 until crisp (about eight minutes).

And that is all you need to throw a great girls-only Valentine's Day party!  The best part is with the Voli Vodka cocktails and healthy snacks, the girls will enjoy your guilt-free party even more!  If you would like to add one final personal touch, paper invitations would be a great idea.  Absolutelypaper.com has some fabulous ladies-only themed invites.  Even some for Valentine's Day, saying "Valentine's Day isn't only for mates… Join me for a girls' brunch without dates!"

The Singer, Fashion Designer and Actress Ventures into a Partnership Agreement with the World’s First Low Calorie Vodka

The world’s sexiest vodka just got sexier! Voli Light Vodkas, the world’s first low calorie vodkas with natural flavors, is proud to announce Fergie, six-time Grammy award winning artist, as a new partner and owner. The multi-talented artist will work with Voli Light Vodkas to promote a Voli as a delicious, low calorie alternative for the fitness minded cocktail consumer who does not want to compromise taste and quality.

“2012 is proving to be a very exciting year for Voli. As a brand that appeals to women as well as men, it has always been our goal to align with a vibrant, fun and sexy female such as Fergie,” said Adam Kamenstein, CEO of Voli Light Vodkas. “We were thrilled at Fergie’s passion for Voli and interest in an even larger role with the brand as a partner and owner.”

Voli is named after the meshing of Vodka and Light and is available in five flavors – Raspberry Cocoa, Espresso Vanilla, Orange Vanilla, Lemon and Lyte (original). Voli Light Vodkas are hand crafted by master distillers in Cognac, France and feature a delicate blend of the finest multi-distilled wheat vodka, pure spring water, natural flavor and electrolytes. Voli Light Vodkas are on average between 25 and 40 percent lower in calories than the leading brands and are available in all major markets throughout the United States.

Voli experienced strong growth in 2011 increasing availability to more than 40 markets, exporting to Asia and Latin America, and sales volume grew 1000 percent from 2010. The focus for 2012 is expanding consumer awareness and brand visibility, and increasing on and off premise account penetration in all markets served.

"I'm excited about my new partnership with Voli Light Vodka; a company that understands the modern girl on the go,” said Fergie, new owner of Voli. “A fit and active lifestyle can now happily co-exist with a sexy night on the town with your girlfriends or your man. The orange vanilla fusion tastes just like a creamsicle…mmm.  Voli's innovative and delicious low-calorie vodkas mean I can have my workouts not be ruined by a night out. J'adore Voli!"

Voli is imported by Palm Bay International, Port Washington, NY.

About Voli
Voli Spirits, LLC was founded in 2008 by Adam Kamenstein and is a privately held premier spirits company with offices in Los Angeles and New York.  In 2010, after two years of working with leading mixologists, vodka connoisseurs, and producers of distinguished spirits, Voli Spirits created the world’s first and only line of low calorie fruit and fusion flavored vodkas – Voli Light Vodka. Voli is named after the meshing of Vodka and Light and is available in five flavors – Raspberry Cocoa, Espresso Vanilla, Orange Vanilla, Lemon and Lyte (original) electrolyte. Voli Light Vodkas are hand crafted by the master distillers of Roullet-Francas in Cognac, France and feature delicate blend of the finest multi-distilled wheat vodka, pure spring water, natural flavor and electrolytes. Voli Light Vodkas are on average between 25% and 40% lower in calories than the leading brands and are available in all major markets throughout the United States. In 2011 the Voli brand has experienced triple digit growth throughout the nation. In a world where things add up, it’s nice to subtract. For additional information please visit www.volispirits.com
Voli is imported by Palm Bay International, Port Washington, NY.