THE POUR

One tournament. Fourteen locations. Sixty-eight teams. Eighteen game days. One winner. 

The madness is back, and if this year's NCAA basketball tournament is anything like last year's bracket-busting excitement, we're in for some entertaining games. This year, we're especially excited because the tournament ends in our own backyard, at U.S. Bank Stadium. That's right! The nation's top four Division 1 teams will battle it out for a chance at the title right here in Minneapolis, April 5–8. 

Whether you're watching from your sofa, the local bar, or want to grab a drink after the game here in town, here are some cocktails based on the No. 1 seeded teams and some Minnesota craft beers to get you in the spirit.

What happens if you’ve had your fill of green beer and busy nightlife for a while, but you still want to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this week? What better way to celebrate than to settle into a quiet corner of an Irish-inspired dark bar or, even more relaxing, in your favorite chair at home with a glass of Irish whiskey.

Of course, not everyone chooses whiskey for the occasion. Is it because they’re confused whether to spell it whiskey or whisky (and is there a difference beyond the spelling)? Drink it neat or mixed in a cocktail. Whatever you prefer! Here are three ways to enjoy the straightforward spirit and three ways to mix Irish whiskey in a cocktail.

You’ve been waiting all winter for the chance to escape the routine of work/school, eat, sleep, repeat. Even if you’re not taking a trip to a stunning island or far away destination for spring break, now is your chance to bring some tropical flavor home.

Here are the best beach drinks to make for your staycation.

You’ve tried all the beers that stood out at the local beer shop. Even though you love it, you’re just not in the mood for wine. You’d rather not round up a bunch of ingredients to make cocktails this time around.

What do you do when you can’t quite find the right drink? Try something new!

If you’ve been to some Japanese restaurants, or maybe perused some shelves of lesser-known liquors, you saw sake hiding in plain sight. What is sake? What is it made of? How do you drink it? Let’s take a brief excursion to give you a proper introduction to sake.

Valentine's Day is right around the corner — a time to express your love through food, candy, cards, and drinks. So, play a little music to set the mood and surprise your significant other with dessert and drinks. It beats waiting in line at restaurants and picking from an over-priced menu. Plus, this will let them know you're willing to go the extra mile.

To get you started, here are three Valentine's Day drinks and two easy-to-make desserts that you'll fall in love with.

When you hear “spicy,” you might think of dried poblano peppers and the cuisine of the Southwestern United States. But, if you’re looking for a spicy twist on your cocktails, look no further than Ancho Reyes chile liqueur.

Made using — no surprise here — ancho chile, those very sun-dried poblano peppers, this liqueur is not for the faint of heart. If you want to cozy up in the cold weather and survive the season with the spark of desert heat, you need cocktails with chile liqueur. So buckle up, set up your home bar, and explore these devilishly delicious cocktails you can make using the unique and fiery Ancho Reyes chile liqueur.

You’ve probably tried tea, essential oils, medication, sleep, and chicken soup—but have you tried alcohol remedies for colds?

It may sound like the liquor lobby’s covert marketing pitch, but if you take a second to consider it, you might find more than you expect from the power of alcohol for not just cooking, mixing, and drinking, but also remedying a cold. As we transition into chilly weather and the coughs and sniffles that often accompany it, be prepared with knowledge—and alcohol—to combat sickness.

One obvious note before you seek sweet healing through spirits: consuming more than a small to moderate amount of alcohol while you’re sick will make things worse, so be smart about what you consume in your illness.

What is that pungent odor? Why is there a strange film floating on the surface of this beverage? How does something taste so sharp yet so good?

These are the questions you’ve asked if you’ve seen, smelled, or consumed kombucha. No longer confined to the weird science experiment in the corner of your outdoorsy-and-all-natural-type friend’s kitchen, this beverage is making bold moves on its own and in a burgeoning intersection: kombucha cocktails.

It’s Friday afternoon and your awkward coworker is the only other person in the office because everyone else is “up at the lake.”

(That’s how you know it’s summer in Minnesota.)

But just because you’re not at a cabin or camping in the woods doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy classic summer fun and flavors. Text your friends, plan an evening at a park by the lake, or even in your backyard. Then break out the secret weapon your cabin-loving coworkers forgot at home: campfire cocktail recipes.

S’mores around the campfire is admittedly summer’s prime eating ritual. The simplicity of melty chocolate, crunchy graham crackers, and gooey marshmallows toasted over the fire is hard to beat.

Minnesota is a golfer's state. In fact, we consistently rank at or near the top in golfer participation in the U.S. What does this have to do with cocktails? Plenty — maybe. Minnesota's unofficial official cocktail, The Bootleg, or Bootlegger Drink, has been a favorite of the state's country club set for decades.