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Cocktail Hour - The Bar Blog

Archive for the 'Places' Category

Inaguration Cocktails

Saturday, January 17th, 2009

pres_seal.gifWith the Presidential Inauguration right around the corner, what better way to celebrate this momentous occasion with some original American Cocktails. The folks at San Francisco’s own Skyy Vodka wanted to share this collection of infused vodka cocktails. They also remind us that Skyy is an All-American Spirit, it is crafted from the finest American grain, distilled and bottled in the USA.

As the United States welcomes their 44th President, toast your country and embrace this time of change with SKYY Infusions Inaugural cocktails. If you are in DC, they will be offered at these Washington DC bars.

  • Brasserie Beck - 1101 K Street
  • Hudson Restaurant - 2030 M Street
  • Hook Restaurant - 3241 M St NW
  • PS7’s - 777 I Street NW

hail-to-the-chief.jpg
Hail to the Chief

1 ½ oz SKYY Infusions Grape
1 tsp. Raw Sugar
4 slices Fresh Peeled Ginger
4 Blackberries
Top with Ginger Ale

Muddle fresh blackberries, ginger and sugar in a pint glass. Add ice and SKYY Infusions Grape. Shake vigorously and strain into Collins glass over fresh ice. Top with ginger ale and blackberries and candied ginger.

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Fancy Cointreau Cocktails

Wednesday, December 31st, 2008

Strawberry-in-PearlsRecently Cointreau show cased some of the cocktails being created with the iconic triple sec. Here’s a few:

Renowned mixologist Xaviar Herit from DANIEL in New York created the “Strawberry & Pearls” cocktail, a traditional strawberry margarita with strawberry infused Cointreau caviar served on the side.
champagne and pearls

STIX Restaurant and Lounge in Boston takes a traditional champagne cocktail to a new level with the Cointreau champagnePiper-Heidsieck Golden Cointreau Caviar which includes “pearls” of Cointreau featuring edible 24-karat gold flakes.

Finally Max Restaurant in Connecticut has created the “Champagne and Caviar,” which is a glass of champagne that also includes “pearls” of Cointreau with edible 24-karat gold flakes.

courtesy Cointreau

Tailor - New York City

Sunday, November 23rd, 2008

Tailor - New York City On a recent trip to New York City I visited Tailor, a restaurant and bar with some of the most amazing cocktails I have seen. The bartenders at Tailor practice the new trend of Molecular Mixology, creating cocktails made with ingredients like smoked Coke and Orange Foam.

I tried a drink called “Blood & Sand”, a concoction of Scotch, Cherry Ale, Vermouth and the aforementioned Orange Foam. My companions tried a drink called “Swedish Fish” that tasted like the famous candies. At Tailor, the drinks are art, every detail a critical step in the experience. One cocktail we tried was even served in vintage 1940s glassware. That touch gave it that extra bit of uniqueness.

Next time you are in New York City, I suggest you head downtown to Tailor for a cocktail or two.

Tailor
[where:525 Broome Street
New York City 10013]

more bars and lounges

Sleepy Hollow Fizz

Thursday, October 30th, 2008

Created by Brian Miller of New York hotspot Death & Co this creepy cocktail is made with Flor de Caña rum, a new premium rum from Nicaragua which has recently become available in the U.S.

Pumpkin PieSleepy Hollow Fizz

1 1/2 oz Flor de Caña 7yr old rum
1/2 oz El Dorado 151 proof demerara rum
1/2 oz fresh lemon juice
1/2 oz maple syrup
2 barspoon pumpkin puree
1 egg yolk
Top club soda

Dry shake, shake with 3 ice cubes and strain into a tall glass. no garnish

PUMPKIN PUREE
Take one 15 oz can of Libby’s 100% pure pumpkin, add 1 tsp of ground cinnamon, 1/2 tsp of ground ginger, 1/4 tsp of ground cloves and 15 oz of simple syrup and blend it all together in a blender or Cuisinart. Store in the fridge.

recipe courtesy Flor de Cana

Molecular Mixology: Playing Mad Scientist in Your Mouth

Friday, September 19th, 2008

oldfashioned-cottoncandy-spiritsandcocktailsCombining chemistry and cocktails may sound dangerous. However, mixologists are using scientific principles to manipulate the flavor and texture of their creations. Known as molecular mixology, this new style of cocktail-making includes things like powdered rum and coke, martini popsicles, alcoholic cotton candy and whiskey hamburgers.

Simpler concoctions include upscale Jell-O shots and spherical “ice cubes” that are actually frozen cocktails. Inspired by the culinary discipline of molecular gastronomy, cocktail chemists have applied many tricks of the restaurant trade to the bar in the form of gelatins, foams and sorbets. (For extra credit, you can read about the history of molecular mixology)

Molecular mixology merges science and booze to take advantage of chemical reactions. For example, liquid nitrogen, in addition to being cold enough to freeze alcohol, also intensifies it upon melting. An expert mixologist could make a specialty shot that appeared to be served in an edible balloon rather than a glass, thanks to the chemical properties of sodium alginate and calcium lactate.

frank-gehry-cocktail-esquire Despite the growing popularity of molecular cocktails, the time and expense involved in making them means it is difficult to find a bar that serves them. But many bartenders are incorporating some molecular mixology ideas to spice up their martini repertoire or add flair to traditional cocktail offerings.
Tune in next week for some molecular mixology recipes you can try at home! Update: Vessel 75 Recipe

Here are a few bars that serve molecular cocktails, according to menus on their websites:

Barton G in Miami Beach
Tailor in New York
Nineteen12 in Beverly Hills
The Drop in Kansas City, Missouri
David Burke’s Primehouse in Chicago

If you have a bar to add to the list, let us know!

Photo credits:

Brandy New Fashioned by Spirits and Cocktails
Frank Gehry Cocktail by Esquire

America’s Hardest Drinking City 2008 - Austin, Texas

Tuesday, August 26th, 2008

austin texas

Milwaukee, “America’s Drinking Hole”, has lost it’s status as the Hardest Drinking City in America to a worthy opponent, Austin, TX. Known for it’s live music, thriving nightlife district and the University of Texas, Austin is tops in alcohol consumption in 2008 according to Forbes Magazine . There is even an annual cocktail throwdown. With that many college students, music and barbecue there is bound to be some drinking. In runner up, Milwaukee’s defense, they keep their college students an hour away in Madison.

Rounding out the top 5 was San Francisco, Providence, RI and Chicago all worthy competition. If only it were hotter in SF, maybe we’d win.

America’s Hardest Drinking Cities - Forbes
via Asylum

Hospital Themed Bars

Wednesday, August 6th, 2008

sex on a drip cocktailFinally recovering after having my Appendix explode a week ago, I am finally able to get back to sharing the wonderful world of cocktails with you all. Writing this from my hospital bed, I thought it would be fun to see what I could find in the way of Medical or Hospital themed bars and drinks. Good thing themed bars are all the rage.

I found bars in Australia, Japan and one in Singapore named “The Clinic”. The Clinic dresses as doctors and nurses and serve food in syringes, pill form and test tubes. Cocktails with fun names like, Sex on a Drip and Nitro Sangria are cleverly served from an IV bag.

Wow, I wish they had these IVs at my hospital.

The Clinic - Singapore
via ThaiMed.com