Tag Archives: Castries Peanut Rum Creme

Hot Chocolates for Happy Holidays

Posted on November 23, 2010 | 1 Comment

There’s nothing more richly satisfying than coming in from bone chilling temperatures to find a nice warming cup of liquid chocolate waiting to satisfy the taste buds. Wrapping frigid fingers around a steaming hot cup of cocoa feels pretty darn nice, too! Slip into something darkly decadent, richly rewarding and comfortingly creamy this holiday season.

Jack’s Cozy Cocoa

3/4 ounce Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey

Splash of Peppermint Schnapps

Hot cocoa

Whipped Cream

Chocolate Shavings Garnish

Pour Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey and peppermint schnapps into prepared hot cocoa. Add dollop of whipped cream on top. Garnish with chocolate shavings.

Deep Chocolate

1-1/2 ounce Leblon Cachaça

1/2 ounce Jago Cream Liqueur

1/2 ounce Navan

4 ounces Hot Chocolate

Whipped Cream and Chocolate Shavings Garnish

Place Cachaca and liqueurs in large heat proof mug. Add hot chocolate. Stir. Top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.

Angel’s Beso

1-1/2 ounce Gran Centenario Anejo Tequila

Ghiradelli Hot Chocolate

Cocoa Powder for Rim

Warm heat proof goblet by filling with heated water. Empty. Rim goblet with cocoa powder. Add tequila and prepared hot chocolate. Stir and serve.

Hot Chocolate Delight

1-1/2 ounce Basil Hayden’s Bourbon

3/4 ounce DeKuyper Hazelnut Liqueur

1/2 ounce DeKuyper Crème de Menthe – green

Hot chocolate

Whipped Cream

Place bourbon and hazelnut liqueur in preheated mug. To with prepared hot chocolate. Top with whipped cream garnish. Drizzle green crème de menthe over top.

Cuppa Good Cheer

1-1/2 ounce SKYY Infusions Cherry

1/2 ounce White Creme de Cacao

4 ounces Hot Chocolate

1 ounce Half and Half

Whipped Cream

Red Sprinkles

Maraschino Cherry

Place vodka and liqueur in large heat resistant mug. Add steaming hot cocoa and half & half. Stir. Top with whipped cream. Add sprinkles. Plop maraschino in middle for a festive holiday hat topper.

Castries Cocoa

2 ounces Castries Peanut Rum Creme

4 ounces Hot Cocoa

Whipped Cream and Chocolate Sprinkles Garnish

Combine ingredients in a preheated mug. Top with whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles. For a twist, add a splash of banana flavored liqueur.

Official Site Tasting Notes: Milk chocolate flavor with a creamy blend of peanuts. Add a touch of banana liqueur for a tropical touch. Indulge on cold winter nights, preferably with a warm body.

Red Hot Chocolate – created by John Ginnetti

1 ounce Campari

2 ounces Brandy

3 ounces Whole Milk

1/2 ounce Heavy Cream

2 tablespoons Dark Chocolate Chips

Hand-cut Marshmallow or Peppermint Stick Garnish

Place milk, cream & chocolate chips in milk frothing cup used for espresso. Froth milk as you would for cappuccino. When milk is hot remove frothing wand and whisk vigorously until chocolate is completely melted. Add Campari and Brandy. Pour into large heat resistant mug. May be garnished with 1 large hand-cut marshmallow or red peppermint stick. Originally served at 116 Crown in New Haven, CT.

Coco Loco

2 ounces Flor de Caña 7-year-old

1/2 ounce Godiva Milk Chocolate Liqueur

Thin slice of Habañero Chili

Dash of Cinnamon

2 teaspoons of Brown Sugar

2 ounces of milk

Grated Pistachios Garnish

Whipped Cream – optional

Place rum, liqueur and milk in small pot set to simmer. Add chili, cinnamon and sugar. Stir continuously until heated. Pour mixture into heat resistant mug. Add whipped cream and grated pistachios garnish.

MexiCabo Hot Chocolate

1-1/2 ounce Cabo Wabo Blanco Tequila

4 ounces Hot Chocolate

1/2 ounce Coffee Liqueur

Whipped Cream

Place tequila and coffee liqueur in large coffee mug. Top with steaming hot prepared cocoa. Stir. Top with dollop of whipped cream.

Cheri Loughlin is a leading cocktail and photography resource for beverage companies, event planners, businesses and individuals. High resolution cocktail and beverage stock photography images are available in downloadable digital format in the newly redesigned Stock Photography Gallery at www.cheriloughlin.com.

Twitter, Facebook, StumbleUpon – str8upcocktails @ gmail.com – ©2012 Cheri Loughlin-The Intoxicologist, All Rights Reserved. All opinions, reviews and spirits’ coverage are the personal opinion and decision of Cheri Loughlin.

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Posted in Barista Cafe, Christmas Cocktails, Fall & Thanksgiving

Tagged Bourbon, Brandy, Brown Sugar, Cachaca, Campari, Castries Peanut Rum Creme, Cherry Vodka, Chili Pepper, Chocolate Chips, Chocolate Liqueur, Coffee Liqueur, Cream Liqueur, Creme de Menthe, Half & Half, Hazelnut Liqueur, Heavy Cream, Hot Chocolate, Milk, Peppermint Schnapps, Pistachios, Rum, Tequila, Vanilla Liqueur, Whipped Cream, Whiskey, Winter Warmer

Eye Opening Hot Holiday Coffees, Ciders & Tea Recipes

Posted on November 22, 2010 | 1 Comment

There is no rest for the weary on Thanksgiving morning. Cooks across the country will rise early and be thankful for the eye opening warmth of caffeine in their cups as baking and basting begin for Turkey Day. Find a few coffee, cider and tea recipes to warm your holiday spirit throughout the early morning hours or save these temptingly delicious treats for after dinner dessert by the fire.

Castries Coffee

2 ounces Castries Peanut Rum Creme

4 ounces Fresh Brewed Coffee

Nutmeg and/or Chocolate Shavings Garnish

Combine ingredients in a pre-heated mug, sprinkle with nutmeg or garnish with chocolate biscotti.

Official Site Tasting Notes: Warm, robust coffee flavor with a creamy peanut finish. Enjoy anytime, anywhere.

Mexican Coffee

1 ounce Agavero

Cup of fresh brewed coffee

Dollop of fresh cream

Place Agavero in heat resistant mug. Add fresh brewed coffee. Garnish with fresh cream.

Café Pacifico

1-1/2 ounce Partida Blanco Tequila

1/2 ounce Coffee Liqueur

4 ounces Freshly Brewed Hot Coffee

3 Bar Spoons Cinnamon & Sugar Mix

Heavy Cream

Prepare small warm wine glass. Add Tequila and Coffee. Mix in the cinnamon sugar. Float heavy cream on top of the coffee. Garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar mix on top and a cinnamon stick. Note: The cinnamon sugar mix is 4 parts granulated white sugar to 1 part ground cinnamon. Mix them together in a bowl.

Kentucky Coffee

1 part Maker’s Mark Bourbon

1 part Starbucks Cream Liqueur

1/4 part Frangelico

Fresh Brewed Coffee

Whipped Cream Garnish

Place spirits in large heat proof mug. Top with fresh brewed coffee. Top with dollop of whipped cream if desired.

Enjoy this classic winter warmer at just 96 calories by following the recipe below.

Irish Coffee

1-1/2 ounce Jameson Irish Whiskey

Fresh Brewed Black Coffee

Splenda (to sweeten if you feel you need it)

Stir ingredients in a preheated mug and enjoy! Notation: Irish Coffee is a weekend staple in my home. After the first pot of coffee is gone, the second pot is for sipping with Jameson Irish Whiskey; no sugar needed.

Hard Rocker Cider – makes 6 servings

1 cup Cabo Wabo Reposado Tequila

4 cups Apple Cider

1 cup Cranberry Juice Cocktail

1/4 cup Triple Sec

1 teaspoon Nutmeg

Cinnamon Sticks, for garnish

Heat cider, stirring continually. Add cranberry juice cocktail and nutmeg. If using a crock pot, simmer on low just until hot for 2 hours. Do not boil. When ready to serve, turn on high for 10 minutes and stir in tequila and liqueur. Serve in heat proof mugs. Garnish with a cinnamon stick. For quick serve, this may be prepared in the microwave.

King’s Cider

1-1/2 ounce Crown Royal

2 ounce Heated Cider

1/4 ounce Honey

1/2 ounce Fresh Lemon Juice

Cinnamon Sprinkle Garnish

Place all liquid ingredients in heat proof mug. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Stir with cinnamon stick. Serve.

Cozy PAMA Cider

2 ounces PAMA

3 ounces Hot Mulled Apple Cider

Cinnamon

Super Fine Sugar

Orange Spiral

Heat white wine glass with hot water. Empty. Rim with Cinnamon and Super Fine Sugar. Add PAMA and Hot Mulled Apple Cider. Garnish with Orange Spiral.

Heated Affair

2 ounces Partida Anejo Tequila

6 ounces Hot Spiced Apple Cider

Heavy Cream

In a small warm wine glass add Tequila and hot apple cider. Float heavy cream. Garnish: Grate fresh Nutmeg over cream.

Apple Cider Preparation:In a pot add Organic Apple Juice. Add winter spices like cloves, cinnamon stick, all spice and orange peel. Start off by adding a few cloves, one cinnamon stick, etc… so as to find the right spiced apple cider flavor. You can always add more spice later. Bring everything to a low heat for about 15 minutes. Taste for flavor. When the desired flavor is reached then take off stove. Strain out all the spices and orange peel. Serve warm and enjoy!

Basil Hayden Spice

1-1/2 ounce Basil Hayden’s Bourbon

1-1/2 ounce Apple Juice

1-1/2 ounce Cranberry Juice

Steaming Hot Water

Pour all ingredients in a pre-heated* glass coffee mug. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.

*To pre-heat a glass or mug, simply fill with hot water and empty just prior to filling with ingredients.

Passion Tea

1-1/2 ounce Leblon Cachaça

1/2 ounce Cointreau

1/2 ounce Monin Red Passion Fruit Syrup

5 ounces Hot Black Tea

Brew the black tea. Pour Leblon into heat proof cup followed by Cointreau and Monin Red Passion Fruit Syrup. Top with hot tea. Stir thoroughly.

The recipe below serves chilled, but opens the door to the holiday season ahead. Cheers!

Maker’s Mark’s Holiday Eggnog

1 liter Maker’s Mark

1 quart milk

1 quart heavy cream

2 dozen eggs

1 1/2 cups sugar

Nutmeg for garnish

Separate eggs and beat yolks until creamy. Whip sugar into yolks. Beat whites until they stand in peaks, adding 1/2 cup additional sugar, if desired. Beat yolks and Maker’s Mark together, add whites. Beat cream. Add cream and milk to mixture. Add nutmeg to taste and garnish each cup with nutmeg. Makes 2 1/2 gallons.

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Posted in Barista Cafe

Tagged Agavero, Apple Juice, Bourbon, Cachaca, Canadian Whiskey, Castries Peanut Rum Creme, Cider, Coffee, Coffee Cream Liqueur, Coffee Liqueur, Cranberry Juice, Eggnog, Fresh Lemon, Hazelnut Liqueur, Heavy Cream, Honey, Irish Whiskey, Passion Fruit Syrup, Pomegranate Liqueur, Premium Orange Liqueur, Tea, Tequila, Tequila Liqueur, Triple Sec, Whipped Cream, Winter Warmer

Flavorful Seduction for the Price of Peanuts

Posted on September 13, 2010 | 1 Comment

For those of you who don’t know, today is National Peanut Day Rather than partake of this favorite party time snack from a jar, why not take a delicious savory sip from a glass? Perhaps the curvaceous, seductive bottle of Castries Peanut Rum Crème will lure you in for delectable sipping. If you have already sampled Castries you know exactly why it is so alluring. If not, you are missing out on something rather divine, decadent and all around delicious!

You won’t find peanut butter flavor of this sensual feel and quality in any other liqueur on the market. Castries Peanut Rum Crème brings the rich heritage, energy and sensual indulgence of St. Lucia with it in flavor and bottle design. Sipping Castries is a taste extravaganza on the palate. Of course it tastes like peanuts, but the balance of buttery softness is supreme. This is not like dipping a finger in a jar of peanut butter type flavor. It is wispy softness with delicate peanut flavor wrapped in silky cream. There are definite hints of the Madagascar vanilla blended with the St. Lucian rum that lend toward an almost caramel feel. Castries Peanut Rum Crème’s luscious flavor transcends taste, escorting one to a place of indulgence, seduction and exotic pleasure.

The Phantom

2 ounces Castries Peanut Rum Crème

1 ounce Hennessy Cognac

Combine over ice in a rocks glass. Stir. Add fresh grated Nutmeg.

Castries and cognac blend together rather nicely here. The richness of both complement each other well in this creamy concoction, but with this ratio it came off a little too sweet for my taste. Perhaps the key would be an evening of ratios instead – 1.5 ounces Castries to 1.5 ounces Hennessy. This allows the Castries to still shine through while taking the edge off the sweet.

Peanut Butter Cup

2 ounces Castries Peanut Rum Crème

1 ounce Godiva Chocolate Liqueur

1 ounce Vanilla Vodka

Combine liquids in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into chilled martini glass. For added pizzazz, line chilled martini glass with chocolate syrup before pouring liquid into the glass.

This Peanut Butter Cup is definitely not for the faint of heart. Peanut richness runs throughout with a thread of chocolaty goodness. The theme of sweetness unquestionably lies within, but I was thoroughly surprised it was not sticky, gooey burn style since the sugar content is rather high in this particular cocktail. One Peanut Butter Cup drink will suffice for me, but then again straight gin or vodka martinis are usually what I call dessert.

Castries Peanut Rum Crème Official Tasting Notes

Color – Warm to pale nutty brown

Aroma – Natural peanut brittle, butter roasted peanuts, and brown spice

Taste – Full bodied palette that starts with strong notes of creamy peanut butter then fades into subtle spicy notes of cinnamon and brown sugar and finishes with a breath of fine aged rum

Castries Peanut Rum Crème retails for approximately $30 making this seductive spirit an affordable indulgence for on the rocks or mixable sipping.

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Posted in Cocktails, Daily Holidays

Tagged Castries Peanut Rum Creme, Chocolate Liqueur, Cognac, National Peanut Day, Peanut, Peanut Rum Liqueur, The Phantom, Vanilla Vodka

Friday Night Favorite Shot Recipes

Posted on March 12, 2010 | Leave a comment

Shots are in interesting breed of drink. Many consumed them in youth & continue to do so as Friday night ritual when out with friends. These little gems may also be converted into true cocktails served straight up or on the rocks. Current question asked on The Intoxicologist Facebook Fan page and Intoxicologist Twitter page: What is your current favorite shot flavor or favorite shot you remember consuming from days of youth? Only one shot appeared more than once – Pineapple Upside Down Cake.

Pineapple Upside Down Cake Shot – adaptation by Cheri Loughlin

1/2 ounce Pineapple Vodka

1/4 ounce Godiva White Chocolate Liqueur

1/2 ounce Pineapple Juice

Splash Licor 43

Maraschino Cherry

Drip several drops maraschino cherry juice in bottom of shot glass. Slit bottom of maraschino cherry and prop on rim of shot glass. Set aside. Combine liquid ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into prepared shot glass.

The current fad sweeping trendy NYC and Cali bars received one mention – the Pickle Back shot. This Intoxicologist is not completely convinced with the long term popularity of the Pickle Back shot yet, but the mind is still open if the spirit is willing. It definitely has not caught on in Middle America or in an Irish bar where I recently discovered locals of Kansas City throw back a double shot referred to as the Bear Shot. The recipient of a Bear Shot first downs an Irish Car Bomb followed quickly by a Jager Bomb. The Jager Bomb consists of a shot of Jagermeister dropped into a glass of Red Bull. This concoction is a regular feature at O’Dowd’s Little Dublin in Kansas City, MO. The bartender says he usually limits customers to one Bear Shot per night.

LAZERLIBBY from Twitter clues us in that “Jack’s Bistro in Baltimore has a Peanut Butter and Jelly shot! It’s awesome!!” Peanut butter is an eternal favorite and classic peanut butter and jelly sandwiches seem to return everyone to memories of youth, freedom and fun days of carefree living. No wonder this shot is such a hit. Though Jack’s recipe isn’t available here, I’ve crafted a version of the Peanut Butter and Jelly Shot and hope hits the spot.

PB&J Shot – created by Cheri Loughlin

1 ounce Frangelico

3/4 ounce Cassis

1/4 part Castries Peanut Liqueur

Combine liquids in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake. Strain into two shot glasses or one shooter.

The Chocolate Cake shot is another favorite of many. It is the perfect liquid birthday cake in case anyone is out celebrating. Chocolate Cake is mentioned in the Top Ten Popular Shot Recipes post with several more popular shots such as the Buttery Nipple, Tweaked Buttery Nipple and Purple Hooter.

Friday and Saturday nights were designed for smaller sips where this sweet tart concoction is concerned. There are many variations of the Lemon Drop Shot from so simple with just citrus vodka and triple sec to downright involved with citrus vodka, triple sec, sour mix, simple syrup, Rose’s Lime and fresh lemon. The Lemon Drop Shot recipe below uses four ingredients plus optional garnish for quick build and fantastic pucker up lemon drop sweet tart flavor.

Lemon Drop Shot – created by Cheri Loughlin

3/4 ounce Citrus Vodka

1/4 ounce Triple Sec

1/4 ounce Limoncello

1/4 ounce Simply Lemonade

Sugar

Lemon Wedge

Dip half of lemon wedge in sugar. Set aside. Combine liquids in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into shot glass. Shoot. Bite lemon and enjoy the sugar.

Three Olives Bubble Vodka reaches wide audiences with its bubblicious bubble gum fruit flavor. Tiffany LaRue Spooner from Facebook mentioned her preference for Three-O Bubble Vodka with Watermelon Pucker. Several Three-O Bubble cocktails and four shots have been designed including the Mad Melon Bubble Gum Shot.

Bob Stafford suggested an interesting Bandana Shot: Fill a shot glass half full with Coke. Spread a bandana tightly over the glass. Float Captain Morgan’s Rum through the top of the bandana. This creates a two layer effect with the Coke chasing the rum leaving one with a nice vanilla and Coke aftertaste… “and a cruddy bandana at the end of the evening.”

Many thanks to everyone who chimed in with favorite shots: Angelique Martin-Osorio, Bob Stafford, Robert H. Dicks II, Neon Lothmann, ilovepapercuts, LAZERLIBBY, John Bartlet, James Anderson, Scott Galbiati, GlaceLuxuryIce, CruiseMaven, Tiffany LaRue Spooner, Danielle Spedale and Robert Haynes-Peterson. Enjoy evenings out, happy hour and a shot now and then, but always sip responsibly.