Premium Cocktails Without All the Work

As a woman in my early 30s, I enjoy my fair share of cocktails but sometimes I hate pulling out all the ingredients (or even having to go buy all of them) to make a margarita or cosmopolitan -- and sometimes the pre-made ones by Mike's or Smirnoff are just too sweet and don't taste right. 

Well, I think I might have found the solution. Kiss Mix Premium Liquor Cocktails sent me some of their product and asked for my honest opinion on them. I was pretty stoked when I saw the awesome insulated cooler filled with goodies show up at my door.  How cute are these cans with the lip prints on them?!

  

I just so happen to be going to a Milwaukee Brewers game with a few ladies and in Wisconsin, we tailgate before we go into the games. This was the perfect time and place to try out the cocktails. I added a blue ice pack to the cooler before leaving the house and the drinks were perfectly chilled for tailgating. 

 

Tory and Kelly were just as excited as me to try the cocktails and so we each chose one to start with. I love Cosmopolitans (and the color pink) so I started with that one. It was a pomegranite and cranberry, so it wasn't as tart as other cosmos that I have had. You can definitely taste the alcohol in them but it doesn't over power the flavor. I really liked this one - shaken over ice and it would be excellent out of the can too.

 

Tory chose the screwdriver and said that it had a really good 'real orange juice' taste to it and not a fake carbonated taste. I took a sip and agreed that it tasted really good. We also didn't notice any aluminum taste to the drinks which is good and sometimes a thing that people dislike about canned beverages.

Kelly chose the Lemon Drop and although she has never had a lemon drop shot before (the girl needs to get out - jkjk Kelly), she liked the flavor. She thought it tasted like a nice hard lemonade and on a warmer summer night, really hits the spot.

We then popped open the Margarita and Gin & Tonic to try. The Margarita was pretty good with a nice, refreshing lime taste. I'm not a Gin & Tonic fan and neither was Tory or Kelly so we weren't really sure about the taste. If they had a Vodka & Tonic version, I would be all over that. I definitely tasted tonic but I don't really know gin to know how accurate the taste was. I see on the website you can submit flavor suggestions!

We then went into the game and enjoyed a Brewers win - that didn't happen very often this season, but I still enjoy watching my guys take the field and rack up some hits. And....there is always next year!

I recommend trying these Kiss Mix Premium Liquor Cocktails the next time you are looking to have a premium drink without all the effort. They do really resemble the taste of the real thing. The alcohol content is 8% per each 8oz can and they are made with natural flavors.

And, because they are in cans, you can take these to places that fancy glasses can't go - such as beaches, pools, boats, etc. 

I was shopping at Woodman's this past weekend and saw that they carry the Kiss Mix Cocktails and the packages also had rebates on them - so take advantage and go out and get one. I also see from the Kiss Mix website, they are found at a few stores in the area.


Kiss Mix Premium Liquor Cocktails provided me a goody bag of their beverages. Although I was provided the product, the review is my own honest opinion of the product.

Wauk Wednesday: Jose's Blue Sombrero

I have some pretty deep ties with the building that houses Jose's Blue Sombrero on Barker and Bluemound in Brookfield. My first serving job was at Annie's American Cafe, a burger joint similar to a Big Boy. I only worked there a short few months before the place closed, but the friends I made are still friends of mine today. We signed menus like yearbooks on our last day and shared some laughs and tears.

From the Wausau location - ah memories!

I followed a few of them back to the building when Gondola Grille opened and I became a server and bartender. I would work open to close almost everyday and experiment behind the bar for hours at a time. Unfortunately an accidental setting off of the sprinkler system closed that restaurant and kept the building vacant for a few years.

Then came along Jose's Blue Sombrero that did a complete overhaul and reinterpreted the entire building into a tex-mex-looking gem. The entrance is on the other end from when it was Annie's and besides some brick walls on the inside, you wouldn't even recognize the former restaurants.

From OnMilwaukee.com

I have only been to Jose's twice, once right after it opened and just last weekend. The food is fresh and fun and I hear the Happy Hour is amazing. (I might have to get to that soon.)

Chelsea, founder of Good Friend Inc. and I worked the Good Friend booth the Autism Speaks Walk at the BMO Harris Bradley Center last week. We were starving when we left and then two traffic jams (one construction and one car fire) made us beyond hungry and we decided on Jose's because drinks and chips would be readily available. :)

We walked in around 1 pm on a Saturday and were told it would be a 15 minute wait, but we noticed the bar tables were available so we ate in the bar.

Chelsea told me about these awesome Tornado drinks, a combo of frozen margarita and frozen sangria in one mug. I just had to have it. Best. Decision. Ever! I am going to have to make those this summer. It was so refreshing and hit the spot perfectly.

Tornado - sangria and margarita from Jose's Blue Sombrero

We were then provided a basket of chips and individual salsas to enjoy with the chips. The salsa was mild with great cilantro flavor.

I decided on the Guanajuato Al Pastor (don't ask me or our server to say it as we both butchered it), pork loin with pineapple and onion.

I received four tacos on the plate with rice and beans. There beans are really smooth and creamy and I almost finished all of them before eating my tacos. The rice was pretty typical Spanish rice.

Jose's Blue Sombrero

But now onto the tastebud explosion. I think the only tacos I can compare (and not even on the same level) were the Barbacoa tacos at Bel Air Cantina in Milwaukee. The meat was seasoned perfectly and the pineapple added a sweet to combat the slightly spicy sauteed onions. The cilantro was nice and fresh and I could only finish 2 of the 4 tacos. This could definitely be a meal to split with someone if you enjoy the chips and salsa before.

I have to definitely remember this place is around because I really enjoyed my food. There are two of them in the area - Racine and the Brookfield location and I definitely suggest you check it out for great quality Mexican cuisine.