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Come Party With Me: Winter Weekend - Drinks

partysugar — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 14:30:59 -0800

When I imagine a Winter weekend getaway, it always involves a warm cocktail like a hot-buttered rum or Irish coffee. There's something so magical about sitting by a fire watching the snow fall, while sipping on a soothing potent drink.

This Saturday, I plan on stirring up a coffee and chocolate concoction. It's spiked with brandy and sweetened with cream, sugar, and vanilla. It's important to serve in heatproof glasses or mugs.

To check out the recipe and make this for your loved ones read more.

Tijuana Tippler
From Gourmet

Ingredients

4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, grated
4 cups light cream
2 1/2 cups brandy
2 cups strong coffee
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups heavy cream, lightly whipped

Directions

In a large saucepan combine unsweetened chocolate, light cream, brandy, coffee, sugar, and vanilla. Bring the mixture to a simmer over low heat, stirring, and simmer it, stirring, until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is hot and well combined.
Fold in lightly whipped cream and divide the mixture among ten 10-ounce heatproof mugs, rinsed with boiling water.

Makes 10 drinks.

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12 Days of Edible Gifts: Cherry Bounce

YumSugar — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 15:00:15 -0800

I've wanted to make my own cherry cordial for the longest time, so when it was time to get started on our 12 Days of Edible Gifts, I knew exactly what I'd be making. For those of you who aren't familiar with cherry bounce, it's nothing new. It's rather old, in fact - colonialists and pilgrims were known to drink it, and Martha Washington famously recorded her recipe for cherry bounce, which she served during the holidays and other special occasions. This after-dinner libation, which is made by steeping cherries and sugar in brandy, rum, and sometimes whiskey, originated in the Northeast but has since spread across the country. Today, it can be found everywhere from the woodlands of rural Louisiana to Michigan cherry-growing country. With its spiced, black fruit notes, cherry bounce is a sweet after-dinner digestif - and an even lovelier handmade gift. Make it this holiday when you read more.

Happy Hour: Apple Cidercar

YumSugar — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:00:42 -0800

After declaring I'd discovered the perfect Fall cocktail last week, I was worried I'd have nothing to look forward to. But surprisingly, my success had the opposite effect: I was inspired to go in search of other tipples that glorify the season's bounty.

Right now, it's impossible to wander the farmers market without being smitten by frosty jugs of freshly pressed apple cider. The apple cidercar - a riff on the time-honored sidecar cocktail - is a fun way to incorporate Autumn's quintessential beverage into a spirited libation. Check out the recipe when you read more.

Cognac 101: A Very Special Guide

YumSugar — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 14:30:36 -0700

Ever since "Hennessey" was first name-dropped in hip-hop lyrics and Tim Meadows's Ladies Man started sipping Courvosier, I've been curious about cognac. With all the VSOPs and XOs, cognac can be intimidating. So if you're also wondering what all those letters on the labels mean, I've put together a little primer.

Cognac is a brandy, but not all brandies are cognacs. The name refers to brandies produced in the Cognac region of France, made from white wine grapes that are first fermented, and then double distilled.
From this distillation, you get a liquid called eau de vie, which is aged in oak barrels to become cognac.

All those different letters refer to how long a cognac is aged. Find out what they mean.

Happy Hour: Pisco Sour

YumSugar — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 14:00:46 -0700

The other night I found myself at Nopa, a San Francisco restaurant known for its great food and equally respectable drinks. My drink of choice was the pisco sour, the slightly sweet, tart, frothy lemon cocktail made with pisco, a regional South American brandy. This is a wonderful concoction and I'm excited to re-create it at home.If you don't own pisco, you can find it at a well-stocked liquor store or online. The pisco sour and its namesake spirit have been at the center of a centuries-old battle between Chile and Peru, with both countries claiming it their own.

Note that this recipe calls for Chilean pisco, which is sweeter, with slightly lower alcohol content than Peruvian pisco. If you substitute Peruvian pisco, increase the amount of simple syrup and lemon juice according to your taste. To get the recipe to this lovely Latin libation, read more.

Pisco Sour
From Epicurious; inspired by a cocktail consumed at Nopa

Ingredients

1 egg white
2 1/2 ounces Chilean Pisco Capel
1/2 ounce simple syrup
3/4 ounce fresh lemon juice
Angostura Bitters

Directions

In cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine egg white, Pisco, simple syrup, and lemon juice.
Cover, shake vigorously for 15 seconds, and strain into six-ounce cocktail glass.
Top with a few drops of bitters.

Makes 1.

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Happy Hour: Brandy Julep

YumSugar — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 14:28:33 -0700

The weather warmed up this weekend, and a wonderfully refreshing drink was definitely a must. Looking for inspiration, I flipped through the latest issue of Imbibe magazine and came across a Brandy Julep. With a Kentucky Derby Party just around the corner, I knew I had found my drink. It's a sweet treat for a hot day, and a nice twist on a classic cocktail. To get the recipe, read more.

Note: If the day is warm enough the ice will start to melt and dilute the drink a bit. At first I was worried that it would be a problem, but soon realized that the melting ice toned down the sweetness of the drink .

Brandy Julep
From Imbibe magazine, May/June 2008

Ingredients

1 1/2 oz. brandy
1/4 oz. Jamaican (dark) rum
1 oz. simple syrup
3-4 fresh mint sprigs*
crushed ice

Directions

Fill a highball glass halfway with crushed ice.
Add ingredients and stir, bruising the mint lightly with the spoon.
Garnish with season fruits.

*Note: My mint looks dark because it is a chocolate-mint variety. It just happens to be the one that is growing rampant in my back yard, and doesn't actually have much chocolate taste at all. Any mint variety should do.

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Yummy Link: Brandied Cranberry, White Chocolate Chip Cookies

partysugar — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 05:03:33 -0800

For a grownup, gourmet version of the classic chocolate chip cookie, add brandied cranberries and white chocolate. It sounds so scrumptious! This recipe has definitely made it to my must-bake-for-the-holidays list! - Simply Recipes

Happy Hour: Domino's Side Car

YumSugar — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 13:27:18 -0700

In my early twenties, I fell in love with a drink called the Side Car. It was the perfect mix of brandy and orange liqueur, and was wonderfully tasty. However there was one small problem, every bartender I ordered from seemed to have their own version of the drink. Some contained whiskey, while others contained cognac; it was never the same thing twice. After a while I couldn't handle the inconsistency and stopped ordering it altogether. However, I couldn't handle the thought of completely cutting out such a delicious drink, so I found my own recipe. To check it out, read more

Domino's Side Car
From Domino magazine

1 1/2 oz brandy or cognac
1 oz Cointreau or Triple Sec
2 tbsp lemon juice
Lemon wedge or twist

Wet the rim of a martini glass and dip it in sugar.
Combine the brandy, Cointreau and lemon juice with ice in a cocktail shaker.
Strain into glass. Garnish with lemon.

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Definition: Pisco

partysugar — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 12:16:37 -0700

Pisco
A super potent brandy made from the distillation of Muscat grapes in Chile and Peru. Aged in special containers to prevent the liquor from absorbing either the color or flavor of the wood.

Yummy Link: Warm Chocolate Cake with Brandy Soaked Apricots

YumSugar — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 14:01:38 -0700

I'm not sure which part of this warm chocolate cake with brandy soaked apricots and caramel I like more. The warm chocolate or the brandy soaked apricots? Either way It's going to be delicious. - Never Bashful With Butter