Drink Matron

Author: jessdani333

  • #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.

  • Vodka Infusion Update

    Well, it turns out I am absolute piss at infusing vodka. The blueberry infusion barely infused besides in color, and while the banana infusion worked very nicely for taste, it was so murky I don’t think I could get anyone to drink it if I paid them. There was also an unfortunate and quite embarrassing situation in which I dumped the banana out on accident, so there won’t be any pics to prove how absolutely worthless this first attempt went.

    Below, however, is a picture of the blueberry infusion. As you can see, the coloring is quite nice (although this pic doesn’t show it as much as I’d like). Unfortunately, the taste is very thin and there really wasn’t much left after I took the blueberries out.

    Improvements that I will implement next time are as follows:

    • A better filtering system for the banana vodka. Most likely a coffee filter to pull out the murkiness.
    • Use more berries. I didn’t want to overdue it, and only put in about two handfuls of berries, clearly there should be more.
    • But up the berries into smaller sections in order to release juices better and get a better flavor.
    • Use more vodka
    • Follow directions more closely

    If any of you have any tips for better vodka infusion, please feel free to comment or contact me at crafting@drinkmatron.prjct.info.

     

  • #POWIDAH: Screwdriver

    Screwdriver made with freshly squeezed orange juice.

    Submitted by Drink Matron (Jess) on June 25, at home.

  • #POWIDATB: Margarita

    Margarita – Submitted by Drink Matron (Jess) on June 23 while at Brooklyn Stoops

     

  • Portrait Party Event Photos

  • Bushwick Portrait Party 2012

    This weekend we will be attending our amazing friend Justin’s annual Portrait Party in Bushwick, Brooklyn.

    Justin began this tradition when we had the fantastic honor of living with him for 5 months when we moved to NYC the first time in 2009.  He’s a photographer and wanted a chance to take some fun and interesting pictures.  The party went so well, that he turned it into an annual event.  It will be a night of cocktails, beer, beautiful people, and most of all, portraits. (Well, for me it will be mostly about cocktails and beer, but you know what I mean…)

    To attend you’re not required to get your portrait taken, but it is strongly advised. Adrian took a few interesting ones back in 2009, and I expect there will be plenty more where that came from this year.