Cocktail Madness

With the NCAA tournament down to the Sweet 16, the basketball watching parties are getting larger. Today, we'll offer a few crowd-pleasing, and one crowd-sized, cocktail options.

Clinton Kelly's Slam Dunk Punch

2 cups Camarena Silver Tequila
1 cups Cointreau (or your favorite Triple Sec)
1/2 gallon Orange sherbet
2 liter Ginger ale
6 ounce Frozen orange juice concentrate (optional)
Orange slices for garnish

Place sherbet and frozen orange juice concentrate in a punch bowl.  Allow to thaw for 10 to 15 minutes.

Stir in ginger ale, Camarena tequila and Cointreau. Garnish with orange slices and serve.

While these are portioned out as individual cocktails, they're worth making in quantity.

The Bloody Bull

2 oz Tito's Vodka
2 oz Tomato juice
2 oz Prepared beef bouillon.5
oz Fresh lemon juice
3 dashes Worcestershire sauce
2 dashes Tabasco Sauce
pinch Kosher salt
pinch coarsely ground black pepper
Lemon wedges for garnish
  
Add all the ingredients to a Collins glass. Mix well, then top with ice. Garnish with lemon wedge. Add celery for an early game.

The Brown Suit

Named for the late Coach Adolph Rupp, who always wore a brown suit.

1.5 oz Makers Mark Bourbon
1 oz Corsair gin
Sprite

Fill a tall glass with ice. Add bourbon and gin. Top with with Sprite.

The Kentucky Colonel

1.5 oz Makers Mark Bourbon
.5 oz Benedictine

Fill a shaker half way with ice. Add bourbon and Benedictine. Shake for 30 seconds. Strain into chilled martini glass. Garnish with lemon peel.

Even though there are no local teams left in the tournament, these cocktails will help you find a new favorite in no time.