Party like it's 1985.

Well the Mr. turns 28 on the 14th and seeing that our lives are hectic, busy, crazy, fill in the blank...we decided to throw a party on the 3rd to celebrate. Makes sense right?

He loves people. He loves dressing to the nines. And the man loves a good cocktail.

We were not thrilled with the idea of a free for all open bar so we opted instead for cocktails served in three courses. We introduced a different drink each hour as our Cocktail of the Hour and changed our chalkboard sign to reflect that. It was a fun way to serve drinks without leaving people schnockered. 

{Recipes at bottom of post}

First we went South of the Border with the

Mexicola vs. Mamacita Caliente

Course two took us to Russia with our Back in the USSR course

Moscow Mule vs Vladimir Putin

The last and final cocktail course brought us home again with our American Dream course

The American Gentleman vs. The American Beauty

 And who doesn't love a good cheese platter? I have a whole post devoted to all things cheese coming up. It's ok to be excited. 

 A fire for an evening party is the perfect way to bring everyone together...and to keep everyone warm! 

Overall it was a fun night hanging out with friends, sipping some yummy cocktails and celebrating the main man in my life. I love him to the moon and back! 

{Cocktail Recipes}

MEXICOLA: 1.5 oz Tequila, fill the glass 1/2 - 3/4 with coca cola, add ice and a small lime slice squeeze on the top. Garnish with the lime rind

MAMACITA CALIENTE: Basically a blended peach margarita with a fancy name! Peaches, tequila, lime juice, simple syrup, and ice...blend. Sorry no exact amounts...I just made this one up as I went!!

MOSCOW MULE: 1.5 oz Vodka, 0.5 oz lime juice, fill rest of glass with Ginger Beer (Preferable Goslings brand...it's the best!) with room for ice. Garnish with lime wedge and traditionally served in a copper cup!

VLADIMIR PUTIN: Ok I made this name up too! Its a Vodka Martini with an Olive and a sprig of rosemary. 2 oz chilled vodka, splash of vermouth. Garnish with vermouth soaked green olive and sprig of rosemary. 

THE AMERICAN GENTLEMAN: My hubby's take on an Old Fashion. 1.5 -2 oz bourbon whiskey, 2 dashes bitters, 1 sugar cube, 1 maraschino cherry, and one lemon slice (classic Old Fashions are made with orange) muddle cherry, sugar, and bitters, run lemon slice around inside of glass, add bourbon and ice.

THE AMERICAN BEAUTY: Another clever name of mine! Ha! It is a Strawberry Basil Lemonade with gin. Muddle 2 sliced strawberries,  2 basil leaves, and a splash of simple syrup at the bottom of the glass, add 1.5 oz gin, and fill rest of glass up with lemonade (I used strawberry lemonade) with room for ice. Garnish with strawberry slice.