Atlanta United Player Cocktails - Kenwyne Jones

If you're going to be a fan, you'll eventually need a drink. Have some signature Atlanta United Player Cocktails.

To pair with Atlanta United signee, forward Kenwyne Jones -- where's the link? wait, is this the first time we're typing up Kenwyne Jones? shit. -- let's keep with his T&T heritage and make a rum drink.

Trinidad and Tobago loves some rum. And you know what's better than traditional rum? Strong rum. We'll be using Puncheon rum as the star of this cocktail. 

Why? It's potent, has a fabled past and recently come back to prominence, much like Kenwyne. (Yeah, I know that's a stretch but the T&T national team has had a resurgence with Kenwyne helping lead the way.)

Like basically all liquor, you can simply mix puncheon rum with a juice or soda but that's some lame ish. Unless you make your own Lemon Lime & Bitters. That I will allow.

We're going to make a Trini Bruiser, aka my new nickname for Kenwyne. Not only are we getting the Puncheon rum, but also absinthe and Hpnotiq so it'll definitely get weird. 

Take equal parts Puncheon (Bacardi 151 if you can't find the real stuff will do), absinthe and Hpnotiq, a splash of a more mellow rum (gold rum if using Puncheon as base, white rum if using 151), a sugar cube or dash of simple syrup, obviously some Angostura bitters and shake it all together. Pour over ice and garnish with some citrus.

The Trini Bruiser will pack a wallop (who says wallop?) and leave you wanting another. Remind you of anyone?

Atlanta United Player Cocktails - Hector "Tito" Villalba

If you're going to be a fan, you'll eventually need a drink. Have some signature Atlanta United Player Cocktails.

So, Atlanta United is basically ready to sign the youngster. It's been in the rumor mill for a while.

Hector "Tito" Villalba needs a welcome drink. 

The Argentine winger is frequently commended for his speed and touch. Both of which are on full display in his most popular highlight.

Considering Villalba goes by Tito, it leaves a lot of vodka-based cocktails as an option. But that sounds too boring for such an exciting young prospect. 

Argentinean beer such as Cervaza Quilmes hasn't quite endeared itself to Americans yet either. Much less is it easy to come across in a store.

Let's help Tito assimilate into Atlanta life as easy as possible. 

The people of Buenos Aires, home to Tito's childhood club San Lorenzo, love Fernet Branca, the bitter, herbal Italian liquor. 

Argentina as a whole also consumes massive amounts of Coca-Cola. 

Mixing Coke and Fernet Branca over ice into a bittersweet concoction makes an obvious and popular beverage choice in the southern hemisphere. It also gives you a kick of flavor while going down easy. 

Sure a pisco sour or caipirinha may seem more South American and make it onto more bar menus, but a chilled Fernecola sounds like a proper drink for the Atlanta United DP. 

Bonus points if you assemble your Fernecola in a glass Coke bottle a la Victory Sandwich Bar.

Atlanta United Player Cocktails - Chris McCann

If you're going to be a fan, you'll eventually need a drink. Have some signature Atlanta United Player Cocktails.

For the newly signed #workhorse Chris McCann we have to keep it simple. Complex but simple. Maybe even a bit elegant?

The Irishman can play a variety of positions on the field, from the middle to moonlighting on the backline. A true box-to-box kind of player, we need a drink that will play to a variety of tastes.

A pint of Guinness is an easy choice. Even a shot of Jameson (or Bushmills if he's protestant but he's not from the North so let's assume again here that it would be Jameson). Both cater to a wide audience, yet we want more depth of flavor. And don't @ me, Guinness/Jameson Stans, saying these two standards have more than enough to excite the palette. I'm just trying to make a point.

An Irish Car Bomb is offensive. An Irish Breakfast Shot is too fussy. Irish whiskey cocktails divert too much attention from our original liquor. 

That's why it's got to be a Black & Blue. 

Take a standard pint glass. Pour about 1/2-2/3 of a bottle of Blue Moon into the glass (approx. 8 oz.). Now slowly pour an equal amount of Guinness over the back of a spoon into the same glass to "float" the darker Guinness over the Blue Moon creating a layered effect.

Now drink.

The resulting mix sees the opposite styles come together harmoniously. The hearty stout up front with a smooth, light finish of the witbier. Similar to a defensive midfielder who can still finesse when needed. 

If you want to make the metaphor even more direct, swap the Blue Moon for a Red Brick Brewing Hibiscuwit, a Monday Night Brewing Fu ManBrew or Westbrook Brewing White Tai for a true Ireland meets Atlanta (or Charleston, what up Battery) culture clash.

And to top it all off, much like I've never had a black and blue, I've also never watched McCann play, so, ya know.

Cheers.