Rum

Classic Cocktails: Army & Navy + Variations

/ Dani DeLuna / 3 Comments

Sir-Joseph-Porter-2

Many moons ago, I had my first trip to The NoMad Bar with a whole bunch of newly acquainted friends. It has since become my favourite bar in NYC because they simply have the most adventurous and yet totally drinkable cocktails in the city. They consistently surprise, inspire and encourage me to push the envelope while remaining true to form. (i.e. They frequently use Fino Sherry and Amari in Tiki drinks. Brilliant.)

They also make a damn good Army & Navy.

I am a huge fan of Gin Sours in any form but something about the combination of Orgeat and Lemon Juice really moves my taste buds to flight! Oh and I highly recommend this B.G. Reynolds Orgeat, it’s a bit toasted, has just the right amount of floral notes and is quite tasty. Let’s make an Army & Navy right now, shall we?

Army & Navy (from David A Embury, Fine Art of Mixing Drinks. 1948.)

  • 2 oz English Dry Gin
  • 3/4 oz Lemon Juice
  • 3/4 oz Orgeat
  • 2 dashes Angostura Bitters
  • Garnish: Maraschino Cherries

Combine ingredients over ice and shake it up! Strain into coupe, garnish with Maraschino Cherries. Sip and smile.

Wasn’t that tasty? Yes, yes it was so damn tasty! Wouldn’t you like to drink another? Hold off on that ’cause we have a couple of variations:

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So obvi the Army & Navy is a drink begging for rum. I decided to split the base with Flor de Caña 7 and Hayman’s Old Tom Gin. The Old Tom then inspired me to use some of those Boker’s Bitters that I love so dearly.

Sir Joseph Porter

  • 1 oz Old Tom Gin
  • 1 oz Flor de Caña 7 Year Rum
  • 3/4 oz Lemon Juice
  • 3/4 oz B.G. Reynolds Orgeat
  • 1 dash Angostura Bitters
  • 1 dash Adam Elmegirab’s Boker’s Bitters
  • Garnish: Maraschino Cherries

Combine ingredients over ice and shake it up! Strain into coupe, garnish with Maraschino Cherries. Sip and grin.

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Yes! The Pineapple Spear Bunny Ears are back!

If an Army & Navy variation was begging for rum, the next logical step (in my island themed brain) was to take it to Tiki Paradise! I’m obviously very excited about this drink. It’s just fabulous. Really, any excuse to use Pineapple infused Plymouth Gin in a cocktail is a dream come true for me.

Captain Corcoran

  • 1 oz Denizen Aged White Rum
  • 1 oz Pineapple infused Plymouth Gin
  • 3/4 oz B.G. Reynolds Orgeat
  • 3/4 oz Lemon Juice
  • 1 dash Angostura Bitters
  • 1 dropper Bittermens Elemakule Tiki Bitters
  • Garnish: Three Maraschino Cherries and Pineapple Spear Bunny Ears

Combine ingredients over ice and shake it up! Strain into coupe, garnish with Maraschino Cherries and Bunny Ears. Sip and giggle.

Captain-Corcoran-2

Did you get the joke? The variations are named after characters from the HMS Pinafore. Clearly I think everything in life should be a tad silly but nary an April Fools prank shall I make.

Enjoy your Army & Navy and HMS Pinafore Variations! Cheers!

Seafarer’s Sour

/ Dani DeLuna / 1 Comment

Seafarer's-Sour-1

Ahhhh, the sea. Nothing like months and months of being at sea to really make you miss dry land eh? Ay, nothin’ like it. Well, here’s a sour for a Seafarer with one wary eye on the sea and the other which yearns for spices, flowers and dry land.

Seafarer’s Sour

  • 1 1/2 oz Smith & Cross Navy Strength Jamaica Rum
  • 1/2 oz Chartreuse Jaune
  • 3/4 oz Lemon Juice
  • 1/2 oz Demerara Syrup
  • 2 droppers Elemakule Tiki Bitters
  • Garnish: Cinnamon Stick

Combine ingredients over ice and shake until ingredients have combined. Double Strain into rocks glass over ice. Garnish with Cinnamon Stick.

Seafarer's-Sour-2

West India Docks

/ Dani DeLuna / 5 Comments

West-India-Docks-1

As part of #IrishWhiskeyMonth, I wanted to repost one of my favorite Teeling Whiskey drinks from last year: West India Docks. This tropical sipper combines Smith & Cross Jamaican Rum and Teeling Small Batch Irish Whiskey in what I consider to be the best split base of all time.

If you wanna join the party, use the hashtag #IrishWhiskeyMonth on Instagram and I’ll repost your photo! The only rule is that you have to include Irish Whiskey in your cocktail.

Smith-&-Cross,-Teeling

Are you a bartender/cocktailier/Home Bar Gurrrrl? Have you combined these two spirits? Nope? GET ON IT.

I split the base equally, sipped it, died and went to heaven and then made a truly terrific tropical drink. I really tried to keep it at 5 ingredients but this cocktail needed a bit of Angostura Bitters for honesty.

West India Docks

  • 1 oz Teeling Small Batch Irish Whiskey
  • 1 oz Smith & Cross Navy Strength Jamaica Rum
  • 3/4 oz Lime Juice
  • 1/2 oz Grenadine
  • 4 Pineapple Chunks
  • 2 dashes Angostura Bitters
  • Garnish: Two Pineapple Chunks

Combine Lime Juice, Grenadine and Pineapple chunks in tin and muddle. Add Teeling Whiskey, Smith & Cross Rum, Bitters and Ice. Shake and double strain into coupe. Garnish with two Pineapple Chunks.

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No lie, this is truly fantastic. If you’ve got Teeling + Smith & Cross, you need to try these two together. #TropicalTeeling

DP Daiquiri, Duke’s Liquor Box and some Funky Rums

/ Dani DeLuna / 2 Comments

Duke's Liquor Box

Tears. Tears of happiness. 

This magnificent wall of Booze is at Duke’s Liquor Box. I hate to say the phrase “well curated” cause it makes me sound like the next Trondy Hipstar but good god y’all, this shop is SO WELL CURATED! Just gaze into the photo and note that there are almost zero major labels in there. And what do you get when you aren’t selling Fireball and Jose Cuervo? You get really phenomenal bottles. This shop is where I’ve acquired things like: Cocchi Americano Rosa, Bonal, Dolin Blanc, El Buho Mezcal and Delaware Phoenix Bourbon.

Well, yesterday I was after Rum. I was after El Dorado 12, but when I arrived they only had the El Dorado 8. This was actually super fortunate because then I was able to go in a totally different direction, Funky Jamaican Rum.

Smith & Cross, Hamilton Jamaican Black Rum

Smith & Cross Navy Strength Jamaican Rum, Hamilton Jamaican Pot Still Black Rum

WOAH. So funky, funky, funky! I did a side by side taste test and Imma tell you about it.

Ministry of Rum Collection Hamilton Jamaican Pot Still Black Rum:

  • Nose: Molasses, banana, pineapple, tobacco, grasses, super wide nose
  • Tongue: Dry, citrus, caramel, molasses, allspice and other spices, chocolate, FUNKY, super long finish, super wide finish, 46.1% ABV
  • Impression: Honestly, there was so much happening that I was overwhelmed (in a good way). This Rum will stand up to anything. If i were to make a Tiki drink with 10 ingredients in it, what would stand out? Hamilton Jamaican Pot Still Black Rum. So serious, so impressive, so bold, so challenging! I love it!

Smith & Cross Navy Strength Traditional Jamaican Rum:

  • Nose: Caramel, pineapple, banana, strawberry, tropical fruit (guava?), grasses
  • Tongue: Honey, spices, brown sugar, tropical fruit, FUNKY, direct finish, smooth short finish, to the point, 57% ABV
  • Impression: This is a really approachable, versatile and user friendly Jamaican Rum. Smith & Cross Rum’s combination of high proof, tropical fruits and short finish make it perfect for mixing with. I shall be using it in loads of Tiki/Tropical drinks.

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Hello new Funky Friend of mine. 

What do we do when we get a new Rum? We make a Daiquiri. Since this is a Funky Rum, I decided to make a Funky Daiquiri. Enjoy!

DP Daiquiri

  • 1 1/2 oz Smith & Cross Jamaican Rum
  • 1/2 oz Velvet Falernum
  • 1/4 oz DD Mix
  • 1 oz Lime Juice
  • 1 dropper Bittermen’s Elemakule Tiki Bitters
  • Garnish: hollowed out Lime half*

In tin combine ingredients over ice and short shake. Pour entire contents of shaker into mason jar (this is called a Dirty Pour**). Garnish with one of the Lime halves you used when you juiced the Lime.

*If you’re going to serve this garnish, be sure to serve the drink with a straw so no one gets whacked in the face.

**I always like to use mason jars when I make Dirty Pour drinks.

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Tropicaaaaaaal, tropical breezes. Tropical sneezes. 

Ford Island

/ Dani DeLuna / Leave a comment

Ford-Island-1

Tiki, Tiki, Tiki, Tiki. It’s a song in my head, it’s a refrain said to the beat of drums. It’s monday morning and I just want some Tiki,Tiki, Tiki, Tiki. I had a friend over the other night just so we could have “blue drinks” cause January is DREARY y’all. We had loads of them (but split them in 1/2 so we wouldn’t get trashed) and then watched Troop Beverly Hills. It was fabulous, simply fabulous! When my friend left, I was inspired to make one last drink.

Remember, if you’ve got a Tiki or Tropical drink to post on Instagram during January, use the hashtag #TikiTheSnowAway!

Ford Island

  • 1 1/2 oz Denizen Aged White Rum
  • 1/2 oz Añejo Tequila
  • 1/2 oz Blue Curaçao
  • 1/2 oz Velvet Falernum
  • 1/4 oz Lemongrass Ginger infused 151 Vodka
  • 1 dash St George Absinthe
  • 3/4 oz Grapefruit Juice
  • 1/2 oz Lime Juice
  • 1/4 oz Vanilla Bean Syrup
  • Club Soda
  • Mint Sprig

Combine ingredients in tin and short shake. Strain into Collins glass over ice. Top with Club Soda. Spank the Mint sprig and garnish.

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Devil’s Pie

/ Dani DeLuna / Leave a comment

Devil's-Pie-1

This drink was fully inspired by the Vosges Black Salt Caramel Chocolate Bar. My girlfriend and I ate it, then we thought, “How close can we get to this in a drink?” Well, with the ingredients on hand, this was as close as I could get. It’s pretty fabulous. Not terribly sweet, nice and dark, and the two Amari make things interesting.

Bonus: Bourbon Smoked Sea Salt is always the best.

Yesterday, the new D’Angelo record Black Messiah came out and oh my god, CANNOT STOP LISTENING. It’s so damn funky and D’Angelo just totally rules on vocals. I mean, he always rules, but the Lordt knoweth, he totally owns. Fabulous. We named this drink after one of his songs, Devil’s Pie.

Devil’s Pie

  • 2 oz Flor de Caña 7 Year Aged Rum
  • 3/4 oz Averna Amaro
  • 1/2 oz Green Mountain Maple Liqueur
  • 1/4 oz Santa Maria al Monte Amaro
  • 1/4 oz Scrappy’s Chocolate Bitters
  • 1 pinch Bourbon Smoked Sea Salt
  • Shaved dark Chocolate

Combine ingredients over ice and stir. Strain into coupe, shave dark Chocolate on top.

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You’re So Kind + Recent Acquisitions

/ Dani DeLuna / Leave a comment

Just a quick post to update y’all on all of the new booze I’ve gotten recently. No recipes this time, but I wanted to get everyone excited about all the things I’ll be posting on during the Holidaze and Winter Times! Cheers to you all!

Berentzen-Icemint-&-Pear-Liqueur

Berentzen Icemint Schnapps: Look at it? Isn’t it beautiful? It’s also 100 proof and the mint flavor is so clean that I have to say…I like it even more than Wondermint! I’ve been sipping Icemint Schnapps neat, on the rocks and am working on a few cocktails!

Berentzen Pear Liquer: In the same way that the Bushel & Barrel is fruit forward, crisp and clean, the Pear Liqueur kills it! Very fresh and bright pear flavors! I’ve been using it a lot with Gin.

Mbooth-Shipment-Nov-14

Today in the mail, I got these four beautiful bottles of delicious possibilities courtesy of MBooth Marketing. Aren’t they kind? I think they’re pretty kind. YOU’RE SO KIND MBOOTH! Y’all I’m gonna make a LOT of Holiday Cocktails with these!

Campari: You know it, you know I love it. Negroni for life! But Campari isn’t just Negroni, it’s the best citrus bitter Liqueur! I’m gonna use it in punches!

Brugal Especial Extra Dry: This is a totally tasty dry Rum and such a bang for your buck! Toasted marshmellow, vanilla, coconut and citrus. I’m gonna use it in ALL the hot cocktails I possibly can!

NOLET’S Dry Gin Silver: I’VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS AND IT WAS EVERYTHING I IMAGINED! Seriously though, such a fabulous gin. Raspberry, Turkish Rose and Peach notes are happening and NOLET’S is super smooth. I’m gonna use this every day? In every cocktail? Maybe! Definitely going to make some Martinis and a Martinez with it.

Patrón Cafe Incendio: I’ve been wanting a Chocolate liqueur and with my endless quest for spicy foods and drinks, Incendio fulfills my every need! Chocolate first, Chili spice next and the spice sits nicely on the tongue. I’m definitely planning to use it in Coffee Cocktails, with Añejo Tequila and with Rum.

Purchases-Late-Nov-'14

And then, here’s the recent acquisitions that I bought from the store!

Corralejo Añejo: I LUV Corralejo. Their Reposado is my favourite one to sip and so now that it’s Añejo season, I simply had to get this bottle. I’ll be using it in Old Fashioneds, with the Patrón Cafe Incendio, and sipping it neat.

St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram: Holiday spice in a bottle! So much Allspice! Like the NOLET’S gin, I’m probably going to use this every day in every cocktail I possibly can: Rum, Gin, Bourbon, Añejo, Apple Brandy. All of it. Allspice Dram forever!

Santa Maria al Monte: This is my favourite Amaro and I just couldn’t wait any longer to have it! I feel like Santa Maria is somewhere between Averna and Fernet but drier and less intimidating. Easy to sip neat. If you can have a taste, do it. If you can buy a bottle, do THAT instead. I’ll be sipping this all winter long!

Thanks for reading! The cocktails will be coming soon!

Flor de Caña 7 Year is AMAZING

/ Dani DeLuna / 2 Comments

WOOOOOOOOOOOO! I FINALLY DID IT! I BOUGHT AGED RUM!

Daiquri-2

So, lately I’ve been meaning to get into the whole Rum Craze that’s hit the eastern USA but kept putting it off and putting it off and now I’ve given in! I was told by my cocktail mentor Angel Negrín to try and get El Dorado 12 Year or Havana Club 3 Year but I couldn’t find either of those in Prospect Heights. What I did find was a Nicaraguan Aged Rum, Flor de Caña 7 Year.

It’s delicious! I love it! I can’t believe I waited this long! Flor de Caña 7 Year has Caramel smoothness for days. FOR DAYS! Great rum to mix with and that’s precisely what I did with it!

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This is the best damn Daiquiri I’ve ever had. Ever.

Daiquiri

  • 2 oz Rum
  • 1 oz Lime Juice
  • 3/4 oz Turbinado Simple Syrup
  • Lime Wheel

In tin, combine ingredients over ice and shake. Strain into coupe and garnish with Lime Wheel.

Chiquitita-Margarita-2

An original cocktail here. As I had already started with a Daiquiri, I wanted to keep going with the Rum + Lime juice idea and decided to make a “fake” spicy margarita.

Chiquitita Margarita

  • 2 oz Flor de Caña Rum
  • 1 oz Lime Juice
  • 1/2 oz Cointreau
  • 1/2 oz Agave Nectar
  • 2 dashes Angostura Bitters
  • 1 dropper Brooklyn Hemispherical Sriracha Bitters (or any bitters with heat and chili peppers)

In tin, combine Rum, Lime Juice, Cointreau, Agave Nectar, Angostura and Sriracha Bitters and shake over ice. Double strain into coupe and garnish with Lime Wheel.

Again, delicious. I feel like this Flor de Caña 7 Year will just destroy any citrus cocktail! Now to try and make some stirred drinks with it.