Every four years when soccer takes to its biggest stage, one group of teams stands out as having the fiercest, most intense competition in the big tournament. Known as the “Group of Death,” the talent among these four squads is often so overwhelming that it becomes impossible to predict its outcome.

This year, the USA is part of this group. Since it will inevitably be an exhilarating ride throughout the tournament, we wanted to provide you and your readers with some fun and easy cocktails with a twist to enjoy while they cheer on the Red, White and Blue! The twist? Each of the cocktails listed is unique to one of the Group of Death teams.

Below are the cocktail recipes to enjoy responsibly when you are watching the World Cup!

Black, Red and Whisky- Germany

1.5 oz. George Dickel No. 8

1/2 oz. orange juice

1/2 oz. fresh squeezed lemon juice

1/4 oz. homemade grenadine

Instructions: Pour ingredients into Shaker with ice.  Shake and strain into Coupe glass.

Stars & Strikers- USA

1.5 oz. CAPTAIN MORGAN WHITE RUM

2 oz. cranberry juice

2 oz. orange juice

Instructions: In a shaker half filled with ice, add CAPTAIN MORGAN WHITE RUM, cranberry juice, and orange juice. Shake well and strain into highball glass filled with ice. Garnish with lime.

The Black Star- Ghana

1.25oz Crown Royal XO

.25oz Dry Curacao

.25oz Lime Juice

Bar spoon kumquat cordial

The Shield

1.3 oz. Bulleit Bourbon

1 oz. Orange juice

1 oz. Lemon juice

½ oz. Simple Syrup

½ oz. amaretto

Instructions: Garnish: orange & cherry. Shake ingredients and strain into an ice filled tumbler.

National Margarita Day is coming up on Feb. 22, and folks around the country will be celebrating with the CoronaRita – a deliciously fun twist on the margarita.  The CoronaRita is a traditional or frozen margarita that is accompanied by an upside down Corona, which slowly seeps into the margarita while the cocktail is being consumed, infusing it with subtle yet distinct Corona flavor.

With the margarita as the #1 ordered cocktail and Corona Extra as the #1 ordered import beer, the CoronaRita is perfect for entertaining guests during National Margarita Day celebrations, Cinco de Mayo and throughout the Summer.

The CoronaRita below is made with Coronita, a 7oz. bottle of Corona Extra.  Corona Extra is the #1 imported beer in the U.S. and the #5 beer overall.  Corona offers the perfect balance between heavier European imports and lighter domestic beer, pairing well with spicy cuisine, casual dining, and of course, limes.

CoronaRita

Ingredients:

1 ¼ oz. Tequila

½ oz. Triple Sec

3 oz. Margarita Mix

1 Coronita 7 oz. beer

1 lime wedge

Margarita Rocks

½ Salt rim

Combine ingredients 1-3 in shaker with ice

Shake vigorously

Strain into glass with 2/3 ice

Invert Coronita in clip on glass, garnish with lime wedge and serve

Margarita Frozen

½ Salt rim

Combine ingredients 1-3 in blender with 1 Cup Ice

Blend until smooth

Pour into glass

Invert Coronita in clip on glass, garnish with lime wedge and serve

There are a lot of firsts surrounding the big game this year – the first time it’s being played in NJ, the first potential game in the snow and the largest age gap between quarterbacks in history. While you’re probably used to watching the game with a beer in your hand, why don’t you ditch the beer and drink whiskey or rum in honor of the most watched football matchup of the year?

Below are some delicious food and drink recipes that incorporate three epic whiskeys – Crown Royal, Bulleit, and George Dickel. Also below are the new Captain Morgan Rum-inspired recipes developed by celebrity chef Hugh Acheson.

Whether you’re watching the actual game, halftime show or commercials, these recipes are the ticket to a good party.

Crown Royal Wings

Ingredients:

⅓ cup Crown Royal Canadian Whisky

⅓ cup honey, SueBee

¼ cup soy sauce, Kikkoman

2 tablespoons Thai chili sauce

1 packet (0.75-ounce) stir-fry seasoning, Sun Bird

2 teaspoons crushed garlic, Gourmet Garden

4 pounds chicken wing drumettes

3 scallions (green onions), finely chopped (optional)

¼ cup chopped peanuts, Planters® (optional)

Preparation: In a large bowl, combine whisky, honey, soy sauce, chili sauce, stir-fry seasoning, and garlic. Add drumettes, tossing to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and marinate in refrigerator for at least 3 hours, preferably overnight.

Set up grill for direct cooking over medium-high heat. Oil grate when ready to start cooking. Let drumettes stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Place on hot, oiled grill. Cook for 12 to 18 minutes or until cooked through, turning occasionally. Transfer chicken to a platter. Sprinkle with chopped scallions and peanuts (optional).

Why it’s great for the big game: Looking to kick your appetizers up a notch? These Crown Royal-wings are a guaranteed hit at the party with a mouthwatering whisky-infused sauce.

Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum Glazed Wings, Garlic Buttermilk Dressing, & Scallions

Ingredients:

3 pounds chicken wings

1 cup Captain Morgan® Original Spiced Rum

½ cup sherry vinegar

1 tablespoon sea salt

1 tablespoon peanut oil

½ teaspoon chili flake

1 teaspoon corn starch

1 tablespoon warm water

3 tablespoons butter, cold

1 cup mayonnaise

½ cup buttermilk

1 lemon

½ shallot, peeled and minced

1 garlic clove, peeled and minced

2 tablespoons carrot fronds, finely chopped

3 tablespoon scallions, sliced very thin on a strong angle

1 bunch of baby carrots

Preparation: Preheat the oven to 425°F. Heat a large cast-iron skillet in the oven for 5 to 10 minutes.

Rinse and pat the wings dry with paper towels, then separate the wings from the drumsticks and discard the tips. In a large mixing bowl, dress the wings with the sea salt and peanut oil. Add them to the cast-iron pan in 1 layer to assure even cooking and roast the wings for 20 minutes. Turn each wing and continue roasting for an additional 15 – 20 minutes.

For the glaze, add the Captain Morgan® Original Spiced Rum to a small saucepot and reduce over medium heat, about 10 minutes or until the liquid is reduce by half. In a small bowl, combine the cornstarch with the warm water and set it aside. Add the sherry vinegar and the chili flake to the rum and continue to cook for 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to low. Add the cornstarch slurry and stir the glaze until it becomes thick. Remove the glaze from the heat and add the cold butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, stirring until it is completely incorporated. Set the glaze aside for later use.

For the dressing, in a small mixing bowl, combine the mayo, buttermilk, and the zest and juice from 1 lemon. Mix together with a whisk until smooth and incorporated. Next add the shallot, garlic, carrot fronds and 1 tablespoon of the sliced scallions. Mix until combined and reserve.

To finish the wings, turn the oven to broil and crisp each side of the wing for about 1 to 2 minutes per side. Take them out of the oven and place them onto a plate lined with a paper towel to drain off any rendered fat. Place the wings in a mixing bowl and add the reserved glaze. Toss the wings in the glaze to thoroughly coat each one.

To plate, sprinkle the wings with the remaining scallions and serve them with a bowl of the dressing and the carrots.

Why it’s great for the big game: Everyone loves variety, so add a little Captain Morgan to this wing recipe and spice up your football viewing party.

Crown Royal XO (on the rocks)

Ingredients:

1.5 oz. Crown Royal XO

Preparation: Pour Crown Royal XO over an ice-filled rocks glass.

Why it’s great for the big game: The newest addition to the Crown Royal family, this extraordinary whiskey is finished in cognac casks and handcrafted for smoothness. Raise a glass to an extraordinary play with XO on the rocks.

BLT (Bulleit, Lemon Tonic)

Ingredients:

1.3 oz Bulleit® Bourbon

2 lemon wedges

3 oz. tonic

Preparation: Build in a highball glass, serve over ice

Why it’s great for the big game: Bite the Bulleit with the BLT – with just three ingredients anyone can make this cocktail with no chance of botching.

Dickel Ward No. 8

Ingredients:

1.3 oz. George Dickel No. 8

.5 oz. orange juice

.5 oz. fresh squeezed lemon juice

.25 oz.  grenadine

Preparation: Build in glass and serve in a rocks glass.

Why it’s great for the big game: A perfect balance of flavors, the Dickel Ward can make the halftime show even more enjoyable.

Gridiron Grog

Ingredients:

1 oz. Captain Morgan® Original Spiced Rum

1 oz. Bulleit® Bourbon

1 oz. Olorosso Sherry

1 oz. Clove and Vanilla Syrup (recipe follows)

7 oz. hot ounce water

2 strips of orange zest

2 Meyer lemon rounds, 1/8 inch thick, seeds removed

Preparation: Rinse a small thermos with warm water and then dump out the water. Into the thermos pour the Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum, Bulleit Bourbon, Sherry, and Clove and Vanilla Syrup. Stir to combine. Top with hot water. Gently stir. Cap until ready to serve.

Pour the Grog into two small 6 to 8 ounce mugs and garnish each with a strip of orange zest and a round of meyer lemon that is gently squeezed over the top to release a little acid. Drink.

Clove and Vanilla Syrup

2 tablespoons whole cloves

1 ¼ cup water

½ Vanilla bean, scrapped of its seeds

1 cup sugar

Preparation: In a small saucepot, bring the water, cloves, vanilla bean and seeds to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer for about 10 minutes and then add the sugar and stir to dissolve. Remove from the heat and allow the vanilla and cloves to steep in the syrup for about five minutes before straining.

Mountain Dew Kickstart took mornings by storm in 2013. Now, DEW Nation can get ready for the night with a pair of new refreshing and bold Mtn Dew Kickstart flavors developed for nighttime consumption.

Mtn Dew Kickstart Black Cherry and Mtn Dew Kickstart Limeade fuse the great taste of Mountain Dew with five percent real fruit juice, plus electrolytes for taste. With only 80 calories per 16 oz. can and just the right amount of kick, Mtn Dew Kickstart is the ideal beverage to get you ready for whatever the night will bring.

“Mtn Dew Kickstart Black Cherry and Mtn Dew Kickstart Limeade give you just the right amount of kick to get you ready for anything the night brings your way,” said Greg Lyons, Vice President of Marketing at Mountain Dew. “Whether it’s an epic road trip, a winner-take-all gaming tourney or a standing-room-only concert, Mtn Dew Kickstart packs 16 ounces of energizing refreshment so you and your buddies can start the night right.”

Mtn Dew Kickstart Black Cherry and Mtn Dew Kickstart Limeade drop in retail stores nationwide today.  Meanwhile, five Mtn Dew Kickstart “Night Machines” are hitting the street across the U.S. to give fans an opportunity to taste the new flavors.

Visit mtndewkickstart.com or Facebook.com/MountainDew for more information and join the conversation at @mtn_dew #KickstartYourNight.

Today marks the 80th anniversary of National Repeal Day, the day that put an end to Prohibition. This act allowed Americans to drink again and ultimately led to modern cultural phenomenons like speakeasies and TV hit show, “Boardwalk Empire.”

Recently I was able to speak with renowned cocktail expert and President of the Museum of the American Cocktail Dale DeGroff. He clued me in on some great drink recipes that you can see below.

Since today is the 80^th anniversary of National Repeal Day I thought I should pass Dale’s knowledge to you. He gave me some excellent ideas to make a few Prohibition-style cocktails to celebrate National Repeal Day!  Known throughout the bartending community as “King Cocktail,” Dale has authored many of the most famous cocktail books in American history and has a place in New York City lore as the head bartender of the famous Rainbow Room where he brought classic cocktails back to the Big Apple in the 1980’s.

Dale said that it is great to see people come back to using ingredients in cocktails like they do when they are cooking or baking. He is happy to see the people come back to the world of craft beer and cocktails. Don’t just drink your old standby cocktail of choice, but he feels people should be adventurous when they are out drinking responsibly.

When going to a bar Dale says to look for the bartender who is there to craft the perfect drink and not just there to collect tips. Also look for bars that use real juice. When you have at least these two factors in your corner you are sure to have a great experience. So try out one of the cocktail recipes below and celebrate National Repeal Day!

Dale’s Holiday Old Fashioned

Ingredients:

1.25 oz George Dickel No. 1

1 dash DeGroff’s Pimento Bitters

0.25 oz Dale’s Cherry Liqueur

0.5 oz Simple syrup

2 orange slices

2 cherries

Preparation: Muddle a cherry and orange slice with the syrup and liqueur and the dash of bitters in a bar mixing glass. Strain into an Old Fashioned glass add the whiskey and ice and stir Garnish with an orange slice and a cherry.

Bulleit Boulevardier (by Erskine Gwynne, editor of the Paris Boulevardier)

Ingredients:

1.25 oz Bulleit Bourbon

1 oz Dolan Sweet Vermouth

1 oz Campari

Preparation:  Pour ingredients into an Old Fashioned glass and stir with ice to chill. Garnish with orange zest.

Gin & It (Amended from Frank Meier’s Recipe)

Ingredients:

1.3 oz Tanqueray Gin

1.5 oz  Punt e Mes

Preparation:  Prepare in a pitcher 2 hours in advance and refrigerate covered.  Serve in a small coup glass without ice or in a small bar glass with ice.  Garnish with orange zest.

General Harrison’s Eggnog

Ingredients:

1.3 oz. George Dickel Rye

.75 oz. mixture of equal parts egg white, sugar and syrup

1 dash DeGroff’s Pimento Bitters

2 oz. apple cider

Preparation:  Build in a glass or mug and dust the top with nutmeg.

Bulleit Rye Sazerac

Ingredients:

1.3 oz. Bulleit Rye

1 tsp. demerara syrup

1 dash Angostura bitters

5 dashes Peychaud’s bitters

Preparation: Stir over ice and strain into a chilled rocks glass.

George Dickel Rye Old Fashioned

Ingredients:

1.3 oz. George Dickel Rye

1 maraschino cherry

0.25 oz. bitters

1 sugar cube

1 splash water

1 slice orange

1 lemon twist

Preparation: In an old-fashioned or rocks glass, muddle sugar, bitters and water.  Add ice cubes and George Dickel Rye.  Garnish with lemon twist, orange slice and cherry.

Crown Royal Black Manhattan

Ingredients:

1 oz. Crown Royal Black

0.25 oz. Cragganmore Distiller Edition

0.25 oz. sweet vermouth

1.25 oz. simple syrup

0.25 dashes of bitters

1 piece maraschino cherry

Preparation: Stir all together in a mixing glass with ice.  Strain into a martini glass.  Garnish with a cherry.

Recently in New York City “Top Chef” judge Hugh Acheson worked with Captain Morgan Spiced Rum to launch the rum’s charity program called Captain’s Table at City Grit. Chef Hugh prepared some phenomenal rum-infused food and cocktail recipes. He also was kind enough to share a few cooking tips that are perfect for this holiday season.

Hugh is not stopping there. He is looking to have others, who are 21 years and older to share recipes and entertaining tips. This all benefits the worthy cause called WhyHunger. This is a charity that seeks to end hunger by connecting people to nutritious, affordable food.

In the spirit of giving Captain Morgan will donate $1 to the charity WhyHunger to support their hunger relief efforts every time the hashtag #CaptainsTable is used on Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest. Donations will be made now through the beginning of February.  The cool part is that we all like share our latest dinner creations and holiday treats so why not help out those in need when you do so.

To get you started here are a few recipes that you can use for upcoming holiday parties.

Cape Corsair

Ingredients:

12 fresh whole cranberries

1 inch piece fresh ginger, thinly sliced

½ oz. simple syrup

2 dashes Orange Bitters

1 ¼ oz. Captain Morgan Black Spiced Rum

1 oz. cranberry juice

½ oz. lime juice

Lime peel to garnish

Directions:

In mixing glass muddle the cranberries, ginger, and simple syrup. Add the bitters and Captain Morgan® Black Spiced Rum, cranberry and limes juices and shake with ice. Pour into a double old-fashioned glass, ice and all, smash style. Garnish with an expressed lime peel.

Starboard Sour

Ingredients:

1 ½ oz. Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum

1 oz. apple cider syrup (recipe follows)

¾ oz. fresh lime juice

2 dashes Angostura bitters

2 pieces of star anise

Ice, enough to fill cocktail shaker with the above ingredients

Directions:

Combine the Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum, apple cider syrup, lime juice, bitters, and 1 piece of star anise in a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously. Strain the liquid into a cocktail glass. Garnish with the other piece of star anise.

Apple Cider Syrup (Makes 1 ¼ cups)

2 cups apple cider

2 cinnamon sticks

1 cup brown sugar

In a small saucepot over medium-high heat, cook the apple cider and cinnamon sticks until the cider is reduced to one cup, about 10 to 15 minutes. Add the brown sugar and remove the pot from heat. Stir the mixture until the sugar is dissolved.  Allow the syrup to cool before use.

Captain Morgan Toffee Pudding with Rum-Maple Sauce & Yogurt

Ingredients:

½ stick unsalted butter, room temperature, plus extra for greasing pan

1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour, sifted, plus extra for dusting pan

1 ½ cup Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum

1 ½ cups dried figs, cut into small pieces

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 large eggs

1 ½ cups Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum-Maple Sauce (recipe follows)

8 tablespoons yogurt

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and lightly flour a medium cast iron pan and set it aside. In a small saucepot set over medium-high heat, combine the Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum and dried figs and bring the liquid to a boil. Remove from heat, mix in the baking soda, and set the mixture aside to cool for later use. In a food processor, combine the flour, butter, baking powder, salt and sugar. Pulse the processor until all is incorporated.

Place the flour mixture into a mixing bowl and add the eggs, vanilla and the reserved fig mixture. Combine until all ingredients are well incorporated. This will be a fairly wet batter. Add the batter to the cast iron pan and bake for 35 minutes. While it’s cooking is a good time to make the sauce. Check the pudding with a cake tester to see that it comes out clean, and remove it from the oven. Flip the pudding in the cast iron pan and add ¾ of the sauce and then bake for an additional 10 minutes.

Let the pudding cool and absorb all of the sauce. Slice it into wedges and serve with the remaining sauce and 1 tablespoon of yogurt per serving.

Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum-Maple Sauce (Makes 1 ½ cups)

Ingredients:

1 cup maple syrup

1 cup heavy cream

½ cup Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum

¼ cup unsalted butter

3 bay leaves

½ teaspoon sea salt

Directions:

In a small saucepot over medium heat, combine the maple syrup, heavy cream, rum, bay leaves, and butter. Whisk often to prevent the sauce from bubbling over. Reduce the liquid to 1 ½ cups, about 15 minutes, and remove from heat. Remove the bay leaves before using.

The Season 4 premiere of “The Walking Dead” is this Sunday. To celebrate the return of AMC’s hit show here are some apocalyptic-inspired cocktails for you and your friends to enjoy during the show.

While you ponder what lies ahead of Sherriff Rick Grimes and his team of survivors as things looks ominous as they square off against the walkers why not kick back and relax on one of these drinks? You can sip on a “Woodbury’s Harvest” as you watch the group stand their ground at the prison, or mix up a “Black and Buried” or “The Walker” to get a taste for the post-apocalyptic world the survivors are living in.

Maybe one of these drinks were created in Woodbury when they would have one of their festivals. Not sure the prison has any of the ingredients below to make these cocktails, but you do. So while watching this season have a drink for Rick and his crew.

The Walker

Ingredients

1 oz Captain Morgan Black Spiced Rum

½ oz Stirrings Espresso Flavored Liqueur

3 Dashes Chocolate Bitters

5 oz Cola

DIRECTIONS: In an ice filled Collins or rocks glass combine all the ingredients and then stir to blend.

Woodbury’s Harvest

Ingredients

1¼ oz Captain Morgan Black Spiced Rum

2½ oz Apple Cider

1/4 oz Fresh Lemon Juice

DIRECTIONS: Combine all the ingredients in a shaker with ice.  Shake well and strain into an ice filled Collins glass. Garnish with apple slices.

Black & Buried

Ingredients

1 oz Captain Morgan Black Spiced Rum

½ oz Zwack Liqueur

3 Blackberries

4 oz Cola

1 Lemon Wedge

DIRECTIONS: Add blackberries to a cocktail shaker and crush with a spoon.  Add Captain Morgan Black Spiced Rum, Zwack Liqueur and shake vigorously. Strain into a Collins glass over fresh ice and top with cola. Garnish with a Lemon Wedge.

We all want to party like a rock star…well most of us. Since we can’t all be rock stars why not be their personal bartender? Kid Rock is teaming up with Jim Beam to give you the opportunity to pack your bags and hit the road with Kid Rock for three tour stops this summer, experience a one-on-one bartender training from Beam’s Master Mixologist and earn a $10,000 salary package.

You can enter Jim Beam’s Mix for Kid Rock Contest to compete for the chance to be the rock star’s personal bartender during his “Best Night Ever” tour. Click here for more details. Just imagine working for Kid Rock on tour during the after party. This is one opportunity you can’t pass up!

Watch the video below as Kid Rock offers you the job of a lifetime.