Category Archives: Summer Sippers

Matador

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Matador

Matador

Enter the Matador. A figure of style, strength and bravery. Our cocktail this week doesn’t require any bravery but certainly encompasses the other qualities.

It’s a truly magnificent combination of fruity pineapple, sweet orange, sour lime and gold tequila. Tequila pairs perfectly with lime and pineapple so even if you think you don’t like tequila, this cocktail may still be one you will enjoy.

Ingredients

2 oz. Sauza Gold Tequila

½ oz. Bols Triple Sec

3 oz. pineapple juice

1 oz. fresh pressed lime juice

Lime twist for garnish

Method

Place ice in a sour glass and set it aside to chill. Fill a mixing glass with ice, then pour in all the ingredients. Shake vigorously. Discard the ice from the sour glass.

Strain shaken mixture into the now chilled glass. Twist lime peel over the drink and leave it resting on the rim.

Tips

Using fresh lime juice will give you the best tasting drink.

Use a channel knife to create the long twist. To get a tight curl, wrap the twist around the handle of a bar spoon or straw. This will help give the twist a tight spiral.

 

Bahama Mama

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Bahama Mama

Bahama Mama

Escape winter’s cold-weather woes with a tropical-themed party. It’s a great way to take a break from reality. At the very least, treat your tastebuds to a tropical escape with the Bahama Mama. The combination of aged rum, coconut, orange and sweet pineapple is balanced by sour lemon to create a fruity rum concoction like no other. So turn up the heat, put on your favourite summer shirt and let the vacation in a glass begin.

Ingredients

1 oz Brugal Anjeo Rum

1 oz Cruzan Coconut Rum

2 oz Orange Juice

2 oz Pineapple Juice

½ oz Lemon Juice

Splash of Grenadine

Garnish with an orange and cherry (optional)

Method

In a shaker with ice, add all ingredients. Shake and pour into a tall glass. Garnish and enjoy.

Tips

If you don’t have coconut rum, use white rum and add coconut syrup.

Shaking ensures all the ingredients are mixed together well and creates a nice frothy texture because of the fruit juices.

Anastasia’s Garden

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Anastasia's Garden

Anastasia’s Garden

A new year is nearly upon us, which is a good time to celebrate with a  brilliantly refreshing cocktail, Anastasia’s Garden. Flavours of sweet  strawberries and fragrant basil combine with premium vodka and some carbonation  to dance on your tongue. Pressing refresh never tasted so good.

Ingredients

1oz Russian Standard vodka

4 basil leaves

3 ripe strawberries

3oz soda (or champagne)

Garnish with a basil leaf

Method

Cut the tops off the strawberries and place directly into a glass. Give the  basil leaves a smack to awaken them and place on top of the strawberries. Muddle  until the berries are all pressed. Fill with ice and pour in the vodka. Top with  soda or champagne and stir gently. Place a basil leaf or sprig for garnish.  Enjoy!

Tips

The carbonation not only gives your taste buds some fun, it also helps  release the fresh fruit and herb aromas.

If using a champagne, choose a dry or Brut champagne. Another substitution is  sparkling white wine

Jumping Jack Flash

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Jumping Jack Flash

September brings many routines back into our lives, such as school schedules, sports leagues and warmer clothes. It also means National Bourbon Heritage Month in the United States.

To honour our friends down south, this week I bring you a rich and smooth martini full of orange, pineapple and banana fruit flavours, vanilla and, of course, subtle oak bourbon.

Ingredients

1 oz. Maker’s Mark bourbon
½ oz. Bols banana liqueur
½ oz. Galliano liqueur
1 oz. orange juice
1 oz. pineapple juice
Garnish with a half orange wheel

Method

Ice a martini glass and leave aside to chill while you make the martini. Pour all the ingredients into a shaker glass. Fill with ice and shake vigorously. Discard the ice from the now chilled martini glass and strain mixture into the glass. Place the half orange wheel on the rim to complete the martini.

Tips

Shaking mixes and chills down all the ingredients efficiently. It also causes a very appealing froth to form when it is poured into the glass.

Whenever possible, use fresh juice. Using juice made from concentrate will not give you the most flavourful drink.

I enjoy reading about the history of different spirits and encourage everyone to learn something about the spirits each of us enjoy. Here’s something for the bourbon lovers: In 1964, Congress declared bourbon as “America’s Native Spirit” and the country’s official distilled spirit.

Stormy Weather

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Stormy Weather

Whatever life brings us, even through Stormy Weather, our true friends will help us through.

To help us through the long weekend and celebrate, let me introduce you to a great cocktail full of spice and rich aromas.

Make use of that leftover wine, in this case Shiraz, combine it with rich aged rum, a splash of lime, and top with fizz and ginger spice. Cheers!

Ingredients:

1.5oz Brugal Anejo rum
0.5oz lime juice
0.25oz simple syrup
1.5oz Shiraz red wine
Ginger beer
Half lime wheel for garnish

Method:

In a mixing glass filled with ice, pour lime juice, simple syrup, Shiraz and Brugal Anejo rum. Cap with a shaker tin, shake, and pour into a glass. Top off with more ice and then add ginger beer until the glass is full. Garnish with a half lime wheel on the rim.

Tips:

This recipe works great when you have leftover wine. It can easily be prepared in a punch bowl when serving a large group.