Advice

January 11th is "National Hot Toddy Day". This post is meant to celebrate this classic wintry cocktail when we need it most.

Warm and toasty and just in time for winter, the Hot Toddy is a classic hot drink and it is very simple to make. The basic recipe only requires a base liquor, honey, lemon, and tea, though some people prefer to skip the tea bag.

It will be a matter of personal taste as to which of the liquors you choose for your toddy. Brandy, rum, and whiskey each bring their own characteristics to the drink and make great drinks.

Champagne should be an all-the-time drink. But it’s especially appropriate this time of year, as everyone jolts from holiday party to holiday party. It’s time to get some expert advice on the sparkly stuff. A few myths debunked and some surprising tidbits from the correct glassware (hint - it’s not a flute) to why popping a cork should be graceful.

This post is dedicated to my childhood friend and awesome gal, Colleen McCollum, who is a big champagne fan and asked me to do this post. These champagne-type cocktails are perfect for the holidays and for celebrating special occasions. Champagne/Sparkling Wine is synonymous with celebrations, but has become an all-season and all-occasion drink of choice for many people.

While I work on my next award-winning book, blog posts will be limited, but I will be offering up a 'cocktail and a mocktail of the week' for all you avid cocktail enthusiastsand non-drinkers. The featured cocktails and mocktails will be seasonal as well as some of my personal favorites that are proven and stood the test of time...Happy Mixing!

I've been waiting with much anticipation to unveil my warming and decadent December cocktails. It's that time of year to round up your family, friends and neighbors and host an epic holiday party that will dazzle them and be the talk of the town for months to come. What better way to bring people together and combat those seasonal winter blues.

Pumpkin Toddy (complex)

• 1 oz Laird’s Bonded Apple Brandy
• .5 oz Rittenhouse Bonded Rye Whiskey
• .5 oz Lemon juice
• .5 oz Grade B maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon Pumpkin puree
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters
• 5 oz Boiling water
• Garnish: Grated cinnamon
• Glass: Irish Coffee Mug

Prep - Add all ingredients except the water to a preheated mug. Top with the boiling water and stir to combine. Top with grated cinnamon.

Many of my facebook friends chose 'apple' as one of their favorite flavors in winter cocktails. There is nothing like the taste of apple in a winter cocktail - it is soothing, warm, and comforting, especially in front of the fireplace on a cold night. These cocktails incorporate the apple flavor by liquor, liqieir, or juice/cider.

My facebook fans have responded by choosing wild berries for their favorite flavor this winter season. So I give you my very best berry cocktails - part one.

Blueberries, either fresh,frozen, or as a distilled spirit provide a sweet tartness to cocktails and pair well with a variety of other flavors. Whether you are looking for fresh blueberry cocktails or a way to use that blueberry-flavored liquor, this list of cocktails is a good place to start.

After much anticipation, I present to you my featured article for Chilled Magazine profiling "Prairie Organic Spirits" under the Distillery Profile. Never released to the public.

THE LOCALS:  DISTILLERY PROFILE