pineapple infused plymouth gin

Sage + Gin Name Contest: The Wise Sailor

/ Dani DeLuna / 2 Comments

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SAAAAAAAAAAAAGE. This cocktail is fully inspired by some Sage I got at the Farmer’s Market. A friend of mine is obsessed with Gin + Sage cocktails, so when I got this lil bunch of supremely delicious herbes, I thought about what she might like to drink.

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I posted a photo of the pretty pretty Sage on Instagram and asked people if they had any Sage cocktail recipes they wanted to share. People shared some fabulous ideas but the one that stood out to me the most was when @booksandbitters said Pineapple and Sage went well together.

HELL YES! So true, so magnificent!

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So, then I remembered the greatest infusion of all time, Pineapple infused Plymouth Gin, and the rest of the drink just came together. I wanted the Sage to be complemented by Salers Aperitif and Lemon Juice was a perfect fit.

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Lastly, we’ve got the name. Since I asked Instagram for Sage cocktail recipes, I thought that Instagram should name the cocktail. The only stipulation I gave was that the word “Wise” should be in the name. (A play on the another meaning for the word Sage in English) The winning name of the cocktail is by @cmyk3000 who used the word “Wise” and a play on Salers with the word “Sailor”.

The Wise Sailor

  • 2 oz Pineapple infused Plymouth Gin
  • robust 1/4 oz Salers Aperitif (slightly more than 1/4 oz)
  • 1/2 oz Lemon Juice
  • 3/4 oz Simple Syrup
  • 5 Sage leaves
  • Garnish: Sage sprig

Combine Sage leaves, Lemon Juice, Simple Syrup and muddle. Add Pineapple Plymouth Gin, Salers, and Ice. Shake and strain into double Rocks glass over ice. Spank the Sage sprig and garnish.

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Thanks to everyone who participated in the Sage + Gin name contest! Cheers y’all!

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4th of July Daiquiri Party

/ Dani DeLuna / 1 Comment

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Happy 4th of July Weekend to everyone! I’ve been thinking about what I really want to drink/serve at my 4th of July party and honestly, I just want a Daiquiri! Daiquiri Prrrrrrrrrty!

If you want to join in the fun on Instagram and Twitter, use the hashtag #4thOfJulyDaiquiriParty.

That being said, “I just want a Daiquiri” means so many things to me, and there are many variations one can make by adding one or two ingredients to the Rum + Lime Juice + Sweetness formula. I mean, just by switching out the Rum itself or changing from refined sugar to turbinado sugar can have a profound effect on the flavours of the drink.

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First, let’s start with the basics. Flor de Caña 7 Year is my all time fave aged molasses Rum. It is viscous as hell, creamy, with caramel smoothness for DAYYYYYYYS. It will make the best damn Daiquiri you’ve ever had. No lie.

Flor de Caña 7 Year Aged Rum Daiquiri

  • 2 oz Flor de Caña 7 Year Rum
  • 1 oz Lime Juice
  • 3/4 oz Demerara Sugar Simple Syrup (1:1)
  • Garnish: Lime Wheel

Combine ingredients over ice and shake. Strain into coupe and garnish with Lime Wheel.

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Now that we’ve got a nice basic Daiquiri down, we can get a little more creative. For this one, we’re going to use a funky Rum from Jamaica that has been aged in the UK: Smith & Cross Navy Strength Rum. Our sweetners are going to get more complex with the addition of Falernum and some of my patented (I wish! Soon!) DD Mix. The spice set will come from the funkiness of the Smith & Cross, DD Mix, and one dropper of Bittermen’s Elemakule Tiki Bitters. Highly recommend these bitter’s y’all!

DP Daiquiri

  • 1 1/2 oz Smith & Cross Jamaican Rum
  • 1/2 oz Velvet Falernum
  • 1/4 oz DD Mix
  • 1 oz Lime Juice
  • 1 dropper Bittermen’s Elemakule Tiki Bitters
  • Garnish: hollowed out Lime half*

In tin combine ingredients over ice and short shake. Pour entire contents of shaker into mason jar. Garnish with one of the Lime halves you used when you juiced the Lime.

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For this next one we’re going to go to the books and use a totally fabulous recipe from the 1970’s, Don’s Special Daiquiri. This variation was created to commemorate Don the Beachcomber and use his 1934 Daiquiri recipe while adding a couple of modifiers. I altered the recipe a tad because I felt it needed to be a bit more tart.

Don’s Special Daiquiri

  • 1 oz Jamaican Rum (Smith & Cross)
  • 3/4 oz Aged White Rum (Denizen Aged Rum)
  • 3/4 oz Lime Juice
  • 1/2 oz Passion Fruit Syrup
  • 1/2 oz Honey Syrup
  • Garnish: Maraschino Cherry

Combine ingredients over ice and shake. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass, garnish with Maraschino Cherry.

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Lastly, we’re going to use three different Spirits in a Daiquiri that I named after my family. It uses two kinds of Rum and one of my all time favourite infusions, Pineapple Plymouth Gin.

DeLuna Daiquiri

  • 1 1/2 oz Denizen White Rum
  • 1/2 oz Flor de Caña 7 Rum
  • 1/4 oz Pineapple infused Plymouth Gin
  • 1/2 oz Velvet Falernum
  • 1/4 oz Cinnamon Bark Syrup
  • 1 oz Lime Juice
  • Garnish: Pineapple Chunks

Combine ingredients in over ice and shake. Strain into coupe. Garnish with Pineapple.

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Well, that’s it for this roundup. If you’re looking for more recipes, you could always try Or-zah Gabor or a classic Hemingway Daiquiri. Happy Independence Day USA!

The Pineapple Plymouth Gin is back!

/ Dani DeLuna / 2 Comments

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Just whipped up a fresh batch of Pineapple infused Plymouth Gin! Seriously though, “whipped up” might be stretching the truth a bit. This is literally the easiest recipe ever:

  1. Cut up a Pineapple. If it isn’t fresh, it isn’t going to work. No canned fruit allowed!
  2. Throw some of the Pineapple in a jar.
  3. Add some Plymouth Gin. You want to get about equal parts of each ingredient by volume.
  4. Let it sit for a few days, shaking several times per day.
  5. Taste it. Does it need more Pineapple? Add more Pineapple.
  6. When it tastes magnificently, Strain and keep it in the fridge.

I use this one in lots of Tropical cocktails such as:

Happy infusing to you all!

Classic Cocktails: Army & Navy + Variations

/ Dani DeLuna / 3 Comments

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Many moons ago, I had my first trip to The NoMad Bar with a whole bunch of newly acquainted friends. It has since become my favourite bar in NYC because they simply have the most adventurous and yet totally drinkable cocktails in the city. They consistently surprise, inspire and encourage me to push the envelope while remaining true to form. (i.e. They frequently use Fino Sherry and Amari in Tiki drinks. Brilliant.)

They also make a damn good Army & Navy.

I am a huge fan of Gin Sours in any form but something about the combination of Orgeat and Lemon Juice really moves my taste buds to flight! Oh and I highly recommend this B.G. Reynolds Orgeat, it’s a bit toasted, has just the right amount of floral notes and is quite tasty. Let’s make an Army & Navy right now, shall we?

Army & Navy (from David A Embury, Fine Art of Mixing Drinks. 1948.)

  • 2 oz English Dry Gin
  • 3/4 oz Lemon Juice
  • 3/4 oz Orgeat
  • 2 dashes Angostura Bitters
  • Garnish: Maraschino Cherries

Combine ingredients over ice and shake it up! Strain into coupe, garnish with Maraschino Cherries. Sip and smile.

Wasn’t that tasty? Yes, yes it was so damn tasty! Wouldn’t you like to drink another? Hold off on that ’cause we have a couple of variations:

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So obvi the Army & Navy is a drink begging for rum. I decided to split the base with Flor de Caña 7 and Hayman’s Old Tom Gin. The Old Tom then inspired me to use some of those Boker’s Bitters that I love so dearly.

Sir Joseph Porter

  • 1 oz Old Tom Gin
  • 1 oz Flor de Caña 7 Year Rum
  • 3/4 oz Lemon Juice
  • 3/4 oz B.G. Reynolds Orgeat
  • 1 dash Angostura Bitters
  • 1 dash Adam Elmegirab’s Boker’s Bitters
  • Garnish: Maraschino Cherries

Combine ingredients over ice and shake it up! Strain into coupe, garnish with Maraschino Cherries. Sip and grin.

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Yes! The Pineapple Spear Bunny Ears are back!

If an Army & Navy variation was begging for rum, the next logical step (in my island themed brain) was to take it to Tiki Paradise! I’m obviously very excited about this drink. It’s just fabulous. Really, any excuse to use Pineapple infused Plymouth Gin in a cocktail is a dream come true for me.

Captain Corcoran

  • 1 oz Denizen Aged White Rum
  • 1 oz Pineapple infused Plymouth Gin
  • 3/4 oz B.G. Reynolds Orgeat
  • 3/4 oz Lemon Juice
  • 1 dash Angostura Bitters
  • 1 dropper Bittermens Elemakule Tiki Bitters
  • Garnish: Three Maraschino Cherries and Pineapple Spear Bunny Ears

Combine ingredients over ice and shake it up! Strain into coupe, garnish with Maraschino Cherries and Bunny Ears. Sip and giggle.

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Did you get the joke? The variations are named after characters from the HMS Pinafore. Clearly I think everything in life should be a tad silly but nary an April Fools prank shall I make.

Enjoy your Army & Navy and HMS Pinafore Variations! Cheers!

DeLuna Daiquiri

/ Dani DeLuna / 1 Comment

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It’s not exactly Tiki…but it is TROPICAAAAAAAL! Whilst making all of these January Tiki drinks, I really had a hankering for a Daiquiri. But not just any Daiquiri, a tropical Daiquiri! I’m still counting this as #TikiTheSnowAway. Mhmm. Can’t be stopped!

DeLuna Daiquiri

  • 1 1/2 oz Denizen White Rum
  • 1/2 oz Flor de Caña 7 Rum
  • 1/4 oz Pineapple infused Plymouth Gin
  • 1/2 oz Velvet Falernum
  • 1/4 oz Cinnamon Bark Syrup
  • 1 oz Lime Juice
  • 2 Pineapple Chunks

Combine ingredients in shaker. Strain into coupe. Garnish with Pineapple.

P.S. I gave this drink my family name cause it’s my fave way to have a Daiquiri.

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The Blue Business

/ Dani DeLuna / Leave a comment

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Blue Curaçao is back y’all and I don’t mean in some frat-tastic “let’s have Blue Shots!” sort of way. I mean in a total Tiki, fabulous Tropical, creative cocktail sort of way. I recently posted a photo of my Seníor Blue Curaçao on Instagram and was met with several cries of, “oh no, I’m afraid of the Blue stuff!”. Don’t be afraid, be excited!

There is no better time for fun citrusy drinks than winter time! We need Vitamin C, we need Island type drinks, we need a little vacation in a glass because this weather is so cold and snowy! I’ll be posting these recipes one at a time instead of all at once because I’ve decided to go FULL TIKI during the chilly times! Tiki, it’s a state of mind.

The Blue Business

  • 1 1/2 oz Brugal Extra Dry Rum
  • 1/2 oz Seníor Blue Curaçao
  • 1/4 oz Pineapple infused Plymouth Gin
  • 1/2 oz Velvet Falernum
  • 1/2 oz Lime Juice
  • 1/4 oz Vanilla Bean Syrup
  • Chartreuse Vert rinse
  • Lime Wheel

Rinse a coupe with Chartreuse and chill. Combine remaining ingredients in tin over ice and shake. Strain into coupe, Lime Wheel garnish.

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If you want to join in the fun on Instagram, use the hashtag #TikiTheSnowAway

Auntie Edna

/ Dani DeLuna / Leave a comment

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Y’all, we’re getting pretty close to Xmas and I know errrybody’s Aunties are making ALL the desserts. In fact, Auntie Edna is making so many desserts that even when she’s not making dessert, she’s thinking about dessert. So she took a break from making fruit cakes, made this drink and then went right back to making more cakes! Auntie Edna is so crazy! But damn she does make some sensational cakes and drinks!

Auntie Edna

  • 1 1/4 oz Calvados
  • 3/4 oz Pineapple infused Plymouth gin
  • 1/2 oz Chartreuse Vert
  • 1/2 oz Berentzen Pear Liqueur
  • 1/4 oz Cranberry infused Dolin Rouge
  • 1/4 oz Carpano Antica
  • 3 drops Black Walnut Bitters
  • Clove studded Orange peel

Combine ingredients over ice and stir. Strain into coupe and garnish with Clove studded Orange peel.

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Punch for Two: Fernandez Punch

/ Dani DeLuna / 1 Comment

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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.

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*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!