Advice

In celebrating “World Cocktail Week” from May 6-13, I will be offering up cocktails from around the globe focusing on a different region of the world or country's signature drinks culminating in “World Cocktail Day” on the 13^th.  It will be a long and arduous week of research, writing, editing, and blogging, but I’m up to the challenge with a little help from Three Olives Double Espresso Vodka.  This week was selected for the prestigious holiday because it marks the first time the word ‘cocktail’ was published back in 1806.

Tequila has come a long way from the days when every college kid did a shot of Cuervo. It has become one of the favorite spirits used by top mixologists around the country and even high-end bars. The selection of brands and premium brands has tripled in the last decade. But there are still so many misconceptions about this mysterious liquor.  So with the arrival of Cinco de Mayo, I decided to de-bunk some myths and set the record straight with facts and not-so-facts of this agave-based spirit. Salud!

There’s a worm in the bottle.

This delightfully refreshing elixir incorporates lovely organic products and made in my backyard of rural Pennsylvania. The classic Whiskey Sour cocktail and the Collins drink are combined to create a twist on two summer favorites.

(Cover photo - courtesy of liquor.com)

Earth Day is celebrated on April 22nd and to honor what it stands for I am offering up truly "green", farm-fresh, organic ingredients and cocktails for spring. As an added bonus, I list the best fruits, veggies, herbs, spices, and florals to be used in cocktails, infused spirits, syrups, purees, and juices for the season, best way to prepare them, and what base spirits pair best with them.

(Cover photo courtesy of Ping Pong Dim Bar - revamp.com)

If you ever walked in to an American bar and asked for an Asian cocktail you would probably get a blank stare from the bartender. It’s a pretty vague request, but so is asking for an “American” cocktail. If you say that you would like a cocktail that uses Asian ingredients or flavors, such as ginger, jasmine, or lychee, you may experience the same result.

The Cherry Blossom cocktail pictured above was one of the signature cocktails I created for the spring/summer cocktail menu at the Buddha Buddha Martini Bar and Cocktail Lounge in May of 2013. This cocktail is versatile and can be enjoyed anytime once the weather gets nice and sunny. The Cherry Blossom is perfect to be sipped outdoors. This is one of the many cocktails people can enjoy for their special party or event and it is very easy to make at home. One of the special features of this cocktail is the use of lime cordial (my recipe below).

(Cover Photo Credit: Acuna Hanson)

The aroma and distinctive flavor of this flavor works well before-dinner, during dinner, or after-dinner. This cocktail is consistent with Asian-inspired cocktails that are light, floral, and refreshing. Perfect for the spring months when flowers are blooming.

Let's face it - it is difficult to construct 'green' cocktails for St. Patty's Day...There aren't a lot of choices out there to make your cocktail look 'green', but what is St. Patty's Day without sipping a luxurious and delicious 'green' cocktail...March is the gateway to spring cocktails so why not incorporate some 'spring' flavors with 'end of the winter' flavors...This a purely a seasonal cocktail-based post so don't expect to read much commentary on the history of St. Patty's Day and all the highly commercialized info that is available on the web.

I recently did a country western-themed cocktail party at a private residence, which included an unofficial bourbon tasting for newbies and more experienced bourbon drinkers and signature bourbon cocktail called “The Wrangler” (recipe below). It was a fun time. This post is dedicated to my good friend and client, Alan Weinstein. The offerings were spread out across the spectrum of bourbon choices, i.e. small batch, single barrel, straight, reserve, high wheat, high rye, and traditional mash.