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We might not be able to travel as far as we would like this summer, but we can still be transported through food and drink. We had a chat with Joy Spence, the Master Blender of Appleton Estate Rum in Jamaica, to get her take on embracing summer with rum cocktails.
Read MoreWe are starting to get into that time of year where summer sunshine departs and the cool weather starts the change the tone of the day. But for those of us who try to hold onto that brightness a little longer, there’s nothing better than a cocktail to keep us going.
We went to Jungle Bird, a tropical cocktail bar to try and find a drink that is stiff enough for the fall but still retains the breezy air of warmer weather. And we think we’ve found it in their signature cocktail. It’s only 4 ingredients so it’s easy, it works great as a punch if you need something for a group, and it strikes a great note any time of year.
Read MoreFor a party I am always looking for the intersection of easy and ‘looks impressive’. You want to make guests feel like you’ve gone the extra mile but you also don’t want to be running around worrying the whole time.
So I loved the idea of flavoring your own liquor in advance to make it cocktail-ready. You look impressive with very little work and you have something a little different for people to get excited about. Instead of mixing ingredients the day-of you’ve already infused your ingredients together. It’s the perfect combo.
We got the details from Chris Joseph of Wild Roots - which makes their own infused spirits if you want to remove a step - and he gave us the details on two potential liquors you can infuse.
Read MoreThere’s nothing like a bright cocktail for spring - but what about one with a bit of a lady-fied twist? We got Ghost Donkey’s Cat Sutherland to give us a bright treat ready for warm weather. With a smoky mezcal base and light ingredients like lemon and yuku, it’s an easy drink with a lot of flavor to make when you want to impress.
Read MoreClassic cocktails have stood the test of time for a reason, but even the most perfect cocktails can use a good twist now and then. As long as the twist is from the right person!
Enter award-winning bartender Luis Hernandez of Gibson + Luce in the Life Hotel. He takes the perfect combination and tweaks it to give it little more life and modernity.
So if you’re in need of a good warming cocktail for the weather watch the video below and give it a whirl.
Read MoreThe problem with any cocktail or cookbook is always where to begin. With dozens of options in front of you it seems impossible to choose. But this is the beauty of the new book Be Your Own Bartender. It really starts with just the idea of ‘what should I drink tonight?’ and takes it from there. Through questions and flowcharts it will get you where you need to go. Do I want something light or heavy? Is it cold outside? Am I drinking alone? This book has you covered.
The delightful authors are two of the best experts around- Carey Jones and John McCarthy. The cocktail-loving duo know how to approach cocktails from both the geekiest cocktail side and the simplest consumer perspective. It’s a book for anyone who loves to drink and hates making decisions.
We got them both over to make an easy but perfectly balanced winter treat- the Gin Gingerly!
Read MoreEvery party needs a good cocktail to start and it shouldn’t be made in a vacuum separate from the food. Instead it should all flow together like different elements to the same meal.
Alex Guarnaschelli - chef at Butter and a judge on Food Network’s Chopped - is of the same mindset, which is why she included an entire section for cocktails in her book The Home Cook. So when we had a chance to catch up with her I wanted to get her chef’s perspective on a good cocktail to serve to kick off a party. Her take is a classic and simple lemon ginger concoction that goes perfectly with easy bar snacks.
Read MoreI love cocktails but I am not usually a big fan of cocktail books. I don't want to buy 3 new liquers and a set of bitters just to make one drink. So I can't tell you how happy I was to see Maggie Hoffman's The One Bottle Cocktail. The entire premise eliminates your fear of cocktails in that it centers on the idea of only one spirit. Every drink is complex, fresh, interesting and only requires purchasing a single bottle of booze. Add onto that that Maggie is delightful - and that she shines through the pages - and you have an essential book on your hands.
I was so glad that on a recent trip to NYC Maggie decided to stop by the test kitchen and make a cocktail. This one is particularly awesome because in making it you also get a side of salsa. It's perfect for brunch, parties or just snacking at home with your very own bottle of vodka.
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