Sorry everyone it has been a minute or two since I have posted anything here and I promise I will do better in the future. Life has been a little in the way as of late. However not to worry I shook that shit off and I'm back in the saddle... or on the keyboard is really more appropriate here.
I was asked the other night to make a drink that was savory and spicy and still a bit sweet. Simple right? Not really seeing as I didn't have a lot of ingredients to work with. Although any bartender will tell you that whenever you go to a party it is inevitable that one or more of your friends will demand you make them a special concoction. As much as I wanted to pull out a Bud Light and pop the top stick a lemon in it and call it genius, I refrained. Like some weird episode of the Food Network show "Chopped" where the contestants are chefs from around the U.S. compete by making dishes out of odds and ends revealed in the form of a picnic basket and put on a 30 minute time clock.
The conversation as I stroll into the party usually goes a little like this.Me: Hi, I brought beers is there room in the fridge?
Drunk chick out of nowhere: Hey it's Charles the Bartender! Make us a drink!
Me: OK what do you have for ingredients?
Looking around and seeing a lot of beer and not much else... Uhm we have triple sec, some mustard, a crate of eggs, brown sugar and some beer.... And go!
For some reason I feel compelled to flex my imagination and bartender extraordinaire muscles.
Of course they didn't have the usual bar staples and what I was left to use where whatever I could forage from the sparse refrigerator. What I found and what I concocted has been aptly named "ShaaaPOW!"
- Enjoy!
ShaaaPOW!This is going to be built along the lines of a Old Fashioned.
Teaspoon of capers
Orange slice
3 dashes of bitters
Muddle
.5 oz - Sweet Vermouth
2 oz. - Spiced Rum
Fill with Tampico (citrus drink or OJ)
Shake without ice
Strain over ice and SHAAAAPOW!
Alright one good drink deserves another and this one! Although this one is not my personal concoction it is delicious and combines savory with just the right amount of sweet. This one is just simply called "Boom Shakalaka!"
"Boom Shakalaka"
Over ice in a pint glass
1.5 oz. Gold Tequila
.5 oz. Simple Syrup
.5 oz. Lemon Juice
3 dashes of Pimento Bitters
Top with Ginger Ale
But wait there's more! Because you bought those last 2 we give you at no extra charge ONE MORE!!! That's right, I said here is one more to wet your whistle! This one is called "Nail Polish Remover." This little doosey is made with Viniq a new to the market moscato wine, vodka and fruit flavor liqueur. If you haven't seen it check out the video of this cool little liqueur below.
Nail Polish Remover Martini
2 oz. Viniq
1 oz. Lemonade
.5 oz. Fresh Clementine juice
Shake over ice and strain
Top with Champaign
Now get off the floor and go home!
Cheers!
