Xmas Party Hop
I’m excited to be part of the latest volume of #soundtrackmyfriendsdrink volume 17: secret Santa edition. I got @offthewalljosh— a new account for me. Josh picked whiskey, and “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree”. Off to a good start! I noticed a few agave spirits and a lot of fresh ingredients on his page though so I went with an unusual split of Irish whisky and añejo tequila to pair with a homemade berry/habanero shrub. The build is vaguely boulevardier-esque, but with some elements dialed back a bit. This allows the berry notes to shine through as well as the nuanced, slightly oaky base that includes delicious dried fruit notes from the whisky.
The Underground
Let me start off by saying that this drink is SO tasty. I love stirred agave drinks, in part because there just aren’t that many out there. Tequila is good for so much more than sour-style (re: marg/paloma) drinks! If you haven’t had many, then give this one a spin.
Old Roots
This eclectic recipe is the brainchild of my buddy @rogzor during one of our typical “hangout & mix up something interesting” nights. The premise came about when we were discussing potential uses for jalapeño shochu. Michael proposed treating it like a vermouth, and adding syrup to make it more like a sweet vermouth for a very… unusual Manhattan riff.
Violet Crown
I have a fruit-forward Springtime drink to share today! The strawberry tarragon syrup has been a huge hit and is nearly gone, so here is one more drink featuring it. This one includes a beautiful purple gin kindly sent by @mcqueenvioletfog that is flavored with berry/hibiscus. The strawberry was a natural pairing here with the berry notes. I added a bit of tequila because I love the hibiscus/agave combo. Bitter bianco brought some depth and balance to the build. For being a fairly straightforward Tom Collins riff, this one was highly touted by my (albeit gin-loving) wife.
Supermom Spritz
I made this drink for my wife (definitely a Super Mom) for her last girl’s night/birthday celebration— the first of two signature drinks. It’s a tequila-based highball, sweet with a touch of spice (like someone I know…). Strawberry is the flavor that brings it all together as there are notes in the Aperol, Lillet, and of course, the shrub. Add in some vanilla/agave and bittersweet tonic to top it off… it’s a tasty number.
Stoplight
Yes, this is one of those Instagram Drinks that is unnecessarily complicated in order to get visual appeal (stay tuned for @bestcocktails League Finals tomorrow!). Sorry not sorry. With that being said, this drink is actually really tasty and refreshing and even after stirring it up there is still a bit of a gradient (as opposed to a murky brownish color, which often happens after disrupting layered drinks).
Haz Ben
Happy Cinco de Mayo! I already posted a tasty (peach) margarita earlier this week, so here’s a very different side of agave: smokey, vegetal, stirred…corn? Come on, at least someone out there watched my Flavor Friday reel (4/1/22). Well, after a month, here comes the corny tequila. I received a bottle of Banhez mezcal (it’s delicious) and felt like corn could be a great compliment to its fruity/floral/vegetal notes. Spoiler alert: it is!
From The Ground Up
Happy Earth Day everyone! To celebrate, I am continuing this week’s trend of Making Things Complicated with more layers, a homemade tincture (using otherwise discarded fennel fronds), and citrus peels that were going bad (garnish). The drink is shot in my garden and if you have the space, I highly encourage you to plant something if you don’t already.
Riggs and Murtaugh
I am on a mission to convince you that rhum and tequila are a really, really good pair. They complement each other better than partners in a buddy cop movie (Lethal Weapon anyone?). They’re as natural as PB&J. You get the idea. Recently I brought this dynamic duo starred in a stirred, martini-esque format. If that’s not your style, then how about a fruit-forward sour?
Vida Americana
Blanco tequila can be so much more than a shot or a margarita. It took me some time to realize that, and don’t get me wrong— I love a good margarita and especially its infinite riffability. But if you like margaritas and/or tequila in general, keep reading.