Presented by Cooks’ World and Pinnacle Wine & Liquor I have never lived in New Orleans but have had the good fortune to visit a few times, particularly during my years living in nearby Houston; both cities are situated nearly on the edge of the Gulf of Mexico—also known as The Nation’s Humidifier. Summers there … Continue reading Cocktail of the Week: The Sazerac
Maraschino Liqueur
The Elder Aviator
This is a riff on the classic Aviation cocktail (gin, Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur, crème de violette, lemon juice), but dropping the sweet, floral violette and adding the more herbaceously floral (and health-giving!) notes of elderflower liqueur. THE ELDER AVIATOR2 oz Gin (good stuff, please)⅔ oz St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur¼ oz Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur½ oz Freshly … Continue reading The Elder Aviator
Lower-alcohol: The Starlight Reverse Martini
The reverse Martini and Manhattan—an ounce of booze to two ounces of vermouth instead of the conventional reverse—are not new ideas. In fact, long before Prohibition, proto-Martinis such as the Martinez were typically one-to-one booze-to-vermouth mixes. There’s a much longer story to be told about how America’s “greatest generation” messed up vermouth for half a … Continue reading Lower-alcohol: The Starlight Reverse Martini
The “Last Wörd” – and Intro to Aquavit
Aquavit (alternative spelling: akvavit) is a Nordic spirit--a distillation of grain or potato alcohol, flavored with herbs and botanicals. The most common, dominant flavoring is from caraway, usually with a strong flavor of dill as well. Styles of aquavit vary, and it usually includes other spices as well – anise, coriander, citrus, fennel, and savory … Continue reading The “Last Wörd” – and Intro to Aquavit
The Dernier Mot
New spirit adventures! My latest swap with friend Michael involved me giving him some excellent aged Rhum Agricole du Martinique (and a couple of accessories), and he gave me a healthy jar of Dolin Genepy le Chamois - a product of France's eastern mountains. Genepy le Chamois. Yes, it sounds like something I'd squeeze out … Continue reading The Dernier Mot
The Libation Lounge 