Work Hard Play Hard: Bourbon of Choice

In honor of this past Friday's National Bourbon Day, 14 June 2013, these are the bourbons that you need to drink when you're reading Hemmingway, smoking cigars, sitting in a vintage leather arm chair....liver tested, drunk-uncle approved, these fine bourbons will warm you up on a cold winter night and cool you down on a hot summer day! Check 'em out!!

Work Hard Play Hard: Rum of Choice

There are a LOT of options out there. Especially when it comes to what booze you are going to put into your cup each time you get your drink on. Whether that's on the weekends, or daily, or hourly (we ain't judging)...we're here to help.

Below are some SUPERB choices for you rum aficionados and our tippy top favorites. Try one of them...try all of them...mix 'em all up and have a party!

Renegade Rum.	Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum.
Malibu Snowcoco (Limited Ed.).	Dos Maderas PX.

Work Hard Play Hard: Brookie's Bloody Mary

Happy weekend, y'all! This week's Work Hard Play Hard drink is Brookie's Bloody Mary, once referred to by THE Paula Deen as "the world's best Bloody Mary"**.  This is a real simple recipe that tastes dang good.

Ingredients:

• Mr. & Mrs. T's Bloody Mary Mix
• Vodka
• Pickles
• Salt
• Ice

Salt the rim of the tumbler...more salt the better, in our opinion...add ice...then one part vodka...then two parts Mr. and Mrs. T's...stir...garnish with a pickle...and enjoy!

** My husband and I "worked" a Paula Deen event as (wannabe) bartenders mixing pre-mixed drinks.  One of her guests stated that he had had the "world's best Bloody Mary" and Mrs. Deen, who didn't drink any of them, took his word for it...thus, a beautiful anecdote was born.

Work Hard Play Hard: F. Scotch Fitzgerald & Soda

In honor of this weekend's debut of Baz Luhrmann's interpretation of the classic "Great Gatsby"...our Work Hard Play Hard drink is a simple one with a hella clever title (if we do say so ourselves). 

Know back a few "F. Scotch Fitzgerald & Sodas" and you'll be feeling like you own the own the world like Jay Gatsby.

F. Scotch Fitzgerald & Soda

Ingredients:

• Scotch (2oz)
• Club Soda

Pour Scotch into a sophisticated tumbler. Turn on some Lana del Rey.  Fill tumbler with club soda. Drink! (responsibly...)

Summer Style

From clothes to home décor, it's time to lighten up and get ready for summer, y'all! Here's our short and sweet style guide for what you need this summer to survive the sun and look good doing it!!

Every Southerner needs a koozie come summertime...and what better way to keep your beer cold and your hand warm than with this great "Shop Local" koozie from Clutter.  Support local business and drink your face off at the same time!! (Drink your face off responsibly...we meant).

Colored gemstones are so hot during this so hot season! This amethyst was mom's (I stole it...woops) and now I wear it in honor of my daughter, Violet. It's a great way to lighten up a look and funk up your fingers!

Nothing screams summer more than these bright blue lawn chairs. Electric blue is IN and throw these in your back yard to brighten it up, break up all the green, and have a comfy, cool place to sit.

It's margarita season, y'all! And, though you can't use your Shop Local koozie to carry your marg in, you can knock back some of our favorite rita recipes at all this summer's pool parties in practically any container (we like a great Solo cup!).

Work Hard Play Hard: Margarita

Everybody's got their own take on the classic margarita.  Try out some of these that we hunted down to celebrate this Cinco de Mayo right! Ole!!

• Emeril's Fresh and Fierce Margarita.
• Paula Deen's Classic Margarita.
• Martha Stewart's Perfect Margarita.
• Better Homes & Garden's Pineapple-Cinnamon Margarita.
• The Deen Brothers' Texas Margaritas.

Clutter Book Club: A Shore Thing

In the words of Nicki Minaj, "Let's go to the beach (each), let's go get away." Head to Tybee, bring a bottle of Patron and margarita mix, and Snooki's life-imitating-art-imitating life debut novel, "A Shore Life".  This book is a New York Times Bestseller...really!  And on the beach, half-buzzed, it's a good (enough) read.  This isn't Hemingway, y'all, but it's not bad for what it is, and we're sorta feeling a no-thought-beach-read this week!  Give Snooks a chance!!

Work Hard Play Hard: The Scarlet Letter

This week's Work Hard Play Hard drink is brought to you by the beautiful bartenders of The Study in Honolulu's The Modern Hotel.  Might have had one too many of these bad boys last night...but they were delish! 

Elegantly described on the menu as:

"Stolichnaya vodka, flash infused with a pineapple and fresh orange, bound in cranberry and served over a pillow of seltzer"

BUT you can take your own spin on this rockin' drink at home.  We go with:

• One part vodka (Stoli is good, but even your cheap stuff will work!)
• One part seltzer
• One part Cranberry/Pineapple/Orange Juice (or to taste)

For a twist and great look, freeze your juices in an ice tray and you have fun colorful cubes to go with this literary gem of a drink.  Let us know what you think y'all.

If you're ever in Hawaii, try The Study at The Modern for a great drink, literary inspired menu items, and awesome live music.  Brooke and Tony will definitely come meet you down there!

Work Hard Play Hard: Mai Tai

"Work Hard Play Hard" is Clutter's get-right-for-the-weekend anthem and (unofficial) motto.  In honor of our love of the weekend, we'll present some WHPH worthy drink recipes to help kick your time off with a splash! 

Our first ever WHPH is an homage to both Don & Mrs. Draper's recent trip to Hawaii on last week's "Mad Men", and to our Hawaiian Clutter family, Brooke and Tony.  So whether you're lounging on the beaches of Waikiki, or just need a mental vacation from your home in Savannah, try this Mai Tai recipe out and wash your troubles away!!

Clutter's Mai Tai:

• 1 ounce light rum (Bacardi or Malibu Coconut(!!!))
• 1 ounce dark rum (your choice)
• 1/2 ounce triple sec
• 1/4 ounce lime juice
• 1 1/2 ounces pineapple juice
• Splash of orange juice (to taste)
• Dash of grenadine  
• Maraschino cherry for garnish

1. Pour all the ingredients except the dark rum into a shaker with ice cubes.
2. Shake well while daydreaming about Don Draper, Hawaiian breezes, and the smell of suntan lotion.
3. Strain into an old-fashioned glass half filled with ice.
4. Top with dark rum. Try a spiced rum (Captain Morgan, Sailor Jerry's, etc.) for a twist on the classic Mai Tai.
5. Garnish with the cherry.  Add a yellow ilima, Oahu's official flower, for a great look!! 

Enjoy!!! Mahalo for stopping by and aloha from the Clutter family!!