The time has come for me to put The Maverick Observer website on a brief hiatus through the end of the year. I believe we are living in a time of history in the United States which is unprecedented. The assault on individual freedoms has never ever been this egregious unless you were a prisoner of war, black, American Indian, or Japanese American during World War II.

Creating the best cocktail with the right ambiance in a space is all about alchemy and design. For Carlos Garcia, bar manager and educator at Brooklyn's on Boulder in Colorado Springs, his path has been about understanding the history of the spirits he is using to make his drinks and passing on that belief and expertise to the customer.

With all the fanfare of derby season, we decided to whip up the official cocktails of the Triple Crown: The Mint Julep, The Black-Eyed Susan, and The Belmont Jewel.

In honor of National Rose Day, I asked all the amazing women in my life to offer up their suggestions. Rose is the perfect drink of summer!