Sinfully Delicious Summertime Cocktails, Las Vegas Style. (Courtesy of MGM Grand Resorts International)

This summer, the pools at MGM Resorts International properties are offering thirst-quenching libations that are anything but ordinary. Edible alcohol-infused fruit cocktails, exotic mojitos, twisted lemonades and low-calorie concoctions deliver tasty ways to combat the desert heat. Everyone deserves an escape from the mundane routines that we all get stuck in, whether it be handling business to get the bills paid or the taxing responsibilities that come with being a parent or caring for a loved one. 

What better way to take your mind off all of the stresses being thrown your way than to relax poolside in Las Vegas sipping on some of the finest cocktails to ever be poured on the face of this planet? Read along to see who is pouring what and where you need to be as the Summer heat begins to become unbearable.

Exquisite Edibles

Edible libations break the boundaries to quench thirst and calm hunger during the hottest summer days. 

Available at Bellagio’s Cypress pool, the Doriae is equal parts cocktail and snack. Fresh watermelon slices vacuum-sealed with Tanteo jalapeño tequila, raspberry syrup and lime juice are presented with a martini glass full of the sweet and spicy mixture. Guests may dip their fruit in the cocktail for an extra burst of flavor or sip the libation as an accompaniment to the infused watermelon slices.

Snow cones are all grown up at Bellagio’s pool with offerings like Simple Cherry, which is crafted with Skyy cherry vodka, cherry syrup and house-made salted caramel sauce. Guests can grab a spoon and escape the heat with this intoxicating blend.

(For more Cocktails & Photos, click Read More)

Rooftop Cocktails with a Beautiful Summertime View (WP24 @ The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles)

The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles announces the return of its rooftop cocktail garden, with new produce, herbs and seasonal fruits, now blooming at the Downtown Los Angeles hotel. Surrounding the hotel’s 26th floor BLUE pool deck, the cocktail garden’s fruits, herbs and flowers are expertly combined with premium liquors in the second season of the hotel’s signature garden-to-glass cocktails.

Guests will enjoy season-inspired cocktails with fresh garden bounty at WP24, Wolfgang Puck’s modern Chinese fine dining restaurant on the 24th floor of The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles and BLUE rooftop pool bar – created by Klaus Puck, Beverage Director of WP24 Restaurant and Lounge.

“The cocktail garden provides our beverage team with the inspiration for the garden-to-glass approach to mixology,” said Klaus Puck, Beverage Director of WP24 Restaurant and Lounge. “With the garden’s fragrant citrus trees and robust herbs, we have the opportunity to work with the freshest ingredients to provide our guests with a one-of-a-kind experience.”

This season’s garden cocktails include a Kalamansi Lemonade with Skyy vodka, Kalamansi lemon puree and honey-lemongrass syrup made with lemongrass from the cocktail garden, fresh lemon juice and Sprite; Rhubarb Shiso Fizz with Ketel Oranje, housemade rhubarb simple syrup and freshly picked shiso leaves and a Pinarita made with pineapple tequila, Luxardo Triplum, fresh lime juice, simply syrup and freshly picked Thai basil.

The cocktail garden boasts more than 15 varieties of fruits, herbs and plants highlighting the temperate Southern California climate including – strawberries, stevia, cilantro, fennel, lemons, limes and oranges.

 For more information check out: WP24 @ The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles

900 W Olympic Blvd  Los Angeles, CA 90015
(213) 743-8824

Limón Y Iced Tea

Say it with us, “Simplicity is key.” Not every libation needs 30 ingredients, many of which you have never heard of, nor want to buy to let go to waste until your next party, that’s just a sin. The Limón & Ice Tea cocktail is the kind of drink your Grandmother would call a Summertime delight and your friends would devour by the jug if they hung around our offices. 

Quick, easy, delicious and thirst quenching, this drink is perfect for the heat wave the Nation is expected to experience over the next week.

Enjoy Responsibly.

Ingredients:

2 parts Bacardi® Limón

4 parts Freshly made Iced Tea

Directions:

Fill a chilled glass with ice.

Squeeze 2 Lemon wedges into the glass.

Pour Bacardi® Limón then the Iced Tea over the ice and stir until combined.

Enjoy.

Between The Sheets

Listen, we are for the most part a simple group over here, but every so often we like to complicate things and order drinks or food that just isn’t that easy to make all for the fun of it. When making anything in life whether it be music, a meal or a drink you need to carefully select everything that goes into, as the final results can make or break a few days of your life. Listening to timeless groups performing their classics while cooking always makes the meal that much more enjoyable in my opinion. That being said, try cooking a steak and lobster dinner for your loved one while listening to The Isley Brothers and see just how effortlessly you glide around the kitchen. And while were on the subject of the Isley’s let us get to part 3 in our 3 part segment of Rum Flavored Libations for the day, the Between The Sheets a mixture of Bacardi® Superior Rum, Cognac, Triple Sec & Lemon Juice. If you can’t follow up on a surefire lead off hitter like the Between The Sheets, maybe you need to give up now.

Enjoy!

Ingredients:

1 part Bacardi® Superior Rum

1 part Cognac (preferably Remy Martin or Hennessy)

1 part Triple Sec

1 part Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice

A few dashes of Simply Syrup

Cubed Ice

Orange Zest to Garnish

Drink Mixer / Shaker (w/ a strainer)

A Frozen Cocktail Glass

Directions:

Pour all of the ingredients (minus the Orange Zest) into the mixer / shaker.

Pour in some ice, close tightly and shake until the mixer is cold to the touch.

Double strain into the frozen cocktail glass.

Garnish w/ Orange Zest

Enter The Dragon

Seeing as how Bruce Lee was one of THE BADDEST MEN to ever grace the face of this planet and we are currently in the year of the Dragon, we figured, part 2 of today’s Rum inspired extravaganza would feature a simple cocktail, you won’t get laughed out of the bar for ordering; the Enter The Dragon, which features Bacardi’s® undeniably delicious Dragon Berry flavored Rum doing the tango of tangos with some good old fashioned Ginger Ale. A drink to keep you on point and not sloppy is what you need when the temperatures begin to skyrocket in these last few weeks of Summer.

Enjoy!

Ingredients:

3 parts Bacardi® Dragon Berry flavored Rum

1 part Ginger Ale

Cubed Ice

Chilled Rocks Glass

1 Lime (washed, cut in half then again into wedges for a garnish)

Directions:

Put as much ice as you desire in a chilled Rocks Glass.

Pour Bacardi® and Ginger Ale over the ice.

Stir with a straw or swizzle stick.

Garnish w/ a Lime wedge.

The Bacardi® Rum n' Coke Float

Yes indeed the month of August is a good one for many reasons. Although as usual we are facing a serious drought Nationwide, the people of this great day and age are resilient when faced with these kinds of situations. Think of the joys you see on kids faces when they are playing in the busted fire hydrant or at the community pool with all of their friends. 

Adults are the ones that tend to lose their cool so to speak when the temperatures begin to rise. Well we will not be ones to let that happen, not on our watch, so we will do our best to keep you cooler than a polar bears toenail Love & Respect to Big Boi of The Mighty Outkast for that reference,) by supplying you with a myriad of choices in the Libations department.

Nothing beats coming home after a long day of hard work and rewarding yourself with a hand crafted, delicious cocktail. The joy of being able to think about all of the hard work you put into this World for the sake of your loved ones, deserves to be complimented by a refreshing, relaxing drink, made with only the finest of ingredients.

Today we are going to break down 3 quick recipes for drinks that will surely set your night off in the most proper of ways, starting off with the Rum n’ Coke Float.

Enjoy!

The Rum N’ Coke Float

Ingredients:

2 Parts Bacardi® Superior Rum

3 Parts Coca-Cola (chilled well)

1 Scoop Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

Cubed Ice

Directions:

Fill a highball glass with ice.

Pour in the Bacardi® Superior Rum.

Top w/ chilled Coca-Cola.

Finish it off w/ a scoop of Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

ROTD: National Mint Julep Day 2012

Today is National Mint Julep Day. Pour up a few cold libations, invite some friends over to relax and wax nostalgia about great memories and future plans for creating more of the same. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

2 oz Bourbon Whisky (Preferably Makers Mark)

8 Sprigs of Mint

1 tsp fine Sugar

Drink Mixer w/ Lid

Shaved Ice

Instructions:

Wash the Mint thoroughly and remove any stems that may be attached.

Place the Mint and Sugar with a dash of water in a drink mixer.

Add Shaved Ice & Bourbon, cover with lid and shake until outside is cold & frosted.

Pour into a Rocks Glass and garnish with a fresh sprig of Mint.

Supreme Drink Of The Day: Supreme Cherry Cooler

Today seemed just like the perfect day to try out a new mixed drink and so we did. Ladies and Gentlemen we present to you:

The Supreme Cherry Cooler.

The great tasting drink seen above is fresh out of our test kitchens and we think it truly deserves some play at your next get together, function, soiree or whatever you choose to call your gatherings. 

The mix of the pomegranate tea, sugar and fresh pureed cherries create a fresh fruit flavor explosion that when coupled with the Absolut Ruby Red Vodka is something that must be shared with the world.

Served over crushed ice this drink is a sure hit for those days where laying lazily alongside the pool is all that have to do.

Enjoy!