Tag: rum

Introducing My *Summer Crush* – a Tantalizing Late Summer Cocktail!

It’s Labor Day!  The official End of Summer!  But, are you ready for summer to end?  Because I. Am. Not!  With Covid restrictions and travel bans, it feels like this summer never even got off the ground.

Luckily for us there is still a ton of great summer produce at your local Farmers Market – perfect for cocktail making!

This week at my Market I picked up some beautiful sunflowers, amazing tomatoes, and the stars of this cocktail – a new jar of Honey (local honey is amazing! If you haven’t given it a try yet, you need to!) and a perfect Watermelon! 

This cocktail combines some of my favorite summer flavors – it is perfect for sipping in the shade on a hot July day or enjoying with friends while watching a mid-September sunset.  You will need fresh juiced watermelon, blackberries, honey, lime juice, Club Soda, and the vodka of your choice.  I used one of my favorites, Ohio’s own Buckeye Vodka.  This is super simple and absolutely delicious – I hope you enjoy!

  • *Summer Crush*
  • 1.5 oz Buckeye Vodka
  • .5 oz Lime Juice
  • .75 oz Blackberry-Honey Simple Syrup*
  • 3-4 oz Watermelon Juice*
  • 2 oz Club Soda

In a 16 oz Mason Jar, fill with ice and combine Buckeye Vodka, Watermelon Juice, Lime Juice, and Blackberry-Honey Simple.  Place the lid on the jar and shake to combine.  Top with Club Soda and garnish with blackberries, mint leaves, lime wheel, or whatever you have on hand. 

I love making cocktails in mason jars, you can build the drink and serve in the same glass – no extra dirty dishes!  Plus, if you have guests coming you can prebuild the cocktail then ice and garnish just as your company arrives! 

And you know that I am all about versatility!  This drink is delicious with vodka – but also amazing with your favorite tequila (maybe add a salt rim, for a little extra oomph) and also delicious with rum!  Remember, recipes are just guidelines, tweak to make the final product your very own masterpiece!

*Blackberry-Honey Simple Syrup – In a pot over medium heat combine 6 oz Blackberries with 6 oz of local Honey and 6 oz of water, stirring occasionally to help honey dissolve.  It should come to a low simmer for about 10 minutes.  Remove from heat and allow to cool 15 minutes.  Pour through a fine mesh strainer into a sealable container and refrigerate until ready to use.  (This is also amazing in ice tea or over ice cream!)

*Watermelon Juice – Load up your blender with chunks of de-rinded watermelon, and pulse until it is liquified.  Pour through a fine sieve into a pitcher and refrigerate.

Make Mother’s Day Great Again!

Mother’s Day is here!  And after weeks of lockdowns, quarantines, homeschooling, working from home, and more, the Mother’s in your life deserve something extra special.  I’m going to walk you through mixing up two very special cocktails that mom is sure to love!

When I was growing up my mom didn’t necessarily want gifts.  Don’t get me wrong, if we didn’t get her a card and something special to open, she would not have been happy.  But more than THINGS she wanted to make MEMORIES with us.  I don’t remember ever going to brunch or making breakfast in bed.  What I do remember is when my brother and I were little we would go to Kings Island, our local amusement park.  It was usually our first visit of the year and because it was Mother’s Day the park would be almost empty. 

When we got a little older my mom decided that she wanted to go to the horse track and bet on the ponies.  I remember perfect, warm spring days sitting the sunshine while watching the races all day.  And other years, we would go for just one or two races because of the cool, rainy spring days we can have.  We make $2 bets and have nachos and popcorn.  It is fun and silly.  And that is a tradition that we’ve carried through to this day. 

Well, not this day, technically.  See we’re still in lockdown, stay-at-home, social distancing, and whatever else you want to call it.  The racetrack isn’t open.  Restaurants aren’t open.  We’re still not allowed to gather together to celebrate.  Like so many of our celebrations, Mother’s Day is looking a little bit different this year.

One thing that I (and you) can do, is drop a gift, a meal, a treat, and (of course) a cocktail off to mom.  Do what you can to make this an extra special day.  Really celebrate HER and all the hard work she has done. 

Let’s start with the perfect brunch/breakfast in bed cocktail.  If you want to keep this drink alcohol free, just sub her favorite coffee creamer for the Bailey’s.  And if you don’t have Hot Chocolate Mix, you can substitute Chocolate Syrup or even Fudge topping for ice cream!

Mother’s Day Mocha

  • 1.5oz Bailey’s Irish Cream
  • 1tbsp Hot Chocolate Mix
  • A few drops of Vanilla Extract
  • Fresh Brewed Coffee
  • Whipped Cream
  • Chocolate Shavings, optional

In her favorite coffee mug combine Bailey’s, Hot Chocolate mix, and Vanilla.  Stir well to combine.  Add Coffee to an inch from top of mug.  Stir again, make sure everything is combined.  Top with Whipped Cream and Chocolate Shavings. 

*Tastes best served in bed. 

This cocktail is one of my favorites because it is super customizable!  It works beautifully with Vodka, Gin, Bourbon, Tequila, of Rum (but I would stick to white rum, like Bacardi).  So, grab a bottle of mom’s favorite spirit, a handful of her favorite berries, and her favorite mixer and let’s make this

Mother’s Day Smash

  • 1.5 oz Hendrick’s Gin Midsummer Solstice (or her favorite Spirit)
  • 2-3 Strawberries (and/or blueberries, blackberries, raspberries)
  • 2-3 Basil Leaves
  • .25-.5oz Honey (sweeten to taste)
  • Half a Lemon (more or less to taste)
  • Club Soda, Tonic, or Sparkling Wine

In a Mason Jar add berries, honey, and squeeze in the juice from the lemon.  Muddle to release juices and to combine ingredients.  Add Gin and ice.  Put on the lid and shake to combine.  Add a more ice to fill and top with Club Soda, Tonic, or Sparkling Wine.  Garnish with a lemon wheel, fresh berry, and basil leaf. 

*Best enjoyed with her feet up, in the sunshine, while someone else is preparing dinner.

Middletown, OH #Research

This past Sunday was the first one of 2020 when I wasn’t packing for a trip, unpacking from a trip, out of town, working a special party, or otherwise just trying to catch up on life.  So, this was the first #SundaysAreForResearch of the year!  My Partner in Crime actually surprised me with this research outing.  He got me in the car and just started driving.  And I never expected to end up where we did.

Middletown, OH.  About 30 miles Northeast of Cincinnati, population of 48,813, it became a city in 1886, and it was the perfect location to spend a beautiful February afternoon.

We started at Gracie’s for brunch, and I highly recommend it!  The restaurant is light, bright, and airy with a wonderful blend of modern fixtures and what appeared to be original details.  After chatting with our server, we found out that the building was originally a JC Penny’s and it now houses the restaurant and a B’n’B on the top floors.

I started with a Mimosa, on the server’s recommendation, and it was not traditional.  I enjoyed it, even though I’m still not sure what exactly I was drinking.  My Partner in Crime went with a Breakfast Burrito with hash browns, and I couldn’t pass up the Breakfast Gnocchi and we decided to share an order of Grits (I can never pass up grits).

Our food took a little longer than expected, so our wonderful server surprised us with an order of Gravy Cottage Fries – and it was amazing!  The sausage in the gravy had an amazing flavor and it wasn’t as heavy as I expected it to be.  Partner in Crime loved his burrito.  My Gnocchi was very good, unfortunately it arrived to the table on the cool side which took the experience down a couple of notches for me.  The grits were really well made and Partner in Crime and I were fighting over the last spoonful!  We found out later that they are pretty new to Brunch, but I would highly recommend Gracie’s to anyone who is in the area.

After brunch we wandered down the block to the Triple Moon Coffee Company.  Partner in Crime is not a coffee drinker, but for me, #coffeeislife.  Their menu was extensive and honestly, I was a little overwhelmed.  I went with my go-to Vanilla Latte.  It had such a rich, warm flavor without being overly sweet.  The shop itself is a bright open space, with lots of tables and booths, and a lovely book/toy/game corner for kids of all ages.  Even though it was mostly full, the volume wasn’t loud and I could easily see myself holing up there for an afternoon of writing, reading, and caffeinating. 

After my coffee break, we started walking in the beautiful sunshine.  After about 3 blocks my Partner in Crime announced we had arrived!  I looked around and finally saw they sign for “White Dog Distilling Company.”  In we went to a long narrow bar, about 15 bar stools, a handful of tables, and one of the best bourbon collections I have seen in the state of Ohio.  Partner in Crime went with a PBR, because you can never go wrong with a PBR.  As for myself, I was overwhelmed.  The incredibly kind owners let me sample their Vodka, Gin, Rum, and Agave Spirit.  I enjoyed them all, but the Gin stood out to me as being incredibly smooth and well flavored while not being overly juniper/piney. 

I ended up going with a Cosmo (I never have Cosmos and I’ve been craving one for a few weeks now) because I wanted to see out the Vodka mixed.  It was a very nice drink, well balanced, and almost exactly what I had been craving.  While I was enjoying my first cocktail two other guests ordered a Margarita made with the White Dog Agave spirit, and they looked good.  So that was my second drink.  It was nice, and again the spirit mixed well, but almost immediately I found myself wish that I had picked a drink that didn’t cover the spirit as much. 

The owners were engaging, and their story is truly a unique one.  I’m hoping to visit again soon, and definitely once they start producing their whiskey.  If you see White Dog at your local liquor store (I know for sure they are in Jungle Jim’s) do yourself a favor and pick up the spirit of your choice.

On our way home we made a last-minute decision to take home a pizza from Dons Pizza.  We basically didn’t have a choice.  We had parked across the street from them and the sign Pizza is Life was taunting us.  We ordered a cheese pizza to go and it was different, but very good.  A thin crust, with a solid base of thick but not watery sauce and a rich, blend of cheese.  It was cut into 1-2 bite squares, perfect for snacking.  And a perfect way to end a beautiful February Sunday afternoon of #research.

“Something Fruity” Part 1

One of the biggest requests that I get while bartending is “I want something fruity!  I want it strong but I DON’t want to taste the alcohol!!!”  In my mind I’m thinking, “Well, I’ve never met you before and I have no idea what you like or don’t like or might be allergic to…. But sure, let me whip you up something AMAZING! (Insert eyeroll here.)”

One of the first tips I’ve given to the bartenders I’ve trained is to have a couple of “fruity” drinks ready to suggest.  They can be some old standbys like a Sex on the Beach or a Malibu and Pineapple OR you can take this opportunity to create a signature offering. 

One of my signature “something fruity” options is the Dragonfly.  One of my favorite flavored rums is the Bacardi Dragonberry.  It’s a Dragonfruit and Strawberry flavor that is fruity without being cloying or overpowering and it mixes well with tons of things.  Plus almost everyone likes rum.  Rum is a fantastic base for so many drinks.  (And who doesn’t love a good rum & coke?) The Triple Sec gives it another layer of Citrus without adding anymore tartness.  The sour mix keeps it from being too sweet.  The Cranberry Juice is a familiar ingredient in the “something fruity” category of drinks.  Plus it makes the drink a really pretty color!     

I call this the Dragonfly.  There is no great story behind the name.  I’m really, REALLY bad at naming my drinks and one night I had to think of something to call it, so Dragonfly it was! 

  • Dragonfly
  • *Build this directly in a Collins Glass (10 ounce glass, or close to that) filled with ice
  • 1.5 ounces Bacardi Dragonberry
  • 1 ounce Triple Sec
  • Splash of Sour Mix
  • Top with Cranberry Juice
  • Stir to Combine and Enjoy!

RUM- It’s Not Just for Pirates!

RUM!!!!

August 16 is National Rum Day…. As if we needed an excuse to indulge in some delicious Rum drinks!  For years my go-to vacation drink was a Captain and Coke.  To this day it is still my fallback plan if I ever freeze up at a bar.  When I was 19 years old Bacardi had a low-proof Lime flavor and Diet Coke had just released a Lime flavor- it was a match made in heaven for my little underaged heart.

Over the years I’ve had a lot of fun with rum.  And Bacardi relaunched a high-proof version Lime Rum, so for National Rum Day I wanted to use it to make the BEST cocktail to close out your summer with!

It’s slightly labor intensive, but oh so worth it!  It would be very easy to triple or quadruple the recipe to make a Punch for a pool party. 

  • Watermelon Crawl-
  • 1.5 ounces Bacardi Lime
  • 5 ounces Watermelon Juice
  • A drizzle of Blackberry Nectar
  • Garnish with a slice of Lime or Blackberry or Watermelon slice (or all three!) and enjoy!

Watermelon Juice- Select the best looking Watermelon you can find- Black Diamond varieties are my favorite, but are not always available.  To save yourself a little bit of work, pick a seedless.  Once you found your perfect melon, cut it off the rind and into chunks (watch out for seeds!) and cram the chunks into a blender.  Put the lid on the blender and pulse a few times.  It won’t take long at all.  When it looks like a liquid stop pulsing.  Then pour it through a fine mesh strainer to remover any pulp and wayward seeds. 

Now let’s talk Mojitos.  What a classic cocktail!  A few years ago they came flooding back into popularity, even though they never really did go out of style.  I mean, who doesn’t love that crisp lime flavor balanced with sweet mint?  The only thing I REALLY don’t like about Mojitos is when the mint is muddled in the glass leaving a murky, swampy looking drink.  Plus who wants to worry about a stray piece of mint getting caught in your teeth?  So I prefer to make my Mojitos with a Mint Simple Syrup… yes, ok this adds a few more steps to the recipe.  BUT, you can make a large batch of the syrup and use it in other things- Iced Tea, Desserts, Other Cocktails, that sort of thing.  Plus when you make your own Simple Syrup YOU get to decide just how sweet you make it.  Ok, here we go!

  • Mojito-
    •  1.5 ounces Bacardi Silver
  • 1.5 ounces Mint Syrup (or more for a sweeter drink)
  • Splash of Lime Juice (Fresh juice or Roses Lime both work, just a matter of preference)
  • Build and Serve Over Ice, Stir to Combine and Top with Club Soda.  Garnish with a Slice of Lime and Sprig of Mint

I hope you enjoy these cocktails and National Rum Day!  What are some of your favorite Rum Drinks?

  • Mint Simple Syrup-
  • 2 Cups Water. If you like your tap water, go ahead and use that. If you don’t like your tap water please use your favorite bottled water.
  • 1 Cup Pure Can Sugar. A traditional simple service has a 1:1 water to sugar ratio. I prefer a less sweet cocktail, but feel free to increase the sugar ratio if you like a sweeter drink.
  • Bring to a Boil to dissolve the sugar and add 5-6 sprigs of Mint and remover from heat.
  • Let the Mint steep for 20-30 minutes and then strain into a container, and store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.