Growing up in New England, once the calendar page turned to October, inevitably the Colonial time plays in school began. But what they didn’t cover in grade school was the real story of how America came to be: those Colonists got drunk and invented America.
If you’re intrigued about just how these fine folks did this, then this week’s giveaway is for YOU! We’ve got a giveaway package that tells you the whole story, AND an amazing new on the scene bar tool you can use to replicate some of the toasty beverages those Colonists enjoyed while, you know, inventing America.
Colonial Spirits: A Toast to Our Drunken History by author Steven Grasse combines a love of cocktails and history into an immensely entertaining book that’s perfect for your cocktail book shelf. Here’s a few facts from the book you can throw out at your next Fall Holiday party:
- George Washington had a treasured recipe for Small Beer stashed in a notebook, brewed with Bran Hops and 3 Gallons of Molasses
- Martha Washington developed Cherry Bounce, a brandy-based drink that keeps her husband warm while he is away fighting the Revolutionary War
- Benjamin Franklin took it upon himself to pen the Drinkers Dictionary, kind of like a colonial version of Urban Dictionary, where he published at least 200 synonyms for getting drunk
- Thomas Jefferson imports red wines from all over the globe, collecting 20,000 bottles during his presidency; and toasts the Declaration of Independence with a glass of Madeira
- John Smith and the early settlers at Plymouth Rock learn how to ferment alcohol from corn, as taught to them by Native Americans
- John Adams preferred hard cider and drank a tankard of the stuff every morning; and Adams would live to be 90 years old, the third longest living president.
- The Triangular Trade (and the blight of slavery) fuels the rum business and Fish House Punch is created at Philadelphia’s Tun Tavern as a way for people to “forget their mother-in-lawâ€
How many of you have a loggerhead in your home bar? My bet is no one. However, this bar tool has been around for centuries helping to create toasty cocktails going all the way back to the Colonial era. And now one lucky Stir and Strain reader will get their hands on their own! But what is it you may be asking. The loggerhead is a unique bar tool that’s simple in design, yet has an effect on cocktails that’s complex and incomparable. Heat up the loggerhead, prepare your drink and then plunge the loggerhead in to create an exciting effect (and heat up your drink). This is the perfect bar tool for those chilly nights ahead of us.
The loggerhead is finishing up its Kickstarter run but has already been funded which means you’ll get yours by December. For more info on the loggerhead, head over to their page!
Ready to drink like this nation’s forefathers? Enter below and score up to 10 entries to win the Colonial Spirits and Loggerhead Bar Tool (approximate retail value $90)! Giveaway ends at 11:59pm PST Wednesday October 12th, 2016 (US residents only). Good luck!
Did you know that Oktoberbest is happening RIGHT NOW? While many of us stateside can only dream of visiting Germany for the biggest beer fest ever, that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy an Oktoberfest brew in the comfort of your own home. Enter this month’s giveaway: an Oktoberfest Brew Kit from 
Ready to get in the DIY spirit? Enter now and get up to 9Â entries to win by entering below. Giveaway ends at 11:59pm PST Wednesday September 28th, 2016. Entrants must live in the continental US and be 21+ only please! For more information on Craft a Brew, check out their website at 
If you’ve been over on the Stir and Strain Snapchat the last several months you’ve probably seen some cocktails I’ve mixed up using 
When you think Summer drinking, you think… Scotch, right?? Well I do, and so does Shaker &Â Spoon!
Curious about what cocktails you’ll get to make with this box? Here’s Shaker & Spoon’s description of their Summer Scotch Box:
So if you want to surprise Dad, or your college Grad, or your friends who are tying the knot this month, or, you know, keep this for yourself, then enter now! You’ll get up to 10 entries by selecting the options below. Giveaway ends at 11:59pm PST Monday June 13th, 2016. For more information on Shaker & Spoon, check out their website at 
Fassionola. You might be wondering what that word is, or whether or not I am misspelling something. But if you’re not familiar with that word, you’re making your Hurricane cocktail all wrong.
Since Cocktail & Sons prides themselves are only using the best seasonal ingredients in season, the Fassionola syrup will only be available until June 30th (strawberries don’t grow in October…)! So stock up if you can. And in the meantime, enter below to win your own bottle: you get up to 8 entries to help you along (open to US residents only)! Giveaway ends at 11:59pm PST Sunday May 29th, 2016. For more information on Cocktail & Sons, check out their website at 
It’s Spring! And I think it’s time for a little cocktail refresh don’t you? I LOVE a cocktail made from fresh ingredients, and even better when they come from my garden. This week we’ve got a giveaway that’s sure to bring on the cocktail inspiration (from your garden, or, you know, the supermarket). 
Blending superfoods right into your drinks, Aron’s recipes use unexpected ingredients, like ginger, kiwis, coconut water, kale, and kombucha, for powerful health benefits and surprisingly delicious flavors. A boozy boost is optional, but highly recommended, in recipes like:
Besides cocktail recipes, it also includes some fun ideas for making boozy popsicles, flavored ice cubes, infused spirits, and lots of techniques to up your cocktail game!
Making someone a cocktail at home is always a generous act. And if you’re looking to surprise someone with a few delightful concoctions this Valentine’s Day, but need a little help in the recipe department, I’ve got the solution for you. Stir and Strain has teamed up with 
Guys, I know that it’s December and many of us in the Northern Hemisphere are trapped in a frozen tundra (I mean, it got down into the 50’s here in SoCal..brrrrr), but I know ALL of you are dreaming of warmer pastures. So, I teamed up with the Margaritaville people to offer one lucky Stir and Strain reader the key to unlocking those warmer climes (at least in your mind) with their all new 
So yesterday was #InternationalTeaDay. While I may put on the kettle and enjoy a few cups of tea during the day, I must say that my favorite way to enjoy it is in a Hot Toddy.
Put on a fire, light up the kettle, and enter today! Check out the options below to enter and get up to 12 entries to win. Giveaway ends at 11:59pm PST Tuesday December 22nd, 2015. For more information on Owl’s Brew, 