Getting into the spirits

The White Peach Bellini

As the clock strikes midnight on Dec. 31, those at Lodi Feed and Fuel will bring in 2009 with White Peach Bellinis in hand. Stephanie Gillson, the Lodi Feed and Fuel bartender, says this cocktail will be a specialty drink available on New Year's Eve. It's fruity and fresh, made with a mixture of pureed white peaches, Chambord and sparkling wine.

Sparkling Wine (aka Champagne)

Sparkling wine. It's a classic cocktail. It can be mixed with apple cider. It can be mixed with orange juice to create a breakfast mimosa. But, more than anything else, it is one wine that can stand by itself as the ultimate celebratory drink.

While restaurant and bar managers throughout Lodi say mixed drinks are popular, most agree sparkling wine will be the New Year's Eve crowd pleaser.

"They like to get the Champagne glass and celebrate," Rosewood bar manager Drew Reyes said. "That is what we do."

Lodi has several wineries that produce sparkling wine, including Weibel Vineyards which as been in operation for over 100 years. They offer a variety of sparkling wines: Almond, raspberry and the Premium Grand Cuvee. The flavors are good for drinking by themselves, or mixing. Weibel office manager Rose Flores says that the combination of orange juice and almond sparkling wine make a great mimosa.

Sparkling wine, also known as Champagne, is a popular New Year's Eve Drink. (Dan Evans/News-Sentinel)

The Cherry Lemon Drop

It's frosted. It's festive. And it's original. The Cherry Lemon Drop is a Lodi original, created by Reyes. The key to this frou-frou, martini-like drink is fresh ingredients. Reyes starts with a basic lemon drop and adds real cherry juice straight from the cherry bowl. He shaves a fresh lemon so the peel is a single spiral. He twists the peel into a bow tie and affixes a cherry, which dangles over the edge of a frosted martini glass.

The Kryptonite

The Kryptonite, also a Rosewood special, is a bright neon green color that will make drinking the martini glass's fruity liquid even more fun. The drink was created by Reyes, and is different from most drinks.

"I think since it's New Year's, a lot of people want to try new things," he said.

This is one way his customers can get started.

The Kryptonite is a combination of Malibu Rum, Island Punch Pucker, fresh lime and pineapple juice.

Bailey's Mocha Latte

It might not be a white Christmas in Lodi, but there will definitely be a bite in the air as 2008 concludes in the Midnight hour. To keep people warm, restaurant and bars will offer several coffee drinks, both hot and cold, to warm up their customers.

The Bailey's Mocha Latte being featured at Lodi Feed and Fuel will be a comforting combination of coffee-flavored Bailey's Irish Cream, hot chocolate, fresh whipped cream and chocolate shavings. The decadent drink will be served hot in a mug.

Top-shelf tequilla and squeezed limes make up a fresh margarita at Revolucion 1910 Mexican restaurant in Lodi. (Dan Evans/News-Sentinel)

The Tamarind Margarita

Christian Lara, the bartender at Revolucion 1910 in Lodi, created the restaurant's most popular margarita, the Tamarind, using tamarind juice, fresh-squeezed lime juice, agave nectar and Reposado tequila.

Hot Toddy

While mojitos made with fresh mint and is the summertime cocktail favorite at Moore's Riverboat on the Delta, a favorite choice at their New Year's Eve party this year will be hot drinks like the Hot Toddy. There are many variations to this hot drink. It's usually made with tea or coffee and a selection of brandy, rum or whiskey.

Yuletide — Spiced Dr. Pepper

Unless you were a classmate with Java Stop manager Richard Hazard, you've probably never tasted anything like Java Stop's Yuletide — a hot, spiced Dr. Pepper. When he was a student at St. Peter's a woman brought the unique drink to a school picnic. It's a memory of his childhood that he is now sharing with his drive-thru customers.

It's hard to describe exactly what it's like.

"It's like spiced cider, but on the Dr. Pepper side," Hazard said.

The drink fuses the soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, black tea and orange pekoe. It's best when it's piping hot.

To celebrate the new year, Java Stop is also introducing the Ibarra mocha made with Ibarra Mexican chocolate.

Bacardi Limon Press

Presses are popular as people are becoming more health conscious and aware of the calories they consume with the rounds of cocktails. Reyes says the Bacardi Limon Press is very popular. It combines Bacardi rum, soda, ginger ale and a lime wedge that gets squeezed into the glass.

"The (lime) will seize the flavor," he said.

The Virgin Cocktail

Just because you don't drink or just because you're underage, it doesn't mean you can't drink something fruity in a pretty glass.

Reyes' favorite virgin cocktail is a blend of fresh orange juice and pineapple juice with cranberry sunk into it. If you want it sweeter, he says add grenadine or other fruity flavors.

"Not only does it look good, it tastes good," he said.

Reader Feedback

Cogito wrote on Dec 31, 2008 7:55 PM:

" OTH, you typing and drinking now? "

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OTH wrote on Dec 30, 2008 1:39 PM:

" I can think of nothing more nauseating to deink that hot Dr Dpepper. "

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Cogito wrote on Dec 29, 2008 8:24 PM:

" O.K. Lauren, next time you get a plum assignment such as this, you need to take along an expert. I would like to enthusiastically offer my services. Feel free to contact me, I work cheaply. In this case....very cheaply. "

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Getting into the spirits

Whether you'll be celebrating New Year's Eve in your PJs at home or dressed up in Downtown Lodi, there's a specialty drink - from peach cocktails to hot Dr. Pepper and classic sparkling wine - that you can make in your own kitchen or order at the bar.

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