Presented by Cooks’ World and Pinnacle Wine & Liquor The Vieux Carré (pronounced VOO ca-RAY) was created in 1938 by Walter Bergeron, the head bartender at the Hotel Monteleone in New Orleans, and takes its name from the French term for "The French Quarter”—le Vieux Carré ("Old Square"). The Monteleone is one of the Quarter's … Continue reading Cocktail of the Week: The Vieux Carré
Benedictine
Cocktail of the Week: Archibald’s Last Memory
Presented by Cooks’ World and Pinnacle Wine & Liquor This is one very delicious cocktail. I knew from the ingredients that it would be, but the name is magnetic, too: "Archibald's Last Memory." If you had three or four of these, it very well could be your last. But just one is a sublime experience. … Continue reading Cocktail of the Week: Archibald’s Last Memory
For Burns Night: The Bobby Burns Cocktail
Happy 265th birthday (well, on January 25th) to Robert Burns, and happy Burns Night to all my friends who celebrate! I’ve already posted my annual homage to Scotland’s bard, so let's talk about the cocktail that bears his name. I chose the word “bears” carefully, because it turns out that this drink may not have … Continue reading For Burns Night: The Bobby Burns Cocktail
Cooks’ World/Pinnacle Liquor Cocktail of the Week: Minnie the Moocher
Various writers call this drink a “Jazz Age cocktail”—Jazz Age meaning roughly the 1920s and 1930s, which as a history student I also saw labeled the “Aspirin Age,” and which most people probably call the Prohibition Era. But, okay, it was the Jazz Age—when people went to nightclubs *strictly* to appreciate the lively, sophisticated music … Continue reading Cooks’ World/Pinnacle Liquor Cocktail of the Week: Minnie the Moocher
Cooks’ World/Pinnacle Liquor Cocktail of the Week: À La Louisiane
This week’s cocktail emerged from the heady New Orleans cocktail scene in the late 1800’s, where it was the original house cocktail at the fabled La Louisiane restautrant (which closed in 2005). It was first documented in a 1937 book, Famous New Orleans Drinks and How to Mix ‘Em (still available in affordable reprints), and … Continue reading Cooks’ World/Pinnacle Liquor Cocktail of the Week: À La Louisiane
The Mule’s Hind Leg
Yes, it's a Mule's Hind Leg, but I've been kicked harder in my life—just not recently. There are multiple layers of flavor going on here - very harvesty: Apples, apricots, herbs, and maple syrup (have I mentioned that maple syrup and maple sugar candy are one of my few sweet-tooth vices?). But there is also … Continue reading The Mule’s Hind Leg
The Silk Road
Road trip!! It's been a couple of years of little or no travel, so doesn't hitting the Silk Road sound amazing? That network of ancient trade routes spans China and Asia, into the Middle East and southeastern Europe, and it brought us spices that are the roots of our modern cuisine ... and beverages. Long … Continue reading The Silk Road
Between the Sheets
By rights, I should start a short series by posting the more classic Sidecar (Cognac, orange liqueur, and lemon juice), but I love this one even a little more because it adds rum (I love rum!), and I mixed one of these for my tasting at CHM last Saturday, so I’m in the mood for … Continue reading Between the Sheets
The Parlez-vous Irish Cocktail
Continuing the Franco-Irish theme from yesterday’s Brotherhood cocktail, here’s a great recipe that actually does include Cognac alongside the Irish whiskey. It’s up to you whether to go full Franco-Irish and use Hennessey Cognac or select your favorite other Cognac. I happened to use Jameson Black Barrel Irish whiskey for this one, but use your … Continue reading The Parlez-vous Irish Cocktail
The Brotherhood (Aye, but sisters like it, too.)
On this St. Patrick’s Day Eve, we offer a liquid tribute to the centuries-old bond between the peoples of Ireland and France. There is a history of commerce between the two nations dating back to the 12th century and beyond. Even before 1796, when France sent an expedition to support an Irish rebellion against the … Continue reading The Brotherhood (Aye, but sisters like it, too.)
The Libation Lounge 