blanco tequila

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! 

It’s Pimm’s Season

/ Dani DeLuna / 2 Comments

Mexican-PImm's-3

Well here we are, together in the bright cheer of spring. And what do we drink in this most thrilling of seasons? We drink Pimm’s No. 1!

For those of you who haven’t had the supreme pleasure of sipping a Pimm’s Cup yet, it’s divine. Pimm’s No. 1 is a Gin based Liqueur which was originally envisioned as a “bottled cocktail”. There used to be six different Pimm’s Cups each with their own base spirit. Today there are the orginal Pimm’s No. 1, Pimm’s Blackberry & Elderflower, Pimm’s No. 3 Winter Cup, and Pimm’s No. 6 with a Vodka base. In the NYC area, I’ve only seen the No. 1 and Blackberry & Elderflower.

Pimm’s No. 1 tasting notes:

  • Nose: Ginny & juniper, coriander, delightfully fruity and herbaceous bouquet, Orange, Strawberry, spices
  • Taste: Gin, vegetal, citrus
  • Finish: short and wide

So essentially, we’re talking the greatest spring/summer Liqueur for anyone who loves Gin!

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Pimm’s No. 1 Cup (official recipe)

  • 60 ml / 2 oz  Pimm’s No. 1
  • 150 ml / 5 oz  Lemon Soda (the dry British sort)
  • Garnishes: Mint, Strawberry, Orange Slice, Cucumber

Combine ingredients in a Collins glass over ice and stir. Serve with a straw and fabulous garnishes.

Now, you know this wouldn’t be a Home Bar Girl post without some variations, so here we go!

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Pimm’s Collins

  • 2 oz Pimm’s No. 1
  • 1 oz Hayman’s Old Tom Gin
  • 1/2 oz Lemon Juice
  • 1/2 oz Simple Syrup
  • Top with Soda Water
  • Garnishes: Mint, Cucumber, Strawberry, Orange Wheel

Combine Pimm’s, Gin, Lemon Juice and Simple syrup and stir. Strain into Collin’s glass with ice and garnishes. Top with soda water and serve with a straw.

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Caribbean Pimm’s Cup

  • 2 oz Pimm’s No. 1
  • 1/2 oz Denizen Aged White Rum
  • 1/2 oz Flor de Caña 7 Aged Rum
  • 1/2 oz Velvet Falernum
  • 3/4 oz Lime Juice
  • Top with Ginger Ale
  • Garnishes: Mint, Pineapple, Cucumber, Strawberry, Orange slice

Combine Pimm’s No. 1, Rums, Falernum, Lime Juice and stir. Strain into Collins glass with ice and garnishes. Top with Ginger Ale and serve with a straw.

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Mexican Pimm’s Cup

  • 2 oz Pimm’s No 1
  • 3/4 oz Casa Noble Blanco Tequila
  • 3/4 oz Cointreau
  • 3/4 oz Lime Juice
  • Soda Water
  • Garnishes: Cucumber, Orange Wheel, “Mexican Flag” of Lime Wedge, Banana Slice and Strawberry

Combine Pimm’s, Blanco Tequila, Cointreau, Lime Juice and stir. Strain into Collins glass with ice and garnishes. Top with Soda.

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Let’s just look at this again cause this “Mexican Flag” garnish is my fave thing ever. Also, yummmm.

Cheers to you and yours during Pimm’s Season! Thanks again to the Baddish Group for the Casa Noble Tequila!

National Margarita Day with Casa Noble Crystal

/ Dani DeLuna / 2 Comments

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February 22 is National Margarita Day and I have been #blessed y’all, #BLESSED with this fabulous bottle of Casa Noble Crystal to make Margaritas. I was totally blown away by how tasty this Blanco Tequila is and will try to describe it in a few words.

  • On the Nose: Pineapple, Strawberry, Grasses
  • On the Tongue: Banana, Citrus, Chocolate, Nutty, Agave
  • In the Mouth: Smooth and velvety, almost no “Tequila burn”

In other words, Casa Noble Crystal is a truly special Tequila. It’s definitely unlike any other Blanco Tequila I’ve ever tasted and therefore, the first thing I did was make a classic Margarita with it. I highly recommend taking this approach when testing a new Spirit. Like, when I get a new Rum, I always make a Daiquiri with it. This way I know how the Spirit is going to interact with Citrus, sweetness, etc.

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Casa Noble Crystal Margarita

  • 2 oz Casa Noble Crystal Blanco Tequila
  • 1/2 oz Cointreau (yes, that is Cointreau in a jar cause I live in a tiny apartment)
  • 1/2 oz Organic Agave Nectar
  • 1 oz Lime Juice
  • Garnish: Hawaiian Pink Salt and Lime Wheel

In tin, combine Tequila, Cointreau, Agave Nectar and Lime Juice over ice and shake it baby! Rim Rocks glass with Salt, add ice and strain drink into glass. Lime wheel at the end. Fabulous, classic, yum.

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Once I knew how this beautiful Tequila interacted in a classic Margarita, I got fancy. Mint and Grapefruit fancy to be specific.

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Pample-Menthe Margarita

  • 2 oz Casa Noble Crystal Blanco Tequila
  • 1/2 oz Cointreau
  • 1/2 oz Organic Agave Nectar
  • 3/4 oz Ruby Red Grapefuit Juice
  • 1/2 oz Lime Juice
  • 2 dashes Regan’s Orange Bitters
  • 5-6 Mint Leaves
  • Garnish: Hawaiian Pink Salt, Mint Bouquet

In tin, muddle Mint leaves, Grapefruit Juice, Lime juice and Agave Nectar. Dry shake to incorporate ingredients. Add Tequila, Cointreau, Orange Bitters, Ice and short shake again. Rim rocks glass with salt, add ice and double strain drink into glass. Lastly, add Mint Bouquet.

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Hello Pineapple Spear Bunny Ears. 

Then I decided I wanted to bring out the Banana and Pineapple notes from the Casa Noble Crystal Tequila. I recalled that whole month of #TikiTheSnowAway and said to myself, “I’m gonna do it, I’m gonna make a Tiki Margarita”. This is also the first drink that I consulted The Flavor Bible and learned Coconut Milk and Vanilla Bean syrup go very well together!

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Island Time Margarita*

  • 2 oz Casa Noble Crystal Blanco Tequila
  • 1/2 oz Cointreau
  • 1/2 oz Vanilla Bean Syrup
  • 1 oz Pineapple Juice
  • 1/2 oz Lime Juice
  • 3/4 oz Coconut Milk
  • 5-6 Banana Slices
  • 2 dashes Angostura Bitters
  • Garnish: Hawaiian Pink Salt, 2 Pineapple Spears

In tin, muddle Pineapple Juice, Lime Juice, Coconut Milk, Vanilla Bean Syrup and Banana slices. Dry shake until ingredients are incorporated. Add Tequila, Cointreau, Bitters and Ice and shake again. Rim rocks glass with salt and add ice. Double strain drink into glass and garnish with Pineapple Spears.

*Honestly, this is the best Margarita I’ve ever made. It might even be the best Tiki drink I’ve ever made.

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Let’s just look at this again, shall we? Sooooo dreamy, so tasty. 

Thanks to Casa Noble for their magical Crystal Blanco Tequila and thanks to the Baddish Group for the opportunity to use it for National Margarita Day!

Brunch Bonanza: Sangre del Diablo with 18.21 Bitters

/ Dani DeLuna / Leave a comment

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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!

Punch for Two: Brugal Rum

/ Dani DeLuna / 5 Comments

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It’s Punch for Two! As previously stated, the very nice people from MBooth Marketing gave me a bottle of Brugal Especial Extra Dry, so we’ll be making the Punch with this Rum. This is a totally tasty dry Rum and such a bang for your buck! Toasted marshmellow, vanilla, coconut and citrus flavours abound.

Holiday times make me think of Punch more than any other time of the year. This may have to do with the fact that last winter I had the greatest Whiskey Punch ever at Dead Rabbit NYC. Woah, damn, I think about that Whiskey Punch all year round. Come to think of it, I may have to head over to Dead Rabbit this week.

Here at my Home Bar, I’m not batching Punch for 20 people, just myself and my girlfriend, aka Punch for Two! As these recipes are created with just two people in mind, some of the rules have changed. But first, before we can talk about the rules, let’s talk about what goes into *Punch.

According to the Death & Co book, Wikipedia and David Wondrich’s Book Punch: The Delights (and Dangers) of the Flowing Bowl, Punch contains: Spirits, sugar, citrus, water and spice. The spice is really what differentiates punch from say, a Gin Sour, Margarita or Daquiri. The other important component of Punch is that Punch is stirred and ice, soda/champagne are added after the ingredients have been properly mixed. This last rule is the one we’ll be breaking when serving Punch for Two. We aren’t going to be leaving the Punch in a bowl with ice, we’re going to shake it, serve it and top it with soda!

And now, the cocktails:

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DKO Punch: I loosely based this one on a Planter’s Punch and the Mandarin Orange slices are so very nice.

DKO Punch

  • 1 3/4 oz Brugal Extra Dry Rum
  • 1/4 oz St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram
  • 1/2 oz Grenadine
  • 1/4 oz Simple Syrup
  • 1 oz Fresh Orange Juice
  • 1/2 oz Fresh Lime Juice
  • 2 dashes Angostura Bitters
  • Carbonated Lemon-aid or Lemon Soda
  • Mandarin Orange Slice

In tin, combine ingredients over ice and shake. Strain into punch cups and top with Carbonated Lemon-aid/Lemon Soda. Mandarin Orange Slice garnish.

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St Marks Punch: The super nice Cocktail Crate man, Mr. Alex Abbott Boyd, gave me the Ginger Bee Craft Mixer at last weekend’s Brooklyn Flea. Isn’t he kind? He’s so kind. It’s similar to my Honey Ginger juice but also has hints of clove. So nice, so perfect for punch!

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 or Honey Ginger Juice (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.

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DeLuna Punch: Yep, you knew it, you knew there would be Tequila and you knew I would name the punch after myself cause I’m so into Tequila! Narcissism!

DeLuna Punch

  • 2 oz Brugal Extra Dry Rum
  • 1/2 oz Espolón Blanco Tequila
  • 1/2 oz Cointreau Triple Sec
  • 1 oz Agave
  • 1 oz Fresh Grapefruit juice
  • 1/2 oz Fresh Lime juice
  • 2 dashes Elemakule Tiki Bitters (Orange bitters work but the Tiki ones have that Spice!)
  • Club Soda
  • Lime slice

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

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*You know what really goes into Punch? A million ingredients and that’s why I love it so much! You can finally make a cocktail with at least eight ingredients and no one will call you silly!

Cheers

You’re So Kind: Berentzen Pear Liqueur

/ Dani DeLuna / Leave a comment

Berentzen-Pear-Promo-Shot

As I’ve stated before, the very kind people at Berentzen sent me a fabulous bottle of Pear Liqueur. Aren’t they kind? I think they’re pretty kind. YOU’RE SO KIND BERENTZEN!

This Liqueur is a total knockout. I love it. It’s so fruit forward, crisp and refreshing. Pear all the way but in a totally different universe than many other Pear Liqueurs. This is not dry, subtle or mysterious. It’s PEAR! It’s happening! It’s fresh! I love it. I been using it with Gin, Tequila, Dolin Blanc, Soda, Tonic, Bourbon, Rum, EVERYTHING! Berentzen Pear Liqueur is awesome!

Bonus: now that it’s winter times, #PEARSEASON! Get into it!

And now, for the cocktails:

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Portrait of a Lady

  • 2 oz Smooth Gin (Plymouth used here)
  • 1 oz Berentzen Pear Liqueur
  • 1/2 oz Dolin Dry Vermouth
  • 1/4 oz Lemon Juice
  • Cinnamon Garnish

In tin, combine Gin, Pear Liqueur, Dry Vermouth and Lemon Juice over ice and shake. Double strain into coupe and garnish with Cinnamon.

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A Long Hard Look In The Mirror

  • 2 oz Bourbon
  • 1/2 oz Cocktail Crate Spiced Old Fashioned Mixer or Allspice and Cinnamon Simple Syrup
  • 1/2 oz Berentzen Pear Liqueur
  • 1 dash Black Walnut Bitters
  • Maraschino Cherry

In tin, combine Bourbon, Spiced Old Fashioned Mixer, Pear Liqueur and Bitters over cracked ice. Stir and strain into Rocks glass. Add Ice and Cherry.

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The Feeling of Flight

  • 2 oz Dolin Blanc or Lillet Blanc
  • 3/4 oz Berentzen Pear Liqueur
  • 3/4 oz Grapefruit Juice
  • Grapefruit peel

In tin, combine Blanc Vermouth, Pear Liqueur and Grapefruit Juice over ice and shake. Double strain into coupe, express Grapefruit peel and garnish.

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Sandals in Winter

  • 1 1/2 oz Blanco Tequila
  • 3/4 oz Berentzen Pear Liqueur
  • 1/2 oz Cointreau Triple Sec
  • 1/4 oz Bonal Aperitif
  • 1 dropper Elemakule Tiki Bitters
  • Grapefruit peel

In tin, combine Blanco Tequila, Pear Liqueur, Triple Sec, Bonal and Bitters over ice and shake. Double strain into coupe, express Grapefruit peel and garnish.

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Woo, this Liqueur is all worn out and taking a nap now. So many uses, so many possibilities. This has been You’re So Kind, the post where someone nice gives me a bottle and I review it!

Lemme See That El Camino

/ Dani DeLuna / Leave a comment

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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