Cocktail: The Boulevardier
Everyone loves a good Negroni, and everyone loves Bourbon, so it’s no surprise that somehow the two would find a place together in one drink. This is called the Boulevardier, and it first came around in the 1927 book Barflies and Cocktails by Harry McElhone. While the gin-based Negroni stands out as a good all-season…
Cocktail: Ward 8
The Ward 8 is a refreshingly citrus cocktail that’s not too sour, but not overbearingly sweet. The rye balances out what could be a very sour drink with just enough spiciness. This is a historical cocktail, with a history as far back as 1898 and the associated lore to match. I’ll save that for the history…
Cocktail: The Asparagus Martini
So a few weeks ago I found a big jar of pickled asparagus and was amazed that I had never experienced the salty, crunchy goodness before. I had to find a good cocktail to make with them, so this version of a martini came about. It tastes like a Gibson without the bite of onion,…
Cocktail: Dark and Kind of Stormy
I think this cocktail came about because I couldn’t commit to making a Dark and Stormy, and instead just started grabbing ingredients that would make something delicious. It worked, and I came out with a hybrid ginger-beer mule-like drink that is made even more awesome by this owl mug. Ingredients: 2 oz Havana Club dark…
Review: Durham Distillery Conniption Gin
In July I had the opportunity to tour Durham Distillery, which has been operating since 2013 in Durham, NC. The distillery produces two gins as their main products, as well as Damn Fine Liqueurs, which were still in the somewhat early stages of production. I’ve had the opportunity to tour a few distilleries and taste a…
Cocktail: Saffron and Cardamom Infused G&T
Both my wife and I have spent time in the middle east and have come to love the flavors that are present in middle-eastern cooking. Saffron in particular is significantly easier to find and buy, so we usually have a good amount on hand. I decided to infuse some Conniption Navy Strength gin with saffron…
Cocktail: The Sage Monk
I’ve been making the Marquee cocktail for a while with fresh muddled sage, which is one of my favorites. This drink adds the complexity of Chartreuse (the Monk!) to the sweetness of Sage and removes the lemon juice for a very complex and spicy cocktail. Ingredients: 1/2 oz Sage simple syrup (see my How-To) 1/2…
How-To: Flavored Simple Syrup
Today we’ll talk about how to make flavored simple syrups. In my case I wanted to get the flavors of Sage into my simple syrup so that I could use it in a number of Sage cocktails without having to muddle and flavor the drink individually every time. Ingredients: 1 cup of sugar 1 cup…
Cocktail: The Spiced Negroni
Everyone loves the Negroni, but sometimes you just need a little more kick in your drink. This version takes the flavor up a notch with the spicey Punt E Mes and bitters, to make this the perfect drink to usher in those cooler fall days. Ingredients: 1 oz Sutler’s gin 1 oz Punt E Mes…
Cocktail: Pomegranate Sage Cooler
Summer is officially over, so you have to autumnify your Gin and Tonics to make them acceptable to the cocktail snobs. If you can’t go another fall day without a G&T in hand, I have just the thing for you. This Pomegranate Sage cooler mixes the best of summer’s G&Ts with the colors and tastes…