VESPER The Vesper Cocktail is famous for its James Bond connection, being featured in Casino Royale. A Vesper features both vodka and gin along with vermouth. The original called for Kina Lillet, which is no longer available, so a common substitute is Lillet Blanc. I read a suggestion to use Cocchi Americano and this really […]
SAZERAC The Sazerac is perhaps the best-known of the classic cocktails associated with New Orleans. Most recipes will call for rye whiskey but I recently came across a recipe that suggested the original Sazeracs likely used brandy. Given the French influence of the city, this naturally makes perfect sense! So, the recipe here is a
SANTA’S MATRUSHKA Santa’s Matrushka is a combination of flavors that I thought would work well for a festive cocktail. Cranberry and lime is mellowed out with the spicy sweetness of ginger syrup. May your matrushkas contain something special this holiday season! Recipe 2 oz Vodka 3/4 oz Lime juice 3/4 oz Cranberry juice 3/4 oz
SANTA’S LITTLE HELPER Here’s a concoction I came up with to add something bright to the holiday cocktail rotation. I wanted to feature gin with some citrus but also incorporate flavors of the season like cranberry and ginger. Alas, what is referred to as Santa’s Little Helper when the season rolls around in our “Christmas
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APPLEJACK (CALVADOS) RABBIT Calling this a Calvados Rabbit wouldn’t really make sense, so we’ll keep with the Applejack in the name! This is a nice, bright, citrusy cocktail featuring the apple flavor of Calvados. The maple syrup adds the sweet element and at 1/2 oz keeps the maple flavor subtle. Recipe 2 oz Calvados 3/4
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PRINCESS MARY’S PRIDE This cocktail was created in honor of Princess Mary’s wedding in 1922. It’s like a Manhattan with a hint of spice from the Dubonnet. If you’re lacking the Dubonnet, you can substitute sweet vermouth and perhaps a dash of Campari or other bitter element. Recipe 2 oz Calvados 1 oz Dubonnet rouge
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LOUISIANA HAYRIDE This recipe comes from New Orleans chef Donald Link. It’s a nice combination of bourbon with a touch of peach and lemon along with the apple in Calvados. I adjusted the original recipe a little to dial down the peach and dial up the bourbon. There are a lot of flavors to play
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FORBIDDEN APPLE This champagne cocktail looks like a strong candidate for my Thanksgiving beverage this year. I always like some bubbles during a long afternoon of prepping the turkey and making the side dishes. The combo of apple and orange coming from the Calvados and Grand Marnier works really well here. Recipe 1 oz Calvados
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CALVADOS Calvados is a brandy made with apples, or in some cases pears. To be called “Calvados”, it needs to come from the Normandy region of France. Several varieties of apples may be used in producing Calvados. The fruit is first made into a dry cider and then distilled. After aging for two years in
BLOOD ORANGE NEGRONI I suppose I can be a bit of a purist at times. Especially when it comes to classic cocktails. So I was a bit unsure when first riffing on the classic Negroni by adding blood orange juice to the mix. After mixing this drink, I think I’ll ease up on the purist
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