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Cocktail of the Week: A Fresh Gimlet

Wedding or Party Specialty Cocktail a Fresh Gimlet Cocktail of the Week: A Fresh Gimlet

Looking for a way to brighten up a snowy day? Try a fresh twist on a classic Gimlet! Skip the sweetened lime juice and use fresh juice. If the spirit moves you, try some flavored simple syrup such as rosemary , ginger or clove to spice up your cocktail.

2 ½oz Gin (or Vodka – your choice!)
½ oz Simple Syrup*
½ oz Fresh Lime Juice
Lime Wheels for garnish.

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, Gin (or Vodka), Simple Syrup and Fresh Lime Juice. Cover and shake well. Strain as you pour into a martini glass or over ice in a small tumbler. Garnish with a Lime Wheel. Sip and dream of spring!

Cocktail Trivia! The Gimlet is reportedly named after British Naval Officer and fleet surgeon, Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas Desmond Gimlette (1858 – 1943). In an effort to create a concoction to ward off scurvy, Sir Thomas added gin to lime juice to mask the bitter taste. In Gimlette’s day officers drank gin but the ranks were given rations of rum – we’ll save the rum with lime for another week.

* Simple Syrup is really simple. Just put 1 cup of sugar and 1 cup of water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Turn down to a simmer for a few minutes to dissolve all the sugar. To flavor the syrup, choose your flavoring e.g., sliced fresh ginger, mint, cloves, lemon peel… and add to the saucepan with the water and sugar. Let the flavored syrup simmer a little longer or cover the saucepan, turn off the stove and let the flavoring steep into the syrup for at least 30 minutes. Strain before storing in a tightly closed glass jar in the refrigerator for up to 4 weeks.

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Cocktail of the Week: Rosemary Whiskey Sour

Before the Rosemary in my garden is buried in snow, I thought I would snip off a few sprigs to make this aromatic cocktail. No sour mix here – the fresh lemon juice gives this drink a nice citrusy tang. This is definitely not your grandfather’s whiskey sour.

2oz Jack Daniels or your favorite Whiskey
1oz Rosemary Simple Syrup*
1oz Fresh Lemon Juice
Rosemary Sprigs for garnish

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add Whiskey, Rosemary Simple Syrup and Fresh Lemon Juice. Cover and shake well. Strain as you pour into an ice-filled rocks glass. Enjoy!

*To make Rosemary Syrup, place 3 – 4 sprigs of Rosemary in a small saucepan. Muddle the rosemary slightly with a muddler or the back of the spoon – to release the flavor. Add ½ cup sugar and ½ cup water to the saucepan and heat on medium heat. Stir until sugar is dissolved and then simmer on low for 30 minutes. Let Syrup cool before mixing into cocktails. Store Rosemary Syrup in a tightly closed glass jar in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

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Cocktail of the Week: Samoa Martini

It’s that time of year again – Cookie Season is here! Toast to the women of Girl Scouts as you sip this deLiteful caramel, coconut and chocolate creation.

2oz Smirnoff Caramel Vodka
1 ½ oz Godiva Chocolate Liqueur
1 ½ oz Malibu Coconut Rum
2 Tablespoons Chocolate Syrup
2 Tablespoons Shredded Coconut Flakes
1 Samoa or Caramel deLites Girl Scout Cookie – you only need one per cocktail but support Girl Scouts and buy a few boxes!

Heat an oven to 350 degrees. Place the coconut on a foil or parchment covered cookie sheet and toast in the oven until the coconut is golden brown, approximately 5 minutes. Pour the Chocolate Syrup on to a small plate. Pour the toasted coconut onto another small plate. Dredge the rim of a martini glass in the chocolate syrup. Dredge the chocolate coated rim through the toasted coconut. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Pour Caramel Vodka, Godiva Chocolate Liqueur and Coconut Rum over ice. Shake well and strain as you pour into your chocolate and coconut rimmed glass. With a sharp knife, carefully cut a slice into your Samoa cookie, and then a second slice to create a very, very small wedge in the cookie. Garnish your cocktail by using the wedge to hang the cookie on the side of the glass. Enjoy!

For over 100 years Girl Scouts have been building girls with courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. There is much more to Girl Scouts than cookies! But when you see cookie sellers this season, buy generously, enjoy the cookies and know you are contributing to our future. Can’t find Girl Scout cookies? Send me a message and I hook you up with cookie sellers.

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Cocktail of the Week: Mexican Coffee

Mexican Coffee

Winter weather has finally arrived in Philadelphia and it is time to pour my favorite hot drink – Mexican Coffee. If you have any weighty new year’s resolutions, I just read an article today that says tequila can help you to lose weight — just don’t ask about the other ingredients. Salud!

1oz Tequila – my favorite is Cabo Wabo Reposado
1oz Kahlua
Hot Coffee
Whipped Cream
Ground Cinnamon or Chili Powder

Pour Tequila and Kahlua into a large mug and fill with hot coffee. Top your drink with whipped cream. Sprinkle with Cinnamon or Chili Powder. Yes, I am drinking the Mexican Coffee in the photo now…and it is delicioso.

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Cocktail of the Week: Champagne Cocktail Trio

Cocktail of the Week: Champagne Cocktail Trio; Chambord Kir Royale, Nelson’s Blood and Mexican 75

A holiday triple treat! Three easy-to-make Champagne Cocktails Just in time to ring in the New Year!

My favorite, the Mexican 75 is a riff on the French 75 and a bright way to light up your new year’s celebration.…
1oz Cabo Wabo Reposado Tequila (or your favorite tequila)
¼ teaspoon Agave Syrup
Fresh Lime
Dry Champagne or Sparkling Wine
Pour ¼ teaspoon of Agave Syrup in the bottom of a champagne flute. Cut the lime into wedges. Squeeze one lime wedge over syrup and drop into flute, add Tequila and top with Champaign. Sabroso!

Nelson’s Blood
Named after British naval Admiral Horatio Nelson, famous for his victories against the French during the Napoleonic Wars. Nelson led the Royal Navy to victory in the battle of Trafalgar where he unfortunately lost his life to a battle wound. It is said that Lord Nelson’s body was preserved in a cask of brandy for return to England and that his crew drank the brandy out of respect. Yuck. This homage to Lord Nelson is certainly a more pleasant and hygienic tribute. Cheers!
3/4oz Tawny Port
Very Dry Champagne
Lemon Twists
Pour Port into the bottom of a champagne flute. Twist Lemon peel over your glass to release the lemon oils into your drink and rub the peel over the rim of your glass before dropping into the flute. Top with Champagne. Voila!

Chambord Kir Royale – An elegant an easy classic!
½ oz Chambord
Champagne
Fresh Raspberries
Pour Chambord into the bottom of a Champagne flute, add a few fresh Raspberries and top with Champagne. Enjoy!

Wishing all of you a very, happy New Year! Celebrate safely. Drink responsibly and leave your car keys at home.
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Cocktail of the Week: Chocolate Martini

Whether you’ve been naughty or nice, Santa and his helpers deserve a little treat while they are busy putting presents under the tree. Even if you don’t celebrate, you might merit a little holiday cheer.

2oz Vodka…
2oz Godiva (or your favorite) Chocolate Liqueur
2 Tablespoons Chocolate Syrup
1 Candy Cane

Unwrap the Candy Cane and place it in a plastic bag. Smash the candy with the back of a spoon or the wrench you are unsuccessfully using to assemble holiday gifts until the peppermint is in pieces the size of whoville or large grains of sand. Pour the Chocolate Syrup on to a small plate. Pour the crushed Peppermint Candy onto another small plate. Dredge the rim of a martini glass (or any other glass you can find in your holiday haste) in the chocolate syrup. Dredge the chocolate coated rim through the crushed peppermint. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Pour Vodka and Godiva Chocolate Liqueur over ice. Shake well and strain as you pour into your chocolate and peppermint rimmed glass. Leave the cocktail by the fireplace for Santa or sip and enjoy! Be sure to let the reindeer do the driving if you will be drinking on Christmas eve. Happy and safe holidays to all! Cheers!

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Cocktail of the Week: Moscow Mule – Classic or Pomegranate

Moscow Mule This trendy and tangy classic cocktail is credited with popularizing Vodka in the United States; just a few sips and you’ll know why. Traditional copper mugs are not required but who doesn’t love to use pretty barware?

1 1/2oz Smirnoff or your favorite Vodka…
Ginger Beer (4-6oz per cocktail)
Fresh Lime cut into generous wedges
2oz Pomegranate Juice (optional)
Pomegranate Seeds for garnish (optional)

Classic Recipe: Fill a copper mug or a Collins glass with ice. Pour Vodka over ice, squeeze lime wedge over vodka and drop into your drink, top with 4 – 6 oz of Ginger Beer.
Pomegranate Variation: After adding lime, pour in 2oz Pomegranate Juice, top with Ginger Beer, Sprinkle with Pomegranate Seeds to garnish – Enjoy!

What’s ginger beer? Ginger Beer is a fermented beverage made from ginger. Ginger Beer has a deeper flavor, cloudier appearance and frothier pour than its sweeter, bubblier, carbonated cousin ginger ale. In the Philadelphia area, Ginger Beer is readily available at grocery stores including Whole Foods, Acme and Giant stores.

History: John G. Martin of G.F. Heublein Brothers, Inc., bought Smirnoff Vodka in 1931. Vodka sales were flat until John met up with Jack Morgan who ran the “Cock ‘n’ Bull” restaurant in LA and who also produced an overstock of ginger beer. The Cock ‘n Bull bartender combined the two products in a tasty way and the successful Moscow Mule marketing campaign was underway!

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Cocktail of the Week: The Classic Champagne Cocktail

Champagne Cocktail
Just in time for your holiday toasts, this bubbly classic is a simple but impressive glass to serve your guests.

Champagne (approximately 4oz per cocktail)
½ oz Cognac…
Sugar Cubes
Angostura Bitters
Lemon Twists for garnish

Drip Angostura Bitters onto a Sugar Cube until it has completely changed color. Drop the saturated Sugar Cube into the bottom of a Champagne flute. Add Cognac and a Lemon Twist and fill the glass with Champagne.

Using Orange or Grapefruit twists adds a different citrus twist to this classic cocktail. Of course you can substitute sparkling wine if you please.

While you can prepare the Bitters soaked Sugar Cubes in advance, make these drinks to order so your guests can enjoy the mixture of flavors as the cube dissolves.

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Cocktail of the Week: Left Bank Martini

Wine aficionados and cocktail connoisseurs agree that the Left Bank Martini will put you in the mood for a romantic stroll down the Seine.

2oz Sauvignon Blanc
1 ½ oz Gin…
1oz St-Germain (Elderflower Liqueur)

Pour all ingredients over ice in a cocktail shaker. Shake well. Strain as you pour into a chilled martini glass. Enjoy!

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Cocktail of the Week: Blackberry Bubbler

Blackberry Bubbler This time of year clients and friends are always interested in sparkling cocktails. Sweet, fresh blackberries combined with the earthiness of Campari make this sparkler a sophisticated sip.

Fresh Blackberries
Your favorite Prosecco or Sparkling Wine – approximately 4oz per cocktail
¾ oz Campari

Add Campari and 3 Blackberries to a cocktail shaker and muddle well. Fill ¾ of a champagne flute with Sparkling Wine, top with Blackberry and Campari mixture. Garnish with a Blackberry. Enjoy!
If you prefer a sweeter drink, try a sweeter sparkling wine or add ¼ teaspoon of simple syrup.

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