To Infinity and Beyond!
Drinkstuff’s going up in the world...or more precisely, the warehouse! We’ve been busy planning and building a new mezzanine floor so that we can store even more products in our warehouse! We now have plenty of space to store our Home Cinema Seating, Lay Z Spas, Bar Stools and Bar Equipment, so we can offer even more of our products on a fast delivery service. Check out the progress of the construction below!
Of course, we had to get in a celebrity for the grand opening and while the queen wasn’t available, we managed to get the biggest movie star of the moment...Buzz Lightyear!
Happy shopping,
The Drinkstuff Blog
Save Yourself a Bundle
Now, we're not ones to blow our own trumpet (is that a marching band I hear?), but we have to admit our range of bundle deals are pretty damn good. Because we understand that your time and money are precious, we've recently added to our range of drink, poker and party related kits that are kind to your wallet. Our starter packs have been compiled by our drink experts, who have clearly been spending too much time down the pub, so you can have all the essential tools needed for the perfect night in.
For all the women that fancy Tom Cruise in Cocktail and all the men who want to be him (and have the ladies fancy you too), we have a great range of cocktail making kits. From generic kits like our best selling Cocktail Starter Pack, brand new Home Cocktail Starter Pack and Ultimate Cocktail Kit, we also offer drink specific kits such our Mojito Cocktail Pack and Martini Cocktail Starter Pack. No cocktail is complete without decorations, which is why we've put together all our best selling accessories in the Bar Caddy Starter Kit and the new Chrome Bar Caddy Starter Kit.
For those that feel like scratch isn't the best place to start, we've been chucking Ice Republic Cocktail Mixers, glassware and cocktail decorations together (not literally of course, that would get messy), so you can whizz up the perfect cheats' cocktail every time and take all the credit! There's something for every taste with our Margarita Cocktail Pack, Pina Colada Cocktail Pack and Strawberry Daiquiri Starter Pack, perfect for those Ann Summers parties and Friday nights in.
Obviously everyone loves cocktails, but if you want to preserve your macho image you can't be seen sipping out of an umbrella topped drink, which is why we have the Bar Starter Set so you can be a landlord in your own home, the Shot Starter Pack to get your party started and the Tequila Slammer Pack for the Mexican in you.
For a more refined evening in there's a choice of the White Wine Set or Red Wine Set, guaranteed to bring out the wine connoisseur in you. Containing everything you need to pour the perfect glass of wine, you'll soon be swirling your drink and using words such as 'austere' and 'confected'.
Once you've settled down with your drink, whether it be a cocktail, beer or wine, how about a nice game of poker? Our popular Nuts Poker Starter Pack comes with all the equipment you need for a proper game of Texas Hold'em, and is available in a green poker cloth, orange poker cloth or black poker cloth.
We've got everything to keep you entertained for a night in with friends! Our bundle deals also make perfect gifts for those hard to buy for friends and relatives. If you've got any ideas for bundle deals you'd like to see on our site, contact drinkstuff with your suggestions!
Cheers,
The Drinkstuff Blog
One Tequila, Two Tequila…It’s National Tequila Day!
There’s lots of national holidays to be celebrated throughout the year, some better than others. For instance, National Cherry Pie Day is a lot better than International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day, unless you happen to be a dog of course. But what we’re getting excited about is National Tequila Day, celebrated by the good old US of A! We personally think it should be celebrated all over the world, so this Saturday 24th July, wherever you are, don your Mexican sombrero hat, fake mustache and grab the nearest bottle of tequila!
Here to help you on your tipsy way and get you singing along to that tequila song by ALT and The Lost Civilization, we have tips, cocktail recipes and of course everything you need to consume your tequila.
To Enjoy the Perfect Shot:
If you’re feeling hardcore, you can drink it straight like the Mexicans or try a bandera (named after the Mexican flag), which consists of a shot of white tequila, lime juice and sangrita (a sweet, sour and spicy drink), all drunk in equal parts.
The Tequila Cruda, often wrongly referred to as a Tequila Slammer, is one of the more popular ways to drink tequila outside of Mexico. The classic (and often messy) way of doing this is to lick the back of your hand and pour on salt, before licking it off, taking your tequila shot and biting into a lime or lemon wedge.
High quality tequilas, just like a glass of fine scotch, are best enjoyed sipped. Any tequila bottle labelled ‘Reposado’ means it’s been aged and should be enjoyed at length, rather than as a shot.
To Enjoy the Perfect Cocktail:
Just because it’s pricey, doesn’t mean it’s good. If you’re adding tequila to a cocktail, a brand like Sauza is great for adding a smooth flavour to your drink. For a simple cocktail, try making a Herradura Charro Negro:
• 60ml Herradura Anejo Tequila
• 120ml Cola
• Squeeze of Lime Juice
Pour the tequila and cola over ice in a highball glass, give it a good mix and squeeze in the lime.
Fancy something a bit more elegant? Try out this Turquoise Margarita recipe:
• 50ml Tequila
• 25ml De Kuyper Blue Curaçao
• 25ml Lime Juice
• Dash of Sugar Syrup
Shake up all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice, before using a fine strainer to pour into a chilled margarita glass. Garnish with a citrus fruit wedge.
Obviously, you can’t serve up a margarita in anything apart from a classic margarita glass! Before pouring, run a lime slice around the rim of your glass, before tipping upside down and coating with salt from a salt rimmer.
If you fancy adding some decorations, a classic fruit slice always works well, which is made super easy with our Citrus Fruit Slicer. Don’t forget your Frappe Cocktail Straws and Cocktail Umbrellas for the finishing touches!
Make sure you have the right tools for the job, a Bar Knife for chopping, a Boston Cocktail Shaker for mixing up the all important ingredients, Stainless Steel Pourer for less mess and a Double Jigger Measure to ensure you don’t go overboard!
If it all seems like a bit too much hassle, do it the cheat’s way with Ice Republic’s Lime Margarita Cocktail Mix. Simply add water and tequila, then place it in your freezer for 6 hours, and it’s ready to drink!
If you're looking for more recipe ideas and tips check out our range of cocktail and tequila books. We hope you have a great weekend experimenting and celebrating National Tequila Day!
Salud!
Ta Bouche Cocktail Competition
We love to get involved in the local community, especially when it involves drinking cocktails! We were proud to be sponsors of the first Bartending Competition hosted by local Cambridge cocktail bar, Ta Bouche.
Obviously, we felt obliged to go along and sample the cocktail delights the contenders mixed up for the competition. Featuring 4 stages; mixology, speed, flip off and flair, we were blown away by the techniques, stunts and strength of the alcohol!
Contestants were awarded points for each stage, sampled and judged by cocktail experts including Simon Purchase from SupremeBeing, Will Lowe from Bibendum Wine and Spirits, and Tim Marcheney from Pernod Rickard. Everyone who took part was given a drinkstuff.com Flair Bottle and Vinyl Coated Bar Blade.
The lucky winners not only got all the fame and glory, but also won prizes given by us, including a Flair Starter Kit for the winner of the flair round and an Ultimate Cocktail Kit for the overall winner. JD from La Raza was the star of the show, winning the Mixology Havana Club round, speed round and was the overall competition winner. Honourable second place went to Lukasz Lankiewicz from the Hidden Rooms.
Mixology: Mark Pope from Ta Bouche
Mixology Havana Club: JD from La Raza
Speed: JD from La Raza
Flair: Chris Whelan from Ta Bouche
If you’re hosting a local event you’d like us to get involved with, let us know, especially if you’re hosting it in Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire or Essex!