If a crowd is gathering at your house to watch tonight's hockey game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings, some Penguin-theme libations are in order.
Sip a White Russian in honor of No. 71, Evgeni Malkin, and No. 55, Sergei Gonchar, both from Russia. Use Scandinavian aquavit to make an icy lemon-flavored cocktail to cheer on No. 37, Jarkko Ruutu, from Helsinki.
Canadian whiskey and brews are musts -- 10 Penguins hail from Canada, including No. 87, Sidney Crosby; No. 27, Georges Laraque; No. 25, Maxime Talbot; and No. 29, goalie Marc-Andre Fleury.
If you prefer wine, pop a cork for No. 18, Marian Hossa, who hails from Slovakia, where wine is produced and enjoyed at dinner tables. And in honor of Petr Sykora, from the Czech Republic, offer a toast with Pilsner Urquell, a favorite brew from his homeland.
Oops -- can't forget the All-American boys. No. 38, Adam Hall, of Kalamazoo, Mich.; No. 44, Brooks Orpik, from San Francisco; and No. 12 Ryan Malone, from Mt. Lebanon, deserve a round of Pittsburgh brews.
Here are a few more hockey-related cocktails to enjoy:
The Snowplow
Aquavit is a clear Scandinavian liquor made from grain or potatoes and flavored with caraway seeds. You also can serve it straight -- make sure it's icy cold -- with a beer chaser. This recipe is from "Holiday Cocktails Deck" by Jessica Strand (Chronicle Books LLC, $13.95).
• 1 ounce aquavit
• 6 ounces lemonade
• Lemon slice, for garnish
Fill a highball glass with ice. Add the aquavit and lemonade, then stir. Set the lemon slice on the rim.
Makes 1 serving.
Canadian Cocktail
Mittie Hellmich, author of "Mini Bar Whiskey: A Little Book of Big Drinks" (Chronicle Books LLC, $7.95), says this orange liqueur-laced drink is "mellow," and custom-made for Canadian whiskey lovers.
• 2 ounces Canadian blended whiskey
• 1/2 ounce Cointreau
• 2 dashes bitters
• 1 teaspoon superfine sugar
• Ice
Add all of the ingredients to a cocktail shake. Shake vigorously. Strain into an ice-filled old-fashioned glass or a chilled cocktail glass.
Makes 1 serving.
Lucky Seven
The quest for the Stanley Cup is a seven-game series, right⢠This variation on the martini comes from "Big Easy Cocktails" by Jimmy Bannos and John DeMers (Ten Speed Press, $15.95 paperback).
• 3 ounces premium vodka
• 1 3/4 ounces peach schnapps
• 3/4 ounce freshly squeezed orange juice
• 1/4 ounce cranberry juice
• Ice
• 1 peach slice, for garnish
Combine the vodka, schnapps, orange juice and cranberry juice and shake with ice. Strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with the peach slice.
Makes 1 serving.
White Russian
This recipe is from "The Everything Bartender's Book" by Jane Parker Resnick (Adams Media Corp., 1995).
• 1 1/2 ounces vodka
• 1/2 ounce coffee liqueur
• 1/2 ounce cream
• Ice
Combine the vodka, coffee liqueur and cream in a shaker half filled with ice. Shake well. Strain into an old-fashioned glass over ice.
Makes 1 serving.
Russian Kamikaze Shooter: Into a mixing glass nearly filled with ice, pour 2 ounces vodka and 1 teaspoon Chambord. Stir. Strain into a shot glass.
Rosy Cheeks
This nonalcoholic drink has the sophistication of a well prepared cocktail, says Mary Lou Heiss and Robert J. Heiss, authors of "Hot Drinks: Cider, Coffee, Tea, Hot Chocolate, Spiced Punch and Spirits" (Ten Speed Press, $16.95).
• 1/2 cup red grapefruit juice
• 1/2 cup cranberry juice cocktail
• 1/2 cup guava juice
• 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
Combine the grapefruit juice, cranberry juice and guava juice in a small saucepan over medium heat and bring to a simmer. Lower the heat and continue to simmer until just heated through, for about 5 minutes.
Add the lime juice, stir and serve straight up in sherry or port glasses.
Makes 4 servings.
