Hop Skip and Go Naked Punch 
This beer punch will make your tailgaters cheer. 

Ingredients:
Six 12-oz. cans of beer 
1 pint of Canadian whiskey 
One 12-oz. can of frozen lemonade concentrate 
2 liters of lemon-lime soda 

Preparation:
In a gallon container add beer, whiskey and frozen lemonade (and optional lemon-lime soda). 
Stir and serve over ice.

Sir Lancelot's Gimlets 
My buddy Steve "Sir Lancelot" Menges has been shaking up these gimlet cocktails to long lines of thirsty 
tailgaters for more than 13 years. They're smooth, dry and just a little tart. Serves 15 1-1/2 oz. shots. 

Ingredients: 
16 oz. of vodka 
4 oz. of lime juice 

Preparation: 
Fill a large shaker with ice and ingredients. 
Let stand for a minute to let some of the ice melt for just a bit. 
Line up your shot glasses and pour. 

The Menges Mint Julep
Here's a tasty treat for horse-racing aficionados, a mint julep worthy of Kentucky gentry. Cook up the mint 
syrup the night before your tailgate party. 

Mint Syrup 

Ingredients:
10 cups of fresh mint leaves 
8 cups of sugar 
8 cups of water 

Preparation:
Combine your 10 cups of fresh mint leaves and sugar in a bowl. 
Use a pestle or flat end of a spoon to muddle or mash your mint leaves and sugar together. 
Boil this mixture in 8 cups of water until the sugar dissolves. 
Strain out the mint leaves as best you can. 
Pour into a glass. 

Transfer to a bottle or small jug with a spout to make it easier to pour at the tailgate party.
The day of the event: 

Ingredients: 
1 bottle of bourbon 
Mint syrup 
Several mint sprigs for garnish 
Crushed ice (you can have your friends "crush" regular ice cubes at the party) 

Preparation: 
First fill glass with crushed ice. 
Add 2 ounces of bourbon and a tablespoon of mint syrup. 
Stir and garnish with a mint sprig.

Hot 'n' Spikey Texican Tailgate Cocoa 
When the temperature drops below 30 degrees, keep your tailgaters warm with this hot drink from longtime 
Lone Star State tailgater Sharon Hyland. Remember, making the hot chocolate from scratch is the key. Sure, 
you can use the powdered kind, but, hey, making it yourself is half the fun. Serves two. 

Ingredients: 
4 oz. of light rum, silver tequila or Kahlua 
1 cup whole milk 
1 cup half-and-half 
6 tsp. of sugar 
1 oz. semisweet chocolate chopped into small pieces 
1 oz. unsweetened chocolate chopped into small pieces 
1 Tbs. brown sugar 
1 tsp. vanilla extract 
2 cinnamon sticks 

Preparation: 
I suggest that you prepare this the morning of the event, storing and then serving it out of an insulated 
container at the tailgate site. 
The morning before leaving for the event: 
Mix milk, half-and-half, sugar, finely chopped chocolate and brown sugar all together in a small saucepan over 
medium heat. 
Do not bring to a boil, but allow chocolate and sugar to melt and dissolve until they get hot. 
Reduce heat. 
Place half of this mixture into a blender and mix to a frothy consistency. 
Pour this back into your pan. 
Stir in your vanilla extract.
At the tailgate party site: 


Fill your partygoers' cups with 2 ounces of rum, tequila or Kahlua
Pour in hot chocolate from thermos or jug. 
Stir with a cinnamon stick.

Steve's Cider House Special 
Looking to keep your tailgate partygoers warm? Try this hot, richly scented apple cider. 

Ingredients:
8-10 oz. spiced rum 
8 cups apple cider 
Juice of one large orange 
Juice of one large lemon 
3 tbs. brown sugar 
4 whole cloves 
4 whole allspice berries 
3 cinnamon sticks 
3 star anise pods 

Preparation: 
In a large pot add all the ingredients except for the spiced rum. 
Simmer over low heat for 10 minutes or so. 
Add rum and keep warm over a low heat or pour into an insulated container to keep warm. 
To keep your cider potable to nondrinkers, do not add the spiced rum to the pot of cider. Add 2 oz. of rum per 
cup afterward.  

Texican Tailgate Cocoa Freeze 
Craving hot chocolate but the temperature outside is 100 degrees in the shade? Consider cooling your 
tailgaters off with this chilly drink. You'll need a blender to make this one, so pack one for the party. 

Ingredients:
2 oz. of light rum, silver tequila or Kahlua 
6 half-oz. pieces of finely chopped chocolate 
2 tsp. store-bought hot chocolate mix 
1-1/2 tbs. sugar 
1-1/2 cups milk 
3 cups ice 
Whipped cream 
Chocolate shavings 

Preparation: 
Place the chopped chocolate in the top half of double boiler over water. 
Stir until chocolate is melted. 
Add hot chocolate mix and sugar and stir until blended. 
Remove from heat and slowly add 1/2 cup of milk, stirring until smooth. 
Cool to room or lukewarm temperature. 
In a blender, add the rest of the milk and the lukewarm chocolate mixture. 
Add liquor of your choice. 
Add ice and blend on high speed until smooth. 
Pour into your cup and top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings 

Danni's Orange Derby
Danni D'Orsi, a die-hard tailgater and a colleague at Dive 75 in New York City, made this tea-based cocktail for 
the judges at a Finlandia vodka competition. They seemed to like it and tailgate partygoers will like it, too. 

Ingredients: 
2-3 bags orange spice tea 
1 bottle cranberry-infused vodka 
Splash of orange juice 
Splash cranberry juice 
Splash lemon-lime soda 
Stevia (a natural sweetener) 
Sugar (to rim the glass) 
Orange slice for garnish 
Cinnamon stick 

Preparation: 
The night before: 
Steep 3 tea bags of orange spice tea to one quart of boiled water for five minutes (then remove tea bags). 
Sweeten by adding 1 drop or packet of Stevia. 
Pour the tea into a pitcher or other container and refrigerate overnight. 
Pour ice tea into a jug with a spout or an insulated thermos to keep cool.

At the tailgate party: 

First rim your cup with sugar. 
Next fill your cup with ice.
Add 1-1/2 to 2 oz. of cranberry-infused vodka. 
Add your orange spice ice, leaving room at the top for a splash of orange juice. 
Add splashes of cranberry juice and lemon-lime soda. 
Garnish with an orange slice and cinnamon stick. 

Oyster Bar Bloody Mary Mix 
Bloody Mary cocktails are great for tailgate parties because they pair well with so many kinds of dishes. Many 
say the drink is a dish in itself. Here's one of my favorites from New York City's historic Oyster Bar in Grand 
Central Station. The lemon and lime juices add a refreshing tartness. 

Ingredients: 
1 bottle of vodka 
2 to 3 large cans of tomato juice (46-oz. cans) 
20-oz. bottle of Worcestershire sauce 
10-oz. bottle of Tabasco 
2 tbs. salt 
1 tbs. black pepper 
1 pint white vinegar 
Celery stalk 
Horseradish 
Juice of two lemons 
Juice of two limes 

Preparation: 
The night before your tailgate party: 
Add all ingredients, except the vodka and horseradish in a gallon container. 
Store and refrigerate.

At the tailgate party: 

Fill each tailgater's cup with ice. 
Pour 1-1/2 oz. of vodka over ice. 
Add a dollop of horseradish. 
Top with Bloody Mary mix. 
Stir with celery stalk and serve with a smile. 

The Bloody Clam 
This is my runner-up for best Bloody Mary, a hearty drink with a hint of the sea. Serves one. 

Ingredients: 
1-1/2 oz. premium vodka 
4 oz. Clamato juice 
1 oz. clam juice 
Pinch of wasabi powder 
Dash of Siracha chile sauce 
Dash of Worcestershire sauce 
Juice of 1/4 a lime 
Juice of 1/4 a lemon 
1 shucked littleneck clam 

Preparation: 
Start with a tall Collins glass. 
Drop in the clam. 
Fill glass with ice and pour in vodka. 
Add Clamato and clam juice. 
Add the rest of the ingredients. 

Shake and serve.