Drink Matron

Month: July 2012

  • Fool inspired cocktails on Fool’s Paradise Day

    It’s Fool’s Paradise Day. This Shakespearean term means that someone is in a state of happiness based on false hope. However, I just like to think of actual fools in actual paradise.

    This brings me to my drink inspirations for the day. Who better than to personify fools in paradise than margarita loving, Jimmy Buffet, and anything-as-long-as-it-has-liquor-in-it, Hunter S. Thompson.  Both men liked boozing, both of them liked paradise, and both of them are at some level, fools.

    Jimmy Buffet

    Now, I’m not going to insult you by doing a generic margarita recipe in honor of Mr. Buffet. I am going to pull inspiration from another song of his entitled “Boat Drinks,” which can be way more fun and leave you acting like way more of a fool.

    A boat drink is really just an exotic cocktail, but commonly of the rum variety and usually extremely strong.  One might call them “umbrella drinks” or “tiki drinks” as well.

    One of the most famous drink creators, Don the Beachcomber invented an especially fun boat drink that gets only a moderate amount of attention compared to its cousins and siblings, and that’s the Zombie.

    The Zombie

    Recipe from Don the Beachcomber in Waikiki, according to a 1956 Cabaret Quarterly Magazine article (via webtender.com)

    Ingredients:

    • 3/4 oz. fresh lime juice
    • 1/2 oz. grapefruit juice
    • 1 1/2 oz. unsweetened pineapple juice
    • 1/4 oz. Falernum
    • 1 1/4 oz. Puerto Rican gold rum
    • 1 oz. Jamaican dark rum
    • 1 oz. 151-proof Demerara rum
    • 3/4 oz. Maraschino liqueur
    • 1/4 tsp. Grenadine
    • 2 dashes Angostura bitters
    • 6 drops Pernod

    Put all in blender with ice. Blend for 5 seconds. Pour into glass and garnish with mint sprig.

    Hunter S. Thompson

    If ever there were a fool, Hunter S. Thompson was it. His brilliant mind, eclectic repertoire, and eccentric life are often overshadowed by the one wild weekend he spent in sin city, which would eventually become Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

    Thompson was a drinker, with a taste for Chivas Regal or Wild Turkey on the rocks, but since those don’t do well as recipes, I thought I’d look into my favorite work by the man, The Rum Diary, which takes place in San Juan, Puerto Rico and involves an awful lot of rum drinking. However, that doesn’t do me any good either, because he’s only drinking rum straight up or on the rocks. Oh Hunter. You Gonzo.

    Instead, I offer you a shot of a San Juan favorite, the chichaíto.

    The Chichaíto

    The word chichaíto refers to someone who has recently been…intimate.

    Ingredients:

    • 1/2 oz Light Rum
    • 1 oz Anisette
    • 2 drops lemon juice

    Pour anisette and rum into a shot glass. Add two drops of lemon. Sip.

  • Found on the Internet: The Friday the 13th cocktails challenge!

    Check out this creative look at Friday the 13th cocktails on Halloweenerrific! There’s at least one for each Friday the 13th movie! Very cool.  Couldn’t have even come close to doing it better myself.

    http://halloweenerrific.co.uk/halloween-drinks/friday-the-13th-halloween-cocktails

    Even Jason likes a nice drink once in a while.

     

  • Cocktails for Pecan Pie Day!

    It’s National Pecan Pie Day and we are ready with cocktails!  There are so many variations of Pecan Pie Martinis and other drinks, so I thought I’d bring you a few that I’ve found that I think sound and look absolutely decadent. Enjoy!

    Pecan Pie Martini

    Recipe from Daydreamer Desserts (click here for some really great pics of this drink).

    For the Garnish

    • 1/2 cup turbinado sugar
    • 1/2 ounce praline pecan liqueur
    • 2 pecan halves

    Pour the praline pecan liqueur into a shallow plate. Dip the rims of the martini glasses into the the plate with the pecan liqueur then dip them into the plate with the turbinado sugar. Place one pecan half in each of the martini glasses.

    For the Martini

    • 2 ounces Praline pecan liqueur
    • 1.5 ounces caramel cream liqueur
    • 1.5 ounces bourbon
    • .5 ounce Torani caramel syrup
    • 1 ounce heavy cream

    Fill a cocktail shaker with ice cubes. Add all liquid ingredients into the cocktail shaker, and shake for 20-30 seconds. Pour into prepared martini glasses.

    Butter Pecan

    • 1 oz hazelnut liqueur
    • 2 lg Tbsp of vanilla ice cream
    • 5 pecans

    Pour hazelnut liqueur into a double cocktail glass and add ice cream. Top with pecans.

    More pecan pie cocktails

    The Martini Diva’s Pecan Pie Martini

    EHow Pecan Rum Cocktail

     

     

  • Don’t take your Sake too seriously – Sake! Sake! Sake! Bomb!

    Last weekend I was introduced to the sake bomb.

    For those of you who don’t know what I’m talking about, a sake bomb is a shot of sake only slightly balanced on top of two chopsticks sitting on glass half filled with beer.

    Once all the shots are ready, the group of people who you are drinking with yell “Sake, Sake, Sake, Bomb!” while banging on the table, causing the shot to fall off the chopsticks and into the glass. You then immediately drink the shot, and then that’s all you can remember.

    Just kidding about the last part, but it is definitely quite an experience.

    Alternatively, counting to three in Japanese is also common. “Ichi, Ni, San, SAKE BOMB!”

    Now, I’ve read a lot of stuff on the ‘net saying that this is a vulgar tradition and that it’s offensive to Asian people, but I don’t agree. I think it’s only truly offensive to the poor people in the restaurant who have enough sense not to get the dang sake bomb in the first place, and have to listen to the drunk group of people yelling loudly and banging on tables.

    In other words, it’s fun!

    Nothing about drinking bombs is traditional or respectful. No matter what bomb your chugging, you have to remember that you are…chugging. Not sipping graciously and talking about the qualities that are added to sake once you drop it like it’s hot into a cup of beer. Just because much about Japanese and other Asian cultures is traditional, don’t count what’s done with their booze as trashing it.

    Plus, the shot had to come from somewhere.

  • Recipe: Piña Colada

    The piña colada, what  a wonderful phrase. Oh, wait, that’s not right. But the piña colada certainly is wonderful, and since today is National Piña Colada Day, I thought I’d bring you a delicious recipe that I enjoy, submitted by requested from our friend, Andi.

    Ingredients:

    • 2 cans Coco Casa
    • 1 package of fresh diced pineapple
    • 1 mango, sliced
    • Dark Rum

    In a blender, combine ice, coco casa, approximately two or three large slices mango, and pineapple and rum to taste. Blend until smooth. Garnish with pineapple and cherry (or mango).  Serves 3 – 5.

    Andi says “This recipes is all about trial and error and what tastes good to you- some people like more pineapple and some less.”

     

     

  • #POWIDATB Rogue Dead Guy

    Rogue Dead Guy Ale submitted by Drink Matron on July 6

  • #POWIDATB 4th of July Edition

    Firework submitted by Drink Matron on July 4 at Brooklyn Stoops (Pina Colada made with Blue Curacao and a touch of grenadine)
    Daiquiri submitted by Drink Matron on July 4 at Brookyn Stoops
    Stella Artois submitted by Drink Matron on July 4 at Brooklyn Stoops
    Brooklyn Brewery Sorachi Ace submitted by Adrian on July 4 at Black Swan
    Mojito submitted by Adrian on July 4 at Brooklyn Stoops
    Margarita submitted by Drink Matron on July 4 at Black Swan

  • The Ultimate Independence Day Drink: Beer

    At this time of year, lots of blogs spend lots of time finding lots of drinks for you to choose from when celebrating Independence Day. Many mixologists mix up fantastic concoctions, both simple and complicated, some find the most red, white, and blue cocktails possible, which, are really a shot in the bucket on taste, and others just reiterate the same old summer cocktails you’d be drinking if it was any weekend spent barbecuing or hanging out with friends.

    And you know what? There’s nothing wrong with any of it.  Booze is fun. Playing around with recipes for different times of year is how we have many of our favorite cocktails. There wouldn’t be books or websites like this one if it weren’t for the creativity of mixologists and home experimenters.

    This year, however, I’ve decided to promote another kind of drink for July 4th. It’s the one that most of you will probably be drinking anyway. It’s beer.

    Beer is easy. You go to the store, you pick out what you want, you buy it, you take it to where you’re drinking, and you drink it. No fancy ingredients, no over pouring. Sure, you need ice for keeping it cold, but even after that melts, it doesn’t water down your drink, and you can always get more, pretty cheaply too.

    What kind of beer, you say? It doesn’t matter. Whatever you want, drink it! That’s another beauty about beer – there’s something for everyone. Yes, there are summer beers that are perfect for 4th of July – Saison, Witbier, Kolsch, Lager, Wheat – but it’s what you prefer that’s going to make the day for you.

    So this July 4th, don’t let anyone make you feel bad about wanting a nice cold brew.  Just drink it, be safe, and have a great time celebrating.

     

  • Bell’s Brewery gets into Wine

    On Monday, Bell’s Brewery announced that they would be adding three wines to Bell’s General Store and Eccentric Cafe – Great Northern White, Great Northern Red, and Great Northern Blanc de Blancs Sparkling Wine. Bottles will be available in 750ml, and Blanc de Blancs will also be available in 375ml bottles.

    Bell’s is working in conjunction with two wineries – Circa Estates Winery will produce Great Northern White and Great Northern Red, and L. Mawby will produce Blanc de Blancs. Circa Estates owner David Bell is the brother of Bell’s president, Larry Bell.

    Release dates for the wine have not yet been determined.

  • A Tribute to Andy Griffith – Lemonade Cocktails

    As a tribute to the late and great Andy Griffith who we so sadly lost today, I’d like to refresh your mind with a lemonade cocktail toast to one of the most beloved Sheriffs of all time.

    Blue Frog

    Your standard vodka and lemonade seems like exactly what Andy would be sipping while Opie sold the the more innocent version at his lemonade stand. I think the name is so perfect as well, giving one a feeling that after they enjoy their refreshing drinks, Andy will send a smiling Opie out to catch himself some frogs.

    • 2 oz Vodka
    • 5 oz Lemonade (regular or pink)
    • Lemon cut into slices

    Combine vodka and lemonade over ice in a tall glass. Garnish with a lemon slice.

    Or, if you’d like, you could always throw in an Opie’s brand cocktail cherry, for good luck.

    Cranberry Fizz

    I just imagine Andy and his other Mayberry neighbors sitting on their porches on a hot summer day, enjoying cocktails made from natural ingredients like freshly squeezed lemonade and cranberry juice.

    • 2 oz White rum
    • 3 oz Cranberry juice (or 1.5 oz cranberry liqueur)
    • 2 oz Lemonade
    • Orange cut into slices (optional)
    • Cranberries (optional)

    Combine rum and cranberry juice over ice in a tall glass. Top with Lemonade. Garnish with orange slice and/or cranberries if desired.

    Gin Shandy

    What’s a hot summer day without a shandy? And lord knows there were some hot summer days in Mayberry.

    • 1.5 oz Gin
    • 4 oz Ginger beer
    • 3 oz Lemonade

    Combine ingredients in a tall glass over ice. Enjoy.

     

    On this 4th of July, let’s remember Mayberry’s favorite son by sitting on our own porches, stoops, roofs, and decks and toasting to his good name. Rest in Peace, Matlock.