Wednesday March 10, 2010
Think what you may of SKYY Vodka, but their most recent infusion is something to take notice of. The flavor is ginger and I have to say that it may be the best flavor the company has produced to date.
When I first heard that SKYY had released the ginger infusion I wasn't sure what to expect, but since they switched over to the "All Natural Infusions" line, leaving behind the unnatural tasting infusions the quality has definitely picked up. Yet, ginger is a tough flavor because it requires a sensitive balance of sweet and spicy and much to my surprise SKYY has found that in this latest flavor.
This is a vodka that makes it easy to make a ginger-based cocktail, as opposed to using the flavor as an accent as has been customary and which Domaine de Canton has been instrumental in. If you are a ginger lover I highly recommend checking out this vodka, it makes a Ginger Martini easily obtainable, just use SKYY Ginger in a Vodka Martini and add a splash of lemon juice with orange bitters. Ginger also lends itself to pairings with a variety of other flavors as is evident in the Sweet Heat (habanero) and Ginger Sour (maple and lemon).
The other discovery that I made was some great ginger candy from Candy Warehouse that accompanied my bottle of SKYY Ginger. The Ginger Cuts are some of the best candies I have ever tasted and can lead to so many garnish possibilities for drinks. Try crushing them to a fine powder then rimming a martini glass or just serve the candy whole as a lively and sweet accent.
SKYY Ginger Vodka review...
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St. Patrick's Day Menus:
Today's menu is from Barbara Rolek, About.com Guide to Eastern European Food.
- The dough in this no-knead, one-rise recipe for Hungarian Beer Bread can be formed into rolls or loaves, but I like them as sticks or pretzels best. Their crunch makes them good candidates for cocktails or, what else, more beer! Translate this into a healthier snack by using white whole-wheat flour instead of all-purpose.
- If you swap pork for beef in this hearty Polish recipe for smoked pork butt and cabbage, you have a dead ringer for corned beef and cabbage. Leftovers can be turned into soup or another meal over noodles.
More St. Patrick's Day Party Tips...
Tuesday March 9, 2010
While the Irish Blond is a modern cocktail I have a feeling that it is going to be around for a long time and its classic styling certainly fits into the category of those drinks we already consider "timeless." This is one of those creations of Dale DeGroff and is, as Lance Mayhew puts it, "an elegant way to enjoy Irish whiskey."
It is the simplicity of the Irish Blond that makes it so great. Just four ingredients are married in this drink starting with Michael Collins Irish Whiskey, curacao, sherry, and orange bitters. The beauty is in that use of Fino sherry that plays so well with Michael Collins and that's what makes this a favored option for those looking for sophistication this St. Patrick's Day.
For those a little more adventurous we also have a recipe from DeGroff's son, Leo. The Tully Tea is a sophisticated version of the popular Long Island Iced Tea and is filled to the brim with premium spirits. Truly, the Tully is a Tea like you have never tasted before and after trying one it will be hard to go back to the standard.
Irish Blond Cocktail Recipe...
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St. Patrick's Day Menus:
Today's menu is from Colleen Graham, About.com Guide to Cocktails.
- Irish Martini - Simply add a bit o' Irish whiskey and you have transformed your favorite Vodka Martini into a lucky libation.
- Everybody's Irish - Here is a cocktail that will get everyone in the spirit of the Irish. The mix of Irish whiskey with Chartreuse and crème de menthe results in a green cocktail that is quite delightful.
More St. Patrick's Day Party Tips...
Saturday March 6, 2010
Cocktails and Hollywood seem to go hand in hand and if you are hosting an Oscar party tomorrow night there is no shortage of elegant sips that your guests would love. Of course, there are the traditional drinks like the Hollywood, the Hollywood Martini, and a full list of drinks named after stars ranging from Douglas Fairbanks to Marlene Dietrich. Then we get into some modern cocktails like the The Red Carpet and The Envelope Please.
This year the stars will be drinking Moët & Chandon Imperial Champagne as it is the "exclusive champagne" for the event and the Moët Golden Glamour will be one of the featured drinks. If that delicious champagne, vanilla, and passion fruit cocktail is on your menu you may also be able to find a special "Cinema Party Pack" at the wine shop that will have miniature bottles of the champagne, flutes, and an ice bucket to get you started.
If you are in the mood for cinema cocktail humor, I suggest you read this blog from Jeffrey Morgenthaler. He's not too polite about picking apart a list of cocktails designed for this year's Oscar nominated films. I have to agree, these drinks leave a lot to be desired.
Then, if you are looking for some cocktails in cinema trivia, stop by Miss Charming's website and browse her Silver Screen Cocktails. She is one of the best resources for drinks in movies and once again she's partnering up with the other two experts in this genre (Ted "Dr. Cocktail" Haigh and William T. Garver) for a discussion on the subject at Tales of the Cocktail (tickets are on sale now). While you're at MissCharming.com check out her cocktail jewelry. They're fun and filled with glitz and glam that people can't help but notice - wear an ice ring only if you want everyone to comment on it - and are the ultimate in cocktail bling.
More Hollywood Cocktails...
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St. Patrick's Day Menus:
Today's menu is from Linda Lasen, About.com Guide to Busy Cooks.
- Crockpot Corned Beef and Cabbage Recipe - This super easy lets you cook tender corned beef in the slowcooker. The cabbage is added at the end of cooking time so it stays slightly crisp.
- Corned Beef and Cabbage Tarts - For a twist on the classic St. Patrick's Day recipes, these delicious individual little tarts combine red cabbage and cubed corned beef with Gruyere cheese.
More St. Patrick's Day Party Tips...
Saturday March 6, 2010
If you haven't tried it yet, you may have seen the strange name "Pickleback" popping up all over the cocktail blogosphere, Twitter, Facebook, and in your local pub. It seems to be the one drink that everyone is talking about right now and with St. Patrick's Day approaching it seems appropriate to keep going with it.
The Pickleback (or Pickle Back) is a shot of Irish whiskey followed by a "back" of pickle juice and, yes, you can use the stuff that's keeping your pickles moist in the jar. However, as Lance Mayhew writes in this explanation of the Pickleback, any old Irish whiskey will not do, it has to be Jameson because it seems to be the only of its kind that really works with the pickle. The third element of this non-mixed drink is to have a beer back, which is usually a light lager. If you want to stay in the hipster mode completely - which is where the Pickleback has really taking off - a Pabst Blue Ribbon of all things seems to be the way to go, though I will stick with Mayhew's suggestion of a Dos Equis myself.
The Pickleback is raging in popularity all over from New York City to Portland, so if you here someone ordering it you now know what it is, and you just may want to try it out yourself.
Read more about the Pickleback including insights from NYC's TJ Lynch, the "Prophet of the Pickleback" here...
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St. Patrick's Day Menus:
Today's menu is from Linda Larsen, About.com Guide to Busy Cooks.
- Crockpot Corned Beef and Cabbage Recipe - This super easy lets you cook tender corned beef in the slowcooker. The cabbage is added at the end of cooking time so it stays slightly crisp.
- Gluten-Free Barm Brack - According to Elaine Lemm, About.com Guide to British and Irish Food, "Brack is one of Ireland's most famous bakery products." Barm brack is a yeast bread, unlike more common Irish breads which are leavened only with baking soda. This recipe is laced with fragrant fresh lemon peel, plump raisins and chopped candied ginger. The golden loaf is slightly sweet and delicious!
- Gluten-Free Creamy Potato Leek Soup - What better to serve alongside a warm slice of Gluten and Dairy Free Irish Soda Bread or Gluten-Free Barm Brack than a warm, cheery bowl of Gluten-Free Creamy Potato Leek Soup? This recipe can be adapted to dairy free as well, making it a perfect match for celebrating St. Patrick's Day while eating healthy foods for your restrictive diet.
More St. Patrick's Day Party Tips...
