On the 4th April 1913, the late great Muddy Waters was born in Mississippi and given the increasingly whimsically nature of our Cocktail of the Week, we thought it prudent to pair a delightful cocktail with a tribute to the great man himself. So without further ado here is a Hurricane Cocktail recipe and a few throwaway facts about the soulful and electrifying blues legend that is Muddy Waters…

The long Easter weekend is finally upon us and there is no better time to overindulge. So put your feet up this weekend or throw caution to the wind by pouring yourself a Cherry Manhattan cocktail. 

At this time of year we are all hankering for a bit of tropical sun somewhere far away from here, and what better way to evoke memories of crisp white sands and turquoise seas than with this Dark N’ Stormy cocktail recipe. 

It’s Mother’s Day on Sunday. It is also Chuck Norris’ birthday. There is no connection between the two, but because of the flimsy editorial vetting, this momentous and entirely random coincidence is going to be unabashedly celebrated (until it’s unceremoniously removed and the writer disciplined). So kick back with your dear mother on Sunday with this classic Mojito cocktail recipe and a few whimsical stats about this previously unheralded dual-event… 

In a week in which George Harrison (25th February) would have celebrated his 70th birthday, The Beatles loving team at CellarVie Wines thought they celebrate the life of the Quiet Beatle with the Strawberry Fields Forever cocktail and a bit of superfluous trivia… 

The legendary Nina Simone was born on the 21st February, 1933 and so we thought it prudent to mark her birthday with an archetypal jazz age cocktail, The Raspberry Rickey. 

For some, Valentine’s Day is a moment to treasure, for others it’s simply an annoyance or an inconvenience to negotiate. Either way, it seems as fitting a day as any to share a cocktail with a loved one or simply wallow in self-pity and make one for yourself. With those patently different sentiments in mind, here is a recipe for Belvedere Cupid’s Bow, which is our cocktail of the week for Valentine’s…

It polarises opinion even on the rare occasions it is executed correctly but it is quintessentially festive. It looks grotesque, smells unfathomable and yet a Christmas party pales into insignificance without a suspicious looking bowl of jacked-up omelette-like sludge. So throw caution to the Baltic winds this week and brave the odd consistency of eggnog by revelling in our latest Cocktail of the Week…

'Tis the season and nothing tastes quite like Christmas like a warming glass of Mulled Wine, and our cocktail of the week is a slight twist on the traditional with the addition of Sloe Gin. 

The story goes that this equal parts gin, Campari and sweet vermouth cocktail served on the rocks was fashioned in Florence around the 1920s after Count Camillo Negroni, a regular at Bar Casoni, ordered his Americano, a drink containing Campari, sweet vermouth and soda water, to be made with gin instead of soda. 

Eleven years ago to the day, the much-beloved George Harrison died of lung cancer. In honour of the “quiet Beatle” the team at CellarVie Wines wanted to recall his beautifully crafted song, ‘Here Comes The Sun’, from The Beatles' 1969 album Abbey Road and its wonderfully simple yet happy sentiments, in an effort to encourage some cocktail induced revelry on a Thursday night.

The 35th President of the United States of America, John F. Kennedy, was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald exactly 49-years-ago today and while his aforementioned declaration inevitably had far loftier and more pertinent intentions than our own, we wanted to revel in them nonetheless. So why not rejoice in the looming and hopefully happily lapping tides of a fun-filled weekend by pouring yourself a premature but no doubt well-deserved cocktail. CellarVie Wines’ Cocktail of the Week is the suitably festive The Poinsettia. 

The great American author and humanist Kurt Vonnegut would have celebrated his 90th birthday last Sunday, so ahead of our Cocktail of the Week we thought we would recall his jovial romanticisms from ‘A Man Without a Country’ – an essay collection published in 2005 from the Indianapolis born writer - in order to inspire some cocktail induced revelry prior to the weekend. 

The inimitable Charles Bukowski once wrote the following in relation to the degenerating and monotonous capacity of a daily ‘9 to 5’ job:

“What hurts is the steadily diminishing humanity of those fighting to hold jobs they don't want but fear the alternative worse. People simply empty out. They are bodies with fearful and obedient minds. The colour leaves the eye. The voice becomes ugly. And the body. The hair. The fingernails. The shoes. Everything does." 

You have shed blood, sweat and tears all week and are now deservedly hankering for a well-earned drink. The week’s worst is over and the scent of the weekend fills your stuffy, serviced office; your chalk-dry palate is yearning for something wet and its undoubtedly time to indulge oneself. With those mouth-watering sentiments in mind, why not kick back and give yourself the VIP treatment by pouring yourself the Red Carpet Cocktail.

Thursday is so dangerously close to the weekend that CellarVie Wines often tend to be hankering for a drink by the close of play. The week’s back is broken, Friday night looms, and we are usually in buoyant mood as the weekend approaches.

Each month CellarVie Wines celebrates one of our spirits by publishing four cocktails, one each week, that showcases the unique flavours of the spirit in question. CellarVie Wines are proud to promote Monte Alban Mezcal Tequila Gold for the month of October. 

There comes a time during the working week when everyone* needs to cut loose or just merely partake in a cheeky drink, and seeing as we are currently celebrating our Spirit of the Month by recommending a cocktail every Thursday, why not relax and pour yourself a Martell Float cocktail…

CellarVie Wines are currently celebrating our Spirit of the Month by recommending a cocktail every Thursday. Throughout this month we are championing Martell XO Cognac and with the aforementioned cognac in mind, why not kick-off the weekend early by pouring yourself a Martell Cosmopolitan…

CellarVie Wines are currently championing our Spirit of the Month, Martell XO Cognac, by recommending a cocktail every Thursday. This week why not give the Classic Champagne Cocktail a try…

CellarVie Wines are currently celebrating our Spirit of the Month by recommending a cocktail every Thursday. Throughout September we will be championing Martell XO Cognac and with the aforementioned spirit in mind we think you should kick-off the weekend a little earlier by pouring yourself a Martell Sour…

Each month CellarVie Wines celebrates one of our listed spirits by recommending four cocktails, one each week, that best showcase the unique flavours of the spirit in question. CellarVie Wines are proud to promote Martell XO Cognac; a spirit that is almost certainly best enjoyed neat or with a splash of water, but let’s not get bogged down in the detail. 

Our Spirit of the Month for August is Lazzaroni Amaretto 1851 and although this week’s Cocktail of the Week is perhaps more of a shot or a shooter; it is no less enjoyable for it! So without further ado here is a recipe for the Sicilian Kiss…

It’s that time of the week again; when CellarVie Wines dust-down their cocktail shaker to bring you a palate busting drink that truly celebrates our Spirit of the Month. Throughout August we have been trumpeting Lazzaroni Amaretto 1851 and with the aforementioned spirit in mind we think you should kick-off the weekend a little earlier by pouring yourself a French Connection cocktail.

Every Thursday, CellarVie Wines trumpet our Spirit of the Month by recommending a cocktail. Throughout August we are championing Lazzaroni Amaretto 1851 and with the aforementioned spirit in mind we think you should kick-off the weekend a little earlier by pouring yourself a Gladiator.

Every Thursday, CellarVie Wines trumpet our Spirit of the Month by recommending a cocktail. Throughout August we are championing Lazzaroni Amaretto 1851 and with the aforementioned spirit in mind we think you should kick-off the weekend a little earlier by pouring yourself an Amaretto Sour.

Each month CellarVie Wines celebrates a Spirit of the Month by recommending four cocktails, one each week, that best showcase the unique flavours of the spirit in question.CellarVie Wines are proud to promote Lazzaroni Amaretto 1851 as our Spirit of the Month for August. 

Every Thursday CellarVie Wines trumpet our Spirit of the Month by recommending a cocktail. Throughout July we are championing one of Poland’s premier vodka brands Luksusowa and with the aforementioned spirit in mind we think you should kick-off the weekend a little earlier by pouring yourself a Cosmopolitan.

Every Thursday CellarVie Wines trumpet our Spirit of the Month by recommending a cocktail. Throughout July we are championing one of Poland’s premier vodka brands Luksusowa and with the aforementioned spirit in mind we think you should kick-off the weekend a little earlier by pouring yourself an Espresso Martini.  

CellarVie Wines  are currently championing the virtues of our Spirit of the Month, Luksusowa Vodka, and with the aforementioned in mind check out the recipe for our Cocktail of the Week - Frisky Steve. 

Each month CellarVie Wines celebrates a Spirit of the Month by recommending four cocktails, one each week, that best showcase the unique flavours of the spirit in question. CellarVie Wines are proud to promote Luksusowa Vodka as our Spirit of the Month for July. 

CellarVie Wines are currently championing the virtues of our Spirit of the Month, Havana Club 7 Year Old Golden Rum and with the aforementioned in mind we thought we would choose the The Golden Apple as our Cocktail of the Week.
  

CellarVie Wines are currently championing the virtues of our Spirit of the Month, Havana Club 7 Year Old Golden Rum, and with the aforementioned in mind we thought we would choose the The Rum Sidecar as our Cocktail of the Week. 

While the summer seems a sadly distant memory given the hostile weather of late, CellarVie Wines are currently championing the virtues of our Spirit of the Month, Havana Club 7 Year Old Golden Rum. So with the aforementioned in mind we thought we would choose the Cuban Special as our Cocktail of the Week in order to light up the otherwise altogether gloomy and depressing elements. 

CellarVie Wines are currently championing the virtues of our Spirit of the Month, Havana Club 7 Year Old Golden Rum, and with the aforementioned in mind we thought we would choose the Special Cuba Libre as our Cocktail of the Week. 

Each month CellarVie Wines celebrates a Spirit of the Month by recommending four cocktails, one each week, that best showcase the unique flavours of the spirit in question. CellarVie Wines are proud to promote Havana Club 7 Year Old Golden Rum as our Spirit of the Month for June. 

Given CellarVie Wines’ extensive collection it surprised me that none of the team had thus far stumped for a spirit for their What We’re Drinking selection. For me, it was something of a no-brainer because I have to admit gin is often my base alcohol of choice outside of wine and Hendricks Gin is both an interesting drink and an equally intriguing brand. 

CellarVie Wines are currently championing the virtues of our Spirit of the Month, Hendricks Gin, and with the aforementioned in mind and indeed with next week’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations nearly upon us, we thought we would choose a quintessentially British drink, the Gin & Tonic, as our Cocktail of the Week. 

CellarVie Wines are currently championing the virtues of our Spirit of the Month, Hendricks Gin, and with the aforementioned in mind we thought we would choose the Jacuzzi as our Cocktail of the Week. 

Having previously advocated James Bond’s favourite tipple the Vodka Martini as our Cocktail of the Week, CellarVie Wines thought they would champion its predecessor and the original Martini, using our Spirit of the Month, Hendricks Gin. 

CellarVie Wines are currently championing the virtues of our Spirit of the Month, Hendricks Gin, and with the aforementioned in mind we thought we would choose the Tom Collins as our Cocktail of the Week. 

Each week CellarVie Wines are keen to whet their whistle on a specially selected cocktail to spice up a Thursday night and today is no different. Our Cocktail of the Week revolves around our Spirit of the Month, Hendricks Gin, and this week why not kick back and make yourself a Hendricks Gimlet. 

Each month CellarVie Wines celebrates a Spirit of the Month by recommending four cocktails, one each week, that best showcase the unique flavours of the spirit in question. CellarVie Wines are proud to promote Hendricks Gin for the month of May.  

Traditionally made with gin and dry white vermouth it was of course Ian Fleming’s eponymous hero that catapulted the vodka equivalent into the public psyche. James Bond famously ordered his ‘shaken, not stirred’ and 007’s version has remained hugely popular ever since. In an unabashed ode to Britain’s premier secret agent and of course to the imminent end to another labouring week of work CellarVie Wines’ are celebrating the Vodka Martini as our Cocktail of the Week. 

The My Palate system on the CellarVie Wines website recommended me the Gewürztraminer Alsace 2009, Martin Zahn, which I'd never tried before.  

The ‘Dude’ in the Coen Brother’s film the Big Lebowski, played superbly by the infinitely likeable Jeff Bridges, famously drank copious amounts of White Russian cocktails and while the team at CellarVie Wines are not endorsing the ultimate slacker’s insatiable appetite for "Caucasians", it’s Thursday and having laboured your way through the tedium of work it’s now time to unwind with our Cocktail of the Week.  

You know the deal; it’s Thursday and therefore Cocktail of the Week time and this week we are championing the Bloody Mary using our Spirit of the Month, Grey Goose Vodka.    

Friday is a day off this week so why not start a four-day weekend by indulging in CellarVie Wines’ Cocktail of the Week, the Caipiroska. Popular in South America, the Caipiroska is prepared with vodka and in this instance we suggest using Grey Goose Vodka which coincidentally, just happens to be our ‘Spirit of the Month’. 

Each month CellarVie Wines celebrates a Spirit of the Month by recommending four cocktails, one each week, that best showcase the unique flavours of the spirit in question. CellarVie Wines are proud to promote Grey Goose Vodka as their Spirit of the Month for April… 

Thursdays can only mean one thing…it’s time for the CellarVie Wines’ Cocktail of the Week and today we are presenting the Pear Head. An unusual and obscure drink but an equally delicious one based around our Spirit of the Month, Penderyn Welsh Malt Whisky, the Pear Head is a vibrant and refreshing cocktail that is ideal for the balmy weather we are currently enjoying here in Blighty. 

Thursday is the new Friday for the CellarVie Wines team and that’s all because of our ‘Cocktail of the Week’, so why not kick-off the weekend (of sorts) with the Penderyn Catch! 

It’s that time of week again and the CellarVie Wines team have chosen the Tom Jones cocktail in a bid to brighten the mood on a Thursday evening. Once again revolving around our Spirit of the Month, Penderyn Welsh Malt Whisky, the aforementioned is a lovely way to kick-start a Thursday night, and although it is often a gin based cocktail, it is just as nice with a hearty measure of Penderyn.  

Each week CellarVie Wines are keen to whet their whistle on a specially selected cocktail to spice up a Thursday night and today is no different. Our Cocktail of the Week revolves around our Spirit of the Month, Penderyn Welsh Malt Whisky, and is called the Orchard Highball.  

Each month CellarVie Wines will celebrate a Spirit of the Month by recommending four cocktails, one each week, that best showcase the unique flavours of the spirit in question.