Tequila

Barb’s Rhubarb Cocktail & Syrup

/ Dani DeLuna / 4 Comments

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Let’s pretend that for this post I’m a 19th Century British lady named Barbara Billingsworth and I’m obsessed with Rhubarb. Therefore, read the rest of this post in a Victorian accent and with proper diction. Marvelous.

Wednesday, 10th June

Oh, I’m so excited that it’s Rhubarb season. How terribly delightful! I’m planning all sorts of ways use my Rhubarb throughout the springtime and into the summer. I can’t even begin to express my great joy and pleasure at interacting so specially with this particular plant. It is at once both tart and sweet. Both vegetal and citrine. In essence, it is divinity itself.

I’ve decided to start by making it into a syrup for which to use in Cocktails. Oh heavens, my guests shall enjoy that quite a lot, shall they not? Yes, quite. We will go ahead and start with the recipe.

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Barb’s Rhubarb Syrup

  • 2 cups of chopped Rhubarb
  • 1 1/2 cups of Water
  • 1 cup Turbinado or Demerara sugar (or another Rich sugar)
  • 1 sauce pot
  1. Now Dear, be sure to chop your Rhubarb rather properly or it won’t cook down the way we want it to in the pot. We wouldn’t want improperly cooked Rhubarb now would we?
  2. Combine ingredients over especially low heat and simmer for just around half an hour. Please don’t let it come to a boil or the Rhubarb you may spoil.
  3. Remove from heat and cover for around three hours.
  4. Fine strain, using the sides of a spatula to press the bits of Rhubarb against the strainer, thereby leeching the maximum amount of liquid.

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Now Dears, here’s the trick. One should have around 2 cups of liquid at this time and I had us adding 1 1/2 cups of water so we could reduce the syrup after it had been strained. You’re going to want to put the syrup back on the stove (low heat) and reduce until you have more like 1 1/2 – 1 3/4 cups of syrup. You will know it because it will taste properly and have a lovely viscosity.

Once you’ve got it, let the whole thing cool ’til it is at room temperature, then strain into Jar and label. An improperly labeled jar is a sin of the highest accord, except of course, not labeling at all.

Well, do you have it? Wonderful.

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Now that we’ve got this lovely Rhubarb Syrup, let’s use it in a cocktail, shall we?

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Barb’s Rhubarb Cocktail

  • 1 1/2 oz Espolón Reposado Tequila
  • 3/4 oz Rhubarb Syrup
  • 1 oz Red Grapefruit Juice
  • 1 dash Scrappy’s Celery Bitters
  • Pinch of Salt

Combine ingredients over ice and vigorously shake. Strain into the most beautiful coupe you have. Sip whilst looking out your window or at a garden party. I would say this cocktail is on the sweeter side but complex and salty enough to keep it rather interesting.

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Cheers to you all and I hope you’ve enjoyed these recipes!

Twirlin’ A Lady + Cilantro & Serrano infused Tequila

/ Dani DeLuna / Leave a comment

Twirlin'-A-Lady-2

Ok everyone, it’s officially Summer in New York City. It is hot as hell outside, I’m constantly covered in sweat (ewww) and the Tequila is flowing! #TequilaSeason has us in the grip!

As I’ve stated in a certain podcast (Episode 10), I don’t like to do tons of infusions because I really want y’all to be able to make these drinks at home. However, when I do, there is usually a really good reason. The good reason here is freshness.

I swear to the stars this infusion smells and tastes super extra fresh! On the nose, chile spice and cilantro notes happen before the Tequila comes through, thereby creating the illusion that everything was muddled in the glass right before you. The taste is just as exciting and very complex. It’s really quite an experience!

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I like to use Espolón for infusing anything (as well as mixing in cocktails) because it just plays very nicely with other ingredients. I already have a Jalapeño infused Espolón Blanco Tequila, so I decided to go with Reposado for this infusion. Besides, I sort of missed this particular Reposado. (Reunited and it feels so good.)

Cilantro & Serrano Chile Infused Reposado Tequila

  • 250 ml Espolón Reposado Tequila
  • 1/4 bunch of Cilantro with the stems cut off
  • 1/2 of 1 Serrano Chile, seeds and all

Combine ingredients in jar or measuring cup, stir, and cover for *40 mins. Fine strain into sealed jar or bottle.

*If you want more heat, I highly recommend removing the Cilantro at the 40 minute mark or you’ll lose that super fresh taste. You can keep the Chili going for another 30 minutes or so but you will have some SPICY ASS Tequila!

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Hello pretty, fragrant leaves. I could smell you forever.

So, what should we make with this tasty infusion? Grapefruit Juice was the first thing that came to mind. Then Cointreau. Then I just decided to make a Margarita served up and named it Twirlin’ A Lady.

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¡Muy, muy refrescando!

Twirlin’ A Lady

  • 1 1/2 oz Cilantro + Serrano Chile infused Espolón Reposado Tequila
  • 1 1/2 oz Red Grapefruit Juice
  • 3/4 oz Cointreau
  • 2 dashes Dutch’s Spirits ProhiBitters (sub Orange Bitters)
  • Garnish: Pink Salt rim and 1 Cilantro leaf

Combine ingredients over ice and vigorously shake. Seriously, shake it like you’ve never shaken anything before for around 10 seconds. This way you get that lovely foam on top. Garnish with Pink Salt and Cilantro leaf. ¡Salud!

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If only #TequilaSeason were forever!

#TequilaSeason: Rothko 1961

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The heat has officially hit NYC and I am now drenched in sweat every time I leave my apt. We’re fully into #TequilaSeason and all of the refreshing cocktails that go along with it. Give me shaken fruity drinks on the rocks and give them to me fast!

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Allow me to say a few words about this garnish: Several months ago, I thought the hallowed out lime half was sort of a lame garnish but then I realized something. People aren’t usually going to eat a Lime Wedge and whenever you’ve got a Lime half, you’ve already added Lime juice to the drink. Therefore, the Lime half is actually the best garnish cause it’s like a little bowl! A little bowl that delivers things you really want to eat with your drink! GIVE THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT! They want fruit!

Rothko orange red yellow

Oh and as far as the name of this Cocktail goes, perhaps the most famous (or at least the most expensive) Rothko painting is called Orange, Red, Yellow and was painted in 1961. The thing about that painting though, the Yellow looks Green. So I was either going to name the drink Orange, Green, Yellow or Rothko 1961. The latter sounds better.

Bonus: This is the second drink that I’ve named after a Rothko painting. The first drink is Rothko 1957 with Bourbon, Fino Sherry and 18.21 Saffron Bitters.

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Y’all know I have a love affair with Casa Noble Crystal Blanco Tequila cause of the Banana and Grassy notes. In this cocktail, those notes play so very well with the Orange Curaçao flavour & Grassy notes in CioCiaro and bitter Orange from Aperol. Let’s get crackin!

Rothko 1961

  • 1 1/2 oz Casa Noble Blanco Tequila
  • 1/2 oz Amaro CioCiaro
  • 1/2 oz Aperol
  • 1 oz Pineapple Juice
  • 1/4 oz Lime Juice
  • Garnish: hallowed out Lime half, two salted Pineapple chunks

Combine ingredients over ice and short shake. Strain into double Rocks glass over ice and garnish. For the salted Pineapple, just sprinkle a few grains of salt onto each Pineapple chunk.

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Refrescando, a bit bitter, grassy and totally fruity. Salud! Feel free to tag all of your #TequilaSeason drinks on Instagram!

Thanks to the Baddish Group for the Casa Noble Tequila and MBooth for the Aperol.

Feliz Cinco de Mayo!

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Cinco de Mayo fruit & veg

May your Cinco de Mayo be filled with friends, freshness, more friends and tasty Tequila! I’ll be having some combination of the above ingredients in my Tequila cocktail today. What about you?

Salud!

Cocktail Crate Sriracha Margarita

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Cinco de Mayo is tomorrow! Get ready to shake it up with Sriracha Margarita!

Once again, I have the IMMENSE pleasure of doing a post about a Cocktail Crate Craft Mixer! If you recall, I’ve written several posts about Cocktail Crate Mixers because they are THE BEST! Alex Boyd does not cut corners on the ingredients and you can totally tell! I’m not sure exactly what magic he uses to get such freshness out of a bottled Mixer, but seriously this Sriracha Margarita is FRESH and flavourful!

Obviously the first thing I did was to follow the instructions on the back and make a Margarita. Always follow instructions y’all.

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Cocktail Crate Sriracha Margarita

  • 1 Part Mixer
  • 1 Part Tequila
  • Garnish: Lime wheel

Shake Vigorously with ice. Strain into glass over Ice.

Well, it’s totally delicious and refreshing. I could seriously drink a million of these and I have made one for nearly every person who’s come to hang out at my apartment.

HINT: BUY THIS MIXER FOR ALL YOUR #TEQUILASEASON PARTIES!

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If you feel like you wanted to spruce up the Cocktail Crate Sriracha Margarita or if you are missing the taste of Orange in your Marg, I recommend the following recipe.

Cocktail Crate Sriracha Margarita No. 2

  • 1 1/2 oz Blanco Tequila
  • 1 1/2 oz Cocktail Crate Sriracha Margarita Mixer
  • 1/4 oz Cointreau
  • 2 dashes Regans’ Orange Bitters
  • Garnish: Lime wheel, pinch of Salt

Combine ingredients over ice and shake. Strain into double Rocks glass over ice. Garnish with Lime wheel and drop a pinch of Salt into the glass. Salud!

Wasn’t that easy and tasty? Head over to Cocktail Crate now and order several bottles of this delicious mixer! Thanks to Alex Boyd for the bottle!

Cinco de Mayo & The Casa Noble Ritual

/ Dani DeLuna / 1 Comment

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Where to even begin with this post? Where? Casa Noble Crystal Blanco Tequila + Sangrita + Corona Extra, are you kidding me? YAASSSSSS PLEASE.

I’m really pumped to be a part of The Casa Noble Ritual because it is 1. now officially #TequilaSeason, 2. I am so happy to be talking about how Mexicans drink Tequila, 3. it’s not very often that I talk about beer, let alone a Mexican beer, 4. Cinco de Mayo!

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Hello lil bottle of Casa Noble Crystal, you are so very tasty.

A great ritual must begin somewhere and in this case it begins with Casa Noble Crystal Blanco Tequila. If you’ve been reading my blog for a few months you know how fond I am of this particular Tequila. I think it’s truly one of a kind with tasting notes such as:

  • Nose: Pineapple, Strawberry, Grasses
  • Mouth: Banana, Citrus, Chocolate, Nutty, Agave
  • Finish: Smooth and velvety, low amount of “Tequila burn”, short, wide finish

Totally into it, totally ready to sip it all day on Cinco de Mayo.

Sangrita-Cinco

You may be asking the question, “What is this Sangrita business and where are the salt and lime wedges for my Tequila?” Well, that’s a great question! Often in Mexico when people drink Tequila, they don’t take it in chilled shots with salt and lime like we do in the USA, they either sip it alone at room temperature or they have it along with a glass of Sangrita.

So what is Sangrita? It’s the best chaser in the history of chasers if you ask me.

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Stacks of Citrus, Tomato Juice and Jalapeño.

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Don’t forget Cholula (or other Mexican Hot Sauce), Salt & Pepper.

Sangrita

  • 16 oz Tomato Juice
  • 6-8 oz fresh Grapefruit Juice
  • 6-8 oz fresh Orange Juice
  • 2 oz fresh Lime Juice
  • 1 Jalapeño, halved, seeds and all
  • 1-2 oz Cholula (or other Mexican Hot Sauce)
  • Salt & Pepper

Combine ingredients in large jar (32 oz or more) and stirrrrrrrr until everything has combined nicely. Let the Jalapeño sit in the jar for 1-2 hours (depending on how spicy you like it), then remove Jalapeño. Refrigerate. Sip with Tequila or use in place of Bloody Mary Mix for a totally killer Bloody Maria!

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Hello delicious, golden, wheaty Corona Extra. You’re just perfect for this tasty Ritual.

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Now that we’ve talked about the ingredients, what is The Casa Noble Ritual? Simply and in this order:

  1. Take one sip of Sangrita
  2. Then a sip of Casa Noble Crystal
  3. Finish with a sip of Corona Extra

The sip sizes are up to you but try not to get too tipsy on the first round, you’re going to want to repeat these steps many, many times. 🙂

Totally, totally fabulous right? It’s literally the best liquid flavor pairing I’ve tasted and here’s why:

  • Sangrita: Acidic and Citrusy with spice from the hot sauce and Jalapeño bring a vibrance to your mouth which can only be described as sensational.
  • Casa Noble Crystal Blanco Tequila: The sharpness of the Tequila burns just a bit, then slowly and widely leaves incredible flavours of citrus, grasses and banana, chocolate and agave in your mouth.
  • Corona Extra: The golden wheatyness of this beer is the perfect way to finish all of those bright flavours bouncing around your mouth and prepare your palate for another round.

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FYI, I’ve been enjoying the Casa Noble Ritual the entire time I’ve been writing this post.

The Casa Noble Ritual is an excellent way for any group of friends to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. Salud!

Thanks to the Baddish Group for including me in this excellent tradition! 

MxMo + Santa Monica Sunrise

/ Dani DeLuna / 2 Comments

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Well, happy Monday to y’all! I’ve decided to participate in another Mixology Monday cause the theme for this month is “Drink of Shame”. Hah! The description for this Shameful Cocktail was something to the effect of, “You know how to make a great cocktail nowwww, but what about when you were young? What was your favourite drink from back in the day but something that you’d be too embarrassed or ashamed to drink/make now?”

mxmologo

Whitney Munro over at Tipicular Fixin came up with this brilliant idea and gave suggestions such as Mudslides, Jello Shots and Jolly Ranchers. Then we were encouraged to update the drink or make a variation which we would be unashamed to order in a bar. For me, this Drink of Shame is a Tequila Sunrise.

Tequila Sunrise Kitchen Riffs

Image via Kitchen Riffs

Tequila Sunrise (IBA Recipe)

  • 1 1/2 oz Tequila
  • 3 oz Orange Juice
  • 1/2 oz Grenadine
  • Garnish: Orange slice & Maraschino Cherry

Yesssssss. When I first started going dancing in my twenties, this was my Drink of Shame but at least it’s a really pretty drink! Unfortunately, most of the time it was made with bottom shelf nasty Tequila (blech), canned orange juice (gag me) and terrifying candy tasting Grenadine (kill me now). I know this is a classic Disco Era drink which is why I thought it was perfect for dancing. I mean, it IS totally perfect for dancing but goodness, let’s get some REAL ingredients up in this bitch.

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When I decided to update the Tequila Sunrise, I thought, “let’s skip the OJ all together and substitute the grenadine with something else.” The something else was Campari and the OJ became Ruby Red Grapefruit juice, Cointreau and Orange bitters. This is now a really damn tasty drink!

I named it Santa Monica Sunrise cause that’s where I was born, this actually does look like a West Coast sunrise and it totally seems like something you should order in LA.

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Note, the drink fades and so does the Grapefruit peel. That natural fade gurrrrrrl.

Santa Monica Sunrise

  • 2 oz Casa Noble Blanco Tequila
  • 1/2 oz Cointreau
  • approx 1/2 oz Campari
  • 2 oz Grapefruit Juice
  • 2 dashes Regans’ Orange Bitters
  • Garnish: Grapefruit Peel

Combine Tequila, Cointreau, Grapefruit Juice and bitters over ice and short shake. Double strain into double Rocks glass with Cracked, Crushed or Pebble ice. Slowly pour the Campari down the side of the glass so it doesn’t mix with the other ingredients and forms a layer on the bottom. Garnish with a Grapefruit peel and serve with a straw.

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Yummmmmy. I ain’t ashamed of this!

Thanks again to the Baddish Group for the Casa Noble Tequila!

The Importance of Being Ernesto

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Recently, I did a post of recent acquisitons which included Amaro CioCiaro. In my initial few words about CioCiaro, I said that I was going to use it in Tiki. I totally still am and already have some Tiki recipes with it, but what I failed to mention was that I was going to use it with Tequila!

“Oh, sweet, beautiful Amaro CioCiaro, how Orange thou art!” -a short laudation by Home Bar Girl

When I get a new liqueur or any sort, I like to think how I can use it in lieu of something else. In the case of Tequila, I wanted to use it in lieu of Cointreau in the Tequila + Citrus + Orange Liqueur format. (Love you forever Cointreau, there will never be another!) I picked an Añejo Tequila (Corralejo is my jam!) as the richer notes would pair better with an Amaro than say, Blanco Tequila. It’s heavenly! You could probably use a good Reposado and it would work just as well.

CioCiaro & Santa Maria

Goodbye Piney, Alpiney Santa Maria, helloooooo CioCiaro!

The Importance of Being Ernesto

  • 1 3/4 oz Corralejo Añejo Tequila
  • 3/4 oz Amaro CioCiaro
  • 3/4 oz Grapefruit Juice
  • 1 dropper Brooklyn Hemispherical Sriracha Bitters or any other Chili Spiced bitters
  • Garnish: Orange peel and a Pinch of Salt

Combine ingredients over ice and shake until proper dilution and chilling have occurred. Double strain into coupe, express Orange peel and garnish. Drop a few bits of Salt into the glass.

Cheers!

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Don’t you want this right now? Like, right now/right now/right now!

Brunch Bonanza: Sangre del Diablo with 18.21 Bitters

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Hellooooooo weekend party people! It’s time for another Brunch Bonanza, the segment where we talk about Brunch Cocktails.

Now, I totally consider a Margarita to be a Brunch cocktail cause when is it not Margarita Time? When? Never. It’s never not Margarita Time but most certainly never not at Brunch! Vitamin C, Sugar, Salt, Tequila, more Tequila, etc = perfect companion to the first Weekend meal of the day.

Also, it’s Blood Orange season and I absolutely love Blood Oranges. I like their flavour better than regular Oranges and the colour is just terrifying! Nothing like being afraid of the fruit you’re about to eat, amirite? No? Ok. Add to this the fantastic and SPICY 18.21 Japanese Chili & Lime Bitters and you have a cocktail to set the Devil’s Blood on fire!

Sangre del Diablo

  • 2 oz Blanco Tequila or Jalapeño infused Blanco Tequila*
  • 1/2 oz Cointreau
  • 1/2 oz Velvet Falernum
  • 3/4 oz Blood Orange Juice
  • 1/4 oz Lime Juice
  • 2-3 droppers 18.21 Japanese Chili Lime Bitters*
  • Garnishes: Pink Salt rim and Blood Orange Wheel

Combine ingredients in Tin and shakity-shake-shake over ice. Strain into Salt rimmed rocks glass over ice. Garnish with Blood Orange Wheel. Feel the fire.

*If you’re a caucasian human, I recommend you keep things on the less spicy side. If you’re a POC, go wild, it’s up to you! If you’re half caucasian/half Mexican like I am, use 1 oz Jalapeño Tequila and 1 oz Blanco Tequila. If you’re offended by this joke, #SorryNotSorry.

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Yes, that is Cointreau in a jar cause I live in a tiny apartment and we all have to make sacrifices.

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Wooooooo, beautifulness is coming for youuuuuu. ¡Viva la Vida!

Lemme See That El Camino

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Lemme-See-That-El-Camino-1

Whoop! Here’s another post where I get to talk about the Home Bar Girl Tequila Challenge and Something Awesome. Last time the Something Awesome was Penelope Cruz, this time it’s that oh so sexy El Camino.

1. The Tequila Challenge: to encourage us Home Bar Gurls and Dudes to think of Tequila as more than “shots!” and/or “Margarita Time”. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE a good Marg as much as the rest of the world but Tequila is versatile! Think about using Tequila in place of Gin or Whiskey in your cocktails. Pair it with Vermouth, Amari, Bitters and Chartreuse Jaune. Stir it, Shake it, Serve it, Sip it. Yep, Sip your Tequila, don’t Shoot it! If this means you need to stop buying gross Tequila like José or Patrón, then please do so immediately. Mmmk? So many other tasty Tequilas await!

2. The El Camino: I love the Early-70s El Camino SS. I think they’re awesome muscle cars and despite being half car/half truck, I still think they’re dead sexy.  Super Sport? Quit teasing, just lemme drive it! And dropped? Hot damn, gimme that Lowrider! Perhaps my inner SoCal Mexican is shining through a bit too much with all this El Camino talk. I would even say that the El Camino is the Mullet of the South Western USA. Business in the front, Party in the back, but oh so much party in the back!

1973 El Camino SS

This is not my car, I want this car, it will be mine. Photo via www.speedsports.net

Now, what does the badass El Camino SS have to do with a badass Tequila cocktail? You’ll have to make one to find out.

Lemme See That El Camino

  • 2 oz Blanco Tequila
  • 3/4 oz Averna Amaro
  • 1 oz Grapefruit Juice
  • 1/2 oz Agave Nectar
  • 1 dash Hella Bitter Citrus Bitters
  • Orange peel

In tin, combine Tequila, Averna, Grapefruit Juice, Agave and Bitters. Dry shake until Agave has dissolved. Add ice and shake shake shake again. Express Orange Peel and garnish.

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