Happy Hour: Sweeney (Hottie) Toddy

partysugar — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 16:00:02 -0700

Now that Fall is here we can start to think about cold-weather cocktails, especially the warming toddy. With its burnt orange color, caramelized sugar rim, and creative name, this modern variation of the classic drink is not your grandmother's nightcap. Made with rum and Canton Ginger Liquor, it's delicious and surprisingly easy to drink. Created especially for my birthday party, by superstar bartender Aaron Smith, of 15 Romolo, the Sweeney (Hottie) Toddy is also a wonderful concoction for a Halloween party. Lighting the glass on fire to caramelize the rim makes for a fabulous party trick! Learn how it's done and read more.

Sweeney (Hottie) Toddy
From Aaron Smith at 15 Romolo

Ingredients

sugar, for caramelizing rim of glass
1/4 ounce fresh squeezed orange juice
1/2 ounce Canton Ginger Liquor
1.5 ounces Pampero Anniversario Rum
1.5 ounces hot water
orange twist, optional for garnish

Directions

To create the sugar rim, lightly wet the rim of a wine glass, and dip in a plate of sugar. Then, using a lighter with a handle or a kitchen torch, light the sugar on fire. Be sure to use a glass that can withhold heat. The sugar will melt and caramelize. Turn the glass while the flames burn to ensure even caramelization. Set the glass aside to cool.
In a cocktail shaker combine the orange juice, Canton, rum, and hot water. Stir to combine.
Strain into prepared glass, garnish with an orange twist, and enjoy immediately while the mixture is still warm.

Makes 1 cocktail.

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Our Favorite Cocktails

partysugar — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 16:00:36 -0800

There's nothing quite like the sound of a cocktail shaker in action. As I wait for a bartender to make my drink, the noise of ice clicking against glass fills me with giddy anticipation. Why? Because a perfectly poured drink is one of life's most luxurious pleasures.

To help you truly enjoy happy hour, we regularly feature refreshing, tantalizing, delicious, and original cocktail recipes. Many I make at home, but others are expertly mixed by some of San Francisco's top bartenders, like H. Joseph Ehrmann, Aaron Smith, and Buffalo of the Alembic. To say cheers to cocktails, I've rounded my top 10 cocktail recipes of the year:

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Happy Hour: Sweeney (Hottie) Toddy

Our Favorite Cocktails