Holiday Gift Ideas

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Y’all, holiday times are happening RIGHT NOW. They’re upon us! They’re falling from the sky threatening to crush us…um, woah, that was a little crazy. No need to freak out now. Just peruse this list below, order something, ship it to your fave Home Bar Gurl or Dude and chill out. Maybe even have a Martini/Manhattan/Añejo Tequila on the Rocks.

Good luck to you throughout the Holidaze! Cheers!

Devil’s Pie

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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.

Devil's-Pie-2

Album of the Year Cocktail

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Album-of-the-Year-1

It’s that time of year, that Album of the Year time. I’ve been in hot debate with several of my friends about this decision. It seems that dudes tend to think my album choice was “close but no cigar” but almost errrrrrry Gurl I know agrees with me. My Album Of the Year is totally:

Little Dragon – Nabuma Rubberband

I have listened to this record probably 5x more than any other record this year and I usually listen to it straight through. It’s fucking perfect. Perfect production, perfect vocals, perfect grooves and songwriting. I haven’t been this excited about an album since Fever Ray released her self-titled album in 2009 or St Vincent’s Strange Mercy. Side note: I know everyone is giving AOTY it to St. Vincent for her self-titled album this year. Whilst a solid choice, Strange Mercy is her best work IMHO.

Other strong contenders: Owen Pallett – In Conflict, Jenny Lewis – The Voyager, St Vincent – St Vincent and Perfume Genius – Too Bright.

And now, the Cocktail. I decided to call this drink Album of the Year because it’s simple, clean and extremely complex. Just like any good album should be. All of the fruitiness from the NOLET’S Silver, the Cranberry and other dark fruits from the Dolin Rouge and the vegetal + citrus from the Bonal and Bitters are just like an end of year party! Woo!

Album of the Year Cocktail

Combine ingredients over ice and stirrrrrrr. Strain into coupe, no garnish.

Album-of-the-Year-2

Cheers! Feel free to tell me what your Albums of the Year are in the comments!

Picante Chocolate

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Picante-Chocolate-1

Back 1999, I went to Northern Italy for my high school graduation/birthday present. The first thing I noticed was that everyone was better dressed than anyone I’d ever seen in the San Francisco Bay Area. Sensational fashion, such effortless elegance. I went shopping.

The second thing I noticed was the food. Even though California is renowned for its fresh and delicious cooking, real Italian food was actually more fresh and flavours more supreme. At some point during my trip I had Cioccolata Densa, the very thick Italian version of French Chocolat Chaud both of which are SO MUCH BETTER THAN AMERICAN HOT CHOCOLATE.

European drinking chocolate is thick, delicious and served in smaller cups, not watery, gross, underflavoured and served in giant styrofoam mugs. When I returned to California, I started making my Chocolate Chaud with: Whole Milk, Dark Chocolate chips, a bit of Hot Cocoa Mix and Salt. Later, I added Cinnamon and Chillies cause the Latina in me wanted a lil’ spice.

Once again, this Patrón XO Cafe Incendio is perfect in hot drinks. The Chocolate and Chili really turn this drinking chocolate into a Mexican Mouth-Party. Yep, I did just say that: Mexican Mouth-Party.

Picante Chocolate

  • 6 oz Organic Whole Milk
  • 2 tbsp Dark Chocolate Chips (add more for increased thickness)
  • 1 tbsp Hot Cocoa Mix
  • 1/2 oz Cinnamon Bark Syrup
  • Pinch of Salt
  • 1 1/2 oz Patrón XO Cafe Incendio
  • 1 oz Corallejo Añejo Tequila
  • 2 dashes Scrappy’s Chocolate Bitters
  • Finely Ground Cinnamon
  1. Combine Hot Chocolate ingredients in sauce pot and heat on LOW until chocolate has dissolved and ingredients have mixed well
  2. Just as liquids begin to boil, turn heat off
  3. Add Café Incendio, Añejo Tequila, Chocolate Bitters and stir
  4. Serve in Espresso cups or similarly sized cups, dust with ground Cinnamon

Picante-Chocolate-2

Boots & Flannel

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Boots-&-Flannel-1

It’s Friday, it’s Wintry out and it’s time for Boots & Flannel. Winter Uniform is here y’all: I’ve been wearing some J. Crew lady flannel and Mono black Dr. Martens 1460s with black Jeggings. I feel cozy and ready for this chilly weather.

I was in debate about which bitters to use and nearly went with Orange bitters. However, Peychaud’s works really well here because it adds another level of flavour to this cocktail. Also, you can’t stop the Santa Maria. It cannot be stopped! It won’t let me stop! I’ve been taken over by Santa Maria!

Boots & Flannel

  • 1 1/2 oz Rye
  • 3/4 oz Santa Maria al Monte Amaro
  • 3/4 oz Carpano Antica
  • 1/4 oz Cinnamon Bark Syrup
  • 1 dash Peychaud’s Bitters
  • Orange peel
  • Freshly grated Nutmeg

In tin, combine Rye, Amaro, Carpano, Cinnamon bark Syrup and Peychaud’s over ice and stirrrrrr. Strain into Rocks glass over ice. Garnish with freshly grated Nutmeg and Orange peel.

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Punch for Two: Fernandez Punch

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Fernandez-Punch-1

Punch for Two continues with Fernandez Punch. Woo! The combination of the Pineapple infused Gin, Jalapeño infused Blanco Tequila and Brugal Extra Dry Rum makes for a VERY thrilling Punch! Perhaps I’ve found the best way to make a fake Margarita yet!

Remember, because this is Punch for Two and not Twenty, we’re gonna shake the Punch over Ice and serve into Punch Cups. If this was for Twenty, we’d put it in a punch bowl and stir it with one block of ice.

Fernandez Punch

  • 1 1/4 oz Brugal Extra Dry Rum
  • 1 1/4 oz Pineapple infused Plymouth Gin
  • 1/2 oz Jalapeño infused Espolón Blanco Tequila*
  • 1/2 oz St Elizabeth Allspice Dram
  • 1/2 oz Agave Nectar
  • 1/2 oz Lime Juice
  • 3/4 oz Grapefruit Juice
  • 2 dashes Elemakule Tiki Bitter
  • Lime Wheel
  • Club Soda

In tin, combine ingredients over ice and shake. Strain into Punch cups and top with Club soda. Lime wheel garnish.

Fernandez-Punch-3

*Jalapeño infused Blanco Tequila: Espolón is perfect for this and Jimador would be sensational.

  1. Cut one Jalapeño into chunks (including the seeds!) and place it into 1 750ml bottle of Blanco Tequila.
  2. Taste after one hour and see if you like the heat. If not, wait another hour and taste again.
  3. Strain and bottle Jalapeño infused Tequila.

May your Punch times be amazing and your holidays be filled with Punch!

Holiday Bottled Cocktail: I Just Called To Say I Love You

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Holiday-Bottled-Cocktail-2014-1

I thought to myself, “I have all this leftover Bourbon from ThanxG, why don’t I just turn it into a Bottled Cocktail to give as a gift for the Holidaze!” Then I added more ingredients from all those Holiday Infusions I just did et voilá! Something that should have been a Boulevardier is now the most complicated and magical Holiday Bottled Cocktail ever.

*Note to self: Dear Self, next year, just make a Boulevardier or Negroni and MOVE ON WITH YO’ LYFE. #NegroniWeek

**This recipe is for one Cocktail and these particular bottles hold two Cocktails. Therefore, I doubled the recipe.

I Just Called To Say I Love You

  1. In tin, combine ingredients, express and add Orange peel, add ice.
  2. Stir until proper dilution has been achieved. Strain into Bottle and give it to someone you like a lot!
  3. I would recommend that the recipient chill the bottle, possibly serve on the rocks if they feel the drink is too strong.
  4. I would also recommend a fresh Orange peel in the glass they drink from.

Holiday-Bottled-Cocktail-2014-2
Cheers to you and all your friends! 

Wolskir Flip

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Wolskir-Flip-1

Flip, flip, flip-a-delphia

I know I’ve mentioned Santa Maria al Monte Amaro before but have been slightly overwhelmed with all this Holidaze/Xmas business and You’re So Kind posts lately…AHEM. Ok, seriously though, Santa Maria is my fave Amaro. It’s sort of like if you smashed Fernet Branca and Averna together but then lightened them up at the same time. Brighter, lighter, smooth, perfect as a digestivo. I drink Santa Maria neat in a tiny 1 oz cordial glass nearly every day.

Santa Maria Cordial Glass

Santa Maria lounging in a Cordial glass. Tasty.

Some instagram friends of mine mentioned a Flip contest and I was totally inspired. I love Flips, Silver Fizzes and anything with a Whole Egg. The most popular Flip amongst the HipStars is probably the Cynar Flip (excellent cocktail, such flavour).

Flips means you get to drink an egg in a cocktail. Which in turn means you can have vitamins and calories whilst consuming alcohol. DO YOU GET WHAT I’M SAYING? It means you can drink and not pass out! But don’t get crazy now, everything in moderation, especially Egg drinks!

This drink is named after my friend Rebecca Wolskir, a bad ass French teacher and Cyclo-Cross Maniac who also loves Santa Maria al Monte Amaro as much as I do!

Wolskir Flip

  • 3/4 oz Flor de Caña 7 Year Rum
  • 1/2 oz Sana Maria al Monte Amaro
  • 1/2 oz Christian Drouin Calvados
  • 1/4 oz Agave Nectar
  • 1/2 oz Half n Half
  • Egg Yolk

In tin, combine ingredients and Dry shake until Egg Yolk has emulsified. Add ice and shake again. Strain into Coupe and serve up. No Garnish.

Wolskir-Flip-2

Lemme just drink this and take a nap. 

You’re So Kind: Cocktail Crate Ginger Bee

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Gold-Hunter-2

Last weekend at the Brooklyn Winter Flea, I went to the Cocktail Crate booth to say hello to Alex Abbott Boyd and thank him for the very tasty Spiced Old Fashioned Mixer. In return, he gave me this bottle of Ginger Bee. Isn’t he kind? SUPREMELY KIND!

I love Ginger Bee! It tastes very much like my Honey Ginger Juice but also has a touch of Clove. Yummmm, perfect for the Holidaze. As you can see from the above photo, I’ve already used more than half of the bottle cause it’s just so versatile!

HINT: THIS WOULD BE A GREAT GIFT

And now, the cocktails:

Ginger-Bee-Toddy-3

Since it’s Hot Toddy weather, we’ll start with a Ginger Bee Toddy.

Ginger Bee Toddy

  • 1 1/2 oz Flor de Caña 7 Aged Rum, Bourbon, Rye or Añjeo Tequila (but Aged Rum is SOOO good)
  • 1 1/2 oz Cocktail Crate Ginger Bee
  • 1/4 oz Lemon Juice
  • 1/8 oz or 1 Barspoon Cinnamon Bark Syrup
  • 3-4 oz Hot Water (depends on yer mug size)
  • Clove studded Lemon Wheel

In mug, combine ingredients, top with Hot Water and stir. Garnish with Clove studded Lemon Wheel. Sexy Lemon Wheel. 

Bobbies-&-Blockheads-1

This is another variation on my variation of the Police & Thieves from Gin Palace. RIP Gin Palace, I hope you didn’t sink too far into the ground. 😦

Bobbies & Blockheads

  • 2 oz Pineapple Plymouth Gin
  • 1/2 oz Cocktail Crate Ginger Bee
  • 1/2 oz Cinnamon Bark Syrup
  • 1/2 oz Lime Juice
  • 1/2 oz Grapefruit Juice
  • 2 dashes of Regans’ No 6 Orange Bitters
  • Pernod Pastis Rinse or Absinthe
  • Grapefruit Peel

Rinse Coupe with Pernod and chill. In tin, combine remaining ingredients over ice and shake. Express Grapefruit peel and garnish.

Gold-Hunter-3

This is a very tasty Gold Rush variation. Perfect for winter!

Gold Hunter

  • 2 oz Elijah Craig 12 Year Bourbon
  • 1 oz Cocktail Crate Ginger Bee
  • 3/4 oz Lemon Juice
  • Star Anise

In tin, combine Bourbon, Ginger Bee, Lemon Juice and shake over ice. Strain into double rocks glass with ice. Star Anise garnish.

St-Marks-Punch-2

I mentioned this Punch recipe in my Punch for Two: Brugal Rum post. It’s too good not to mention here in this Ginger Bee review! Perfect way to showcase such a tasty mixer in a Punch format.

St Marks Punch

  • 1 1/2 oz Brugal Extra Dry Rum
  • 1 1/2 oz Flor de Caña 7 Aged Rum
  • 1/4 oz Santa Maria al Monte Amaro
  • 1 1/2 oz Cocktail Crate Ginger Bee (may need to add more Honey Syrup to taste)
  • 3/4 oz Fresh Mandarin Orange Juice
  • 1/2 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
  • 1 dash Hella Bitter Citrus bitters
  • 1 dash Scrappy’s Cardamom bitters
  • Club Soda
  • Lemon slice

In tin, combine ingredients over ice and shake. Strain into Punch cups, top with Soda, Lemon slice garnish.

Well, that’s it for now! Thanks again to Alex and be sure to get this mixer into your Home Bar. Totally worth it! This has been You’re So Kind, the post where someone nice gives me a bottle and I review it!

Holiday Infusions

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If you follow me on Instagram, you know that I recently received the Death & Co Book as a present from my fabulous girlfriend. THAT BOOK IS EVERYTHING. The Cocktail recipes are outrageous but what has really stuck with me are the infusions, syrups and batched ingredients. It reminded me that back in the spring/summer, I was infusing anything I could think to put together. Well, I’m back in the kitchen gettin’ busy with Holiday Infusions and Syrups.

Here we go!

Cacao-Infused-Campari

This one is from the Death & Co book but I adjusted the ratios a bit. I found their version to be underwhelming and I wanted MORE CACAO!

Cacao Nib Infused Campari

  • 500 ml Campari
  • 4 heaping tablespoons Cacao Nibs (like how I went from Metric to Imperial units?)
  1. In jar combine Campari and Cacao Nibs
  2.  Let sit for 4 hours, gently rolling or stirring if you have a wide-mouthed jar (you don’t really want air bubbles to happen, just to agitate the liquid)
  3. Double strain into container

Cranberry-Infused-Dolin-Rouge

I’m gonna use this one in ALL the Xmas Cocktails! Oh and eat the cranberries after you’re done infusing! They’re sooooooo delicious!

Cranberry Infused Dolin Rouge

  • 250 ml Dolin Rouge or other Sweet Vermouth. (But try to get Dolin Rouge, it’s so perfect with Cranberries.)
  • 250 ml dried Cranberries (by Volume). I don’t have a scale. Do you have a scale? Lucky you.
  1. In Jar combine dried Cranberries and Dolin Rouge
  2. Let sit for 48 hours gently rolling or stirring if you’ve got a wide-mouthed jar
  3. Double strain into container
  4. Eat the Cranberries or give them to a friend

Pineapple-Infused-Plymouth-Gin

Yep, it’s back. This is my favourite thing ever and I use it in a lot of summer cocktails. For winter, I’m gonna use it in Punch!

Pineapple infused Plymouth Gin

  • 500 ml Plymouth Gin
  • Two handfuls of Pineapple Chunks
  1. In jar, combine Gin and Pineapple Chunks
  2. Let sit for 24 hours occasionally shaking. Yep, get up at 4 am, shake it and go back to bed.
  3. Taste. If you would like it to be more Pineapple-y, discard used Pineapple and add more fresh Pineapple. Let sit for another 24 hours. Rinse, repeat.
  4. When it is to your liking, double strain into container.

Cinnamon-Bark-Syrup

This one I got straight from the Death & Co Book. It’s sensational. Hot damn! Back to Imperial measurements.

Cinnamon Bark Syrup

  • 1 oz or approx 0.06 lb Cinnamon Bark
  • 2 Cups of Water
  • 2 Cups of Sugar (Demerara used here)
  1. In sauce pan, muddle Cinnamon Bark until it is in shards
  2. Add Sugar and Water and slowly bring to a boil
  3. Reduce and simmer for 4 minutes
  4. Let sit overnight
  5. Double strain into container. Smell it. It’s so damn amazing.

Good luck to you and happy infusing/syruping! Holiday Cheers!