autumnal cocktails

The Queen’s Blush

/ Dani DeLuna / Leave a comment

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Y’all, it happened! The temperature dropped below 70°, I went hiking yesterday and now it really feels like autumn!

What better way to celebrate this seasonal change than with a stirred drink? “Wait gurl, you made a stirred drink? WHUT.” Yes, y’all I finally made a stirred drink and it’s even in a pretty coupe!

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Definitely still obsessed with this Raspberry Syrup cause it’s packing a helluva punch. If you haven’t made it yet, head here for the recipe.

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While mentally working on this cocktail, I thought, “Ok gurrrrl, you’ve got that fabulous new bottle of Julius Drover Alambic Brandy from Shinn Estate, that Hamilton 86 Demerara Rum, why not go for something 19th century style?” So I did.

Cast of Characters:

  1. Raspberry Syrup: Since the point of this cocktail was to get a 19th Century vibe going, I looked up a bunch of recipes that used either Grenadine or Raspberry syrup in Martin’s Index of Cocktails.
  2. I bought the fantastic bottle of Julius Drover Alambic Brandy while on holiday in Long Island Wine Country with my smooth girlfriend. Yes, there is a “wine country” out on eastern Long Island, and it’s pretty amazing out there. This brandy is so damn great, it’s basically American Cognac. Nice n dry, with faint hints of wood, a bit of fruitiness (pear, grape, apple), and a tiny bit floral. Really nice stuff.
  3. The Hamilton 86 is big, molasses-y, spicy, and has notes of leather, tobacco, and dark chocolate, along with some fruitiness. There are a lot of historical punch recipes with Cognac or Brandy and Rum together, so I wanted to put these two in a drink.
  4. The Yellow Chartreuse came about when I was thinking about how to tie everything together. I felt like the flowers and honey from Yellow Chartreuse would play nicely with the notes from the Brandy & Rum. Totally did.
  5. Absinthe: I am fully convinced that Raspberry & Absinthe are perfect partners. Together they create such a sublime marriage that I almost can’t separate them anymore.
  6. Regans’ Orange Bitters: I wanted some citrus top notes since I wasn’t going to use any juice.

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Stir ’til you just can’t stand it anymore! (Or really, about 50 rotations.)

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For this Absinthe application, I went with an atomizer. I’m not really into rinsing these days cause I think it’s kind of wasteful. Plus, you can smell the Absinthe more when it’s on top of the drink.

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The Queen’s Blush

  • 1 oz Julius Drover Alambic Brandy (sub dry Cognac)
  • 1 oz Hamilton 86 Demerara Rum
  • 1/4 oz Yellow Chartreuse
  • *3/8 oz Raspberry Syrup
  • 2 dashes Regan’s Orange Bitters
  • Garnish: St. George Absinthe Vert mist

Combine ingredients over ice and stirrrrrrrrr. Strain into chilled coupe, spritz some Absinthe on top and sip!

*I am so serious about this measurement. Really, it needs to be 3/8 of an ounce or something close to 10ml but if you don’t have those measurements, go for a scant 1/2 oz. If you use a full 1/2 oz, the drink becomes too sweet and the Raspberry totally takes over.

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Hope y’all have tons of fun and enjoy this shift into some autumnal cocktails! May all your Raspberry dreams come true! Cheers!

 

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Classic Cocktails: Diamondback Cocktail

/ Dani DeLuna / 2 Comments

Diamondback

I’ve got a couple of things to say about this drink:

1. With the exception of Old Fashioneds and Sazeracs, “Build-In-Glass” drinks should ALWAYS be in Mason Jars. If you’re just gonna pour everything into the drinking glass, stir it a few times and serve it, don’t use a fancy glass. Use a Mason Jar! Same goes for any drink with a Dirty Pour (everything from the shaker goes straight into the cocktail, ice and all), or any type of Smash. I know that living in the deep South for ten years may have influenced this point of view, but I stand firmly in my beliefs!

2. The Diamondback Cocktail packs a particularly powerful punch! It’s a knock out for sure! Especially if you were to use a spicy rye like George Dickel Rye. Well, WOO! You just might shoot off like a rocket! This drink is a great slow sipper due to its boozy boozy qualities. Remember kids, Chartreuse Vert is 110 Proof.

3. In keeping with my current obsession for Autumnal Cocktails, well, the Applejack is HAPPENING in this drink. Diamondback Cocktail

  • 1 1/2 oz Rye
  • 3/4 oz Laird’s Applejack
  • 3/4 oz Chartreuse Vert
  • Maraschino Cherry

Build in glass with ice. Stir a few times and garnish with Maraschino Cherry. Easy peasy, definitely NOT breezy. Good luck! You’ve been warned.

Maxime

/ Dani DeLuna / 1 Comment

Maxime

There are a wide array of botanicals and a touch of bitterness in Maxime and I’m in love. Does this make me an old lady with old lady taste buds? Am I actually Maxime? Are we all Maxime? Perhaps.

Dorothy Parker Gin and Calvados play well together along with Bonal and Dolin Rouge making this the perfect Aperitif Cocktail with an autumnal flair.

Maxime

  • 1 oz Dorothy Parker Gin
  • 1 oz Christian Drouin Calvados
  • 1/2 oz Bonal
  • 1/2 Dolin Rouge Vermouth
  • 1 dash Regans’ Orange Bitters
  • Orange peel

In tin combine Gin, Calvados, Bonal, Vermouth and bitters over cracked ice. Stir and strain into chilled coupe. Express orange peel and garnish.

Bull Hill

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It’s fall y’all. A couple of weeks ago I took the train up to Cold Spring and hiked at Bull Hill. Excellent hiking with truly stunning views, like “oh my god so amazing, how is this view so amazing?” type of views. All of that Hudson Valley goodness, the changing leaves and fresh air really put a fire in my belly for some Pumpkin Ale.

Bull Hill

  • 1 oz Rye
  • 1 oz Applejack
  • 1/2 oz Domaine de Canton
  • 2 dashes Regans’ Orange Bitters
  • Pumpkin Ale float (I used Brooklyn Brewery’s Post Road and it was perfect)

Combine Rye, Applejack, Domaine de Canton and bitters in tin with cracked ice. Stir and strain into rocks glass with one big rock. Float Pumpkin Ale on top.