The Bar There's no such thing as a basic drink nor an empty glass.

At F&G's every bartender is a personal friend, and there's always a barstool with your name on it. While the hostess it preparing your table, let us start your visit off on the right foot with one (or two) of our delicious cocktails. Of course, we have several tall cool one's on tap, as well as a bevy of specialty wines in our cellar; but the mixed drinks are what keeps our bartenders busy and smiles on our patrons' faces.

If you're mixing at home, we recommend stocking your bar with the following items:

Standard Equipment

You'll need to have handy:

1. Heavy-gauge can and bottle opener.
2. Sturdy corkscrew and/or waiter's corkscrew.
3. Paring knife.
4. Stir rod.
5. Plastic cutting board.
6. Shaker.
7. Blender.
8. Measuring Spoons, and one or two jiggers.

Glassware

Shot glasses. (No bar is complete without 'em.) It's the perfect sidekick to forgetting bad memories or celebrating a job well done.
Cocktail glasses. (The more the merrier.) Also commonly referred to as a "Martini Glass." This is the essential glassware for any true cocktail

Old Fashioned glasses. Most folks and retailers call 'em "rocks" glasses. This is the common holder for cocktails ordered "on the rocks."

Wine glasses. Unless you really have the room (or patience) for storing a lot of glasses, just some nice uniform wine glasses will do just fine. (Leave the "fancy" stemware for your Aunt Edna's house over Thanksgiving.) However, if you do want to get show the neighborhood wine snob you're onto his/her game, try to mix in a few red and white glasses that are relatively thin with clean edges.

Beer glasses. Buy standard Pint glasses. Don't break your back with those awkward mugs. Like the cocktail glass, pint glasses are also good for serving sodas, shakes, and the so-called "fru-fru" drinks that include more crushed ice than what's in your ice chest.

Unless you have a bar-back keeping the glassware fresh for you (like we do), try to have at least two-to-three of each glass on hand per guest.

Spirits, Wines, and Beers (The good stuff!)

It's time to get down to brass tacks. Now that you have the hardware in place, let's lock-and-load the artillery that's going in it. This is the good stuff. Your eyes will be mesmerized by the glimmering light illuminating over a hundred bottles neatly arranged like servant soldiers on the glass shelves fastened to the back wall. The selection of possible beverages is as seemingly endless as the dark oak bar that greets all of our Customers as they venture in.

For really good time, there's no need to take out a second mortgage. You can be deceptively simple with a few good brands and some main ingredients.

Liquor - These need to be suited for both going solo as well as mixing. In other words, don't buy the stuff that's "cheap" and don't buy super premium brands that'll be combined with other ingredients.

Bourbon - Maker's Mark.
Gin - Beefeaters.
Vodka - Absolute.
Rum - Malibu.
Scotch - Glenfiddich.
Tequila - Quervo.

Mixers

Amaretto - Di Sorano.
Sour, Margarita, Daiquiri and Bloody Mary Mixes - previously blended. Colas, lemon/line soda, ginger ale, club soda, and fresh/chilled water. OJ, pineapple, cherry, lemon, lime, and tomato juice.

Toppers

Tabasco, Bitters, Grenadine, Triple Sec, coconut milk, and light cream.

Garnish

Plastic stir sticks, swords, and straws. Cocktail napkins. Salt and sugar. Maraschino cherries (with stems), orange slices, lemon and lime wedges, celery, and bananas. (This is why you need the cutting board - have these goodies prepared and chilled before your guests arrive.)

Wine - Buy what's trendy (but not in a box or with a screw top for goodness sake!). For the reds, a descent with a Zinfandel, Merlot, or Cabernet. For the whites, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Anything less than $10 a bottle (not in bulk), and you're telling your guests you don't care. Anything more than $30, and you're telling your banker you don't know what you're doing.

Beer - Mmmm, beeeer. You're throwing a party, not counting calories or hanging out with Kid Rock. You have two options - bottles or a keg (no cans, please). If you decide to go with bottles, buy the more stout selections: Bass, Heineken, Dos Equis, and Guinness (leave the domestic stuff for the "buds" and their chicken wings). If your buying bulk, a small keg with a more regional/microbrew meister is preferred: Shiner, Red Hook, and Falls City (just kidding). Just make sure you know how to use it, and not over use it.

Spanish Fly

It's a sneaky little fellow that packs a simple punch.

Spanish Fly

1 jigger Tequila
2 jiggers of sour mix
1 teaspoon of sugar

Shake together with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. It's deceptively potent.

Strawberry Fields

Let me take you down to wear I'm going to:

Strawberry Fields

1 jigger Malibu Rum
1/2 jigger lime juice
2 1/2 jiggers (roughly 4 oz) Strawberry Puree
3 or 4 ice cubes (depending on their size)

While blending the above ingredients, rub the rim of a cocktail glass in lime juice and dip in sugar. Poor the mixture into the cocktail glass and garnish with a fresh strawberry.

Top o' the Bar

Red Dawn

No one can call you a pinko these days now that the Ruskies on our side. So, now you can belly up to the bar with your favorite comrade and share one a few tales about the salt mines over a couple of these:

Red Dawn

1 jigger Vodka
1/2 jigger light cream
1/2 jigger cherry juice

Shake with ice; strain into a cocktail glass; and garnish with a stemless cherry skeward with a sword.

Momma Mia

She's the patron saint of the Family, and she's worthy of respect as well as a much needed break from her daily grind.

Momma Mia

1 jigger Amaretto Di Sorano
1 tablespoon of light cream
1/2 jigger of OJ
1 Old Fashion Glass of ice.

Give all of the above a tender loving shake and return to the Old Fashioned glass. If she's in the mood, you can give her a whirl in the blender.

Summer Breeze

Summer Breeze

1 jigger Malibu Rum
1 1/2 jigger sour mix
1 1/2 jigger OJ
1 teaspoon cherry juice
1 cocktail glass - rub the rim in lime juice and dip in sugar.

Pour ingredients in to a shaker and add about a cup of ice. Shake generously (8 - 10 times). Strain mixture into the cocktail glass and garnish with a sword skewred cherry and orange slice.

South Beach

Imagine the cool seabreezes blowing in from the electric blue Atlantic ocean meeting the high energy dance music streaming out of the Art Deco buildings along nightclubs in Miami Beach District and you're ready to dive into this tastey creation:

South Beach

1 jigger Malibu rum
1 jigger pineapple juice
1/2 jigger Blue Caraco
1/2 jigger Cream of Coconut

Shake with ice; and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with cherry and pineapple wedge.

Manhattan Transfer

With trains on the hour, you have time to swing by the pub for a quick drink before you're on your way.

Manhattan Transfer

1 jigger bourbon
1/2 jigger triple sec
1/2 jigger lemon juice

Shake with ice; strain into a chilled cocktail glass; and leave your troubles behind in the station.

Gin and Sin

Here's one way to have a little fun on a hot Summer's day:

Gin and Sin

1 jigger Gin
1/2 jigger lemon and orange juice equally
1 teaspoon Genadine

Shake with ice and strain into a cocktail glass and hit it with a splash of soda. (Soda in a cocktail glass? That's what makes it sinful and refreshing at the same time.)