Cocktail

We're at the finale already (didn't this season seem short?). I'll say it right here at the top of the episode - unless William falls repeatedly on his keister, requiring the judges to give him 5's across the board, there's no way he's not winning this thing. That being said, I'd be OK with any of the three finalists winning, even though I'm personally Team Driver. Tonight's show will have each couple dancing two dances:  1. Judge's pick, which are new routines danced to new music, but in a style the couple has previously danced and in which the judges would like to see them improve.  2. Freestyle Tomorrow night, the couples will be doing some sort of third scored dance, details about which we'll learn later.

South Baltimore's own "Speakeasy that sells pizza," Hersh's Pizza and Drinks, with its gray motifs and urbane styling, features some seriously sophisticated cocktails, courtesy of bartender Jamaal Green. The selection of libations rotates on a regular basis, keeping the flavors interesting and fresh. One such addition to the list: the Ginger Smash. The Ginger Smash, "a very seasonal rustic drink," as Green describes it, is a hard cocktail loaded with tartness thanks in part to muddled kumquats and an ounce of Clement Creole Shrubb, an aged rum drink flavored with orange bitters.

If the Black Eyed Susan were a race horse, it would be a sprinter. It makes one strong move, then fades quickly. The strong move occurs this weekend when the cocktail will be in demand at Pamlico Race Track, during both the running of the Black Eyed Susan Stakes on Friday and the Preakness Stakes on Saturday. Over these two days, about 25,000 servings of the libation, poured into commemorative glasses, will be sold at $8 apiece, track officials say. But as soon as Preakness weekend ends, so does the does the local thirst for the Susan.

Fire and police officials are investigating an East Baltimore fire as a possible arson after finding evidence of a Molotov cocktail at the scene. Firefighters responded to the site of the fire, a vacant home in the 1100 block of Barclay Street, at about 9:20 a.m. Sunday. Chief Kevin Cartwright, a spokesman for the Baltimore Fire Department, said one person — not an emergency worker — was treated for injuries described as non-life-threatening and was sent to the Johns Hopkins Hospital for evaluation.

Lady Maryland: a cocktail with a cause, a buzz with a benefit. How could you possibly say no to drinking for charity? That alone sold me. But for those of the more skeptical palate, the refreshing Lady Maryland at Waterfront Kitchen stands alone as an easy warmer-weather sip. Waterfront Kitchen, on the water's edge of Thames Street in Fells Point, is a big believer in sustainability - from using fresh, local ingredients to helping out...

A shot of vodka, a shot of whiskey, sweet-and-sour mix, a couple of ounces of orange juice, and a cherry and an orange slice to top it off. You must recognize it. The Black-eyed Susan has been the Preakness Stakes' official cocktail since time immemorial; at least since the '50s, estimates Pimlico historian Joe Kelly. The drink has not stayed stale. Its creators have reinvented it several over the years. The recipe above is the current mix: 3/4 oz. 42 Below Vodka, 11/4 -ounce Early Times Kentucky Whiskey, 3-oz.

The Wine Market is hosting a cocktail tasting featuring Hum Botanical Spirit on Thursday night from 5 to 7 p.m. On hand will be Adam Seger, the Chicago-based mixologoist who concocted Hum, a very pretty, very, very red 70-proof liqueur infused with botanicals. Andrew Wienzirl, the Wine Market's executive chef is preparing light appetizers such as lobster with saffron coulis and Israeli couscous. The event's cost is $25. Call the Wine Market at 410-244-6166 for more information and tickets.

Following Rye and Bond Street Social, another new bar is coming to Fells Point. To be called Frederick's on Fleet Street, the bar replaces Tyson's Tavern, which closed last year. The general manager and part-owner is Jim Saufley, a longtime bartender and part-time boxing coach.  The anticipated opening date is April 1. Like Rye, Frederick's will focus on craft cocktails - originals by Saufley and his own take on vintage cocktails. Saufley has been a corporate bartender, for Marriott hotels, for 18 years and is a member of the new Baltimore Bartenders' Guild . He and his business partner, Eric Butterfield, have been renovating the small bar - it holds about 100 people - since last October, when they bought the business.

For the home bartender, part of the fun is the experimentation. It can be joyous, disappointing, expensive — or all three. But Trent O'Connor and Brendan Dorr, two local bartenders, have some suggestions for a winning formula. Dorr, the bartender at B&O American Brasserie has won many awards for his recipes, most recently for a Barenjager Honey Liqueur he ominously called "El Oso" (The Bear). The cocktail, which is made out of Barenjager, tequila, Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur and Jerry Thomas' Decanter Bitters, earned him $1,000 in September and a trip to Oktoberfest in Munich.

Master Mixologist Brendan Dorr over at B&O American Brasserie has created a Ravens-inspired cocktail, just in time for the divisional round. The Hail Mary 1 1/4 ounce Hangar One Mandarin Blossom Vodka 1/2 ounce cassis syrup 3/4 ounce Lemon Juice 3/4 ounce Pomegranate Juice   Shake with ice. Stain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a spiral twist of lemon. Enjoy! "Penalty," you're saying. "It's not purple!" No, it's not. That's why playoffs mixololgy is best left to a master mixologist.

I started using Pinterest a year and a half ago. Partly because I had a feeling Pinterest was about to take off (it did) and partly, like a smoker uses toothpicks, to curb a little online shopping problem I had. Somehow, pinning beautiful things is almost like dropping them into a cart, only without the guilt and debt.  When I began planning my wedding, I settled into a serious Pinterest binge. For the first two months of planning, I consulted Pinterest like a needy friend.

Lady Maryland: a cocktail with a cause, a buzz with a benefit. How could you possibly say no to drinking for charity? That alone sold me. But for those of the more skeptical palate, the refreshing Lady Maryland at Waterfront Kitchen stands alone as an easy warmer-weather sip. Waterfront Kitchen, on the water's edge of Thames Street in Fells Point, is a big believer in sustainability - from using fresh, local ingredients to helping out...

There's a TechCocktail coming to Baltimore this Wednesday (May 2, 2012), and lo and behold: there will be startups a-pitching. It's Tech Cocktail's Baltimore Startup Showcase Mixer , held at Mother's Grill in Federal Hill, from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm. Go to the TechCoctail blog post and learn and vote about one of these Baltimore startups in anticipation of the event: From TechCocktail: BeerGivr - BeerGivr enables...

To make a cocktail, a bartender performs a complicated ballet involving spirits, mixers and garnishes, somehow juggling them all and finally bringing them in for a graceful, neat landing in your glass. At Heavy Seas Alehouse, bartender Will Helfrich has a simpler approach. He grabs a tall glass, sets it underneath the beer tap and pours eight ounces of sudsy, golden beer, Heavy Seas Classic Lager. And then tops it off with homemade pomegranate lemonade. Add a sprig of fresh rosemary and you have the Little Italy bar and restaurant's Sea Shandy.

It's time to brush up on your Prohibition-era swagger, Baltimore. 1920s-era everything has made a comeback in recent years, from fashion to TV and now the Baltimore bar scene. The Fork & Wrench, new to Canton, is high on speakeasy style. Picture lush tapestry-lined bar tables, intimate, low lights and swing and blues wailing from the speakers. The cocktail menu is reflective of the age of jazz: flirty, rich, smooth and daring. But if you're looking for an extensive drink list, go elsewhere.

Picture a curvy-but-cute, sassy-yet-sweet lass with a passion for beer. She is buxom, bawdy, smooth-bodied and straight up. Is she every man's fantasy? Pretty close. She's the image that developed in my mind when when I tried Alewife's signature beer cocktail, the Hop Betty. A beer … cocktail? Talk about a dream come true. Don't question it; just trust general manager and co-owner Bryan Palombo and his team on this one. After all, this is revolutionary stuff here. Palombo takes pride in claiming that his cocktail is the first hops-infused drink in the city.

The Black-Eyed Susan has been the official cocktail of the Preakness Stakes since time immemorial. At least since the 1950s, estimates Pimlico Race Track historian Joe Kelly. The cocktail has been re-invented over the years, but not enough to satisfy people's complaints. Back in 1985, reporter Rob Kasper ran a contest to replace it with a new cocktail. It's time to give a coup another try. It's not like there isn't precedent. The White Carnation had been the official cocktail of the Belmont Stakes for years, until master mixologist Dale DeGroff suggested a change to his version of whiskey punch, which he called the Belmont Breeze.

Certain things in life are meant to go together. Peanut butter and jelly. Old Bay and steamed crabs. But what about cupcakes and alcohol? If you thought cupcakes were just for 7-year-olds' birthday parties, then think again. Cooks 'N Cakes, the latest cupcake shop to open in Howard County, is giving the kid-friendly dessert an adult makeover with cocktail cupcakes. Located on Route 40 in Ellicott City, Cooks 'N Cakes sells plenty of traditional cupcakes, but what makes it unique is cupcake happy hour.

The new Baltimore Bartenders Guild issues no seals of approval. It simply demands that prospective members give a damn about the ingredients and ingenuity of their cocktails. Since profiling the guild last month, I've been checking out members who are new to Baltimore, such as Adrian Ross-Boon of Wit & Wisdom. The results so far — including my most recent excursion to check out Tim Riley's work at Ten Ten — are proving that the guild's ethos is promoting effort, individuality and a desire to surprise customers with something they won't find at just any bar. The bar at the relatively new Harbor East bistro is considered, looks good and has knock-out cocktails.