aged rum

Easy Peasy Drinks to Make for Thanksgiving and All Your Other Holiday Parties

/ Dani DeLuna / Leave a comment

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It’s that time of year again. Not only is it Thanksgiving, it’s Thanksgiving during a election year, meaning that you’re probably feeling salty towards at least some of your friends and relatives or perhaps they’re feeling salty towards you! What will ease the anguish you’re experiencing as you mentally prepare yourself to share a meal with your loved ones?

A drink that’s what!

Ok, so now you realize you have to make drinks for a whole bunch of people, AND you’re feeling salty. What to do?

Keep it easy man! Today, I’m gonna give us a few large-format cocktails that will work for all the upcoming holiday parties and give you a lil peace of mind. Ready? Let’s go.

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Firstly, you could set up an Old Fashioned Station for your guests to help themselves. This is a great idea cause build-your-own-drinks tend to be a hit at parties! You could get a couple different kinds of spirits (Bourbon, Rye, Aged Rum, Apple Brandy, Añejo Tequila, Mezcal, Brandy, etc), different types of sweeteners or a mixer like the excellent Cocktail Crate Spiced Old Fashioned Mixer, an assortment of Bitters, garnishes and let the people do what they want!

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A sparkling wine cocktail: This one is easy cause you can batch your modifiers (like Apple Brandy + Cinnamon Syrup, Angostura Bitters) ahead of time, pour them into the glass and top with prosecco. Donezo!

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Bottled Negroni: This one is almost a no-brainer. Make a bottle sized Negroni, let it hang out in the bottle for a few days and serve as an aperitivo. Super duper easy and the Negroni is a perfect drink to cut through all those heavy foods you’re about to consume.

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4. Punch. Duh. This is by far my fave format for large parties cause Punch is the most communal cocktail of them all. I’ve created many Punch recipes but my two favorites are…

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Winfred Bumbry Punch: This Punch uses Irish Whiskey, two kinds of Rum, Ruby Port, Lemon Sherbet, and Nutmeg. It’s fabulously tasty and was a home run at last year’s Friendsgiving.

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DD’s Cider Punch: this Punch features mulled apple cider, two kinds of Rum, Allspice Dram, Benedictine, and Lemon Sherbet. (If you haven’t noticed, Sherbet is essential in a proper punch.)

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See, that was so easy! Cheers and hope y’all have loads of fun during the holidays!

 

DP Swizzle

/ Dani DeLuna / 1 Comment

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Y’all, it’s JULY and hot and swampy as hell up in this piece. I know that Tiki doesn’t really have a season (Tiki The Snow Away, duh) but if there was ever a time for a tall, icy, Tropical Cocktail, that time is now!

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The inspiration for today’s Swizzle was this tasty bottle of brand-new-soon-to-be-released Berentzen Peach Liqueur. Berentzen were actually the first brand to send me products and I have loved them ever since cause QUALITY. All of their liqueurs are crisp, clean, bright, and come through very well in cocktails without being overly cloying.

The Peach is great! It’s Peachy with lemon and floral notes and not too intense or overwhelming. 20% ABV

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Cast of Characters:

  1. Peach Madness: Berentzen Peach + Bitter Truth Peach Bitters. Berentzen also sent me The Bitter Truth Peach Bitters and they’re really great too! Not too bitter, more like essence of peach. I decided to throw a couple of dashes in the drink to increase the “peachness”.
  2. Rum: I really wanted to make the sweet Peach flavor work with aged Rum, so I picked Denizen Merchant’s Reserve cause it’s dry, funky, grassy and just really lovely.
  3. Juices: I was debating between Lemon or Lime and asked some cocktail friends. One them replied, “Why not both?” Yeah dude, good call!
  4. Sugar & Spice: To give this Swizzle a lil pop I added, St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram, Demerara Simple Syrup for body + depth, & Angostura Bitters on top.

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I have a couple of Rhum JM swizzle sticks, but they weren’t long enough for this big Tiki mug. I opted to use my copper-plated Skull Barspoon from Cocktail Kingdom instead and it swirls really nicely. Yarrrrrrr, matey!

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Big Mint sprig for big aromatics.

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Don’t you love this mug? I like how serious he looks but then his moustache is so long and his lips so small!

DP Swizzle

  • 2 1/2 oz Denizen Merchant’s Reserve 8 Year Rum/Rhum
  • 1 oz Berentzen Peach Liqueur
  • 1 barspoon St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram
  • 1 1/2 oz Demerara Syrup 1:1
  • 1 oz Lime Juice
  • 1/2 oz Lemon Juice
  • 3 dashes Bitter Truth Peach Bitters
  • 5-6 Mint leaves
  • Crushed ice
  • Garnish: Mint sprig, Angostura Bitters, colorful swizzle stick

How to make the DP Swizzle:

  1. In the bottom of a large Tiki mug, add Mint leaves, Lime Juice, Lemon Juice, Demerara Syrup, and muddle.
  2. Add Rum, Peach Liqueur, Peach Bitters, Allspice Dram, crushed ice and *swizzle with a long Swizzle stick or long Barspoon.
  3. “Paint” the top of the ice with a few dashes of Angostura bitters, add Mint sprig and colorful swizzle stick.

*To swizzle: place the stick/barspoon between your hands and rub them back and forth rapidly so the stick/barspoon swirls the ingredients of your drink together and causes some dilution.

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Swizzlin’. I’ll be swizzlin’ all day loooooong. Tiki Cheers to y’all!

Thanks to Berentzen for the tasty Peach Liqueur and bitters!

Frankie’s Tropical Holiday

/ Dani DeLuna / Leave a comment

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Hey! Hey! Hey! all you Tiki The Snow Away party people! I’ve got a big drink today with Fernet Francisco that I’m pretty psyched about, so let’s get to it!

If you want to share a tropical drink during the month of January, use the hashtag #TikiTheSnowAway on Instagram and Twitter, or tag u/homebargirl on reddit.

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Around a week ago, Fernet Francisco posted a comment on my Instagram account that if I made any Tiki drinks with their Fernet, I should let them know about it. I actually had that thought way back in November but then totally forgot about it! Whoops.

So, to all my Bay Area Fernet drinking people, this drink is for you. A love letter from my expatriated heart to you and your obsession with all things Amari and all things excessive. May you have many big, boozy, fruity, Rum + Fernet drinks and may they all slap a smile on your face.

And to Fernet Francisco I say, “I love you, you beautiful thing, you.”

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Here are the cast of characters for this totally over-the-top Tiki drink:

  1. Fernet Francisco: super minty and fresh tasting, with loads of herbaceousness. Tastes and smells like plants from the Bay Area which actually poses a challenge when creating a Tiki drink. Therefore, I put it with my two fave Rums
  2. Denizen Aged White & Merchant’s Reserve Rums: LORDT knows how I love these Rums. They’re dry, deep, fruity, funky, wonderful and provide an excellent foundation in a big Tiki drink. Oh and they go sooooooo well together as a split base.
  3. Orgeat + Cane Syrup + Lime + Grapefruit + Pineapple: a helluva lot of juice and sweetness right? This combo is a total Tiki knockout. No lie, try it. The supa-fresh mintiness in the Fernet Francisco was crying out for Grapefruit and Pineapple. I added Lime for length & tartness, Orgeat for creaminess, and Cane Syrup cause this is a blended drink.

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Garnish Kween is back again with the Pineapple Spear Bunny Ears, Grapefruit Peel Rose wrapped, and speared around a Luxardo Maraschino Cherry. A fun straw is always welcome!

Frankie’s Tropical Holiday

  • 1 oz Fernet Francisco
  • 1 1/2 oz Denizen Aged White Rum
  • 1 1/2 oz Denizen Merchant’s Reserve Rum
  • 3/4 oz Orgeat
  • 1 oz Lime Juice
  • 1 1/2 oz Red Grapefruit Juice
  • 3/4 oz Pineapple Juice
  • 3/4 oz Cane Sugar Syrup*
  • Garnish: Pineapple Spear Bunny Ears, Luxardo Maraschino Cherry in Grapefruit peel Rose, plastic Sword

Combine ingredients and blend with ~6 oz Crushed Ice for 7 seconds. Pour, garnish and serve in 16 oz Tiki Mug.

*The amount of Cane Syrup depends on how sweet your Orgeat and Red Grapefruit Juice are. Increase or reduce accordingly.

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Cheers to all y’all and may your Amari-Tiki be delicious!

Gregorian Grog

/ Dani DeLuna / 1 Comment

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Howdy, has anyone gone outside and had their eyelashes freeze yet? Been caught in a snow drift? Gotten a bloody nose from the dry-as-hell air? Fear not, for we have Tiki The Snow Away drinks to give you life here at  Home Bar Girl. FEAR NOT Y’ALL.

If you want to share a tropical drink during the month of January, use the hashtag #TikiTheSnowAway on Instagram and Twitter, or tag u/homebargirl on reddit.

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The inspiration for today’s drink is that totally fabulous, amazingly spiced, magical Sukkah Hill Spirits Besamim Liqueur. If you haven’t tried it or read my review, just know that it’s like if your grandma put all of her baking spices in a Liqueur. Hell yes to that. I wanted to put it in a Tiki drink cause Sugar Cane Spirit + Spices + Citrus = hot damn.

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Here are the ingredients: Besamim Liqueur, Batavia-Arrack van Oosten, Denizen Merchant’s Reserve (currently my fave Rum), Pineapple Juice, and Lime Juice. I wanted to put Besamim with the Arrack cause I knew that they’d make an unstoppable combo. I was right. I’ve added Merchant’s Reserve for depth, viscosity, and funk.

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Grab yer Tiki umbrellas, Pineapple chunks, and Luxardo Maraschino Cherries!

If you’re asking, “Grrrrrl, what’s with the name of this drink? Are monks going to come after me in the night and haunt me after I drink this?” POSSIBLY. I WON’T DENY THAT IT’S POSSIBLE! (Good luck with the hangover if you have too many.)

But seriously now, History! In the 16th century, English and Dutch sailors were trying to out-do each other in South East Asia. In the 17th century, they found a strange spirit called Arak/Rak/Arrack, distilled from sugar cane and fermented with red rice. They started making Punch with it and the predecessor to the “cocktail” was effectively born. I have named this drink in honor of the Gregorian period, the thrust of English Naval exploration.

Gregorian Grog

  • 1 1/2 oz Sukkah Hill Besamim Liqueur
  • 1 1/2 oz Batavia-Arrack van Oosten
  • 1/2 oz Denizen Merchant’s Reserve Rum
  • 1 oz Pineapple Juice
  • 1/2 oz Lime Juice
  • Garnish: Pineapple, Maraschino Cherry, Tiki umbrella

Combine ingredients over ice and short shake. Double strain into rocks glass or short Tiki mug and garnish.

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16th-21st Century cheers to all y’all! Happy Tiki The Snow Away to youuuuu.

 

 

DD’s Spiced Rum

/ Dani DeLuna / 2 Comments

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Since we’ll be using this Rum a fair amount during Tiki The Snow Away 2016, I thought I’d create a separate post for it. Thanks again to Denizen Rum for creating the truly spectacular Merchant’s Reserve that makes up the bulk of this mix.

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DD’s Spiced Rum

  • 6 oz Denizen Merchant’s Reserve Rum (sub Jamaican Rum)
  • 2 oz Plantation Barbados 5 Rum (sub a smooth aged Rum)
  • 1 1/2 oz St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram
  • 1 oz Cinnamon Bark Syrup

Combine ingredients in a bottle and agitate gently so all ingredients are integrated.

Happy Spiced Rum making!

Beach Nut Punch

/ Dani DeLuna / Leave a comment

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Hey, y’all. Ever had one of those days where you wish you were at the beach by an actual jungle, and not stomping around the concrete jungle?

Me too.

My still-tanned girlfriend and I returned from Tulum, MX two weeks AGO (how the tiiiiiiime flies), but seriously y’all, I MISS IT EVERY SINGLE DAY.

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Well, since I can’t be living that beach life all the time, I thought I’d shake off my landlocked sadness with a tasty tropical cocktail.

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For this particular recipe, I started with Apricot Liqueur and worked my way along. Apricot and almond flavors go really well together, so I grabbed the Orgeat syrup, and a Lime from my fridge. Then it was time to pick a Rum. Hmmm. Which Rum? An Aged Rum! I have a few Aged Rums in my home bar and decided to go with Angostura 7 Year, a molasses based Trinidadian Rum, because it has a bit of funk to it and a short finish. For the final ingredient, it seemed natural to add a couple of dashes of Angostura Bitters.

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Beach Nut Punch

  • 2 oz Angostura 7 Year Rum (sub: aged Jamaican Rum)
  • 1/4 oz Rothman & Winter Apricot Liqueur
  • 1/2 oz Orgeat
  • 3/4 oz Lime Juice
  • 2 dashes Angostura Bitters
  • Garnish: Maraschino Cherries

Combine ingredients over ice and rapidly shake. Double strain into coupe and garnish.

IMPORTANT: Though I’ve called this drink a “punch” (because it has Spirit, spice, water, citrus), it’s really a cocktail or a “Punch for One.” I just really liked the way the phrase Beach Nut Punch sounds.

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Cheers! May this tasty drink make you feel like you’ve escaped to the beach!

Shark Reef

/ Dani DeLuna / Leave a comment

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In my opinion, it’s always time for a Tiki drink. No matter how crappy the weather may be, or how dark it is outside, I am always going to say, “OH HELL YAS” to some tropical Rum magic.

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Today’s magic comes to us in the form of a Tiger Shark variation called Shark Reef. I started with Denizen Merchant’s Reserve, added Hamilton 151, some tasty syrups, Lime juice, and Pineapple Juice. Refrescando!

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For real though, these two Rums make one hell of a split base. Note to self, make as many Tiki drinks with this combo as possible!

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Ready? I’m ready. I think I’m going to make another one right after I finish writing this post!

Shark Reef

  • 1 1/4 oz Denizen Merchant’s Reserve Rum
  • 3/4 oz Hamilton Demerara 151 Rum
  • 3/4 oz Pineapple Juice
  • 1/2 oz Lime Juice
  • 1/2 oz Cane Sugar Syrup (1:1)
  • 2 barspoons Cinnamon Bark Syrup
  • 8 oz Crushed ice
  • Garnish: Pineapple shark tooth, two Paddles to escape from the Sharks!

Combine ingredients in blender and blend for around 8 seconds. Pour into double Rocks glass or Tiki mug and garnish.

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Yeaaaaah, so this is really damn delicious. Cheers y’all! SHARK REEF!

Tropicbird with Denizen Merchant’s Reserve

/ Dani DeLuna / Leave a comment

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Woo! This Denizen Merchant’s Reserve Rum is giving me ALLLLLLL sorts of ideas. I’ve been rolling through the Beachbum Berry’s Total Tiki app and making a lil checklist of recipes I’d like to try with this most excellent of Rums. Needless to say, the list is getting quite long.

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If you guessed that Tropicbird is a variation on a Jungle Bird, you’re right! Congrats! You know your Tiki drinks!

The subbed ingredients in this cocktail are Merchant’s Reserve (subbed for Jamaican Rum), Aperol (subbed for Campari), and Cane Syrup (subbed for Simple Syrup). I also reduced the amount of Pineapple Juice because I didn’t have to cut the bitterness of Campari with extra juice.

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Pretty pretty Tropicbird. Won’t you sing to me?

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Tropicbird

  • 2 oz Denizen Merchant’s Reserve Rum
  • 3/4 oz Aperol
  • 2 oz Pineapple Juice
  • 1/2 oz Lime Juice
  • 1/4 oz Cane Syrup*
  • Garnishes: Pineapple Spear Bunny Ears, Luxardo Maraschino Cherry, Pineapple chunks

Combine ingredients over ice and short shake. Strain into double Rocks glass over cracked/crushed ice and garnish.

*1:1 Ratio of Cane Sugar and Water.

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My my, you’re the prettiest bird I’ve ever seen. Thanks to Denizen for creating this undeniably fabulous Rum!

DD’s Cider Punch

/ Dani DeLuna / 1 Comment

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It’s that spoooooky time of year! The time for sizzling dishes, ghoulish wishes, and festive gatherings. Seriously, if you’re throwing any kind of Halloween/Dia De Los Muertos/Harvest/I Love Autumn party, you can’t go wrong with Hot Apple Cider Punch!

I created this Punch last Friday for a party my illustrious girlfriend was attending that night. Being deep into Apple season, we decided go to with Apple Cider as the base and Rum as the main spirit. Let’s jump into the recipe.

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You’ll need spices. I recommend getting Mulling Spices that contain Allspice, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Star Anise, Cloves, Black Peppercorn, and Orange peel.

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You’ll need spiced liqueurs. I wanted to pump up the Allspice, so I included some St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram. Then I wanted to add the luxurious sensuality of Bénédictine D.O.M. which has notes of honey, citrus, saffron, cardamom, ginger, and is super silky.

Lemon Sherbet

You’ll need Lemon Sherbet. You’re so shocked right? Unheard of that I would use Lemon Sherbet in a recipe.

Why Lemon Sherbet in Apple Cider? 1. It’s my fave ingredient right now. 2. Lemon gives the Punch some brightness and bite.

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You’ll need a big pot, ceramic dutch oven, or Crockpot. Simmer baby, simmmmmer.

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Everyone got their stuff ready? Awesome. (Note, the Lemon Sherbet isn’t in the photo cause I used it all!)

DD’s Cider Punch (serves 12*)

  • 70 oz Apple Cider**
  • 2 oz Lemon Sherbet
  • Mulling spices
  • 16 oz Plantation Barbados 5 Year Rum
  • 4 oz Hamilton 151 Demerara Rum
  • 6 oz Allspice Dram
  • 6 oz Bénédictine D.O.M.
  • Garnish: Clove studded Apple slices
  • Glassware: Mugs
  1. Combine Cider, Mulling spices and Sherbet in pot and heat until liquid begins to simmer, stirring occasionally. Turn heat to looooooow and simmer for around 40 mins, or until the Mulling Spices have done their thing. “Nice spice, man.”
  2. Turn the heat down to the lowest possible setting. Add Liqueurs, Spirits and heat until the Punch is hot enough to drink but nowhere near simmering/boiling. You don’t want to cook the Alcohol out of the Punch, just warm the Punch back up.
  3. Serve in Mugs with Clove studded Apple slices.

*This recipe will yeilds ~104 oz Punch (evaporation could occur), which means 12 of your friends can have ~8 oz of Punch each, that is unless they’re big drinkers…

**I started with 64 oz Cider, and thought the Punch was awesome. My girlfriend thought it might be too strong for her friends and asked that I dilute a bit. I added 6 more oz of Apple Cider for a total of 70 oz of Cider. Then it was perfect. Remember, always ask your customers what they like most.

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Oh and y’all, these two Rums together, WOOOOOOOOO-eeeeeee. Killer combo! Both Plantation Barbados 5 and Hamilton Demerara 151 are in what I would call the “Smooth” category yet both have real depth of flavour without being too overpowering. If you’re using different Rums, I recommend staying in this category.

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Cheers to you and all your holiday Party Punches!

Muertito Vivo at Glady’s Caribbean!

/ Dani DeLuna / Leave a comment

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Wooooooooooo! So a while back, Shannon Mustipher and I were working on Secret Tiki Drinks at Glady’s Caribbean, and now one of them is on the menu!

Glady's Oct 2015 Menu

Yeaaaah y’all!

Muertito Vivo = Spiced Tiki and it’s just as interesting as you might imagine! The Jägermeister + Pastis makes this drink really intesting. It’s also really dry thanks to the Santa Teresa Rum + Allspice Dram + Lime juice, yet super refreshing!

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Let’s not forget, TIKI FLAAAAAME!

If you live anywhere near NYC, stop by Glady’s Caribbean in Crown Heights, Brooklyn for Muertito Vivo and some of the best Rum Cocktails ever!