Drink Recipes & Party Sounds on Starbucks’ New CD ‘The Cocktail Hour’

There’s nothing so lovely when the right people, the right music and the right drinks all come together for a good cocktail party full of fun and frolicking. To help you on “the right music” front the next time you’re planning your own soiree, there’s a new CD called The Cocktail Hour up for grabs at Starbucks, and it features not only a host of sweet music from the likes of Ray Charles and Betty Carter and even diverse French master musician Serge Gainsbourg, but also 11 drink recipes in the disc’s booklet that I’ve specially selected.

The recipes cover some classics (like the Singapore Sling) and some newer mixes like the late-summerific Temporary Getaway (recipe below). The music and drinks combo gets you close to the perfect cocktail party. Now all you need are the right people. Find The Cocktail Hour at most Starbucks. It’s time to the party started.

The Temporary Getaway

3 apple slices

1/2 ounce freshly squeezed orange juice

1/2 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice

Ice cubes

1 ounce St- Germain elderflower liqueur

4 ounces chilled brut Champagne or sparkling wine

1. Put The Cocktail Party CD in the player. Place 2 of the apple slices, the orange juice, and the lemon juice in a cocktail shaker or mixing glass. Using a muddler or wooden spoon, muddle well.

2. Fill the cocktail shaker halfway full with ice cubes. Add the St-Germain and, using a long spoon, stir well.

3. Pour the chilled sparkling wine of Champagne into the cocktail shaker. Using that same reliable spoon, stir briefly, being sure to bring up the fruit on the bottom when stirring.

4. Strain through a fine strainer into a flute glass or cocktail glass (in this instance I like the way the latter breathes, but a flute’s more traditional). Garnish with the remaining apple slice, putting a little notch in it if needed for rim balancing.