Toasting March Madness

OK We admit it: We have Final Four fever. And the only cure is…well, more basketball.

And if we’re going to stay inside Saturday watching games, we want to be drinking something good, too. So, naturally, we turned to top mixologist Tony Abou-Ganim, who famously set up the cocktail program at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas when it opened in 1998. He’s slaked the thirst of countless sports fans who flock to the city every year during the NCAA tournament.

What goes best with buzzer-beaters and triple-doubles? Abou-Ganim recommended two recipes from his new book, Vodka Distilled, which was published this winter.

Abou-Ganim suggests starting out with his Bloody Bull (pictured above). The spin on the Bloody Mary, includes Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco Sauce and some beef bouillon—the perfect pairing for a testosterone-fueled contest (not to mention a late brunch).

You deserve a reward if you catch both semi-final matchups, so make Abou-Ganim’s tropical Monkey Shine, which he calls “tall, restorative and refreshing.” It combines vodka, Campari, Cointreau, fresh lemon juice and pink guava nectar. We think it tastes like sweet victory.

(Photo courtesy Tim Turner Studios)