With this post, I’m delighted to launch a weekly series of cocktail posts in collaboration with two of Rochester’s most respected independent retailers of cocktailware and spirits: Cooks’ World and Pinnacle Wine & Liquor—located less than a mile from each other on Monroe Avenue near Twelve Corners in Brighton. Please read more about these partners … Continue reading NEW! Cooks’ World/Pinnacle Liquor Cocktail of the Week: The Miami Martini
Gin
Paradise Passion Martini
Citrusy cocktails are awesome—lime, lemon, orange, and grapefruit—but nothing is more exciting (to me) than finding cocktail uses for the seemingly exotic fruits that show up for only a few weeks or months out of the year. One of those is the passion fruit—or passionfruit, if you prefer. (In the dictionary, it’s two words, but … Continue reading Paradise Passion Martini
The Quarantini: Who says it’s enjoyable only during a pandemic?
Facebook Memories regularly remind me of things I posted years ago—which isn’t always a great feeling, by the way. Today, though, FB dug up a cocktail I came up with and posted three years ago today at the very beginning of the Great Pandemic, along with the YouTube video I made to demonstrate and explain … Continue reading The Quarantini: Who says it’s enjoyable only during a pandemic?
The Left Bank Martini
Our adorable tabletop Christmas trees will move to the attic shortly for the off-season, and—Epiphany notwithstanding—here’s one last cocktail photo with the colorful seasonal backdrop. The drink is a lovely change of Martini pace, taking its name from St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur, which in turn takes its name from the Left Bank neighborhood of Paris … Continue reading The Left Bank Martini
Golden Dawn
The name of this drink seems fitting for a New Year’s Day. I haven’t mixed it since last summer, when the weather was warm enough here to enjoy it on our patio. (Of note, I don't know why someone named this a "dawn" drink. It looks more like sunset to me … but I quibble.) Guess … Continue reading Golden Dawn
A Holiday Brunch Martini
What's a great beverage to pair with Christmas brunch? A Brunch Martini, of course! It has a nice balance of citrus sour with the sweet of marmalade and a good triple sec—I love Pierre Ferrand’s Orange Curaçao, but you’ll never go wrong with the original, Cointreau. Grand Marnier is great, too, even though it’s not … Continue reading A Holiday Brunch Martini
Home for the Holidays
This isn’t exactly a beginner’s drink, but it’s completely delicious, gorgeous to look at, and in tune with the December holiday season. It took several attempts to make it the way I like it. The original recipe, which I found online, didn’t include simple syrup, so between the lemon and cranberry juices it came across … Continue reading Home for the Holidays
‘Tis the season for a Christmas Cheer-y
Welp, the December holiday season *is* the crazy-busiest time of year for anyone working in the retail spirits and wine business, and that’s my excuse for not posting a thing in 10 days. I’ll try to make up for it. After all, the Twelve Days of Christmas haven’t even started yet (I call on my … Continue reading ‘Tis the season for a Christmas Cheer-y
I said, THIS IS A “LOUD SPEAKER”
This drink is really delicious—citrusy, but balanced. Lime juice can overwhelm other ingredients, but this recipe is was spot on. You don't see brandy and gin together very often, but it really works. For brandy, I prefer a nice (but affordable) French one over the less expensive California brands, but that's your call. LOUD SPEAKER1 … Continue reading I said, THIS IS A “LOUD SPEAKER”
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 Libation Lounge 