The Twelve Best New Tequilas You May Not Heard of Yet

From The American Mixologist

In Mexico, they’re referred to as Tequila Puro, while the United States we know them as 100% agave tequilas. The first sip of these luxurious spirits quickly reveals why they’ve captured the imagination of the American drinking public.

They are so flavorful that you’re left with the unmistakable impression that this is how tequilas are meant to taste. These are the best of times for tequila.

Interest in the spirit has been nothing short of phenomenal propelling the category to grow a robust ten percent in 2006 in the United States, the steepest increase of the light liquors, outpacing the growth of vodka (6.7%) and rum (5.0%).

Considering that the Mexican import constitutes only 5% of the American spirits market, there appears to be a tremendous opportunity for continued growth. As their name suggests, 100% agave tequilas are single-ingredient products.

They are distilled using nothing other than blue agave and a small amount of water. The majority of these tequilas are not overnight, one-hit wonders. Crafting great tequila is a labor- and time-intensive process.

Agaves mature at their own pace irrespective of demand and taking short cuts during the production process consigns a tequila to mediocrity. With the continuing growth of tequila, consumers are increasingly asking what’s the difference between the various brands.

If they’re made from nothing but agave, how can there be such a huge disparity between quality, taste and selling price? In reality, the differences between brands of 100% agave tequilas are years in the making.

From cultivating agaves to the unbarreling an añejo, the production cycle can exceed 15 years. It is a time-honored process, one in which every decision made along the way ultimately will impact the tequila.

Production of tequila is most similar to that of Cognac. In each case, the distillation techniques are centuries old and both are distilled from expertly cultivated products — grape varietals or mature agaves.

Both of these spirits are representative of their countries of origin. Tequila and cognac are both rooted in tradition and closely tied with their respective cultures.

It takes the agave between eight to twelve years to reach maturity and optimally is harvested when the plant’s natural sugar content has peaked at about 21-25 brix. The agave thrives in rich volcanic soil and a warm and dry climate.

As it is with wine, the appellation and growing region the agaves were cultivated in is a point of distinction between brands. The traditional method of baking agaves is in a large oven called an hornos.

This slow process ensures that the agaves are properly cooked and that the sugars don’t caramelize. The technologically advanced method is to pressure-cook the agaves in large, stainless steel autoclaves. Here again are points of difference.

After baking, the agaves are taken to a crusher to extract the juice. The juice, called aguamiel, is separated from the crushed fibers and transferred to a fermentation tank. Water and yeast are added to start fermentation, a process that takes approximately 72-96 hours.

Extending the period of fermentation is often cited as a qualitative difference. The size, volume and exact shape of the still also affect how the finished tequila will taste. When tequila leaves the still, it is as clear as water.

At this point, some of the tequila is sent on to be aged in oak, with the remainder being bottled as blanco or plata (silver) tequila.

Reposado (rested) tequila is aged in wood for a minimum of two months, although most remain in the wood four to eight months. Añejo tequila legally must be aged a minimum of one year in barrels 600 liters or smaller.

Most añejo tequilas are aged in ex-bourbon barrels. Used oak barrels impart less tannin into the tequila and imbue the spirit with a subtle whiskey character.

The production of 100% agave tequilas is closely scrutinized by the government to ensure quality standards are strictly maintained. Seals are affixed to the opening of the barrels to certify that nothing is added to the tequila as it ages.

Tequilas in the Limelight

Nothing breeds success like success and tequila continues to be an impressive success story. From humble beginnings it has grown into a major international export and an expanding sector of the spirits industry in the United States.

So is there a point where there are too many brands of premium tequilas on our shelves?
“Perhaps, but don’t start looking for that saturation point to come soon,” contends Rich Krumm, food and beverage director for the Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group of New Orleans.

“At one of our restaurants we carry 45 labels of tequila and they’re all extremely active. Tequila drinkers are different than, let’s say, vodka drinkers who find a brand they like and typically stick with that brand.

Tequila aficionados are very open to trying new brands.” Brendan Moylan, owner of Noonan’s Bar & Grill in Larkspur, CA, agrees that tequila enthusiasts thrive on the sense of discovery. “Stocking new brands is a significant sales driver.

We carry over 300 labels of tequila and invest in new brands when they enter the market. I’m a devoted fan off 100% agave tequilas, and like most, I appreciate getting an opportunity to sample a new line of tequilas. It’s an enriching experience.”

The past year or so has seen the introduction of a number of new brands of 100% agave tequilas.

These are super-premium products in price and degree of excellence. Their impeachable quality suggests extending them V.I.P. treatment — snifters and chilled cocktails glasses versus serving in a tall slushy concoction.

Tasting flights and elegant cocktails are also ideal paths to introduce these new players to your guests. So who’s at the head of the class? Here’s our list of the twelve best new tequilas that you may not have heard of…yet.

4 Copas — Made at La Quemada Distillery in the lowlands of Jalisco, 4 Copas is a masterfully crafted line of organic, super-premium tequilas. The blanco is filtered and bottled immediately after distillation.

It has a wafting bouquet and a delectable palate of lemon zest and white pepper. Aged for nine months in American white oak, 4 Copas Reposado is graced with an array of orange, honey and ripe fruit flavors.

The añejo spends up to three years in oak and has lingering finish marked by the flavors of vanilla, spice and toasted oak.

Chaya — This range of tequilas is made in the highlands of Tepatitlan. Chaya Silver has an oily, supple body with an assertive bouquet of anise, honey and notes of toasted cereal grain and dry flavors of black peppercorn and roasted vegetables.

The reposado is aged seven months and has a delicious, complex palate. The highest praise is reserved for the two-year old Chaya Añejo. The pale amber tequila is lightly wooded with earthy, floral and spicy flavors. Its finish is superb.

Corzo — Distilled in the Los Altos region of Jalisco, Corzo is a range of remarkably vibrant and flavorful super-premium tequilas. The secret to its greatness can be explained by the exacting nature of its production.

The tequila is slow fermented, double-distilled and aged in oak barrels for two to four months before being redistilled a third time. Bottled fresh from the still, Corzo Silver is elegant and sublime with a seamlessly smooth body and a lightly peppered, long lasting finish.

The reposado is matured in two different woods to give it more complexity. Aged for over a year in white oak, Corzo Añejo is lush and exquisite, a fascinating top shelf spirit.

El Charro — Made by Compaña Tequilera de Arandas in the highlands of Jalisco, El Charro tequilas are triple distilled in small batches. El Charro Silver is rested prior to bottling and El Charro Añejo is aged 24 months in French oak barrels.

While the entire range is excellent, the likely star of the trio is the El Charro Reposado. During its six-month stay in French oak it acquires a pale golden hue, lightweight body and citrus and toasted oak aromas.

It’s an outstanding representation of the style, loaded with layers of white pepper, caramel and citrus.

El Diamante del Cielo — These ultra-premium, limited production tequilas are handcrafted in Jalisco. El Diamante del Cielo is made from estate-grown agaves triple-distilled in state of the art pot stills.

The blanco is bottled straight from the still and brimming with bakery fresh flavors. The reposado is aged up to 364 days in white oak barrels, imbuing it with honey and floral aromas and a classy, long lasting finish.

El Diamante Del Cielo Añejo is magnificent, noble spirit. It’s a blend of tequilas aged up to four years in oak with a generous bouquet; sultry, full body and a palate laced with fruit flavors.

Fina Estampa — This handcrafted newcomer is distilled at Un Tequila Artesanal in the highlands of Jalisco near Atotonilco.

Fina Estampa Blanco has a svelte, lightweight body, voluminous bouquet of cracked pepper and garden herbs and an imminently satisfying, slightly vegetal finish. The reposado has a velvety, slightly oily body, herbal bouquet and a fruit and caramel finish.

The Fina Estampa Añejo is a rare, distinct pleasure. Aged a year in oak, the tequila has a sultry bouquet of cocoa, ripe fruit and notes of pepper and smoke. The palate gradually builds in intensity and lasts long into the finish. Top-notch.

Gran Centenario Leyenda Extra Añejo — Tequila enthusiasts have cause to rejoice. Famed Gran Centenario has extended its world-class range with the release of Leyenda, an extra añejo aged an average of four years in French Limousin oak barrels.

After which the Maestro Tequilero blends in older reserves to complete the masterpiece. The ultra-premium añejo drinks like a dream come true. The tequila is a dark amber with a satiny, medium weight body and a vanilla, clove and oaky bouquet.

The palate starts spicy and finishes long and luxurious. Leyenda is the epitome of seduction.

Luna Sueño — New to the market is Luna Sueño, a sophisticated range of ultra-premium tequilas distilled in Jalisco by La Cofradia. At this time only the blanco and 6-month old reposado are available.

The Luna Sueño Blanco is a superb, light bodied tequila with a reserved, yet delightful floral bouquet and a palate imbued with spice, honey and dried fruit. The warm finish is flavorful and lingering.

Luna Sueño Reposado is an accessible tequila with a satiny body and a spicy, sumptuous palate. The brand should receive a warm and enthusiastic reception.

Partida — The super-premium Partida range is produced from mature, estate grown blue agaves cultivated in the lowlands of Amatitán, Mexico. The piñas are slowly baked, slowly fermented and double-distilled in pot stills.

Unaged Partida Blanco is a sleek, aromatic tequila with a delicate floral, herbs and citrus-laced palate. The reposado is aged in new French Canadian oak barrels for a minimum of six months, which imbues it with a slightly sweet bouquet and the flavors of vanilla, spice and almonds.

The Partida Añejo is aged a minimum of 18 months in oak barrels previously used to age Jack Daniel’s. The tequila has a generous bouquet of ripe red fruit, honey and cocoa and waves of pastry like flavors. Partida tequilas are too magnificent to share with friends.

Patrón Gran Platinum — Those who find themselves with a few extra dollars and a palpable thirst for a classy spirit should invest in a bottle of Gran Patrón Platinum. The ultra-premium silver tequila is light bodied, richly textured and imminently satisfying.

It is triple-distilled in alembic pot stills. Another twist is that a portion of each batch is aged briefly in American oak barrels prior to being blended back. It has a satiny texture and a bouquet of black pepper and citrus.

The initial attack is warm—not hot—and the tequila immediately fills the mouth with spicy, peppery flavors. The finish is perhaps best described as luxurious. It is a tequila created with a snifter in mind.

Scorpion Mezcal — While not tequila, this skillfully produced line of 100% agave spirits more than deserves inclusion. Small batch Scorpion Mezcals are triple distilled in pot stills and aged in charred, oak barrels.

The FDA approved, scorpion exoskeleton inside the bottle is a harmless observer. The flagship of the Scorpion range is the triple-distilled, 7 year old Añejo Gran Reserva Mezcal. It has captivating bouquet marked with the aromas of vanilla, black cherries and peaty smoke.

The oily, medium weight body delivers a semi-sweet array of flavors, including maple, caramel, vanilla and a lingering dose of smoke on the finish.

Tezón — This super-premium range of tequilas is crafted in Jalisco by Viuda de Romero. The agaves are crushed by a two-ton, volcanic stone tahona wheel and then roasted for three days in brick ovens.

The tequilas are double-distilled on the lees, a traditional style in which both the fiber and fermented juice are put into the pot stills.

Unaged Tezón silver has an oily body and a vanilla and honeyed palate, while the 8-10 month old reposado is creamy, woody and notably spicy. Highest marks go to Tezón Añejo, which is aged 18-20 months in seasoned white oak.

The tequila has an alluring bouquet of oranges and leather, an oily medium weight body and a palate laced with butterscotch, vanilla and a hint of smoke

Should You Pay Off Your Mortgage?

by: JenniferOpenshaw

Click here to watch a video of this report.

Here’s a question I get all the time. “I’ve run into a little extra cash, and my current income is taking care of things. Should I be paying off my mortgage?

Heck, every financial column you read talks about avoiding or getting out of debt, and how there’s too much of it going around. But that’s consumer debt – the typically high-cost kind used to fund all sorts of nefarious short term purchases.

So a mortgage is debt, too -- right? Yes, but it isn’t necessarily bad debt. Here’s what I tell people who ask me about paying off their mortgage: don’t, if you can do better with your money.

Sounds good in theory, but you still have the itch to get to that mortgage burning party and light the match. The question is – should you?

Turns out it’s a complex multi-sided financial choice with no cut-and-dried answer. While my simple answer is a good place to start, it really depends on your tolerance for debt, retirement vision, investing style, age, tax situation, and even where you live.

In a moment, I’ll give you my list of reasons to pay it off or not to pay it off. But first, here’s some background:

On one hand, a mortgage is cheap compared to almost any other source of personal capital especially considering tax savings. Counting taxes, a 6% mortgage effectively costs 3.9% for those in a combined 35% tax bracket.

On the other hand, paying off the mortgage is almost identical to buying a risk-free bond paying a rate equivalent to the mortgage rate. For many investors, particularly those already with other more aggressive investments, this sounds pretty attractive.

I should note that mortgages aren’t as “cheap” for those in lower brackets. Some in less expensive inland markets may not have enough mortgage interest to exceed the standard deduction ($10,700 married filing jointly).

And taxes are never the only consideration – spending an interest dollar just to save 35 tax cents never makes sense. Here’s the biggie: retirement. Obviously having a mortgage adds a large expense burden during a time when every dollar must be built to last.

There can be a double tax whammy: taxes must be paid on precious 401(k) or IRA dollars withdrawn in retirement to service the mortgage, while the interest deduction may be worth little to nothing at low retirement income levels.

Still, according to the 2004 Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances, some 32% of all households reach age 65 still carrying a mortgage.

Paying off a mortgage used to fly in the face of financial flexibility. If you paid off the mortgage, it was like locking cash into a vault and throwing away the key. It wasn’t coming out again until you sold the property.

So what if you had a big medical expense? A great investment opportunity? It’s not such a problem today with home equity lines of credit and relatively easy refinancing, although the money usually costs a little more.

I could go on, but a summary would probably be more helpful:

Should pay it off:

Debt-free peace of mind. You just sleep better at night not worrying about debt.
Lifestyle, career flexibility. You want to retire early or have some lifestyle flexibility not otherwise possible with a big mortgage obligation.

Retirement flexibility. Eliminating the mortgage allows you to check a big one off the retirement needs list. And it sets you up for a reverse mortgage during retirement.

You’re a cautious investor. Some prefer to keep the mortgage and invest spare cash for higher returns. If you don’t think you can consistently beat the 6% implied return – risk free --then pay off the mortgage.

You have other investment capital. If you have plenty of other capital to chase higher returns in real estate, equity or other investments, paying it off could make sense.

Should not pay it off:

Other bases aren’t covered. Paying off a mortgage early is a bad idea if you haven’t taken care of other financial needs – especially retirement plan contributions. Don’t starve your 401(k) or forgo a company match just to pay off the mortgage.

You plan to move or sell. If you’re going to sell your home in the next few years, why bother to pay it off? You may need the capital for a down payment on your next home.

Better investments elsewhere. Money tied up in a home is “dead” money; it really earns no return except the interest you’d save on a mortgage payment.

You face AMT. AMT knocks out a lot of deductions, including mortgage interest for equity lines and seconds. But your first mortgage used to acquire the home remains deductible even for AMT.

Bottom line: paying off a mortgage is a good preparation step for retirement. But the younger you are, the more it makes sense to use the mortgage as cheap financing and build your nest egg other ways. If your nest egg building plans are otherwise on track, lighting that match can make a lot of sense.

At the end of the day, it’s dictated by your situation and personal preference.

Jennifer Openshaw, a passionate advocate for helping Americans improve their finances and build their personal fortunes, is CEO of TheMillionaireZone and AOL's Personal Finance Editor.

In addition to appearing regularly on such shows as Oprah, CNN and Good Morning America, Jennifer is host of ABC Radio’s Winning Advice and serves as an advisor to some of America's top corporations. Her new book, "The Millionaire Zone," hit bookstores in April of 2007. Visit her at www.millionairezone.com

How to Create a Wealth Fund

From http://www.millionaireinside.com/

Looking for an easy way to attract more abundance into your life? Start by making the money you have act as a magnet to attract more!

One good way to do this is by creating a personal wealth fund. This is a fun and lucrative activity – and it pays big rewards!

There are several ways to do this, but here’s one to get you started:First, consider how much frivolous spending you do in a typical week. “Frivolous” spending refers to purchases of items you don’t really “need,” but you do enjoy.

Perhaps you spend $15.00 a week on gourmet coffee on your way to work, or you buy a cafeteria lunch every day, or you and your family rent 2 or 3 movies every weekend.

Also include clothing, shoes, books, cigarettes, cosmetics, newspapers, and other miscellaneous items you buy on a regular basis. Make a detailed list of these purchases and set it aside for now.

You may be surprised (and relieved) to learn that I’m not going to suggest you refrain from purchasing these items and instead put the money in your wealth fund.

(Exception: if your spending is out of control and causing severe financial problems, it IS a good idea to control it better.) However, if you can afford these purchases each week, feel free to continue with them.

BUT – I also want you to set aside 10% of everything you spend on frivolous items. If you spend $15.00 per week on gourmet coffee, you should set aside $1.50 for your wealth fund.

If you buy 3 new books for a total cost of $41.80, you should set aside $4.18 for your wealth fund.

(I like to round up the change to the next .50 cents to keep it simpler, so I’d actually set aside $4.50) You can designate a pretty jar or box to hold this money and once you’ve got enough to open a separate savings account at a bank, do it.

(DON’T use your regular savings account, and DON’T request a debit or ATM card for this wealth account! You don’t want the money to be readily accessible.) Each week simply deposit your 10% for the week.

And forget that money exists! Seriously, don’t allow yourself to touch it for ANY reason.
At the end of the year, you should have a tidy sum which you can then invest for long-term wealth.

You can purchase a certificate of deposit, open a mutual fund account, buy some bonds, or any other type of investment you feel comfortable with.

It may not seem like you’d have a lot of money by doing this, but that’s because you don’t realize just how much money you spend on frivolous items each week!

Let’s look at some conservative estimates:

If you determine that you spend $50 per week on frivolous items, you’d be setting aside $5 per week for your wealth fund, which would gain $260 in a year. However, most of us spend much more than $50 per week on frivolous items.

More than likely it’s closer to $100 – which would give us $520 in a year. It seems like small potatoes, but it definitely adds up! Also, don’t forget that most people make at least a few large purchases throughout the year.

If you buy a new flat screen TV for $1200, be sure to set aside $120 for your wealth fund and give it a nice boost!

Taking Control

From http://www.millionaireinside.com/

Life can often seem like a never-ending series of obligations and restrictions. We can’t do “this,” but we must do “that.” We’ve got obligations relating to our job, family, social activities, community functions and more.

We’re restricted on time, energy, freedom and money, not to mention passion and meaning. With so many things around us out of our control, it’s easy to feel like we’re on a runaway roller coaster.

At times we may experience moments of panic, helplessness, frustration, and anger because we can’t do anything about it. Or can we?Very often, the things we believe to be out of our control really are not.

We may convince ourselves they are simply because we fear facing the consequences other choices would bring about. Rather than make a potentially wrong decision, we make no decision at all – and end up feeling powerless about everything.

It can be helpful to remember that we always have choices, and it’s never too late to change our minds. If we make a decision we later regret, we can simply make another decision and move in a better direction.

Ironically, we usually end up regretting the decisions we didn’t make, rather than the ones we did. Inaction is disempowering, while focused action keeps us feeling more in control.

Even if certain things ARE out of our control doesn’t mean we can’t focus more on the things we can change. Sometimes doing anything in a proactive way can awaken our inner power and courage.

We may not be able to do anything about our current job dissatisfaction, but we can certainly bring a sense of fulfillment into other areas of our lives.

We may not be able to heal a particular relationship, but we can certainly work harder on making our other relationships healthy and strong. Feeling in control of our lives is usually a simple matter of doing what we can, rather than agonizing about what we can’t.

How To Be An Extraordinarily Fast Bartender

By Jeremy Sherk

Your speed and efficiency behind the bar is crucial to your level of tips as well as the quality of bar you can work at. So, how does one become a faster bartender? Speed and efficiency are the two primary ingredients of a "fast" bartender.

Efficiency is working "smarter," exerting raw speed is working "harder."With that said...please do not underestimate the importance of speed. Both efficiency and speed are crucial to becoming a fast, money-making bartender.

Just because you're efficient doesn't mean you can slack it behind the bar, being efficient simply means you won't be wasting any effort. If you've ever been "in the weeds," you know that there's no time to waste...you're flying and moving as quickly as possible!

Having a systemized, efficient bar setup will allow your night to flow... you'll be able to effortlessly stay in the zone without hitting any unnecessary "speed-bumps." Being "in the weeds" will no longer take you over.

You'll actually find yourself relishing the opportunity to be behind the bar when it gets crazy!Increasing your actual speed, like anything, comes with practice. If you're concerned about your speed, try practicing pouring shots over your kitchen sink at home.

Does this sound crazy? Well, in my early days I did exactly that. I would fill up an empty liquor bottle with water, stick a pour spout in it, and just crank out shots as fast as possible.

Doing this for just 10 minutes a day will drastically increase your shot pouring speed in as little as a week!

You can also try setting up a few different bottles with water to more closely resemble an actual behind-the-bar experience...where you're moving back and forth, grabbing different bottles, etc.

Some people laugh at these silly training exercises, but I'll tell you what, they work. That is the difference between the bartenders out there who are able to pull in $800 a night, consistently and the ones that go home with fifty bucks.

Believe me, professional bartenders take what they do seriously, and practice they do, especially when they were first getting into the business.

Your income as a bartender depends completely on the tips you receive, and the only way you can increase your tips is by being a better bartender. Become a better bartender by increasing your speed and efficiency.

Believe me, in a crowded bar or night club, people are waiting long enough just to order a drink, the last thing they want to do is wait for you to fumble the bottles around and take forever making their drink.

If you make it so fast that it impresses them, they will leave you a good tip and come find you every time they need a drink. And with each drink comes a healthy tip. Put these skills to the test, practice at home and you can start to make more money as a bartender.

A Personal Security Tip

Put your car keys beside your bed at night. If you hear a noise outside your home or someone trying to get in your house, just press the panic button for your car.

The alarm will be set off, and the horn will continue to sound until either you turn it off or the car battery dies.

This tip came from a neighborhood watch coordinator. Next time you come home for the night and you start to put your keys away, think of this:

It's a security alarm system that you probably already have and requires no installation. Test it.

It will go off from most everywhere inside your house and willkeep honking until your battery runs down or until you reset it with the button on the key fob chain. It works if you park in your driveway or garage.

If your car alarm goes off when someone is trying to break in your house, odds are the burglar or rapist won't stick around...after a see who is out there and sure enough the criminal won't want that.

And remember to carry your keys while walking to your car in a parking lot. The alarm can work the same way there. This is something that should really be shared with everyone. Maybe it could save a life or a sexual abuse crime.

P.S. I am sending this to everyone I know because I think it is fantastic. Would also be useful for any emergency, such as a heart attack, where you can't reach a phone.

You Need a Good Team to Become Wealthy

By Loral Langemeier

The idea of a “self-made” millionaire sounds good. But it’s not reality. That’s because millionaires never become millionaires on their own. They are always “team-made.”

No one person can manage and grow money on the millionaire level without the help of others. You’re one person with a certain set of skills. You can’t possibly know and be everything that you need to when running a business.

You need your skills, complementary skills of others, and different people simultaneously doing the right things at the right time to help you build wealth. The group of people you choose to help you build your wealth is called your Wealth Team.

A good Wealth Team should consist of the following key players:

• 
  Mentors who act as active coaches
• 
  Like-minded, supportive wealth builders and visionaries
• 
  Top-rated industry- or task-specific legal counsel
• 
  Accountants
• 
  Leading-edge, non traditional financial experts such as an IRA expert or real estate investment expert

Choosing your Wealth Team

So how do you go about choosing the best team members? For starters, do some research and find out who are the best in their field.

Round up recommendations from people you respect – particularly from the wealthiest, most successful and well-connected – and ask them whom they’ve worked with. They will no doubt have some good referrals for you. Then figure out a way to reach these people.

At first it may be difficult to access them, and then to afford them. But be persistent and it will be well worth your time and money. Be careful using inexpensive virtual businesses that have no physical office.

They may help you save money in the short-term, but in the long run I guarantee you there will be more fees and lost time than you can afford. Cutting corners usually results in more expenses and time-consuming problems to deal with.

There will be bumps in the road along the way, but the goal here is to keep moving and expanding in building wealth—not get stuck and held back by obstacles you can avoid.
Wealthy people and wealth building professionals know that time is money.

They tend to cut right to the chase and hire the best for their teams.

Because of their experience, top professionals know the quickest, smartest routes to take—hooking up with them will prevent you from wasting time and experiencing unnecessary failures.

Become as well-connected as that will open up possibilities you can’t even imagine. They can often do in one phone call what might take others months to accomplish.

Find strong mentors to play a much bigger game

The best in their field also know the best in their own and related fields. These high level contacts can raise the level of the game. This allows you to move up to bigger and more profitable leagues where you’re in for higher stakes.

Those at the top are also close to the inner circle of motion and action. They know the latest news and trends, and how it all plays a role in the choices you make. Also, when you work with the best, you can’t help but improve your own proficiency.

The most talented and skilled individuals tend to have very high standards. As a result, your potential for greatness is increased. You end up learning from them both by being inspired and through simple osmosis.

In wealth building, those who try to do it on their own end up losing out. You may do a lot of different tasks wonderfully, but few people have the time or talent to do everything expertly themselves.

When you hire top professionals to help build various aspects of your wealth, not only are you securing a more successful future but you’re making the most efficient use of your time. Let’s face it, there’s only 168 hours in the week!

When choosing your team players, it’s critical that whatever team you assemble, each member in it holds the same values, goals, and visions as you do. All players have to be on the same page to operate at maximum potential.

You have to play well together. And ultimately, each member has to act, not just talk. Or you’ll be a whole lot wiser, but not a lot wealthier.

Here are some of my best quick tips on choosing a mentor:

1. Communicate your ambition. Simply by talking about and sharing your vision with others, you will start to generate forward motion. You’ll be surprised how many people will offer to connect you with others who can help you.
2. Stretch with specific intention. Distinguish between those who are simply inspiring, and those who can specifically help you build your wealth. Your Uncle Joe may be the smartest, nicest guy in the world, but if he doesn’t have at least a million dollars he won’t make a good millionaire mentor.
3. Cull your resources. Consider all the people you know in every area of your life: home town, school, friends, work, your community, etc. Would any of them make a good mentor? If yes, don’t be afraid to pick up and the phone and simply ask them.
4. Know that the most special can be the subtlest. Don’t assume that a millionaire mentor needs to be publicly visible or obvious . The man who lives in the gaudy mansion and drives the Porsche could easily have more debt and a lower net worth than that modest-looking real estate agent you see jogging with his dog at 10 a.m. in the middle of the week.
5. Be persuasive and persistent. Once you have your eye on a potential mentor - who will be exceptionally busy - you need to be aggressive without being annoying. A good way to do this is to always remember and respect that your potential mentor has very limited time.
6. Do not accept a scripted mentor. Someone who promises they can help anyone with money issues is not the mentor for you. What you are seeking is a personal, one-to-one mentor who will guide you based on your specific situation and goals.

Stay away from anyone who reads from a script or doesn’t ask you a lot of focused questions before they claim they can help you.

Finally, don’t be afraid to invest in yourself. When you’re asking for someone’s assistance to get you to the next level and play a bigger and better game, that advice and counsel is extremely valuable.

The investment in yourself and your education is not the place to skimp. I continue to learn from my billionaire mentor and pay several thousand dollars a month for 30 minutes-per-month sessions.

Finding a mentor may happen naturally, when you’re not even looking, or it may take a lot of research and interviewing before you find the right fit. But when you do find that mentor, your road to millions will be that much quicker and easier.

Bartending - an in Demand Occupation

By Ant Onaf

After the Tom Cruise move “Cocktail” hit theaters, there was a surge in bartending careers. Movies like this one glamorize bartending by making life behind the bar seem like exciting nights where nothing goes wrong.

The bartender always ends up with the best girl in the bar. The bar is always full of people yelling for more drinks. A bartender never has a moment free.

In some bars, this is the case. In others, however, there is plenty of seating to go round and the action never gets started.Depending on the personality of the bartender, this could be an ideal situation.

There are the bars featured on the popular television show “Cheer”. Here the neighborhood bar is the place everyone meets up at the end of the day. The bartender is good friends with the patrons.

Getting to know these individuals on a personal level is what makes bartending fulfilling for them. There is no need to be a hustle and bustle nightclub bartender. In this type of “Cheers” bar, the bartender takes a friendly approach to life behind the bar.

For the bartender craving excitement, there is the nightclub bar scene. Here, the night’s activities vary on the clientele. One night could see a crazy bachelor party and another night a girl’s night out group.

Often times, a nightclub bartender will deal with drink specials, 2 for 1 night and other promotional pieces the nightclub might be running. There is also a higher demand for a varied drink mixing list.

Nightclub bartenders need to be well versed in drink mixes. One never knows what type of drink a nightclub patron might have a taste for. Whether choosing to bartend in a neighborhood bar or the hot spot night club, one thing remains the same; life behind the bar is never dull.

Business Entities: Why Should You Care?

By Loral Langemeier

A “company”, a “corporation” and an “LLC”. What’s the difference and why should you care? Isn’t that just legal/financial mumbo jumbo that only lawyers, accountants, and business owners need to know about?

As a wealth builder and real estate investor, you will need to know about these things too. They’re called entities. Entities are structures that determine the way a business handles legal matters and how it will be taxed.

By using my proprietary process called the Wealth Cycle™ described throughout my Millionaire Maker series of books, along with proper entity structuring, I help make people millionaires.

The Wealth Cycle is a system that balances creating income and investing so that wealth is produced exponentially using proper entity structuring.

“But I don’t own a business. Why should I care?” Well, you should care. Have you ever noticed how millionaires rarely, if ever, work for someone else? They are almost always entrepreneurs.

An integral element in becoming wealthy is the ability to produce income and legally shelter and keep more of your money. Pay yourself first, remember? And more times than not, the best way to do this quickly and effectively is to have your own business.

This is where you need to know about entities. It doesn’t mean you need to know all the details about them; you just need to develop a basic understanding of what they can do for you. In short, entities provide:

1. 
   Liability protection
2. 
   Tax benefits

When you’re making money in a business, even if you’re working for someone else, you want to put your money to work for you. You do this through active (not passive) investing.

And, whenever you’re making money and investing, you want to keep as much of what you make as possible.

There are two elements to entities: the legal element and the IRS (or tax) element. The legal element defines the structure of your business. Some common legal entities are:

• 
  Companies
• 
  Corporations
• 
  LLCs
• 
  Partnerships
• 
  Trusts

The IRS, on the other hand, has certain sections that define how a business is taxed. Companies are taxed either as a “Chapter C” or “Subchapter S”. It’s up to each business owner to choose their own entity structure, which is a choice of one legal entity and one tax structure.

An LLC, for example has a well-defined legal structure, but can be taxed either as a ‘C’ or ‘S’ Corporation. So how do you know which entity structure is right for your business?

Your lawyer and/or accountant will be able to help you determine this, and it will depend on such things as your business type and size, how much money it makes, and its objectives. Choosing the right entity is a crucial decision.

Picking an inappropriate one can greatly limit the amount of money you get to keep from Uncle Sam. That’s why I’ve put together a fantastic team – and so should you.

If you’re not sure where to turn, one of my strategists can give you the names of some people who specialize in entity structuring.

The key is to not put it off! You’re probably spending far too much in taxes, and if I’m going to make you into a millionaire, one of the first steps I’ll have you take is to do a little entity structuring. Remember, if you wait, a year from now you’ll wish you would have started today!

The Law of Attraction and You

From http://www.millionaireinside.com/

It may surprise you to hear that you are a perfect being, capable of having anything and everything that you desire in an instant! However it is true, and the Law of Attraction is the link to your divinity.

We will not go into how you have become separate from your birthright, but instead we will focus on how to regain it. First and foremost, we are all in a world of trouble.

Whether your particular struggle is financial, emotional, security, addiction, or whatever else, everyone is struggling with something. The trick to the Law of Attraction is that whatever you lend energy to through your thoughts and emotions becomes your reality in short time.

Whatever struggle you are focusing on, that very focus is what allows your problem to remain. The Law of Attraction functions perfectly at all times, in all ways. You have created the situation you are in. Own it!

Until you take full responsibility for your life and your circumstances, you have no power to change anything. Now, begin spending more time focusing on things in your life that you appreciate.

Give more focus on the things you already have that you enjoy, and give less focus and energy to the things in your life that are stressful. Just a tiny shift in the balance, maintained each day, will quickly begin to turn the tides in your favor.

The more lighthearted, content and stress-free you feel, the more will be granted to you. As you ease up your tight grip on the things in your life that are wrong and shift your focus more to the things in your life that are right, you will find that the “wrong” things begin to fade away and you will receive more of the things that you enjoy.

This subtle shift in mindset is perhaps the most difficult thing for us to do, as it is breaking a mental habit we have kept for years and decades! But take note of when your life becomes even the least bit better.

That is your true breakthrough moment. Imagine a boulder rolling along a road. It has momentum. If you start pushing on the boulder from the other side, it doesn’t immediately do what you want.

However, if you can slow it down there will come a moment when it slowly creeps to a halt. Then it will begin to roll slowly in the other direction. That is the moment when things begin to change.

In actuality you have just built the momentum and direction that you want, although things still don’t seem to be moving quickly. Just wait until the boulder starts building speed!

That breakthrough moment will lead to better and better times until one day you will notice that your life has taken on an entirely different characteristic. One of prosperity, peace, happiness, love and joy.

From out of such a state will come only better and better things. You can no longer lose! To one who is moving in a positive direction, things will only accelerate more and more in the positive direction.

To one moving in a negative direction, which many of us are, things will only get worse. Begin to change your habits of focusing on the negative and focus more on the positive; have gratitude and truly feel grateful for the things you do have, and more – much more – will be given to you!

Proven Ways of Improving Bartender Gratuities

From The American Mixologist

Getting tips appeals to the kid in all of us. They make good nights better and bad nights more tolerable. When you reach the point where you no longer appreciate getting tipped, it’s time to get out from behind the bar.

On any given shift, some bartenders will get tipped better than others. So what do they know about getting tipped well that the rest of us don’t? Here’s the short list.

1. Warm Smile and Friendly Attitude — Gracious hospitality is the cornerstone of our business. Hospitality makes people feel welcome and at home. A genuine smile and friendly attitude are essential to giving people the impression that you’re glad they came.

2. Acknowledging Customers By Name — People appreciate being referred to by their name. Not only that, but the process by which you learn a person’s name is through friendly conversation, after which an invaluable connection has been formed.

3. Accommodating the Needs of All Guests — Conventional wisdom asserts that you should never say ‘no’ to a customer. Within reason, all requests should be fulfilled, regardless of the degree of hassle. People appreciate being catered to; it’s at the heart of gracious hospitality.

4. Looking Your Best — Your appearance affects the impression you make on the clientele. It also speaks volumes about your degree of professionalism. Looking your best and dressing for success are important aspects of your job and making great tips.

5. Product Knowledge and Menu Familiarization — You should be able to accurately answer questions regarding the menu or a specific product. Long searches looking for someone else to provide information diminish your standing with guests.

6. Improving Your Sales Abilities — Timely suggestions and appropriate recommendations enhance a guest’s overall experience. They also boost your ticket averages, the very amount upon which your gratuity is calculated.

7. Communicate Effectively — Using vague and imprecise language often leads to guests’ expectations going unfulfilled. This also applies to handling guests’ complaints, most of which can be dealt with using listening skills.

8. Anticipating Guests Needs — Service excellence can be defined as anticipating guests’ needs before they realize the needs themselves. Refilling water glasses, replenishing bread baskets, and supplying condiments without being asked illustrate the point.

9. Stress-Free Service — Sure it’s busy and you’re in the weeds, but it’s not the guests’ responsibility to accurately perceive your plight. People seem to be most demanding when you can emotionally least afford it, but transferring that stress onto your guests does them a disservice and dampens their evening.

10. Cooperating Fully With Fellow Employees — Providing timely assistance to a fellow employee improves the positive working environment and leads to a higher standard of service. They, in turn, will bail you out in a time of need. As you know, the better the service, the better the tip.

The Turtles -In 14 Days They Learned How to Make Millions

By Sacha Tarkovsky

The turtles were taught to become financial traders and none of them had any previous financial experience.

Before you say I couldn’t do that read on because like the turtles you can because trading financial markets can be learned by anyone who is prepared to apply themselves to learn the right knowledge.

First let’s look at the advantages of financial trading:

1. The major advantage is you can leverage your investment this means that if you have 10,000 you can trade on leverage of 100:1 or more, so you get to trade a million.

2. Financial markets trend in one direction for a sustained period of time for long periods and these trends can be spotted and traded for profit.

3. Human psychology is constant so it shows up in repetitive patterns that can be traded for profit.

The key of course is to learn a method that cuts loses and runs profits – and turtles learned this and the discipline to apply a method.

The turtles were taught by trading legend Richard Dennis, to prove to his partner that traders were made not born and he proved the point with stunning success.

Dennis taught them all a method they could have confidence in and showed them how it worked.

From this inner confidence that the method would achieve success came the discipline to apply it, which all traders need to ride out periods of loses.

It took just 14 days, these traders became trading legends and piled up millions in real time profits.

Not everyone who trades of course is going to make millions, life simply isn’t like that. However the potential to become a successful trader is open to anyone.

You can trade futures or global currencies and make money both markets will grant you more than enough leverage to increase your gains.

All you need is an internet connection, the motivation to learn how to read a chart and in under an hour a day you could be trading for big profits.

Financial trading represents one of he few ways for traders to start with small stakes and make money quickly and build serious wealth.

So did they do it when 90% of traders lose? The fact is the majority of traders who lose lack the three basics for success.

1. They consult guru’s and try and buy success, without doing learning the method themselves. This means they lack confidence in the method and cannot apply it with discipline in losing periods.

2. Discipline is the key as without the ability to apply it you have no method in the first place and this means knowing how and why your method works.

3. Money management is the other key.

It doesn’t matter how good your method is, if it lacks sound money management when you trade on leverage you won’t preserve your capital.

Most traders focus to much on the profits they can make rather than protecting what they have.

If you want to win trading financial markets you need to play great defense first and let your offense take the opportunities when they emerge.

Many traders also work hard but they don’t work smart and learn the wrong way to trade.
The turtles are proof that anyone can trade and anyone with a bit of seed capital can make money.

If you are serious about making money, and a willingness to learn, you can take advantage of the opportunity to trade financial markets to.

GRAB 3 X FREE ESSENTIAL TRADER PDF'S AND MUCH MORE!

On all aspects of becoming a profitable trader including features, downloads and some critical FREE Trader PDF's and more FREE Forex Education visit our website at http://www.net-planet.org/index.html

Make More Money by Taking Fewer Risks

By Loral Langemeier

We’ve all heard the phrase “better safe than sorry.” In my work with millionaires, nothing is further from the truth. Millionaires don’t become millionaires by playing it safe. They become wealthy by taking risks that most people are too afraid to take.

A key factor in a millionaire’s success, however, is that they take calculated risks. And are also open to new and better ways of doing business.

Millionaires use the Wealth Cycle™, a process that balances earning and investing in such a way as to produce wealth exponentially, as I describe throughout my Millionaire Maker series of books.

In regards to investing, the Wealth Cycle™, encourages direct investing—a more active method of investing than what is generally recommended by most financial advisors. Direct investing goes beyond IRAs, stock and bonds.

It includes investing in such assets as real estate, gas and oil, and businesses as an investor (instead of as a stockholder), to name some examples.

If you want to be a millionaire, start changing your mind

If you want to be a millionaire, it’s time to change your mind and expand your thinking. Take out of your vocabulary, “it’s too risky.” Stop giving yourself permission to sit back and miss opportunities. Safe investing is simply a matter of putting in due diligence.

Due diligence is the process of research and education that allows you to make calculated decisions based on a thorough assessment of risk. The more knowledge you have about something, the less risk it seems to have.

If you’re serious about investing the way a millionaire does, the first step in taking due diligence is to surround yourself with a team of wealth experts. This might include a wealth coach, a mentor, a lawyer, an accountant and a specialized investment expert.

Learn from these professionals by listening and asking plenty of questions. Surround yourself with people who havemade millions by doing what they’re suggesting of you. That’s what I did.

And, now that I’m a millionaire, I choose even higher level mentors and pay monthly for a half-hour conversation with a billionaire. Worth every penny. I always hire the best for my Wealth Team.

You’ve got to be the leader in your parade

However, never allow yourself to rely on other people, you will soon find out that people and situations change. Due diligence encourages an ongoing thorough self-education.

Read everything you can get your hands on about your given area of investment or interest. Attend lectures and seminars. Then you will be confident to make a decision based on what you have learned instead of merely relying on what someone else tells you.

For example, let’s say you are thinking of purchasing a home to rent out. The first step in taking due diligence would be to lay out your investment rules and criteria. How much money can you afford to invest?

How much money do you need to make from your investment? These kinds of questions will clarify your goals, narrowing down the kinds of investment opportunities that are a good fit.

The next step is to research the specific investment you’re considering.

What is the typical rate of return for homes in a specific city? Is it more likely a home there will appreciate or depreciate in time? What kind of success have other landlords had there? These kinds of questions will help you determine the calculated success of that investment.

The result of due diligence is that you’ll make decisions based on knowledge, not on hearsay or the clever marketing of others. You’ll be able to cut out the riskiest ventures and accept only the ones that are most likely to pay off.

In other words, you’ll be investing with your eyes wide open. Lower risk, higher return. Perfect!

The Universal Law of Focus

From LifeSkill Institute, Inc

This universal law provides that your attention must always be focused on your goals, vision, and purpose; and your thoughts, emotions, and actions must always be under your control.

“The light of the body is in the eye:
if thine eye be single,
thy whole body shall be full of light.”
—Matthew 6:22

Metaphysically, this means that understanding, knowledge, and wisdom (light), comes through what you see—that to which you give your attention.

If you focus your attention (thine eye be single), on that which you endeavor to accomplish, then it shall be accomplished on its grandest scale. The more focused you are, the more successful you will become.

To be focused means to exert such self-control that
no one and nothing can deter or distract you
from your goals and your vision.

The Power of Focus

Wherever you place your focus, your thoughts, emotions, and even events and activities will follow. For example, race car drivers are taught to focus on where they want the car to go.

When a race car goes into a spin, the driver’s tendency is to focus on the wall rather than the center of the track. If they focus on the wall, that is usually what they hit. As a result, drivers are taught not to focus on the wall, but rather to focus on where they want the car to go.

When they do this, they have a far better chance of avoiding the wall and coming out of the spin.

Applying the law of thought:

What your recognize (focus on),
you energize (in your feeling nature).
What you energize, you realize (results).

If you focus on a problem, rather than the solution to that problem, you will never solve or overcome it. However, if you focus on solving the problem, the solution will appear.

To be focused requires faith in yourself and your abilities. If you have no faith in yourself, you cannot be focused. If you are confronted with the problem of lack of money, focusing on this problem—lack of money—you will always be broke.

If you change your perspective and focus on the solution—new and better ways to bring more money into your hands—and have faith in yourself and in your money generating ideas, money-substance will come to you.

Patrons open to expanded nonalcoholic-drink programs

From Nightclub & Bar

As commodity prices rise and competition in all segments of the foodservice industry grows fiercer, operators are looking for ways to increase their profit margins, and one way to do that is by making more money selling drinks.

High-margin beverages account for much of the profit at many restaurants, but they could be marketed better, according to a recent study, which found that “old” and “boring” were common adjectives used to describe drink promotions.

To help operators better strategize their upselling techniques, Nation’s Restaurant News commissioned Next Level Company to conduct a survey to determine how consumers perceive existing nonalcoholic beverage programs.

The survey, which included more than 2,700 consumers ages 12 to 54, was conducted online last March.

It found that consumers said they were by-and-large satisfied with how casual-dining restaurants promoted their nonalcoholic beverages, with 63 percent saying that segment did a good to excellent job. Only 50 percent said that of quick-service restaurants.

But when asked to describe the beverage programs at casual-dining restaurants, 28 percent said they were “creative,” and 23 percent said they were “modern,” but another 25 percent said they were “old,” and another 23 percent said they were “boring.”

The most common responses when describing quick-service drink programs were “old,” “boring” and “tired,” at 43 percent, 35 percent and 30 percent, respectively.

To improve beverage programs at quick-service restaurants, 46 percent of respondents recommended offering a wider variety of drinks, and 42 percent suggested having “signature” items not available elsewhere. The third-most suggested change, at 41 percent, was offering healthier drink options.

For casual dining, including drinks as a package with the meal was the most common recommendation, at 43 percent. At 42 percent and 40 percent, respectively, were offering daily drink specials and having signature drinks.

When it comes to deciding what to drink, 68 percent said what they chose to eat was either very important or extremely important. Sixty-seven percent said the same of unlimited refills, and 61 percent said the menu or type of food was very or extremely important.

The same percentage said the size of a drink was the decision factor, and 58 percent said they based their choices on price. Survey participants indicated that there is room to market beverages to them before they order.

Only 22 percent said they know what they’re going to order before walking into a quick-service restaurant, while 40 percent decide when they see the drink menu or drive-thru menu board, and 30 percent decide once they know what they’re going to eat.


Most respondents, 80 percent, said they would not pay more than $2 for drinks in quick-service restaurants, with the average maximum price being $1.70. Even fewer diners at casual-dining restaurants, 13 percent, know what nonalcoholic drink they’ll order before they walk in the door.

Some 39 percent decide after looking at the drink menu, and 37 percent say they decide once they know what they’re going to eat. They said they will pay more for drinks at restaurants with table service, with 34 percent expressing willingness to spend more than $3.

Still, 20 percent said they wouldn’t pay more than $2. The average maximum was $2.44. A third of consumers said the brand of the beverages they drank was very or extremely important.

More than half of respondents said they will order more than one drink during a meal at a casual-dining restaurant, but 89 percent said it would likely be the same as the first because they don’t change beverages in the middle of the meal.

Forty percent said they never switch drinks, while 49 percent said they didn’t change drinks very often. Just 2 percent said they changed drinks frequently. Those who do change what they drink are mostly likely, at 60 percent, to change because they did not like their first drink.

Nineteen percent change drinks based on food selection. Sixty percent of respondents said they were somewhat or extremely likely to try a drink they had never had before, with 11 percent saying they were extremely likely to try new things.

Additionally, more than half of consumers change their “favorite” nonalcoholic beverage within a 12-month period.

Survey participants were asked to choose their three favorite drink flavors from the following choices: banana, cherry, black cherry, chocolate, vanilla orange, peach, pineapple, raspberry and strawberry.

Strawberry, banana and raspberry were the most popular choices, with strawberry making it onto 37 percent of respondents’ lists. Banana, at 21 percent, came in second. When it comes to getting customers to try new drinks, coupons, new flavors, and unlimited refills were favorite choices.

Look Out, We're Gonna Crash!

By Lisa Diane

I was driving down the road today with my 15 year old son, BJ, behind the wheel of his massive Hummer H2. We were on U.S. 19 (major highway) in heavy afternoon traffic. BJ was calm, cool and collected as usual... when all of a sudden I shouted...

"STOP! We're gonna crash!"

It looked like we were about to slam into the car in front of us. It made my heart race and my muscles tighten as I shouted for BJ to stop.

We didn't hit the car.

In fact, BJ says we weren't even close. And he might be right. You see, I have no "depth perception." The muscles in my eyes don't work together... I only see out of one eye at a time. And because of this I have no depth perception.

Which basically means I can't tell how close or far I am from objects. So when I think we're about to crash most of the time we're not even close.

I ended up shouting "STOP!" twice on our afternoon ride today. And by the end of it BJ was ready for me to get out of the car (I scared him pretty bad both times I shouted).

But our little drive got me thinking...

Most people go through life with a distorted view of what is. They see obstacles that don't exist. They feel like they're about to crash when they're just fine and they take tiny things and blow them up into a major crisis.

The old saying, "Perception is reality" really is true.

But most people don't understand it. They think it's about what's "out there"... what's coming at them that keeps them stuck, broke, sick, unhappy, unhealthy... you get the idea, right?

They don't know the "5 Magic Words"...

YOUR THOUGHTS CREATE YOUR LIFE.

Listen closely.

What you SEE in life (in the outside world) is created by what you SEE in the inside world first (what you think about, how you feel and what you visualize in your mind).

So if you're looking at life feeling like you'll never get ahead, wondering why you're always broke or why you can't ever have the success you crave... you need to change HOW you look at things.

Because when you change the way you look at things the things you look at will change.

Just like my depth perception issue. You're seeing things from a lack-minded perspective instead of an abundance-minded point of view.

So the next time you find yourself in a situation where you're thinking things
like:

* There's not enough
* I can't afford it
* I'll never get ahead
* I'm not good enough
* I'll never find true love

Realize that it's just a "perception" issue and CHOOSE to look at your life from a point of success and abundance, knowing there's never a shortage of anything you want... it's just your perception.

Because when you begin picturing what you want instead of what you don't want... amazing things happen.

To Living The Good Life,
Lisa Diane

Take Control of Your Financial Future

By Loral Langemeier

Those who know me know that I believe strongly in direct participation in assets. If this term is unfamiliar to you, then let me explain briefly. The most affluent and wealthy people don’t just own stocks.

They own companies, businesses, property, and even oil wells (not just the oil and gas stock). They have control of their financial future because they are participating directly in the assets they purchase.

Talk to any truly wealthy individual, and he or she will tell you that they’re diversified across many asset classes (businesses, real estate, stocks, oil & gas, etc.).

They’ll also tell you that they always follow strict guidelines (rules) when purchasing these
assets. They never go into a deal blind, or not knowing exactly what they want out of the deal and why.

They have clearly defined Money Rules. Their money rules, my money rules, and your money rules are determined by our current situations and financial objectives.

These rules are one factor that helps us to decide on an investment – yes or no (there is no “maybe”). When I decide one way or the other on an investment, I act immediately.

I’ll walk away from it without regret or remorse if it doesn’t match my money rules, even if that opportunity eventually earns a bundle for others.

I won’t waste my time fretting about what didn’t happen, because I’d rather use my energy to look for other opportunities – and there are always other opportunities. That’s where solid money rules come in.

Your money rules help you to decide:

1. Which investments you’ll make, and which you won’t make
2. How you’ll go about making these investments
3. What you need to get started with your investment
4. Whom to involve in the deal

When you sit down to make your money rules, you’ll want to consider the following:

Your Current Situation and Financial Objectives

You won’t be investing $100,000 in a business if that’s all the money you have. However, I want you to really stretch – use what I call “no-limit thinking” to determine your financial objectives.

Push yourself out far beyond where you’re comfortable, because it’s in this area of discomfort where you’ll be driven to make sharp decisions, and where you’ll find the best deals. If your vision doesn’t scare you, it’s not big enough.

You have to honestly evaluate where you are and where you want to go before your money rules will make any sense. Your rules free you from making impulsive decisions, although you will still use your “gut” to make your final decision on any deal.

ROI Goal and Projected

ROI is the return on your investment. You will determine your ROI goals with regard to both cash-flow investments and appreciation investments. How much cash do you need monthly?

How much do you want your net worth to appreciate over the next one, two, three, or five years? An investment is worthwhile if it is a better vehicle for wealth creation (after considering risk with thorough due diligence) than simply keeping your cash in the bank.

Cash Flow and/or Appreciation

Is your return on your investment going to bring you income (cash) or growth (net worth)? When you evaluate your current situation (which is ever-changing), you’ll decide how much cash income you need, and how much growth you want.

Then, you determine whether a particular investment will bring you cash, appreciation, or both.
For example, you may want to invest in rental properties (or distributions from private equity). Or, you might venture into the oil & gas business (as have I).

Or, perhaps you don’t need more income, but want growth. In this case, you’ll look for land with potential or a business with future growth, but no immediate cash.

Active or Passive Income?

Finally, you want to determine if your income will be active or passive. While you never fully abdicate control of your money, you have to decide if you’ll be actively involved in the asset (as a general partner, for example), or passive, where you simply deliver the capital, and trust that the general partners and management will take care of the rest.

Whatever you decide regarding your financial future, it is up to you to take control of the helm. This means you must first and foremost create – and stick to – money rules that fit your current situation and financial goals.

Do It Now

From http://www.millionaireinside.com/

Are you holding back on your dreams and goals until the time is right? Are you waiting until you have more time, money, energy, or courage? What will you do if the conditions are never quite “right” to take action?

You probably believe that conditions will somehow be better or more favorable at a later time, and it will therefore be easier to achieve the goals you have in mind. The problem with this belief is that it is rarely accurate.

There will always be obstacles to deal with, unfavorable conditions to work through, and fear lurking in the shadows of your subconscious mind. You can wait years and still never feel that the time is right to move forward.

The only time to move forward is right now. Maybe you really don’t have the time or money or energy to do EVERYTHING you want to do, but can you do SOME of it? Can you spare a few minutes a day to work on something so vitally important to you?

Can you find alternate routes to your goal that don’t require a lot of capital? Can you brainstorm ways around the obstacles that block your path? You can! Do yourself a favor: pretend that circumstances will never be better than they are right now.

Pretend that things will only get worse if you don’t take some form of action. The size of the action is unimportant; just do something. Take one step toward what you want. Amazing things happen when you do this.

First, you realize that things aren’t quite as impossible as they seemed. Second, the actions you do take begin opening doors to allow more opportunities to appear.

Finally, obstacles start to dissolve and melt into the pavement – all because you decided they weren’t big enough to hold you back any longer. Whatever you are yearning for today, do it now. Do it now, and you’ll thank yourself later.

How to Generate Enthusiasm

From LifeSkill Institute, Inc

1. Have a great sense of expectancy each day.

Maintain a ”great day” attitude in all that you do. Constantly say to yourself, “This is a great day for work, sharing and being happy.” When you project a great day attitude, you radiate a positive magnetic force which will attract a great day into your experience of life.

Things seem to go your way. You are in the right place at the right time. People and things you are looking for appear just when you need them. Your sense of expectancy becomes a blueprint for your day.

That which you expect and project, with feeling, you attract. Each day brings you that which you ask of it.

2. Realize that you can control your mind, your thoughts, your feelings and emotions, and your actions.

You are the captain of your ship and the master of your destiny. No one and nothing can take control of your mind unless you permit it. Remember, you are both the gardener and the garden.

Weeds, negative unproductive thoughts and feelings, can only grow if you let them. When you let weeds grow in the garden that is your life, either by doing nothing or by doing ineffective things, you have given up control of your life.

Take control of your thoughts and your feelings, for they are the blueprints of your life. You become what you think about most of the time.

3. Realize that any state of mind is contagious.

The nature and quality of your thoughts represent your state of mind. Your state of mind, as projected through your attitude, is a powerful force. It influences and interacts with the state of mind of others.

If your state of mind is negative, you radiate a negative attitude to others, who will respond accordingly. A positive state of mind will radiate a positive attitude which will influence others to respond favorably, attracting them to your way of thinking and acting.

4. Realize that your personal appearance presents a picture of who you are, what you are about, and where you are going.

Your physical appearance is a primary manifestation of your state of mind. You cannot deceive your own thoughts. What you physically appear to be in reality, is in fact the physical representation of the nature and quality of your state of mind.

5. Maintain a constant level of enthusiasm at all times.

Some people constantly fluctuate from the heights of enthusiasm to the depths of negativity. This fluctuation results from their inner thoughts and inner feelings being inconsistent with, and out of harmony with, each other.

Strive to maintain a balanced, harmonic state of mind, centered on positive thoughts of work, love, sharing, and joy. A balanced, positive state of mind never runs out of enthusiasm.

Consider the cork: New book explores closure controversy from all angles.

By Bill Daley

What's inside the wine bottle is what counts, of course, but debate continues to rage within the industry over the question of how that bottle should be stoppered. Now, into the fray comes a voice of reason outlining the problems and the challenges that preserving wine poses.

In his new book To Cork or Not To Cork: Tradition, Romance, Science, and the Battle for the Wine Bottle , George M. Taber takes on each of the options: natural cork, composite cork, plastic cork, metal screw caps, crown caps (like those on soda or beer bottles), glass tops and even something called the Zork, which is a plastic stopper secured to the bottle by a long "tail" wrapped around the bottle neck.

Cork still dominates the world wine-closure market but Taber notes all these options mean no one product will ever enjoy the monopoly that cork had. At stake are billions of dollars worth of wine, winemaker reputations and, ultimately, money in your wallet.

"During the past fifteen years, the pioneers of plastic corks and screw caps have turned the wine world upside down simply by providing alternatives and opening a much needed discussion about closures," he writes.

"It is too early to know where the business will end up, but ... [p]eople now have a choice, and the consumer is king."Certainly, all these closures seek to answer the age-old question of how to keep wine drinkable once you've made it.

But none is flawless and therein lies the trouble that has plagued the wine industry for years."I went into it saying there was no such thing as a perfect closure and I came out saying there's no perfect closure," said Taber in a telephone interview from his Block Island home off the coast of Rhode Island.

"It's a consumer dilemma that needs to play out."Imperfect closures are certainly a headache for consumers, especially those who shell out big bucks for wines, store them lovingly for years, and then whip them out at an important occasion only to find the wine DOA -- dead on arrival.

Also stung are the winemakers, who risk losing hard-won reputations on bum bottles. Wine stores and supermarkets have to deal with angry customers returning bottles and demanding repayment.

The stores get reimbursed, but what a pain in the neck. And the fortunes of the various closure producers, whose industry now generates some $4 billion annually, ride on how successful their products are.

Cork, the traditional closure used for centuries, is made from the bark of the cork tree, with Portugal the major supplier.

Taber concedes there's a certain romance to cork despite the fuss of opening (anyone who has had a cork drop into the bottle or snap in half while it was being extracted understands).

Cork failure was always a problem, too, but it seemed manageable until the 1980s when the numbers of tainted cork began to rise dramatically. Scientists identified the culprit as a chemical compound called 2,4,6-trichloranisole, or TCA for short.

This taint is what leaves wine tasting like wet, moldy cardboard. TCA contamination has ruined from 3 to 5 percent of all bottles with cork and spurred the quest to find an alternative.There have been problems with these other closures.

Bottles stopped with plastic corks are very difficult to open. What's worse they can fail, allowing the wine to oxidize with time. Taber puts the problem bluntly: "If a wine with a plastic cork stays around more than a couple of years, it's likely to be oxidized.

"Screw caps have proven very popular with some winemakers, especially in New Zealand and Australia, but remain controversial, especially used with red wines destined for long cellaring.

That's because airtight screw caps can trigger something called "reduction," which gives wines a sulphury barnyard smell. Screw cap producers are working to create a cap that will replicate the infinitesimal exchange of air allowed by cork, which is vital to the aging process.

Winemakers, in turn, are working to make their wines less susceptible to reduction in the bottle. (Howard Silverman of Howard's Wine Cellar said decanting the wine will help dissipate the aroma.)

The cork forces haven't been sitting around either. After years of ignoring the problem, the Portuguese began pouring money into research to save their business.

Whether they'll be able to turn out a better cork that lowers the percentage of tainted bottles to an acceptable level remains to be seen.Taber remains steadfastly neutral on closures, with the possible exception of plastic corks.

"They're not working as well," he said. "Nature is still better than man in making a cork like a cork ... I don't see many redeeming qualities to the plastic cork except lower cost.

"Wine industry leaders, however, are decidedly biased one way or the other, especially when it comes to cork versus screw caps.

Taber writes that the conflict has become "both emotional and vicious," with much name-calling, finger-pointing and "charges of payoffs ... tossed around like confetti with no supporting evidence."Taber is well-qualified to tell the story.

He was the Time magazine correspondent on the scene in Paris for the 1976 blind tasting that proved American wines could not only hold their own but beat the best of the French.

His 2005 book on the tasting, "Judgment of Paris," is the theme for two movies now in preproduction. What does Taber choose when he goes wine shopping? Depends on what he's looking for -- and that's something all of us should keep in mind.

He may have poured an Alsatian riesling bottled under a screw cap for his 40th wedding anniversary recently, but he'd be "personally reluctant" to hold a primo cabernet sauvignon in a screw cap bottle for a decade.

In that case, give him a natural cork."I will continue to drink wine with both closures," he said, noting there's one thing all in the great closure controversy will agree on."I don't think anybody wants wine to become a routine drink," Taber said.

"The rituals and the customs all go together in the wine experience and cork is a part of that experience. But you shouldn't risk losing a $200 bottle of wine."

Have Patience with Yourself

From http://www.millionaireinside.com/

One of the greatest ways we hold ourselves back is by being far more demanding than we would with anyone else.

We support, nurture and encourage our loved ones to be successful and happy, then turn around and belittle and scold ourselves for not doing or being “enough.”

We obsess about our physical flaws, dismiss our achievements and force ourselves to measure up to some imaginary standard we’ve set in our own minds. Is it any wonder we feel awful much of the time?

If this describes you, you are all too familiar with the sinking sense of defeat such habits cause. Perhaps you have given up on improving your life because you just “can’t seem to get it right.”

Maybe you have set goals and failed to achieve them in the past, or you avoid goal-setting activities altogether because you know you’ll never succeed anyway.

Perhaps it is time to ask yourself: Are you expecting too much? Are you pushing yourself beyond your limits, expecting perfection, and berating yourself viciously when you slip up?

No one can work effectively under that type of pressure! You would never treat your friends and loved ones like that, so why do it to yourself?

Today, take a few minutes to acknowledge that you are a work in progress. Not only are you not perfect now, you never will be.

No one is! If you are in the habit of comparing yourself to others or forcing yourself to measure up to some impossible standard, it is time to let go of your unrealistic expectations and embrace a gentler attitude of patience and self-love.

Become your own best friend by nurturing, loving and caring for yourself. Push yourself hard enough to feel challenged and exhilarated, but not so hard that you feel pressured and abused.

Let go of impossible standards and instead allow yourself to be exactly who you were meant to be: beautiful, imperfect, blissfully unique YOU.

Resisting the Credit Temptation

Adapted From: Personal Finance For Dummies, 5th Edition

http://www.dummies.com/WileyCDA/DummiesArticle/id-651.html?cid=etipArticleLink?cid=articleFeature

Enthusiasm

From LifeSkill Institute, Inc

Enthusiasm is one of your most important assets. It is an infectious state of mind which gets for you the cooperation of other people, attracting them to your way of thinking and acting. When you are enthusiastic about where you are going, people notice it and make way for you.

In fact, the world makes way for those who know where they are going. According to the dictionary, enthusiasm means: “to be inspired; possessed by god; intense or eager interest; zeal.”

It comes from the Greek roots en/theos, meaning God within. In ancient times, enthusiasm was associated with supernatural inspiration or possession.

This supernatural aspect was a result of the infectious nature of enthusiasm in attracting the attention and cooperation of others. Enthusiasm operates as an invisible and powerful force of human magnetism, attracting or repelling that which you desire in your life experience.

Thus, it is a powerful force at your command, eager to carry out your wishes and fed by the thoughts you hold constantly in your mind.

Types of Enthusiasm

There are two types of enthusiasm: animated enthusiasm and genuine enthusiasm. Each type is related to the source of motivation which stimulates its existence. There are two primary sources of motivation: external and internal.

External motivation manifests as fear motivation or reward motivation. As children, fear and reward are our first motivational experiences. Internal motivation manifests as self-motivation or spiritual motivation.

We develop internal motivation as we become older and more knowledgeable.

Animated enthusiasm is based on external motivation. It is a created or manufactured emotion which is stimulated by fear or reward. In other words, you pretend or act enthusiastic based on your knowledge, experience, or belief that it will work for you.

Genuine enthusiasm is based on internal motivation. It can be created by animated enthusiasm which is consistently and continuously exercised. When you act enthusiastically, you are enthusiastic. Acting and becoming occur simultaneously.

The magnetic power of enthusiasm is effective regardless of whether it is animated or genuine.

The relationship between animated and genuine enthusiasm is like that of the natural magnetism of magnetite (iron) found in the earth, and artificially induced magnetism which results from passing an electric current through certain metals (an electromagnet).

The power of human magnetism is that its natural source is under your control, within your own thoughts and consciousness. When you create enthusiasm by intentionally acting enthusiastic, you are priming your pump.

Once you get totally into the “part,” or vision, you wish to project, your affected enthusiasm becomes genuine. Your human magnetism then springs from the internal consciousness of self and God.

The strength of this magnetism is based on the level of your self-confidence, and the quality of your faith and relationship with God.

Generating Enthusiasm

Enthusiasm is one of your important success habits. You should make a habit of doing everything with eagerness, class, and style. A high level of enthusiasm should be demonstrated in everything you do.

Nothing is so unimportant as to do it without enthusiasm. When you act enthusiastically, you are enthusiastic.

Manifestations of Enthusiasm

Your enthusiasm is manifested in every aspect of your being. It is in the sound of your voice, your tone, your motion and movements, and the look in your eyes. Enthusiasm is shown by your walk, your gait, the way you shake hands and hold your head and mouth.

It should express itself as an intense eagerness for life and living. Walk through the world like a champion, with class and style.

Squeezing Greatness into Every Cocktail

From The American Mixologist

You don’t need a college degree to know that the best cocktails are crafted using the freshest ingredients.

The resulting drinks are more flavorful, vital and exuberant on the palate. Today, master mixologists are not only using freshly squeezed juice in their cocktails, they are also making their own bitters, syrups and drink mixes.

While using freshest possible ingredients seems to be the path to cocktail glory, it does pose operational challenges.

Fruit needs to be procured and juiced on a near daily basis. Because the juices are not pasteurized, or laced with preservatives, continually ensuring their freshness is an ongoing process.

The amount of prep work involved and the labor costs incurred makes the concept of “fresh” too steep for many operators.

“Fresh juices and ingredients are definitely the basis of better beverages, but the use of fresh juice is no guarantee of better drinks. That’s largely a matter of balance,” says noted beverage consultant David Commer.

“It’s common today to make drinks with super-premium spirits that can easily cost $1.00 per ounce. It makes no sense to me to compromise the quality of a signature cocktail by saving 3¢ an ounce on sweet ‘n’ sour.

There are ways to overcome the labor objection including preparing fresh juices ahead of time for that shift, or using high quality prepared, or partially prepared products.”

Barry Carter, vice president of beverage operations for Dave and Busters, has spent the majority of his career fine-tuning the inner workings of bars.

“Do fresh juices and scratch ingredients enhance the flavor and character of cocktails? Sure they do.

For upscale, one-off, or multi-unit independents, it’s highly advantageous to employ a ‘Bar Chef,’ one whose passion is working with fresh-squeezed juices, purees, infusions, reductions, bar syrups and whatever else his creative juices can concoct.

There are guests who will gladly pay a premium for these cocktails.” Carter continues on to say, however, that they’re likely not in the mainstream. What about operators whose clientele aren’t so loose with a buck?

Or those concerned about the higher labor and product costs and speed of service issues that are thought to beset the ‘fresh’ strategy?

Is there a middle ground where they too can take advantage of this burgeoning mega-trend? Carter and others insist there is.

Retooling Your Beverage Strategy

Unless one is preparing cocktails for guests at home, the question of whether to convert a beverage program over to fresh ingredients is a business decision. Proponents of using prepared drink mixes point to their consistency, convenience, labor-savings and shelf stability.

Both sides of the discussion readily admit that there are a number of superior drink mixes on the market that offer operators viable options to scratch. Dave & Busters’ Barry Carter has worked in both environments.

“Prepared mixes occasionally offer an alternative, but in my mind they are at the other end of the spectrum from absolutely-fresh-ingredients-all-the-time.

As an example, several purveyors offer fruit purees that can be added to recipes and deliver a much more fruit-forward component and create more body in drinks such as Margaritas, Daiquiris and Mojitos.

These products are relatively inexpensive, shelf-stable until opened and then good for at least 30-days if kept refrigerated. I suggest exploring all of your alternatives.”

Firmly in the fresh camp is Jacques Bezuidenhaut, an award winning mixologist and beverage manager at San Francisco’s Harry Denton’s Starlight Room.

“Detractors of the strategy are correct that fresh ingredients are more expensive and labor intensive, but something done exceptionally well normally is. Bumping the price of a drink a few quarters will adequately offset the increased cost.

The overriding consideration should be drink quality. People are willing to pay a little more to drink better quality cocktails.”

Philip Raimondo, mixology expert at Patrick Henry Creative Promotions, questions whether scratch recipes are, in fact, more expensive than prepared. “Strawberry puree provides a good cost comparative example.

A premium strawberry puree/mix costs approximately 12¢ per oz. You can buy fresh (or IQF) strawberries and prepare a puree about 6¢ per oz. The cost savings can be applied to the extra labor and you’ll be making higher quality drinks.”

The decision to retool your beverage program depends entirely on looking at the most frequently requested cocktails at your bar and scrutinizing whether there’s room to enhance their taste, quality and presentation.

If they could stand a little improvement—and let’s face it, whose couldn’t—then all that’s left to decide is what changes need to be made and how can they best be implemented. No one has more experience dealing in the realm of fresh than master mixologist Dale DeGroff.

Quite possibly the world’s most respected drinks expert and author of numerous seminal works on the subject, DeGroff has almost single-handedly brought the matter to international attention.

That having been said, DeGroff believes that with respect to some products, such as orange and grapefruit juice, some commercial alternatives may well be the best.

“Most bars around the country have access to purveyors who sell fresh squeezed orange and grapefruit juice by the gallon or half gallon.

They are very acceptable products. But they are unpastuerized and without proper handling will spoil rapidly. They must be delivered cold and kept refrigerated until used.”

When it comes to lime and lemon juice, however, DeGroff sees no viable alternative to freshly squeezing them in-house. They are the foundation of most popular contemporary cocktails and in DeGroff’s estimation prepared lime and lemon juice fall short of the mark.

“The problem is two fold. First, commercial juicers often grind into the white pithy portion of the fruit and produce an unacceptably high percentage of the bitter pith.

When the juice is thawed—these products are usually frozen after squeezing to extend their shelf life—the pith will produce a white milky substance on the bottom of the bottle. When mixed into solution it will render the juice too bitter for use in cocktails.

Second, lemon and lime juice don’t have the same sugar content as orange and grapefruit juice. Thus, they have shorter shelf lives.”

Operationalizing a Fresh Strategy

Developing the techniques and standardized procedures for incorporating fresh ingredients into your beverage operation may seem daunting and riddled with pitfalls. The following expert advice though is being offered to make the process less maddening and the learning curve less steep.

Juicing and Straining — There are several brands of juicers that are efficient and powerful enough to handle the rigors of commercial use. If you are switching over to using fresh juices, make room on your back bar for the juicer and a large bowl of assorted fruit.

This will easily allow bartenders to freshly squeeze juice per drink order if so desired. DeGroff advises only squeezing fruit that is at room temperature. Cold fruit will yield roughly 1/3 less juice, which on an annual basis adds up to a lot of wasted fruit.

According to DeGroff, “There will be times when excessively tart, acidic juice will require the addition of a little sugar (simple syrup) to bring it around to where it needs to be to make cocktails taste right.

”While pulp in orange or grapefruit juice is a cache of quality, lime and lemon juice needs to be strained before use. Pouring freshly squeezed juice through a chinois or kitchen strainer will do the trick.

Sour Mixes — The underlying foundation of many popular cocktails, such as the Margarita, Side Car, Daiquiri, Sour and Collins, rely on the use of sour mix. Trying to get by with just one sour mix, though, won’t do.

The Margarita and Daiquiri, for example, require lime-based sour mix, while Side Cars and Lemon Drops are made with lemon-based sour mix. The quality of the sour mix used greatly affects the finished cocktail.

Much of the vibrancy of today’s finest cocktails can be attributed to the outstanding character of the bar’s sour mix. To provide added pizzazz to your sour mix, consider a splash of orange or grapefruit juice.

Purchasing — Be prepared to change your purchasing habits. Produce may need to be purchased and delivered on a more regular basis. For juicing DeGroff advises buying thin-skinned limes and lemons in 169 to 200 count boxes.

Both yield the most juice for the buck. Fruit in lower box counts is better suited for use as garnishes. They are larger and have thicker peels. “While limes can vary dramatically by the season, the average yield is about three quarters of an ounce per lime,” adds DeGroff.

Quality Assurance — Fresh juices must be refrigerated and therefore can’t be kept at the bartender’s well. The consensus is that a large part of the operational success of the program is dependent on the ability to predict usage levels.

While only a guideline, most fresh juice won’t keep for more than 24 hours before needing to be discarded.

Muddling — The Mojito and Old Fashion are micro-seminars in working with fresh ingredients. Into the glass go ingredients such as cut limes, oranges or fresh mint sprigs. It’s the energetic muddling of the produce that releases their succulence and essential oils.

Sugar is added to balance out the acidic pith. The cocktail is then ready to receive the spirits and various modifiers that make it a singular creation. Today, mixologists are preparing increasingly more cocktails with muddled cucumbers and fruit of every type and description.

Syrups and Bitters —Also known as gomme syrup, simple syrup is a workhorse behind the bar and crucial to the program.

It is made with equal parts of boiling water and sugar. Its advantage when making cocktails is that unlike granulated sugar, simple syrup will immediately go into solution.

Pros like Scott Beattie, noted mixologist at Cyrus Restaurant in Healdsburg, CA are also infusing their simple syrups and honeys with such flavorings as vanilla, or lemongrass.

Before proceeding in earnest making your bitters, consider working first with the four franchise players in the bitters world, namely Angostura, Regans’ Orange Bitters #6, Peychaud’s and Fee Brother Mint Bitters.

Essential Oils — Beattie is also an advocate of using essential oils when crafting drinks. “They are 100% natural products made by steam-distilling organic material and separating out the oils in the material from the water (hydrosol).

These oils can’t be put directly into a drink as they are far too concentrated. You can, however, add a few drops to simple syrup or puree and completely alter it.

This can potentially make your drinks very aromatic, which is normally rather difficult considering that cold things don’t release strong aromas.”

Mint — Mint has reentered the mainstream with the mushrooming popularity of such cocktails as the Mojito, Caipirinha and Caipiroshka. All rely heavily on delightful notes of fresh mint. Scrutinize the mint sprigs carefully to ensure freshness.

The leaves should be supple and green. The final test is to crush a few leaves in your palm and take a whiff. The wafting aroma should be fresh and engaging.

Changes in Drink Recipes — Because fresh juices are vibrant and robust they will alter your bar’s recipes. Anticipate using less of the fresh juice, or scratch sour mix than you did with prepared mixes.

“Fresh juice is concentrated and cocktails made with it rarely use more than a three-quarter ounce portion, so usage will be differ dramatically,” says DeGroff. “You get a lot of bang for the buck!”

Bottled Mixes Range From Good to Outrageous

A great drink mix is a thing of beauty even if it’s packaged in a bottle. Pour them over ice, add a spirit or two, splash in a few modifiers and even the most beverage challenged amongst us can thrill the crowds.

For decades prepared drink mixes have been the cornerstone of the bar business. Most are made using natural flavors and are stabilized and pasteurized.

It’s their ease of use, consistency and utterly reasonable cost per ounce that makes bottled mixes so alluring. Ah, but do they measure up to contemporary standards?

Depending on how high you set your sights the answer is yes. Locking in on the exact brands that best suit your bar though is half the battle. As is the case with all products at the bar, the process ultimately renders down to making the pragmatic decision of quality versus cost.

Evaluating drink mixes is an art form with a shallow learning curve. Start by sampling light bodied, light flavored mixers first — sweet ‘n’ sour, Margarita and Mojito — before working with heavier products such as Piña Colada, Bloody Mary and Strawberry Daiquiri.

Taste the mixes side by side, sampling a version of each at room temperature and then another flight with the mixes over ice. Make note of the mix’s color and opacity and compare that with your notion of what a scratch version might look like.

Does the mix have an engaging bouquet?

The last qualifier is, of course, taste. Swirl it around your mouth, assessing flavor, mouth feel and eventually its finish. The winners will taste marvelous alone in a glass. If they can stand-up to that degree of scrutiny, they’re bona fide keepers.