Monday, February 22, 2010

Sucka Punch

February 21, 2010

Torani Amer
Torres 10 year brandy
Small Hand Foods grenadine
lime juice
Bundaberg ginger beer

Shake the first four ingredients and strain into a pilsner glass. Top with ginger beer and garnish with a lemon wheel.

This is a twist on the ol' Picon Punch. It was so tall and cold that we fooled ourselves into thinking it was summertime.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Chutes and Ladders

February 20, 2010

Siete Leguas reposado tequila
Amaro Nonino
apple cider
lemon juice
cinnamon bitters
meyer lemon syrup

Shake ingredients and strain into an ice-filled bucket. Garnish with a star-anise pod.

Tart, spicy and oh so good...

Valencia Favorite

February 19, 2010

Plymouth gin
Laird's Applejack
Dubonnet
Noily Pratt dry vermouth
Angostura bitters
Peychaud's bitters

Stir and serve in a chilled rocks glass (no ice). Garnish with an orange ribbon.

This makes an excellent aperitif. It has a great balance between the sweetness of the Dubonnet and the herbal notes of the Plymouth and Noily Pratt.

Friday, February 19, 2010

Awsome 'Possum

February 18, 2010

Hendrick's gin
apple cider
lemon juice
Small Hand Foods gum syrup
egg white
thyme

Dry shake everything but the thyme. Add ice and shake thoroughly. Fine-strain into a chilled rocks glass and garnish with a sprig of fresh thyme.

This one was a simple, tart, frothy refresher. Remember to slap fresh herbs to bring their aromatics to life. Oh, and thanks to Skinny Head for the name... I loved telling it to guests all night.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Red Seal

February 17, 2010

Gosling's Black Seal Rum
John Taylor's Velvet Falernum
blood orange juice
lime juice

Shake it up and strain into a rocks-filled pilsner glass. Top with tonic and garnish with a lime wheel.

Falernum, rum and lime are a magic, punchy combo. The tonic gives it just enough bitter to balance it out. Mmmmmm.....

Sangre de Padre

February 15, 2010

Siete Leguas silver tequila
Yellow Chartreuse
blood orange juice
lime juice
saffron-cardamom bitters

Shake and fine-strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a straight lemon ribbon.

This one starts with citrus on the palate, but finishes with layers of herby-spicy goodness.

Heartthrob

Valentine's Day, 2010

Hangar One Mandarin Blossom vodka
Aperol
blood orange juice
simple syrup
Vouvray brut sparkling wine

Shake everything but the wine. Strain into a champagne flute and top with Vouvray. Garnish with a blood orange half-moon.

On that special day, what's better than something sweet, bitter, pink and bubbly?

Ave Maria

February 13, 2010

Pueblo Viejo silver tequila
Dolin dry vermouth
Saint Germain elderflower liqueur
lime juice
Fee Brothers grapefruit bitters

Shake and strain into an ice-filled bucket. Garnish with a thick chunk of lime.

We just got in a case each of Dolin sweet and dry vermouths, and I love 'em! The vermouth in this drink adds a crisp, herbal dryness. Good stuff.

Mandarina

February 12, 2010

Pueblo Viejo silver tequila
Saint Germain elderflower liqueur
tangerine juice
lime juice
honey

Shake and strain into a collins glass. Top with soda and garnish with an orange ribbon.

Tequila and citrus... a match made in heaven.

Friday, February 12, 2010

Green Meanie

February 11, 2010

Siete Leguas reposado tequila
Green Chartreuse
green tea syrup
lemon juice
saffron-cardamom bitters

Shake ingredients and fine-strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a lemon half-moon.

This one isn't for everyone. Layers of herbs and spices do a little dance with our old tequila-citrus team and the result is complex and (if I may be so bold) out-freekin-standing. Thanks again to Neya White of NOPA for the bitters recipe!

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Machu Pichu

February 10, 2010

Barsol pisco
Yellow Chartreuse
lime juice
Chuncho Peruvian bitters

Shake, fine-strain and serve up. Garnish with a lime wheel.

This one started as a variation of The Last Word, but the Luxardo was overpowering the pisco. The results were quite refreshing and simple.

Black Sand

February 9, 2010

Eagle Rare bourbon
Punt e Mes
Nocino della Cristina walnut liqueur
lemon juice
tangerine juice

Shake, then fine-strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a brandied cherry.

A tasty little twist on the ol' Blood and Sand. Sort of...

Winter Breeze

February 8, 2010

Gosling's Black Seal Rum
Aperol
tangerine juice
lemon juice
lavender honey

Shake and strain over ice in a bucket. Garnish with a lemon ribbon.

Gotta love tangerines and rum!

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Bock & Tan

February 6, 2010

Ketel One vodka
Benedictine
pineapple
lemon juice
Anchor Bock

Muddle pineapple and combine ingredients (except the beer). Shake and fine-strain into a rocks-filled pilsner glass and top with beer. Garnish with a lemon wheel.

Looks a little like a Black & Tan.... get it? Woo hoo, we crack ourselves up...

Veeva Cuba

February 5, 2010

Appleton's Reserve amber rum
VeeV açaí berry liqueur
lime juice
sugar cane syrup
mint
abbot's bitters

Shake ingredients and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a mint leaf.

This refreshing concoction is a little twist on the Old Cuban cocktail.

The Improv

February 4, 2010

Old Overholt rye whiskey
Cherry Heering
lemon juice
cinnamon bitters

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

Sometimes it takes a little teamwork to create our cocktails. With this one, the two of us (Patrick and Jeff) did a little improv by alternatively picking ingredients that seemed to go with the last ingredient the other person selected. Results? Delicious!

Red Leaf

February 3, 2010

Pueblo Viejo silver tequila
Aperol
blood orange juice
lime juice
agave nectar
mint

Shake and fine-strain over ice in a bucket. Garnish with a sprig of mint.

Just the right balance of citrus, bitter and refreshing mint. This one might make the cocktail list.

Dandelion

February 2, 2010

Hendrick's gin
blood orange juice
lemon juice
egg white

Dry shake, shake with ice, and fine-strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a blood orange half-moon.

This was a special request repeat Range cocktail for a buy-out that night. Oddly enough everyone drank a ton of Jack Daniels. Go figure...

Monday, February 1, 2010

Jack Rose

February 1, 2010

Laird & Co. Applejack
Small Hand Foods grenadine
lime juice

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

This is one of those classics that doesn't really jump off the page, but it is surprisingly delicious. Reminds me that we should all dig through those old books and try the unlikely drinks. Might find some hidden gems.

Stinger

January 31, 2010

Martin Miller's gin
meyer lemon syrup
lemon juice
grapefruit
egg whites

Dry shake. Add ice and shake some more. Fine-strain into an rocks-less rocks glass and garnish with three drops of Angostura bitters.

Not to be confused with the classic Stinger, which is brandy and white creme de menthe... I think my great grandma (rest her soul) liked sipping on these. I like our Stinger much better!!

Bumble Bee

January 30, 2010

Flor de Caña 4 year rum
Luxardo maraschino liqueur
lime juice
honey
egg white
Angostura bitters

Dry shake. Add ice and shake more. Fine strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with a few more drops of Angostura.

This is a classic that we tweaked with a little Luxardo. Fragrant, tart and silky on the palate.

Fourth Regiment

January 29, 2010

Old Overholt rye
Punt e Mes
Peychaud's bitters
Angostura orange bitters
celery bitters

Stir ingredients and strain into a cocktail glass. No Garnish.

Here's a classic cocktail pulled from Charles Barker's South American Gentleman's Companion (which incidentally is one hell of an amusing read!). This cocktail has amazing depth, a complex nuttiness, and refreshing celery finish. Time to make some celery bitters!

Old Pal

January 28, 2010

Old Overholt rye
Campari
Noily Pratt dry vermouth
mole rojo bitters

Stir ingredients and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with an orange ribbon.

This is a classic... sort of. The original had grenadine and sweet vermouth and no bitters, so essentially it's a totally different cocktail. Good name though.

Creole Lady

January 27, 2010

Buffalo Trace bourbon
Blandy's madiera
Small Hand Foods grenadine
Angostura orange bitters

Stir ingredients and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with brandied raisins.

This one is a classic pulled from Mr. Boston Official Bartender's guide. Gotta love a cocktail with only a few ingredients that tastes so balanced.

Dandelion

January 26, 2010

Hendrick's gin
blood orange juice
lemon juice
simple syrup
egg whites

Combine ingredients and dry shake. Add ice and shake well. Fine-strain into a cocktail glass. No garnish.

We took the classic Clover Club cocktail and substituted blood orange juice for the raspberry syrup. Makes a beautifully frothy beverage.

Winter Sangria

January 25, 2010

Cerbois amagnac
Drambuie
red wine
lemon juice
orange juice
brandied raisins

Muddle the brandied raisins. Shake ingredients and strain into a bucket. Garnish with a blood orange half-moon.

We used a domestic nebbiolo/barbera blend which is relatively low in acid, juicy and concentrated. The Drambuie and raisins add a nice earthy-smokey note.

Ono-Ono

January 24, 2010

Flor de Caña 4 year rum
Orange Curacao
orgeat
blood orange juice
lime juice
pineapple
ginger

Muddle the ginger and pineapple. Combine ingredients and shake. Fine-strain into a bucket and float a little Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva rum. Garnish with a blood orange wheel and a sprig of mint.

"Ono-Ono" means "really tasty" in Hawaiian. Lives up to its name!