Drink of the Month

It’s been the subject of countless jokes and has become the end-all, be-all for insults lobbed anywhere near a bar.

The nonalcoholic beer.

It’s an enigma of sorts. Talked about, made fun of and generally put down for its Michael Jackson-like strength. O’Doul’s typically takes it on the chin as the most visible of these virgin brands, but, in the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day, Playlist delves into the world of the prized beverage of the teetotaler who doesn’t want to appear as such.

The term nonalcoholic beer is a misnomer. The typical virgin beer contains less than 0.05 percent of alcohol. The same allowance is given to orange juice and some types of bread. Alcohol is a byproduct of the fermentation process, and therefore, is almost impossible to remove entirely.

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For many years, it’s been thought that one’s sexual desire is enhanced with an aphrodisiac that comes in the shape of a martini glass or poured straight from the best bottle that barley and hops has to offer.

A Psychology Today survey of 20,000 people found that roughly two out of three women and nearly one in two men believe that alcohol enhances sexual pleasure.

The word “aphrodisiac” comes from Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of sexual love and beauty, and the list of supposed sexual stimulants includes everything from chocolate to oysters; many would include alcohol on that list.

So this Valentine’s Day will those of us looking for love in all the right places find it in the aisle of our favorite wine department or liquor store?

Scientists who have studied the physical effects of alcohol on the body say “probably not.”

In fact, researchers who study those things found that alcohol decreases physical signs of sexual arousal because intoxication hinders genital blood flow in both men and women.

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When creepy crawlers come out of the woodwork at Halloween, it’s a perfect time to indulge in monstrous fun with decorations, costumes and special treats.

Getting ready for Halloween can be loads of fun. While you’re dusting off that wooden witch or the black cat and pumpkin decoration, mix it up with your fellow ghouls and serve up a festive cocktail to go with the trick-or-treats.

Try one or all of these savory spirits and have a ghostly good time.

Creepy Crawly Jell-O Shots
2 cups vodka
3 cups water
3 packages Jell-O
Gummy worms
In a saucepan, bring the water to a boil. Once boiling, add in the Jell-O and stir until it is completely dissolved, then stir two more minutes. Add in the vodka and stir.
Pour mixture into clear plastic shot glasses and chill. Before they get firm, add a gummy worm to each glass, then let them firm up.

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With the summer swelter upon us, nothing says refreshment more than the cool flavor of mint.

Thanks to the following drink recipes, you no longer will think of a mint julep as merely a Kentucky Derby treat, and Thin Mint Girl Scout cookies will hold an entirely new, much “dirtier” meaning.

Whether it is paired with bourbon, bubbly ginger ale, Bailey’s Irish Cream or just orange juice and lemon-lime soda, any beverage bursting with minty flavor will always soothe and delight.

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Ice cream drinks – They’re a lip smackin’, velvety smooth, chilled indulgence with a kick, made special and just in time for hot summer fun.

Consider an ordinary scoop of vanilla ice cream; it’s been tantalizing taste buds for centuries. Add a splash or two (or three) of vodka, Kahlua, tequila or Southern Comfort to the mix and you’ve got yourself a tasty treat that speaks to your inner child in a very grown-up way.

Ice cream drinks may be just the way to top off a perfect sunny day.

Ice cream has an ideal consistency for blending with liqueurs and spirits. Its sweet, creamy texture mixes well with a wide variety of flavors, making it extremely effortless to be creative, and with hundreds of flavors of ice cream to choose from, experimenting with taste is both fun and easy.

Instead of reaching for that Bud Light or glass of wine in the evening, try chocolate swirl ice cream and Kahlua or strawberry ice cream and Amaretto. Grand Marnier works great with lemon sorbet. 

Pour it in a highball glass, a lowball glass or even an elegant martini glass. Toppings make it interesting so you may want to reach for the chocolate syrup, pistachios or whipped cream.

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