It's finally fall! The temperatures might been the 80s still, but that doesn't mean we can't enjoy our autumnal favorites now. Enjoy this Spice Syrup in a steaming mug of whipped milk and espresso for a homemade PSL, use it in place of simple syrup for a spicy old fashioned, or shake it up with Rum or Calvados for an autumnal sour! (It also makes for a great, easy homemade gift!) Continue reading

This zero proof cocktail combines Tazo Passion Tea with lemongrass, orange, pineapple, and lime for a sweet and sour non-alcoholic cocktail! Make this for all your friends who aren't currently imbibing or when you want a break from alcohol yourself. Use the pineapple syrup to sweeten English Breakfast Tea or in place of a traditional simple syrup in a daiquiri! Continue reading

Enjoy this red sangria recipe the next time you have a bottle of wine that needs to go! Continue reading

Creamy orange notes run wild in this cocktail with rich sugar, fresh blueberries and lime. It’s given a subtle zing from a whisper of rich Modena balsamic vinegar, making it the perfect companion for a pre-dinner get together with the other members of your quarantine pod.  Continue reading

This amaro based sour is perfect for those of you looking for something bright and citrusy that still delivers the flavors of impending fall. A chai simple syrup adds spice and sugar to the slightly astringent and smokey Sfumato Amaro while a small amount of whiskey provides proof and a backbone of oak against the sour of lemon.  Continue reading

Because watermelon can be more delicate than hardier fruits like berries and tomatoes, this shrub is made by combining a watermelon puree syrup with vinegar and allowing them to steep together like a traditional shrub. Continue reading

The Manhattan is a pre-prohibition cocktail consisting of three basic ingredients: whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters. The proportions are also ideal for the home bartender—all you need is twice as much whiskey as vermouth (called a 2:1 parts ratio) and a few dashes of angostura and voila! You have a professional cocktail before you. Check out these three Manhattans to enjoy this week at home! Continue reading

This version of a Fogcutter is given a breath of fresh acid with the addition of a house-made blueberry shrub and updated with a split between five different bottles—so be careful drinking this one! Continue reading

I've started something new on Instagram—a monthly challenge of letting my followers vote on random ingredients that I only have the week to develop. While I'm sure I'll eventually end up with a few flips, I'm extremely happy with what came of this month's combination! This challenge was centered around a shaken cocktail that had to include mezcal, lemon, kiwi, and coconut. 

I wanted to keep it firmly in the tropical category to fit into the theme of cocktail classes, so this cocktail follows the traditional formula for a Saturn cocktail with a few key tweaks: mezcal instead of gin, kiwi instead of passionfruit, and a toasted coconut orgeat! 

Venus Rising 

2 oz Mezcal

.75 oz Lemon Juice

.5 oz Kiwi Syrup

.25 oz Toasted Coconut Orgeat 

.25 oz Falernum 

1. Add mezcal, lemon juice, orgeat, kiwi syrup, and falernum to a cocktail shaker with ice. 

2. Shake well for about 30 seconds until well chilled. 

3. Double strain through a fine sieve into a rocks glass filled with crushed ice or over one large ice cube. 

4. Using a thin zester, carefully cut a very long strip of skin from a lemon. Curl the peel around a bar spoon to create a long tail and wind over the top of the drink. Enjoy! 

Kiwi Syrup

2 Kiwis, peeled 

.5 Cups Rich Simple Syrup

.25 Tsp Powdered Citric Acid 

1. Supreme off the hairy outside of the kiwi and quarter the remaining fruit. 

2. In a food processor, pulse the fruit until almost liquified, about one minute. 

3. Strain the puree well into a small bowl, careful to remove as much of the ground black seeds as possible. (You should have .5 cups of puree after straining.) 

4. Add citric acid to the bowl with syrup and whisk everything together. (You want to match your amount of syrup to puree. If you have less than .5 cups kiwi puree, adjust your portion of syrup accordingly.) 

5. Store chilled for up to two weeks!

Toasted Coconut Orgeat 

You can find my recipe for toasted coconut orgeat on my patreon! You are also welcome to substitute a store bough variety if you'd like!

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Mojitos are one of the most popular hot weather cocktails out there, but they can be deceptively difficult to execute This post is all about making the perfect mojito for this summer. Save a bartender's life. Make you own mojitos. Continue reading