Pimm's - October 7, 2014

Our drink of the month for October is Pimm's Number One. Pimm's is a light, fruity liqueur that goes well with summery citrus drinks. Although it is not the most distinctive flavor we have featured, it is certainly a classic and therefore worthy of our attention. The next time you're in the mood for a Collins, pour yourself a Pimm's cup instead and see what all the fuss is about.

Note: All drinks marked with an asterix are from external sources. Clicking on the drink name will take you to our references page.

El Diablo*

Ingredients:
.5 oz Lime Juice
1.5 oz Tequila Reposado
.5 oz Bauchant Orange Liqueur
6 oz Ginger Ale
.5 oz Pimm's

Instructions:
Combine tequila, lime juice, triple sec, and Pimm's in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake until well chilled, about 20 seconds. Strain contents into a Collins glass filled with ice and top with ginger ale.

Pimm's Cup*

Ingredients:
.25 oz Lemon Juice
6 oz Ginger Ale
2 oz Pimm's

Instructions:
Pour Pimm's and lemon juice into an ice-filled glass, top with ginger ale, stir and garnish.

Pimm's Mojito

Ingredients:
1 oz White Rum
.5 oz Lime Juice
2 Sprigs Mint
1 T Sugar
4 oz Club Soda
1 oz Pimm's

Instructions:
Muddle mint leaves in ice filled glass. Combine other ingredients in shaker. Pour mixture into glass and top with club soda.

Wimbledon Cup*

Ingredients:
1 oz Gin
1 oz Whipping Cream
1 oz Orange Juice
1 oz Pimm's
.5 oz Strawberry Liqueur

Instructions:
Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Strain and serve.

Champagne - September 4, 2014

Our drink of the month for September is champagne. Although this frequently misunderstood drink warrants a full discussion in its own right (and look for such an article to come in the future), for now let's focus on its surprising utility in cocktails. Champagne serves as a base for the cocktail, adding an interesting bubblier character than a more traditional ginger ale or tonic. Avoid masking the more subtle flavor with harsh liquers; instead consider lighter fruit and herbal notes. As a mixer, don't worry too much about which champagne to choose... many decent options can be had for cheaper than you might think.

Note: All drinks marked with an asterix are from external sources. Clicking on the drink name will take you to our references page.

Apple Bubbly

Ingredients:
.25 oz Lemon Juice
.25 oz Honey
3 pieces Ginger Root
1.5 oz Apple Brandy
3 oz Champagne
A dash Nutmeg

Instructions:
Heat honey and combine with ginger pieces. Mix with lemon juice and brandy. Add to champagne flute and top with champagne. Add nutmeg to taste.

Elderbubble*

Ingredients:
1 oz Elderflower Liqueur
4 oz Champagne
.5 oz Raspberry Vodka

Instructions:
Add the elderflower liqueur and vodka to a champagne glass. Top off with champagne and garnish with a raspberry.

Stiletto*

Ingredients:
1.5 oz Bauchant Orange Liqueur
4 oz Champagne
3 drops Angostura Bitters

Instructions:
Pour the Bauchant into a champagne flute. Top with champagne and add bitters.

Sugar Plum Dreams

Ingredients:
4 oz Champagne
3 slices Plum
1 oz Cherry Kijafa
.5 oz Whisky

Instructions:
Place the sliced plum in the bottom of a champagne flute. Add the whisky and Kijafa and muddle slightly. Top with champagne.

Violet Fizz*

Ingredients:
1 oz Gin
.5 oz Lemon Juice
.5 oz Crème de Violette
.5 oz Egg White
4 oz Champagne

Instructions:
Pour the champagne into a glass. Combine the other ingredients into a cocktail shaker and combine. Strain the mixture into the martini glass.

Pisa Liqueur - August 01, 2014

Pisa Liqueur describes itself as a lend of almond, pistachio, and hazelnut flavors. However, we just like to think of it as a unique twist on another one of our favorite cocktail ingredients: amaretto. Substitute in Pisa for a sweeter, nuttier taste in your traditionally tart amaretto cocktails. Check out some of our suggestions below, and keep an eye out for the adorably leaning bottle in your local liquor store.

Note: All drinks marked with an asterix are from external sources. Clicking on the drink name will take you to our references page.

Cleopatra

Ingredients:
.05 oz Biscotti Liqueur
1 oz Pisa Nut Liqueur
1.5 oz Amarula Cream Liqueur

Instructions:
Layer the Pisa on bottom and the Amarula on top. Pour the biscotti liqueur on top so it penetrates the entire drink. Optionally, you can also rim this with chocolate and sugar.

Lofty Bourbon*

Ingredients:
.5 oz Lime Juice
.5 oz Lemon Juice
.25 oz Maraschino Syrup
5 oz Pisa Nut Liqueur

Instructions:
Mix all ingredients and pour over ice. Garnish with a cherry.

Spumoni

Ingredients:
1 oz Godiva Dark Chocolate Liqueur
6 oz Bourbon Cream
10 oz Club Soda
1 oz Pisa Nut Liqueur

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients except for the club soda into a shaker. Mix and strain into a tall glass. Slowly pour the club soda into the mixture as though it were an ice cream float.

Benjamin Prichard's Sweet Lucy - July 01, 2014

Bourbon and cream may seem like improbable companions in the world of cocktails, but this is actually quite a pleasant blend. The end result is of course sweeter and well, creamier than any bourbon, but keeps some of the same white oak flavors you would expect. Throw some club soda into the mix as well and you're left with a light, smooth concoction perfect for summer. Of course, if you don't have any of the liqueur on hand, you can always mix it yourself using your favorite American whiskey (we recommend TX Blended from Firestone and Robertson) and heavy cream (fat > 30%) in a 3:1 ratio. Thus, the liqueur itself is not an essential for your bar, but full credit to the folks at Prichard's distillery for showing us a unique and wonderful combination of flavors.

Note: All drinks marked with an asterix are from external sources. Clicking on the drink name will take you to our references page.

Chocolate Orange Cream

Ingredients:
1 oz Godiva Dark Chocolate Liqueur
1 oz Godiva Milk Chocolate Liqueur
1.5 oz Bourbon Cream
1 oz Bauchant Orange Liqueur

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients in a shaker and pour in a martini glass.

Lofty Bourbon*

Ingredients:
2 oz Bourbon Cream
.5 oz Espresso Liqueur
.5 oz Praline Liqueur
5 oz Club Soda

Instructions:
This is a variation on the Bourbon Lift. Combine all ingredients except for the club soda into a shaker. Mix and strain into a tall glass. Slowly pour the club soda into the mixture as though it were an ice cream float. The bubbles should rise up above the edge of the glass if you add enough and are careful.

Tennessee Breakfast

Ingredients:
3 oz Bourbon Cream
.5 oz Black Rum
.75 oz Biscotti Liqueur
Some Whipped Cream

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients in a shaker except for the whipped cream and pour in a glass. Fill the rest of the glass with whipped cream.

Black Rum - June 29, 2014

By Chris

The next segment in our series on rum focuses on black rum. This liquor is actually something of a modern invention, and thus does not have a storied history or many longstanding traditions. Technically, black rum is simply a subset of spiced rum, a widely diverse group that we will discuss in more detail later. However, in recent years, black rum has grown into a popular category all its own.

What makes a spiced rum black then? Generally speaking, black rums are the heaviest of the spices. They are usually very thick, full of syrup and molasses. They are frequently aged in charred barrels, but the oak flavors are usually masked by the powerful spices and pungent aromas.

For the most part, you would avoid drinking a black rum straight. However, the spices make for interesting combinations with sharp citrusy flavors and pair nicely with lighter rums as well. They are also rather cheap, so experimenting with a few won't break the bank. Below, we have tasted some of the most popular variants of black rum.

Cruzan Black Strap Rum

Price: $13.49
ABV: 40%
Color: Very dark, reddish
Taste: Very strong aroma. Sugar and molasses. Body is thick and syrupy, slightly bitter. Finish lingers, tasting of root beer

Goslings Black Seal Rum

Price: $16.99
ABV: 40%
Color: Easily the lightest. Caramel brown with a hint of cherry.
Taste: Much less pungent. Smells of brown sugar and cinnamon. Thinner, sweeter, and somewhat spicy. Clean, crisp finish. Closer to traditional dark rums.

Kraken Black Spiced Rum

Price: $18.49
ABV: 47%
Color: Dark Maple Syrup
Taste: Nose is positively dripping with sugar. Body is thick, sugary, and candied. Finish is abrupt and powerful. The entire sensation tastes like candy. Bonus points for the best label and packaging by far.

Captain Morgan Black Spiced Rum

Price: $19.99
ABV: 47.3%
Color: Medium dark, like Kraken but redder
Taste: Nose is harshly sweet, like a dry erase marker. Medium sweetness, with the most wood tones. Finish is lingering and very sweet, quite pleasant.

As we can see, the black rums are surprisingly different in a direct side by side comparison. Which one you should buy depends on what exactly you are after. The Black Strap is the "blackest" rum, with the strongest most distinct flavor. We use it in the corn and oil shot and really, it is virtually indistinguishable from actual crude oil. The Black Seal, on the other hand, is the most relatable. It is closest to traditional spiced rums, so go for this one as a gateway bottle if you aren't completely sold on the idea of black rum just yet. The Kraken is somewhat overly sweet, and is great for cooking (we made a fantastic rum cake with ours). However, all of that sugar runs the risk of unbalancing your cocktails if you aren't very careful. The Captain Morgan is a good all around rum, with the most complex body and finish. However, the smell is terrible and it does not excel in any given area. In any case, fans of dark and spiced rums will find black rum an interesting new addition to their summer cocktails. Those who prefer white or gold rums, however, might want to steer clear.

Check out some of our favorite spicy rum drinks below. We don't recommend any particular brand of spiced rum since each choice will bring a different flavor spectrum.

Corn 'n Oil*

Ingredients:
1 oz Velvet Falernum
.25 oz Black Rum

Instructions:
Pour Velvet Falernum in a glass. Layer black rum on top.

Rainbow Beach Swizzle*

Ingredients:
.5 oz Overproof Rum
1 oz Dark Rum
1 oz White Rum
.5 oz Velvet Falernum
1 oz Pineapple Juice
.5 oz Lime Juice
3 springs Mint
.5 oz Black Rum

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients except the black rum and pour over ice. Pour the black rum over top.

Rum Cake

Ingredients:
.25 oz Overproof Rum
1.5 oz Black Rum
.25 oz Allspice Liqueur
.75 oz Nassau Royale
.75 oz Butterscotch Liqueur

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients except for the overproof in a shaker and pour in a martini glass . Float the overproof rum and ignite.

Tennessee Breakfast

Ingredients:
3 oz Bourbon Cream
.5 oz Black Rum
.75 oz Biscotti Liqueur
Some Whipped Cream

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients in a shaker except for the whipped cream and pour in a glass. Fill the rest of the glass with whipped cream.