Party Drinks: Alternatives to Beer and Wine

Are we sick of wine and beer yet?! Naaaa . . . Never. But, every now and again we need a break from the movie flavor of the month. Sideways had more people running around screaming, "No Merlot" and they had only seen the commercial for the movie.

Well, I enjoy an occasional glass of Gewurztraminer or a dark larger. But, if I'm hanging with my girls and we're having a fantasy brunch (telling deep dark desires with names like Tyson Beckford, Boris Kodjoe and Idris Elba) I want something fruity and . . . different. I want something unique and memorable. So, I will normally create or expound upon a drink to go with the cuisine and the conversation.

My favorite gathering drink is a rum punch. My sister Sean, who got the recipe from our sister Gail, has a version she and her friends call an Epidural. I have never had a baby and have no idea what an epidural feels like. But, all of these women mentioned it makes everything from your waist down go numb. When my sister told me this I really didn't want to drink this punch. It just didn't sound safe to me. but, due to the fact that my middle name is "Adventure" (it's actually Monette, but . . . oh well . . . moving on) I decided to try it.

Here's is the basic ingredients for an Epidural:

1 cup of light rum
1 can of concentrated orange juice
1 8 oz can of chunk pineapples
1 24 oz can of pineapple juice
1 liter of Sprite
1 jar of maraschino cherries

Mix all ingredients in a punch bowl and freeze. Sit out ½ an hour prior to party. As punch starts to melt your guest get to scrap it into cups like a slushy. Delicious!

Now, here's my take on it. Let's call it . . . Epidural with a Valium drip!

1 cup of light rum
1 cup of Redrum (Yes, like in the Shining movie. The bottle is beautiful)
1 can of concentrated orange juice
1 8 oz can of chunk pineapples
1 24 oz can of pineapple juice
1 liter of Sprite
1 jar of maraschino cherries

Mix and serve the same way. You may want to have this one at a big girl sleep over party. NO ONE will or should drive up to five hours after drinking one cup of this!!!

So, you say you're too high falootin to drink punch. How about a martini.