Cherry Smash
Summer and fruit, they just go hand-in-hand. Honestly, I’ve always been a bit of a chocolate fan when it comes to my sweet kick — just give me a pile of chocolate and a cold cocktail and I’m a happy camper. However, as I’ve grown older (probably not wiser, but certainly more experienced), I’ve learned to appreciate the perfectly ripe fruit that you can get in and around summertime. Naturally, the best way to enjoy it is in a cocktail. A cocktail much like the Cherry Smash!
Nordic Snapper
Mother’s Day — or as most people seem to do — Brunch with Mom Day. I’m a fan. Well, that’s not exactly correct. I’m a fan of my mother, I like breakfast, I enjoy a good buffet, but I’m not the biggest fan of brunch. However, I am a fan of any excuse for morning cocktails (unless you’re in Vegas, then you need no excuse, because Vegas) and Mother’s Day brunch really provides us with the perfect excuse. With that in mind, allow me to introduce you to the Nordic Snapper!
Mezcal Blackberry Smash
Mezcal. Just the name sounds mysterious. Mysterious and sexy. Mysterious, sexy and a little bit exciting. Or maybe I’m just letting my imagination run away with me (probably not the first time, certainly not the last). If you’ve never mezcal’d (totally a word), think of it as tequila’s smokier cousin. Not to get too mired in semantics, they’re both made from agave, they’re both amazing, just mezcal is often baked underground for a smoky, sultry flavor, while tequila is often delicately baked above ground for a more agave-y, less (no) smoky flavor. You can think of mezcal like a serious bourbon or scotch. In fact, that’s just what we did. Hello there, Mezcal Blackberry Smash.
Spiced Watermelon Cooler
Ah May, summertime is really approaching now! Where I grew up, Bakersfield (I’ve heard almost all the jokes, thank you very much), it gets mighty hot ’round about this time of year. Triple digits? A common occurrence. You can go outside if you really want to, but we locals wouldn’t recommended it. Hot temps call for cool, refreshing drinks. And cool refreshing drinks call for watermelon. Let’s all share in a Spiced Watermelon Cooler to ease the burden of heat!
Thor’s Coffee
“I like it, I’ll have another!” *Thor smashes a coffee cup* And that is how you do that. Personally, I’m not a big coffee fan. OK, that’s a bit of a downplay, I really can’t stand coffee. Alice, on the other hand, is quite the coffee fan. Freshly grinding beans, French press, just the right amount of this and that — you know, coffee fan. However, I am a big Thor fan. (Just admire my Mjolnir necklace to prove it.) Presumably, I can thank my mother and Scandinavian heritage for this. Consequently, I couldn’t let Thor go unquenched. Enter Thor’s Coffee!
Peach Tequila Melba
If you’re going to take inspiration for a cocktail, using Escoffier is a good start. Not sure who he is? Let’s just say he’s kinda a big deal when it came to making modern French haute cuisine — basically, he was the king of French cooking at the turn of the 19th and 20th Centuries. One of his (many) desserts was the Peach Melba. It’s vanilla ice cream topped with peaches and raspberry sauce — and it’s amazing. Using that as our base, we created the Peach Tequila Melba!
Tres Leches Martini
Growing up in Bakersfield, I learned to love Mexican food. If you’ve never been, it’s largely a chain restaurant city. Heck, many companies use it for a testing ground for new concepts (in chain restaurants). The exception? All of the amazing Mexican restaurants. Nearly everywhere you look, there are small mom-and-pop joints that serve the greatest Mexican food you’ve ever had (until you have it somewhere else, then you’ll swear that’s the best). Thanks to that, when it comes around Cinco de Mayo time, I’m always a little bit excited (mostly for the food). This year, Alice and I decided to try something different; this year our cocktail of choice to celebrate Cinco de Mayo is a Tres Leches Martini!
Old Fashioned Leap Year
There are times when I really want an Old Fashioned, but also am feeling the urge for a smooth gin drink. Granted, there’s the easy option, “Der, have an Old Fashioned and then a Boxcar. You’re set!” Sure, but sometimes, you don’t want two drinks (we call those Once-In-A-Blue-Moon nights in our house) — you just want that one drink that encapsulates all of the awesomeness of an Old Fashioned with the juniper-y, pleasant tones of gin. When that mood strikes you, make yourself an Old Fashioned Leap Year!
Income Tax Cocktail
Oh tax time, I’m not a fan. Sure, yeah, paying them is good an all. Support your community and all of that. If you’re anything like me, when you’ve finally finished your taxes, you need a good cocktail or three. Luckily for all of us, you, me and everyone out there who needs a drink, there’s a classic cocktail for this special occasion: the Income Tax Cocktail.
Amaro Lucano Punch
I’m not sure about you, but I’ll take any excuse I can to have a relaxing drink outside when the weather is pleasing. Heck, I remember when my Danish relatives visited me in college (go Poly!) and they insisted on spending basically every minute they could outside — though I suppose central California is a touch more temperate than the Frozen North that is Denmark outside of summer. Great cocktails for outside gatherings? Punches. Make one or make a pitcher and you’re set. Here’s a winner for your next outdoor gathering, the Amaro Lucano Punch!