Presented by Cooks’ World and Pinnacle Wine & Liquor Regular readers of the Libation Lounge know that one of my drinking crusades is to restore the dignity and worth of vermouth in the American public’s eye. Vermouth is a noble aperitif in Italy, France, and Spain but is misunderstood and criminally maligned in the United … Continue reading Cocktail of the Week: Wet Martini—but wait! It’s not what you think.
Recipes
Cocktail of the Week: A Pomegranate Martini
Presented by Cooks’ World and Pinnacle Wine & Liquor I have to tell you a story to explain my inspiration for this Martini. If you’re in a hurry, skip to “About this drink” below. Several years ago, I had the privilege of doing retail tastings in the Rochester (NY) market for a start-up vodka producer, … Continue reading Cocktail of the Week: A Pomegranate Martini
Cocktail of the Week: The Scofflaw
Presented by Cooks’ World and Pinnacle Wine & Liquor Licensed image The Scofflaw cocktail was born in Paris in 1924 but was a product of the Prohibition era in the United States. The word “scofflaw” won a contest held by Delcevare King, a prominent Boston banker and temperance advocate, who offered $200 in gold for … Continue reading Cocktail of the Week: The Scofflaw
Cocktail of the Week: Saké-tini (and a sake seminar!)
Presented by Cooks' World and Pinnacle Wine & Liquor If you’d like to learn more about saké and how to enjoy it in cocktails and with your meals, come to the “Saké Simplified” seminar I’m presenting at Pinnacle Wine & Liquor on Wednesday, October 2. Seating is limited, so reservations are required. More details are … Continue reading Cocktail of the Week: Saké-tini (and a sake seminar!)
Cocktail of Negroni Week: The Slow Negroni
Presented by Cooks’ World and Pinnacle Wine & Liquor Negroni week is upon us again. It’s an annual global fundraiser for a great cause through participating bars, but it’s okay to make negronis at home, too! If you want to have fun, find a participating Negroni Week bar near you and ask them for a … Continue reading Cocktail of Negroni Week: The Slow Negroni
Cocktail of the Week: The Geisha Martini
Presented by Cooks’ World and Pinnacle Wine & Liquor I am ashamed (yes, truly) that I haven’t posted this cocktail long before now. It’s a longstanding favorite of mine, and it’s where my fascination with saké began. Simon Difford created it in 2016—not in Japan, but in London, England. One could make this drink with … Continue reading Cocktail of the Week: The Geisha Martini
Cocktail of the Week: What nigori saké is, and three cocktails to make with it
Presented by Cooks’ World and Pinnacle Wine & Liquor Customers at Pinnacle Wine & Liquor may have noticed by now that we have dramatically expanded our selection of saké, shochu, and other Asian spirits; they’re right beside the checkout counter, so they’re hard to miss. So far, we’ve conducted two in-store saké tastings and a … Continue reading Cocktail of the Week: What nigori saké is, and three cocktails to make with it
Nigori Sake Cocktail: White Mountain
The lime and peach liqueur are an intoxicating combination even without the sake. In this case, I used Wakaze Nigori Sake, which is uniquely made in France using French rice. WHITE MOUNTAIN1 oz Nigori sake (Wakaze Nigori Sake)⅔ oz Giffard Peche de Vigne (peach liqueur)⅓ oz Freshly squeezed lime juice Mix all ingredients in a … Continue reading Nigori Sake Cocktail: White Mountain
Nigori Sake Cocktail: Melting Snow
As presented, this recipe makes a very petite cocktail (two ounces plus a teaspoon of ingredients), which will appear under-sized in a standard old-fashioned glass (I used a small glass for the one in the photo), so doubling it would be a fine idea. I chose Rihaku's Dreamy Clouds nigori sake for this version, but … Continue reading Nigori Sake Cocktail: Melting Snow
Nigori Sake Cocktail: Little Bamboo
Refreshing and fruity! I selected Yuki Otoko Snow Yeti Nigori Junmai Sake for this drink, as it's a bit lighter and rounder than our other nigori sake options, so it doesn't compete with the fruitiness. LITTLE BAMBOO3 oz Nigori sake (Snow Yeti)¾ oz Freshly squeezed lemon juice½ oz Pomegranate juice (POM Wonderful)½ oz OrgeatOne small … Continue reading Nigori Sake Cocktail: Little Bamboo
The Libation Lounge 