The Mixologist Myth

I'm sure every other Los Angeles-based blogger has already told you this, but we're having a freaking heat wave over here. I hate to complain about weather, cause I know some of you live in places that experince this type of mind-melting heat for, like, months at a time or whatever, but here in LA we're not really used to this sort of thing.

Before you peeps in Arizona and Texas tell me to eff off, can I just mention that it was 112 degrees yesterday? As I am now a self-employed person, I didn't have an air conditioned office to take refuge in, so I was forced, forced I tell you, to take asylum in the mall, where my best friend and I languidly wandered from air conditioned store to air conditioned store, while sipping cool lemonaides, and buying unnecessary make-up items. It was a hard. day. ya'll.

Okay, I'm not winning any friends here, am I? Here's a picture of my poor, hot cats to soften your heart a little:

My dear fiance, who had been doing actual physial labor in said sweltering heat all day, came home exhausted. Being the good faux housewife that I am, I offered to fix him a nice cool cocktail.

Now, somewhere in the midst of making tongue-in-cheek cocktail videos and creating sometimes-awesome, sometimes-revolting cocktails, I've been labeled a "mixologist". As I am not much in the way of modest, I haven't been quick to deny this, even if it's not very truthful. Hell, I've been called worse things before without denying it (hint: sometimes being labeled a "bitch" isn't the worst thing in the world). A connoisseur of cocktails? A liberal libationist? A fucking bartender? Yes, you could truthfully call me those things. A mixolgoist? Well, I'm trying my best to embody that title.

A lot of people are nervous to mix their own cocktails at home, and I get that. I used to be one of those people. But during the past year or so, with a lot of help from liquor left over from our video shoots, I've started collecting a modest amount of liquid accouterments for my at-home bar.

Proof:

So here's what I made for Colin:

4 ounces black raspberry vodka

2 ounces raspberry liqueur

2 ounces St. Germaine (an awesome elderflower liqueur that you should try!)

I shook the booze over ice, then added it to glasses with more ice and some frozen berries. Then I topped it off with some sparkling water. It was so yum! Also check out those metal bendy straws. They're one of my favorite items in my bar (you can get em here).

Being both a drinker and a gentleman, Colin kindly returned the favor by making a drink for us as well:

4 ounces vodka

1 ounce raspberry liqueur

1 ounce triple sec

Blended together with crushed pineapple, a banana, and a tropical popsicle. It was frothy and oh so refreshing!

I have no excuse as to why this beer-centric event happened later, but I'm blaming the cheese. Have you had that cheese in the tupperware? Ohmyfuckinggod it's heaven.

My point is: I'm no mixologist (at least not yet) and you can too! My best suggestion, as I know this shit gets spendy, is to buy little airplane bottles of the boozes you want to try until you find what you really like. It may not be the classiest thing in the world, but when have I worried about being the classiest girl in the room? Although if you call me that, I'll never deny it.

Tell me, what's your favorite go-to cocktail when you're sipping at home?