The Liquid Muse

Mixology Monday - Coming Monday, October 15!

Get in on the Action...

I am excited to host October's MixMo. For those who don't know, Mixology Monday is the brainchild of our pal, Paul Clarke at Cocktail Chronicles. We cocktail bloggers / bartenders / Mixologists / cocktail enthusiasts across the internet have a little "cocktail party" of sorts. One blogs hosts each month, and chooses a theme.

Everyone who wants to be involved posts an appropriate drink on their own blog, then emails the host, who compiles a list, with links. The host then posts MixMo in its entirety on their blog for the world to read about all of the wild and wonderful cocktails everyone has presented.

With the holidays coming up, I thought it would be fun to focus on food pairings. Over the last year, or so, I've become a big fan of cocktail pairings... here are a few of the latest reasons why:

While in London, a few weeks ago, I had the honor of experiencing mind-blowing savory cocktails made by Bombay Sapphire's Europe-based Mixologist, Jamie Walker. After touring an immense gourmet herb garden on the grounds of Manoir aux Quat'Saisons (a Relais & Chateaux property in Oxford, England), Jamie gave us a cocktail demonstration featuring ingredients like beets, fresh herbs and morel mushrooms. Incredible. And, these "gourmet cocktails" pair incredibly well with world class food. (The restaurant at has two michelin stars, I might add... more on that to come in a future post.)

I've also recently enjoyed a glamorous dinner at a Hollywood mansion atop a hill, hosted by Jose Cuervo to show off their Platino (platinum) tequila. It was very eye-opening for me to try the variety of cocktails, made with tequila, that went nicely with passed canapes, Chilean seabass and dulce de leche flan. The drinks paired particularly well with the bird's eye view of Los Angeles stretching for miles below us. (more on that coming soon, too...)

I also tried bourbon cocktails paired with barbeque (talk about a perfect pairing!) at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival, a couple of weeks ago. Yum! (I've written a bit about that here and there's more to come.)

All of this to give you an idea that cocktails and food go well together. Whether you choose gin, tequila, vodka, whiskey or something else, don't be afraid to get creative.

I'm hoping that this MixMo will entice some of our food blogger friends to get in on the action, too!

I suggest that you present a cocktail - name, ingredients and photo - and also give an idea of what kind of food (or a specific dish) it pairs well with.

Cheers - and Bon Apetit!