Archive for the ‘Holiday’ Category
Find Burning Love in the Red Light District
Turning up the heat to your relationship could be as easy as a little lip service, according to a Maxim.com article on the topic of talking dirty. Steamy encounters of the dirty whispering kind bring new meaning to the word ‘speakeasy’. Maxim staff writers steer men and women in the most desirable direction so the uniquely naughty doesn’t become the absurdly bizarre. Lovers tease and tempt each other with Red Light District suggestion, but few want to feel like they are truly visiting one for an evening of Burning Love.
Mekhong changes all that with two tempting cocktails for Valentine’s Day; Burning Love created by mixologist John Freeman and Red Light District created by Ali Dedianko for The Back Room, one of New York City’s fashionable Speakeasy style lounges.
Burning Love
Created by John Freeman, Elizabeth Lounge & Restaurant
2 ounces Mekhong Thai Spirit
1/2 ounce Burnt Drambuie
1 ounce Simple Syrup
1/2 ounce Lemon Juice
1/2 ounce Lime Juice
Peychaud’s Bitters
Fee Brothers Aztec Chocolate Bitters
Garnish with a saddled red tulip bulb
Combine all ingredients in a tall mixing tin, including the bitters, excluding the Drambuie. Shake 
vigorously and set aside. Pour Drambuie in a doubled mini tin and ignite with a match or lighter. (A match is preferable to avoid gas expose. A doubled mini tin is important to protect the hands against heat.) Pour ignited Drambuie directly from the mini tins into a coup or cocktail glass. The spirit should remain aflame inside the glass. Briefly re-shake and Hawthorn strain cold mixture on top of flaming Drambuie, dousing the flames. Garnish with a saddled red tulip bulb or lime slice.
Red Light District
Created by Ali Dedianko, The Back Room (NYC Speakeasy Lounge)
1-1/2 ounce Mekhong Thai Spirit
1/2 ounce Fresh Lemon Juice
1 ounce Simple Syrup
1 ounce Strawberry Liqueur
1 Large Fresh Strawberry
1 Medium Red Chili Pepper
Muddle fresh strawberry and red chili pepper. Combine in shaker with Mekhong, strawberry liquor, lemon juice and simple syrup and shake vigorously. Pour over large ice cubes in teacup or short glass. Fresh strawberry garnish optional.
Mekhong Drink Links of Interest
Fall in Love with The Spirit of Thailand this Valentine’s Day
Mekhong Mixing Well in Germany - Mekhong: The Spirit of Thailand Enchants the U.S.
Mekhong – The Spirit of Thailand: Spirit on the Rise - Mekhong Cocktail Competition Recipes 2008
Mekhong Spirit of Thailand: Face to Face Taste Experience
Love & Romance: Cocktails for Valentine’s Day & Beyond
Cocktails of 2010: Recipes, Images & Slideshows - Drink Recipes & Photos
The Intoxicologist on Twitter, Facebook, StumbleUpon
www.discus.org – Distilled Spirits Council of the United States
str8upcocktails@gmail.com
Copyright 2009 Cheri Loughlin – The Intoxicologist – All Rights Reserved
One Good Kiss from a Rose May Lead to Another
Everyone knows one good kiss deserves another. Delicious kisses often lead to much more exciting and adventurous things. Barefoot Bubbly offers a ‘Bubbly Kiss’ from their Rosé Cuvée variety bringing a blush to the glass that just might extend further into the evening this Valentine’s Day. Redbookmag.com compiled a Top 40 list of their steamiest tips for couples from bubbly kiss to sparkling bliss. Tuck a few secret recipes for success in your pocket including the easy Kiss from a Rosé
Barefoot Bubbly’s Kiss from a Rosé
1/2 ounce Raspberry Liqueur
1/2 ounce Créme de Cassis
4 ounces Barefoot Bubbly Rosé Cuvée
1 Raspberry & 1 Blackberry
Place liqueur, crème de cassis and berries in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well to blend and chill. Strain into a champagne flute. Top with Barefoot Rosé Cuvée.
Barefoot Bubbly offers a variety of sparkling champagnes that easily pair well with luscious cocktail creations or from bottle to champagne flute. Brut Cuvée works rather nicely as the champagne topper for cocktails such as the Bellini or the Champagne Agavero. Moscato Spumante is wonderful chilled and served straight to the champagne flute or as sparkling topper in the Naughty Negroni.
More Barefoot Bubbly Cocktails of Interest
Patron in My Cup – Santa’s Sparkling Sleigh – Barefoot Brunch
Bit ‘o Bubbly Champagne Cocktail Recipes - Marilyn Monroe Champagne Cocktail
Birth of Champagne Cause for Cocktail Celebration
The Intoxicologist on Twitter, Facebook, StumbleUpon
www.discus.org – Distilled Spirits Council of the United States
Email: str8upcocktails@gmail.com
Copyright 2009 Cheri Loughlin – The Intoxicologist – All Rights Reserved
Love & Romance: Cocktails for Valentine’s Day & Beyond
Passion – strong emotion, adoration, love, intensely powerful emotion, craving, amorous affection and desire felt by lovers for each other
Kiss – buss, osculation, smack, graze, butterfly, French, to touch or caress with the lips, especially as a sign of ardor or affection
Midnight – bewitching hour when all enchantment begins, temptation arises, enticement wins out and fascinating tales begin to weave charming stories of excitement and pleasure
Heart – essence, character, soul, compassion, tenderness, zest, moxie, spirit
Flutter – tremble, oscillate, throb, shiver, flitter, dance, to move quickly, lightly and unsteadily as if with wings
Love – adoration, rapture, enchantment, ardor, fervor, yearning, fascination, ardent affection, desire felt by lovers for one another
Smitten – infatuated, stricken, intense romantic attraction, lust
Rendezvous – affair, tete-a-tete, tryst, love nest, secretly unite
Heaven – bliss, ecstasy, rapture, Utopia, nirvana, harmony, elated pleasure
All these words of romance and desire intertwine with passion, but were pulled from the names of cocktails linked with Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s Day might very well be written off as a cheesy Hallmark moment in some people’s book, but romance and love are alive and well across the globe. Sexy, flirty cocktails needn’t be saved for couples only. Enjoy the moment whether it is a Girl’s Night Out, Bachelorette or Bachelor party, Couples Night In, celebrating freedom or just feeling the need to let the spirit move you in a fun and flirty direction for a change.
Fun & Flirty Romantic Cocktail Recipes has been relocated due to the amount of traffic and bandwidth issues on this site. The Valentine Cocktail listing has been updated with new links and a few new cocktail and shot recipes that were not listed before. Please click over and enjoy! Thank you for the overwhelming interest. So happy you enjoy the cocktails and shots.
Cocktails - Bourbon Cocktails - Champagne & Bubbly Cocktails - Classic Cocktails
Low Calorie/Low Carb Cocktails - Shots & Shooters - Holiday
The Intoxicologist on Twitter, Facebook, StumbleUpon
www.discus.org – Distilled Spirits Council of the United States
Copyright 2009 Cheri Loughlin – The Intoxicologist – All Rights Reserved
Ringing in the New Year: Bit ‘o Bubbly Champagne Cocktail Recipes Guide
Sparkling cocktails and champagne should not be relegated to times of celebration only. Thank goodness holiday times and special occasions give many the extra nudge needed to pick up a bottle of bubbly for clinking glasses rather than the same old tried and true cocktail of the everyday. The champagne drink recipe below was sent to me by fellow cocktail enthusiast and cigar aficionado, Tom Ufer. Follow Tom Ufer on Twitter to keep up with his writings as the Tampa Cigar Examiner and the CigarSmokingMan on Wordpress where he explores pairings of fine smokes and cocktails.
Apricot Bellini – courtesy Tom Ufer
3/4 cup apricot or passion fruit nectar, chilled
750 ml Champagne or Prosecco, chilled
1/4 cup raspberries
6 mint leaves
Pour two tablespoons chilled apricot nectar into champagne flute. Top with chilled champagne. Garnish with 2 or 3 fresh raspberries and mint leaf. The Apricot Bellini equals 2 Weight Watcher points.
Bit ‘o Bubbly
Every Bit ‘o Bubbly cocktail doesn’t necessarily find its way into a champagne flute. Often effervescent bubbles tickle at the nose by way of martini and cocktail recipes topped with champagne, prosecco and wonderful sparkling sake. The following cocktail recipe listing contains champagne cocktails, sparkling sake recipes, NUVO Sparkling Liqueur and those topped with prosecco to name a few. There are one or two Mocktail recipes added for the benefit of those wishing for the feel of a champagne cocktail without the alcohol effect. This listing has been compiled from drink recipes already posted on The Intoxicologist site and my National Cocktails Examiner pages.
2. 3,2,1…Pinkies Up - Pinky Vodka
5. Angel Eyes - Gran Centenario Rosangel
8. Apple Bellini - The Balvenie Doublewood
9. Art’ Negroni - Beefeater Gin-Cynar
11. Barefoot Brunch
12. Barefoot Bubbly Holiday Cocktails & Dessert Recipes-recipe slideshow only
13. Barefoot Little Sips - Cupcakes
15. Basil Hayden Wish - Basil Hayden’s Bourbon
16. Basil Hayden’s Apple Bubbly - Bourbon
17. Basil Hayden’s Fizz - Basil Hayden’s Bourbon
18. Bee is for Buffalo - Buffalo Trace Bourbon
19. Beefeater Ruby Negroni - Beefeater Gin
20. Bellini
22. Better Cinco - Zipang Sparkling Sake
23. Bitter Bubbles - Campari, X-Rated Fusion
24. Black & Blue Below - 42Below Vodka
27. Blue Lagoon - Cielo Tequila
28. Blueberry Bubble - Three-O Bubble Vodka
29. Blushing Angel - Dubonnet Rouge
30. Boca Royale - Boca Loca Cachaca
31. Brazilian Silent Night - VeeV
33. Buck’s Fizz
35. Burroughs Punch - Beefeater 24
36. Cabana Kiss - Cabana Cachaca
37. Candied Cane - Boca Loca Cachaca
38. Candy Corn Champagne - Alize Gold Passion
39. Caneflower - Boca Loca Cachaca
40. Champagne Cosmo - Lower Calorie
42. Champagne Topped Holiday Martinis-recipe slideshow only
43. Chandon Fizz
44. Christmas Kiss - Right Gin
45. Corzo Toast - Corzo Tequila
46. Cos-Moscato - Barefoot Bubbly
47. Cramoisi Genévrier (Crimson Juniper)
49. Crème de la Mère - G’vine Nouaison
50. Cuervo NUVO - NUVO Sparkling Liqueur
51. Duke of Manchester Punch - Beefeater Gin
53. Far East Caipirinha - Leblon Cachaca
55. French 75 - Hennessy Cognac
57. Ginger Drop - Bacardi Limon
59. G’Vine Blush - G’vine Floraison
60. Holiday Honey - Evan Williams Honey & Bourbon
62. Holiday Sangria - Zipang Sparkling Sake
64. Kentucky Champagne - Maker’s Mark
65. Kentucky Sparkler - Baker’s Bourbon
69. Laurent-Perrier Ultra Brut Champagne
70. Le Perroquet
71. Lemon Sparkler - Barefoot Bubbly
72. Limosa - Ventura Limoncello
73. Mad Bellini
74. Marilyn Monroe Champagne Cocktail
75. MARTINI & ROSSI Venezia Sangria
76. Mojito Italiano - Campari, Flor de Cana Rum
79. Navan Orchid Martini - Navan Liqueur
80. New Year’s Sparkler - Skyy Infusions
81. NUVO Amore - NUVO Sparkling Liqueur
82. NUVO Black Code - NUVO Sparkling Liqueur
83. NUVO Dream (Abokado Style)
84. NUVO Over the Top - NUVO Sparkling Liqueur
85. NUVO Sparkling Cosmo - NUVO Sparkling Liqueur
86. NUVO Sparkling Cosmo - Updated
87. PAMA Sparkler - PAMA Liqueur
88. Partridge in a Pear Tree - Oronoco Rum
89. Passion Punch - X-Rated Fusion
90. Passione Fascino (Passion Flair)
91. Patron in my Cup - Barefoot Bubbly
93. Pegasus in Flight - Aperol
94. Perrier-Jouët’s Fleur de Champagne
95. Pink Fusion - X-Rated Fusion
96. Pink Peach Bubble - Three-O Bubble Vodka
97. Pinky Couture - Pinky Vodka
98. PJ Mimosa - Perrier Jouet Champagne
100. POM Ritz - Hennessy
101. Red Italian - Red Stag by Jim Beam
102. Remy Red Christmas
104. Roman Candle - Korbel Champagne
105. Ruby Sipper - Barefoot Bubbly
106. Sake Sparkler - Leblon Cachaca
107. Santa’s Sparkling Sleigh - Barefoot Bubbly
108. Silent Dos Lunas Night - Dos Lunas Tequila
109. Sour Witch - Lucid Absinthe
110. Sparkling Mango - Low Calorie Mocktail
111. Sparkling Sugarplum - Zipang Sparkling Sake
112. Sparkling Ume - Zipang Sparkling Sake
113. Springtime Martini - NUVO Sparkling Liqueur
114. St. Zipang - Zipang Sparkling Sake
115. Star of Night - Van Gogh Vodka
116. Stoli Angel Elixer - Victoria Secret Cocktail by Stoli
118. Swinger - Gin
119. Tangerine Dream - Finlandia Tangerine Fusion
120. The Basil Bubbly - Basil Hayden’s Bourbon
121. The Capone - Templeton Rye
122. The French 75 - Bombay Sapphire
123. The Gilded Sapphire - Bombay Sapphire
124. The Marie Claire Cocktail - St-Germain
125. The Millionaire Mojito - 10 Cane Rum
126. The Pomegranate Frost Caipirinha - Leblon Cachaca
127. The Seelbach Cocktail - Bourbon
129. Transformation - Mocktail
130. Vampire Kiss Martini - Chambord
131. Victoria’s Secret Pink - Fragoli Liqueur
132. Viennese Vixen - OVAL Vodka
133. Vodka Cobbler - Death’s Door Vodka
134. Waterloo Sunset - Beefeater 24
135. Wild Thyme Bellini - Barefoot Bubbly
136. World Traveler - Zipang Sake
137. Zipang Typhoon - Zipang Sparkling Sake
More Cocktail Recipe Guides
Football: NFL, College & Tailgating Drink Recipe Guide
Halloween Drink Recipe & Party Idea Guide
Holiday Cheer: Christmas to New Year Martini & Cocktail Recipe Guide
Holiday in a Glass: Fall to Thanksgiving Cocktails
Hot Brew: Winter & Holiday Hot Coffee Recipes
Living Grand & Teenie: Low Calorie Cocktail & Drink Recipes
Pink Drink Recipe Guide - Breast Cancer Awareness
Cocktails - Bourbon Cocktails - Classic Cocktails - Low Calorie/Low Carb Cocktails
Shots & Shooters - Mocktails - Reviews
The Intoxicologist on Twitter, Facebook, StumbleUpon
www.discus.org – Distilled Spirits Council of the United States
Copyright 2009 Cheri Loughlin – The Intoxicologist – All Rights Reserved
Gifting Scotch for the Holidays
With Christmas coming down to the wire last minute gift ideas for those who love the more spirited side of life come into play. By spirited I don’t mean in the energetic sense of the word such as those scuba diving or mountain climbing sports lovers who require expensive high end gear for safety sake. I’m talking casual brown liquor lovers who waft scotch in a glass either neat or over a couple of cubes of pristine ice. Searching for holiday gifts that touch the recipient with heartwarming appeal should be simple and stress free. With all the choices on the market, sometimes that search becomes daunting.
Recently I was asked to compare Chivas Regal 18 against the largely holiday gifted scotch, Johnnie Walker Blue. To be fair, this is an apples to oranges head to head taste comparison. Side by side Chivas Regal 18 comes across a little darker in color than Johnnie Walker Blue. Color does not always signify deeper or richer with regard to taste. Chivas contains nice aroma with hints of fig and nut. There is little smoke in the flavor if any at all. It is slightly thin in mouth feel. There are subtle notes of chocolate and the faintest hints of spice. This Chivas expression blends 18 year aged whiskies together and offers the bottling at approximately one third the price of Johnnie Walker Blue. Packaging is straight forward – Bottle, label, box. Gift wrap at your own expense with nice wrapping, ribbon and gift tag.
Johnnie Walker Blue contains little comprehensive aroma as compared to many scotches. The flavor is honeyed with virtually no burn at all. It is velvety, a little floral with some perfume. In my opinion sipping Johnnie Walker Blue is almost like consuming highly refined water in that it is so smooth there is not enough definition of character within the scotch. This is definitely an achievement in refining the process and blending scotches to supreme smoothness. It is an impressive example of a master blender perfecting his craft, but it does little to impress me with the scotch. In my opinion Johnnie Walker Blue is nowhere near worth the price unless the goal is undefined character. That being said, millions truly love Johnnie Walker Blue and their opinion of its worth is sincerely valuable. Johnnie Walker Blue also presents in a distinctive, individually numbered Baccarat crystal bottle that can also be engraved for the holidays. This unique characteristic comes packaged in silk lined box with certificate of authenticity. All of this no doubt contributes to the higher price.
If one is going for the complete perfection of smooth that Johnnie Walker Blue achieves, Chivas Regal 18 does not quite reach this scale of flawlessness. Nor does Chivas Regal 18 offer the luxurious pampering and sophistication that goes along with the purchase of Johnnie Walker Blue. However, is an almost two third bump in price worth the subtleties these spirits provide the casual scotch consumer? In my opinion no.
As I struggle to post this evaluation of Chivas Regal 18 and Johnnie Walker Blue I realize there might be a few who read and take my opinion into consideration when making choices for personal purchases and those of ones they care about this season. Being truly honest as a frequent scotch consumer, I think it only fair to include my choices for scotch gifting in the approximate price ranges covered above. There are a fair amount of scotches on hand in my liquor cabinet at any given time either by way of liquor company representatives or by my own choice through purchases made at liquor stores. My favorites are listed below in no particular order. The reason for no particular order is I consume a variety of spirits and choose according to my mood or a specific flavor I am craving at the time. The ones listed are those that I truly love at any price and it in no way reflects poorly on any which might not make their way to the listing since there are many more in my cabinet at the moment.
· Dewar’s 18 – Rich chocolate flavor with smoke and honey. This is a little less intense version of the Dewar’s Signature. Much more affordable and easier to find.
· Dewar’s Signature – An extreme pleasure. DEWAR’S Introduces High-End Discovery Gift Set
· Laphroaig Quarter Cask – Never thought I would love Laphroaig, but this one is divine without the severe iodine Laphroaig is so well known for. Laphroaig Single Malt Scotch: Own It, Sip It, Network It
· Macallan Sherry Oak 12 – The everyday scotch to learn and get one’s feet wet in the world of brown liquor. The standard. A little caramel, possibly fig in the taste. Rich color.
· Macallan Fine Oak 17 – Smoke, chocolate, mocha. Richness in the glass. Smoky, rich, full of flavor. Robust. Lots of body. Slight vanilla tone. Twitter Tasting The Macallan
· Ardmore Traditional Cask – Hearty bouquet, delicate sweetness fleeting beneath significant smoke flavor. Investing in Dad: Ardmore 30 & the Traditional Cask
· Glenmorangie Original – Straw color, light in flavor, no smokiness. Delicate without being overstated. An easy sipper. Perfect for someone starting out. Glenmorangie Original – “Like Dew on Heather”
· The Balvenie Doublewood & Glenfiddich 12 – I’ll be honest again and say I don’t personally consume these two as frequently myself, but love them just the same and occasionally do have a glass. They are purchased with frequency in my home for another scotch drinker and they also make great cocktails when I get the chance to sneak a few ounces. ‘Made in Scotland’ Makes Mixing at Home a Cinch
Holiday Cheer: Christmas to New Year Martini & Cocktail Recipe Guide
Classic Cocktails - Bourbon Cocktails - Cocktails - Drink Recipes & Photos
Top 10 Classic Cocktails - 21 Must Try Classic Cocktail Recipes
Drink Recipes & Photos - Holiday Cocktails - Reviews
The Intoxicologist on Twitter, Facebook, StumbleUpon
www.discus.org – Distilled Spirits Council of the United States
Copyright 2009 Cheri Loughlin – The Intoxicologist – All Rights Reserved
