Thursday, November 26, 2009

R & R

November 23, 2009

Old Overholt rye whiskey
Noill Pratt dry vermouth
Santa Teresa Rhum Orange liqueur
Angostura orange bitters
Angostura bitters

Stir ingredients and serve up. Garnish with an orange chip.

An elegant alternative to a Manhattan.

Tea Time

November 22, 2009

Beefeater gin
earl grey simple syrup
lime juice
chunk of orange

Shake and fine-strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a sprig of mint.

We made the earl grey simple syrup by brewing a few strong pots of loose-leaf earl grey, and mixing 1:1 with sugar. Chill syrup in advance to prevent dilution of your cocktail.

Kiwi Margarita

November 21, 2009

Pueblo Viejo silver tequila
kiwi
lime juice
meyer lemon simple syrup

Muddle kiwi. Shake and strain into a chilled rocks glass. Garnish with a lime wheel.

Nothing fancy here... just fruity deliciosity.

Nutcracker

November 20, 2009

walnut infused Buffalo Trace bourbon
Cynar
Dow's 20 Year Tawny Port
apple cider
egg white

Dry-shake all ingredients. Add ice, shake, and fine-strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with freshly grated nutmeg.

You know those boozy fruit-spice cakes that everyone jokes about during the holidays? Well this is what those cakes WISH they could be. Spicy, nutty, and boozy with just a touch of sweet.

Friday, November 20, 2009

Black Hat

November 19, 2009

Buffalo Trace bourbon
Carpano Antica vermouth
Nocino black walnut liqueur
Fee's Whiskey Barrel bitters

Stir and serve up. Garnish with an orange twist.

A tasty variation on the old Manhattan. God, I love those Whiskey Barrel bitters!

Emerald Fizz

November 18, 2009

Miller's gin
Kubler absinthe
kiwi
lemon juice
simple syrup
egg white

Muddle the kiwi, combine ingredients and dry-shake. Shake with ice, then fine-strain into a champagne flute. Top with soda water and garnish with a fennel frond.

This one takes a bit of work, but it's worth it! Make sure to use 1/4 oz. or less absinthe or you'll lose the kiwi. A variation of this on is going on the list soon... stay tuned!

Good & Plenty

November 17, 2009

Pueblo Viejo silver
Drambuie
Pernod
fennel
lemon juice
celery bitters

Muddle a chunk of fennel, combine ingredients, shake, then fine-strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with fresh cracked pepper.

It's a party in your mouth. A very complex and bizarre party.

209 Tease

November 15, 2009

209 gin
kumquat syrup
lime juice
Rooibos tea (chilled)

Shake all but the tea and strain into a collins glass. Top with tea and garnish with a lemon wedge.

A grown-up Arnold Palmer... ahh, summer, where did you go?

Catalina

November 14, 2009

Siete Leguas reposado tequila
Yellow Chartreuse
lemon juice
kumquat syrup
saffron-cardamom bitters

Shake ingredients and fine strain into a bucket. Garnish with a star anise pod.

A margarita-esque refresher with an herbal-spicy twist.

Apple Dandy

November 13, 2009

Torres 10 year brandy
Dow's 20 year tawny port
calvados
Benedictine
Fee's Whiskey Barrel bitters

Stir and strain into a chilled rocks glass. Garnish with fresh nutmeg.

This one tastes like the holidays (it's almost 2010!!)

Friday, November 13, 2009

The Matador

November 12, 2009

Chamucos reposado tequila
Vya extra dry vermouth
Pernod
lemon juice
apple butter

Shake ingredients and fine strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a small fennel frond.

This unlikely combination turned out amazingly well balanced and refreshing. Pernod can easily overwhelm a cocktail, so make sure to use no more than an 1/8 ounce.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Oberon

November 11, 2009

209 gin
Saint Germain elderflower liqueur
Small Hand Foods gum syrup
lemon juice
pear
thyme

Muddle the thyme and pear. Add the other ingredients, shake, and fine strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a sprig of thyme.

A little-known Range classic.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Aviation

November 10, 2009

209 gin
Luxardo maraschino liqueur
lemon juice

Shake and fine strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a brandied cherry.

A classic!

The Rhyme

November 9, 2009

209 gin
Saint Germain elderflower liqueur
lime
thyme
Sunshine bitters (saffron/cardamom)

Muddle the thyme, shake and fine strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a sprig of thyme.

Except for the Saint Germain, all ingredients rhyme (kind of). Ta-da!

Original Sin

November 8, 2009

209 gin
Saint Germain elderflower liqueur
Noilly Prat dry vermouth
apple cider
lemon juice
Regan's orange bitters

Shaken and fine strained into a cocktail glass. No garnish.

Initially, we had no name for this one, but a kind and creative guest came up with "Original Sin"... after three of them! Thanks!

Sunday, November 8, 2009

French 76

November 7, 2009

209 gin
Saint Germain elderflower liqueur
lemon juice
sparkling brut rosé

Shake all but the sparkling wine and fine strain into a champagne flute. Top with brut rosé, and garnish with a brandied cherry.

You guessed it: A spin on the ol' French 75. A pink drink that's a perfect Saturday night aperitif.

The Tutu

November 6, 2009

Flor de Caña 4 year rum
Saint Germain elderflower liqueur
Aperol
lime juice
egg white
Peychaud's bitters

Dry shake, then add ice and shake until the shaker frosts over. Fine strain into a cocktail glass and shake a few drops of Peychaud's on the foam as garnish.

Like a fluffy, upscale daiquiri.

Friday, November 6, 2009

The Apprentice

November 5, 2009

Old Overholt rye whiskey
Drambuie
Luxardo Maraschino liqueur
lemon juice
Peychaud's bitters

Shake it and fine strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a star anise pod.

Layers of complexity in this one, but it still goes down easy!

Western Rose

November 4, 2009

Plymouth gin
Marie Brizard Apry
Noilly Prat dry vermouth
lime juice

Shake it, then fine strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a mint leaf.

The Savoy Cocktail Book recipe says to use apricot brandy and lemon juice, but we were feeling sassy. This one is surprisingly dry, despite the generous amount of Apry.

The Bee Sting

November 3, 2009

Siete Leguas reposado tequila
Drambuie
Gran Torres orange liqueur
lemon juice
Abbot's bitters

Shake it up and fine strain it into a collins glass. Garnish with a lemon ribbon with three cloves embedded into the zest.

Refreshing yet naughty... just might sting yer ass!!

The Blinker Cocktail

November 1, 2009

Old Overholt rye whiskey
Small Hand Foods raspberry syrup
grapefruit juice

Shake, then fine strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.

This one is a classic taken from Ted Haigh's Vintage Spirits and Forgotten Cocktails. Shows how just a few ingredients can make an excellent drink.

The Great Pumpkin

October 31, 2009

Santa Teresa rum
Mandarine Napoleon
Orange slice
pumpkin spice simple syrup

Muddle the orange slice, shake ingredients and fine strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a burnt orange chip.

Happy Halloween!!

Warsaw Mule

October 30, 2009

Zubrowka vodka
apple cider
lime juice
Bundaberg Ginger Beer

Squeeze lime half into a bucket glass and put the spent lime into the glass. Add ice and build the cocktail in the glass. Garnish with a thin apple slice.

A tasty twist on the ol' Moscow Mule, which is vodka, lime and ginger beer.