5 March Madness Facts You Need To Know + Printable Bracket

February 13, 2018 by DeniseB

If you don’t agree that March is one of the most exciting months of the year for all basketball fanatics, we have some crazy facts to back it up.

Did you know that roughly 3.5 million extra cases of beer are produced to keep up with increased demand during the basketball tournament? Apparently, it also costs businesses $4 billion per year to compensate for all the employees who decide to use their sick days during the tournament! Are you one of them?

This year, we decided to dig a little deeper and put together a list of more March Madness facts you should know about.

5 March Madness Facts You Need To Know

March Madness commercials are just as expensive. If you thought Super Bowl commercials were expensive, you’re wrong. In 2012, the average cost of a 30-second commercial during March Madness was $1.34 million. Moreover, ad spending reached $1 billion for the first time ever that year.

Only one coach has ever won both championships in the NCAA and NBA. That guy is Larry Brown who did it with the Kansas Jayhawks in 1988 (NCAA) and the Detroit Pistons in 2004 (NBA).

The University of Connecticut is the only school to have won men’s and women’s national championship teams in the same year… twice in 2004 and 2014.
The NCAA doesn’t want you to gamble on your bracket. An official policy states: “Fantasy leagues, March Madness brackets, sports pools, online sports bets and sports parlay cards are all forms of sports wagering. If you put something at risk, such as an entry fee, for an opportunity to win something in return, you violate the NCAA sports wagering bylaws.”
Increase in pizza and beer sales. Everybody knows that watching basketball is that much better if you have a beer and pizza in hand! According to Wallethub, while American beer companies produce an average of 14 million barrels a month, that number will bloat to somewhere between 17-18 million barrels in March. Pizza orders increase by 19%.

Did you know any of these March Madness facts? If you want to know how the March Madness phrase was coined or who holds the most titles by far, visit this post.

Download your March Madness bracket here.

The bracket odds may not be in your favor, but great prices on beverages should be! Tri-State Liquors has the lowest prices on alcohol! We are located in TAX-FREE Delaware, just over the I95 PA / DE line Naamans Rd. Exit.

Make sure to check out inventory SPECIALS to get your parties well equipped without spending too much money on alcohol!

Tri-State Liquors | 302.792.BEER

How To Host a Football Party Like a Champ

January 2, 2018 by DeniseB

It’s Play-offs time! Before you know it, two teams will be facing off at the 52nd Big Football Game taking place in Minneapolis, Minnesota at the U.S. Bank Stadium. It’s the ultimate showdown so no matter which teams end up playing, we all look forward to this day every year.

If you don’t plan on tailgating this year, you should host a football party at your house! There are so many ways to make your Big Game party easy and stress-free. In today’s post, we’re sharing tips and the hottest game day recipes to make your celebration extra-special this year. Are you ready?

How To Host a Football Party Like a Champ

Let’s face it, beverages and football just go together. In order to get your crowd in the right spirit of the game, serve these Big Game Drink Recipes. You can thank us later!
What about food? We got you covered! We gathered some of the best crowd pleaser recipes, so you don’t have to worry about what to make. Get the taste of Philly with this scrumptious Cheesesteak Pizza. Try this easy BBQ rib recipe by Beth that has 520 positive reviews. It’s not football without some buffalo chicken, these slow cooker Shredded Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches make for an awesome twist that is easy and a bit less messy. Finally, Sweet Vidalia Onion Dip served with a toasty french baguette is easy to make and bursting with flavor.
Lastly, let’s talk decorations! You can get really creative here so check out Pinterest for some ideas or download these free bowl party printable that will help you decorate your party last minute!

Don’t forget to stop by Tri-State Liquors for our ice-cold kegs and cases of beers, plus all the ingredients you need to make your beverage selection bowl worthy! Tri-State Liquors has a full line of ice cold Kegs in stock. We got all your beverage needs covered and we are conveniently located in beautiful TAX-FREE Delaware with easy access from I-95.

Tri-State Liquors

302.792.BEER

12 Easy Christmas Cocktails to Make this Holiday Season

December 5, 2017 by DeniseB

December is the most wonderful time of the year as we prepare to celebrate the holiday season with family gatherings, gifts, Christmas cocktails and food. How could we not be happy about it?! Yes, holidays can get hectic and stressful, but with some easy party planning and preparation, you will surely have the best time with your loved ones.

Speaking of planning… Now is the best time to start your Christmas shopping for both food and drinks! If you ask us, we think there’s nothing better than cozying up by the fire with a drink in hand, so make sure your cabinet is fully stocked!

To help you celebrate this holiday season without stress, here are 12 Easy Christmas Cocktails to make this month.

12 Easy Christmas Cocktails to Make this Holiday Season

Day 1: Mulled Wine

Ingredients:

2 Bottles of Red Wine
1/3 cup Brandy
1/3 cup Sugar
1 Orange & Zest
8 Cloves
2 tsp Ginger
4 Cinnamon Sticks
2 Star Anise

Directions: Combine all ingredients in a 4 quart sauce pan and bring to a boil, stirring periodically. Simmer ten minutes, serve warm.

Day 2: White Christmas Margaritas

Ingredients:

1 (14-oz.) can coconut milk
12 oz. silver tequila
8 oz. triple sec
1/2 c. lime juice
2 c. ice
1/2 c. Mint, for garnish
1 lime, sliced into rounds for garnish
Lime wedge, for rimming glass
Sanding sugar, for rimming glass
Cranberries, for garnish

Directions: Combine coconut milk, tequila, triple sec, lime juice and ice in a blender. Blend until smooth. Rim glasses with lime wedge and dip in sanding sugar. Pour into glass and garnish with lime and cranberries. Serve. (Courtesy of Delish)

Day 3: Hot Toddy

Ingredients:

Boiling Water
4 Whole Cloves
1 Lemon Twist
2 tsp Brown Sugar
.25 ounces Lemon Juice
2 Ounces of Jameson’s Irish Whiskey

Directions: Fill mug with boiling water and let warm for a few minutes. Meanwhile, stick the cloves into the lemon twist and set aside. Empty the mug and fill halfway with fresh boiling water. Add the brown sugar and stir to dissolve. Add the lemon twist, lemon juice and whiskey. Stir and serve. (Courtesy of Jacques Bezuidenhout)

Day 4: Cranberry Mimosas

Ingredients:

1 lime, halved
2 tbsp. sugar
1 c. sweetened cranberry juice
1 bottle champagne
12 fresh cranberries
4 small sprigs fresh rosemary

Directions: Rub rims of champagne flutes with lime and dip in sugar. Pour 1/4 cup cranberry juice into each glass and top with champagne. Use a toothpick to poke a hole through cranberries. Thread rosemary skewer through cranberries and garnish mimosas. (courtesy of Delish)

Day 5: Salted Caramel Eggnog

Ingredients:

caramel sauce, warmed
4 oz. eggnog
1 oz. spiced rum
kosher salt
whipped cream
nutmeg, freshly grated

Directions: Coat inside of Irish whiskey glass with warm caramel sauce. Add eggnog, spiced rum, and a pinch of salt and stir. Top with whipped cream, a drizzle of caramel, and freshly grated nutmeg.

Day 6: Irish Coffee

Ingredients:

3 c. heavy or whipping cream
7 tbsp. sugar
1 c. Irish whiskey
6 c. rich, hot brewed coffee
Grated nutmeg or ground cinnamon (optional)

Directions: In a large mixing bowl, beat cream and 3 tablespoons sugar until very soft peaks form (consistency should be just pourable). Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Heat 8 wineglasses by pouring very hot water into them. Drain water; add 2 tablespoons whiskey to each glass. Stir remaining 4 tablespoons sugar into coffee until dissolved. For each drink, fill glass with coffee to within 1 1/4 inch from top. Hold large spoon upside down over top of glass; gradually pour whipped cream over back of spoon onto coffee (cream should float on top, about 1 inch thick). Sprinkle with nutmeg or cinnamon, if desired. (Courtesy of Colin Cowie).

Day 7: Pomegranate Moscow Mule

Ingredients:

2 oz. vodka
1 oz. pomegranate juice
1 tbsp. pomegranate seeds
1 tbsp. lime juice
1 tsp. honey
1/2 c. ice
ginger beer
Sprig of Rosemary

Directions: In a cocktail glass stir together vodka, pomegranate juice, pomegranate seeds, tbsp. lime juice, honey, and ice. Top off with ginger beer and garnish with a sprig of fresh rosemary.

Day 8: Candy Cane-Kahlua Hot Chocolate

Ingredients:

1/2 c. whole milk
1/2 c. heavy cream
1 candy cane
3 tbsp. sipping chocolate
1/4 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 oz. Kahlua
whipped cream
candy canes

Directions: In a saucepan over low heat, warm whole milk and heavy cream. Add 1 candy cane and stir until melted. Stir in sipping chocolate and vanilla extract. Remove from heat, stir in Kahlua, and pour into glass. Garnish with whipped cream and candy canes.

Day 9: Peppermint Paddy

1 ounce brandy
1 ounce white crème de menthe
1/2 ounce dark rum
4 ounces white hot chocolate
Chocolate-flavored whipped cream and crushed Peppermint Altoids, for garnish (optional)

Directions: Combine the brandy, white crème de menthe, dark rum and hot chocolate in a heatproof mug and stir. Top with the chocolate whipped cream and crushed Altoids.

Day 10: Creamsicle Fizz

sugar
1/2 c. ice
1 oz. Vanilla Vodka
1 oz. orange or blood orange juice
Champagne
Cava
Prosecco
1 orange slice

Directions: Rim a champagne flute with sugar. Fill cocktail shaker with ice, vanilla vodka, and orange or blood orange juice. Shake, then strain mixture into flute. Top with champagne, cava, and prosecco and garnish with orange slice.

Day 12: Santa’s Sleigh Cocktail

Ingredients:

White sugar crystals, preferably coarse
2 cups store-bought eggnog, chilled
1/2 cup brandy
1/2 cup amaretto liqueur
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 scoops vanilla ice cream
4 cinnamon sticks

Directions: Dampen the rims of 4 martini glasses and then line the rims with sugar crystals. Combine eggnog, brandy, amaretto, nutmeg, and ice cream in a blender; process until smooth. Pour mixture into martini glasses and garnish each glass with a whole cinnamon stick.

Tri-State Liquors has all your holiday needs covered. We stock 20,000 cases of imported and domestic beers, huge selection of ice cold kegs, soda, wine, wine coolers, liquor and more! Choose from thousands of beverages at the best discount prices and best of all… NO SALES TAX!

Happy Holidays!

5 Thanksgiving Cocktails that Will Keep Your Guests Happy

November 2, 2017 by DeniseB

Can you believe Thanksgiving is only three weeks away?! It means it’s time to strategize your menu and get as much prep done now that you can. While some items can’t be bought ahead of time due to shelf life, thankfully beverages have a long one. Stocking up early on all your beverage needs is a great way to take some of the stress out of the holiday.

Whether you’re hosting a few people or a crowd, planning out the Thanksgiving cocktails ahead of time (3 weeks out is a great start) can pay off big time. You plan out the food and the decorations, why NOT the beverages? Take inventory of your guest’s beverage preferences. Your friends and family will feel welcome when their favorite cocktails are available.

Getting the standards such as wine, beer, liquors, sodas and juices is a nice starting point. But how about trying out a few fall drinks that will compliment your dinner party and get your guests talking? Check out our selections below!

5 Thanksgiving Cocktails that Will Keep Your Guests Happy

The Autumn Fruit Old-Fashioned uses bourbon that is infused with grapefruit, lemon peels, pear and apple cores (this can be made a few days ahead of time). In a rocks glass, muddle ½ tsp of sugar with 5 dashes of Angostura orange bitters until a paste forms. Add ice, 2 ounces of the infused bourbon and ½ ounce of water. Stir and garnish with and orange twist and cherry. Delish!

The Ketel One Vodka Ultimate Apple Martini makes for a great start to any event. Add 1 ounce of Ketel One® Vodka, 1 ounce of Sour Apple Liqueur, a splash of sweet and sour mix into and iced cocktail shaker. Shake and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with 2 granny smith apples slices.

A Cranberry Cosmopolitan makes for a perfect match! Mix 1 ½ ounces of vodka, ½ ounce of Grand Marnier or Cointreau, ¾ ounce of fresh lime juice and 1 ounce of cranberry juice in an iced cocktail shaker, shake and pour into a cocktail glass. Garnish with cranberries.

The Montgomery Punch Bowl Recipe will please a crowd. Start by making a decorative Ice Ring using water and sliced fruit (such as lemons and oranges). Place Ice Ring in a Punch Bowl. Stir together 2 cups of fresh lemon juice and 1 ½ cups of sugar until sugar fully dissolves. Stir in 1 cup of brandy. Pour over ice ring. Stir in 2 (750 ml) bottles of chilled sparkling wine, one (375 ml) bottle of chilled dessert wine (such as Sauternes).

Apple Brandy Hot Toddy is basically a shot or two of any potent spirit added to a cup of hot water, but we recommend using apple brandy for a taste of fall!

The most important thing to do now is to take inventory of what you already have and make a full list of beverage items you’ll need. Make sure to take note of how long you’ll need to prep the beverages. Let us know if you tried any of these recipes on our Facebook page and what you and your guests thought of them.

Stop by Tri-State in tax-free Delaware for all your Thanksgiving beverage needs.

View our current SPECIALS below.

5 Fun Events to Attend in Delaware This Fall

October 3, 2017 by DeniseB

What better way to celebrate fall then with some fun outdoor activities? Whether you take a drive or ride a bike to admire the beautiful foliage, throw a football tailgate party or attend one of the many fall festivals – there are SO many fun ways to hang with friends and family.

If you’re wondering what’s happening and worth checking out in Delaware in the coming months, we’ve got an updated list of fall events just for you!

5 Fun Events to Attend in Delaware This Fall

Harvest Moon Festival at Coverdale Farms

Harvest Moon Festival at Coverdale Farm Preserve in Greenville, DE

October 7-8, 206 10 am to 5 pm

There’s something for everyone at Delaware Nature Society’s Harvest Moon Festivals – activities for all ages, live music, beer garden, gourmet food trucks, hayrides, live animals, and more!

Sea Witch Festival

October 27-29, 2017

The Sea Witch Festival held each year at Rehoboth and Dewey Beaches in Delaware offers a wide variety of family activities; Tykes Bike on the Boardwalk, Dewey Beach Trick or Treat, Movie Night, Haunted Bonfire and Graveyard, Scavenger Hunt, Halloween Parade, Sea Witch Hunt, Magic Shows, Beach Games and more!

Click Here for the full event brochure.

Frightland for the More Adventurous

Open late September thru early November

This is not for the faint of heart as Frightland has 8 terrifying attractions and is known as the “Scariest Haunted Attraction in America” according to international media outlets such as Forbes, Huffington Post and Travel Channel.

Delaware Beer, Wine & Spirits Trail

Follow the trail of the unique collection of breweries, wineries and distilleries. From the rolling hills of the Brandywine Valley and Wilmington riverfront brewpubs in Northern Delaware to the sunny shores of the Southern Delaware beaches, the colors promise to be beautiful this time of year.

Delaware State Parks

Interested in a nature program, outdoor hiking, bonfires or hayrides? Delaware State Parks have it all!

Funtober – Other Great Fall Events

For more fun events happening in Delaware within the next few months, check out Funtober.com

MUST TRY Fall Recipes

Get together with friends and family to watch a football game, tailgate. Don’t forget to cook up these delicious fall recipes!

We hope you will try these great recipes and October events to attend in Delaware this fall! Also, don’t forget to stop by Tri-State for all your tailgate and football party needs. We stock 20,000 cases of imported and domestic beers, huge selection of ice cold kegs, soda, wine, wine coolers, liquor and more! Choose from thousands of beverages at the best discount prices and best of all… NO SALES TAX in Delaware!