Posted on January 17, 2017
Ernest Hemingway was a smart guy for more than his gifted writing abilities…he also loved a great cocktail. More specifically, Hemingway had a love for daiquiris. According to “The Complete Cocktail Manual,” the Hemingway Daiquiri is a traditional daiquiri with a splash of freshly squeezed grapefruit juice.
This past weekend I went to Chicago’s most loved tiki bar, Three Dots and a Dash. Three Dots transports you to an island bar far, far away from the chilly city of Chicago. Their drinks are fruity and pack a big punch with different rums. Admittedly, one of my favorite things is the presentation of the cocktails that are WAY over the top! I was a dork and picked up one of their souvenir mugs, but you can also get them here for much less! I can’t wait to break it out for long days spent on our rooftop deck in the sun!
2 oz White Rum
3/4 oz Lime Juice
1/2 oz Grapefruit Juice
Combine all of your ingredients in a cocktail shaker or cocktail mixing glass. Add ice and shake or stir for about 15 seconds. Strain into a preferably cold coupe glass and garnish with a strip of grapefruit skin or thinly sliced lime wedge.
The Hemingway Daiquiri is very spirit heavy so I would recommend splurging on a good quality white rum. Since the amount of juice is so small, you might as well go all the way and freshly squeeze your own grapefruit and lime juice. Personally, I needed to add a little bit of sweetness to my cocktail so I splashed in a half ounce of simple syrup. It helped to make the cocktail palatable for a slow drinker such as myself!
I used these coupe glasses from William Sonoma, but I love these simple, modern ones from my favorite place for quick, chic staples: CB2!
<3 Al
Category: Uncategorized Tagged: cocktail recipe, cocktails, drinks, food, hemingway daiquiri, summer cocktails
Posted on August 16, 2014
1/2 cup fresh mint leaves, plus sprigs for garnish
2 limes, cut into wedges, plus more for garnish
2 cups crushed ice, plus more for serving
1 cup Lime-Mint Syrup, recipe follows
1 liter white rum
1/2 cup fresh lime juice
Club soda
Lime-Mint Syrup:
2 cups sugar
2 cups water
2 limes, zested
1/2 cup fresh mint leaves
Directions
Muddle the mint leaves and lime wedges with 2 cups crushed ice in the bottom of a large pitcher. Add Lime-Mint Syrup, rum, lime juice, and more ice. Top off with club soda, to taste. Pour into glasses over ice and serve. Garnish each glass with a lime wedge and mint sprigs, if desired.
Lime-Mint Syrup:
Bring the sugar and water to a boil in a medium saucepan and cook until the sugar is completely dissolved, about 1 minute. Remove from the heat, stir in the lime zest and mint, and let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes to infuse the syrup with the flavor of lime and mint. Strain out the mint and zest and refrigerate the syrup, covered, until cold.
Category: Food, Uncategorized Tagged: Bobby Flay, drink recipe, drinks, food, Food Network, Mojito, recipes
Posted on July 23, 2014
A killer drink is crucial to any summer gathering. This past Tuesday, Captain Morgan proved that with a private tasting of their new limited edition rum, Captain Morgan 1671 Commemorative Blend Spiced Rum, which just hit shelves.
While I do not drink much other than margaritas and white wine, (chardonnay shots anyone?!) mixologist Jon Ruiz won me over with “The Captain’s Pineapple,” a super simple, but yummy concoction. Captain Morgan 1671 is lightly sweetened with aromas of sweet oak & dried fruits such as apricot and raisin, which the pineapple juice in this drink compliments perfectly.While the Captain brands signature drink is simply mixing their rum with a splash of cola, Ruiz gave us a few more options.
Category: Chicago, Food, Uncategorized Tagged: #CaptainofSummer, Captain Morgan, cocktails, drinks, Jon Ruiz, summer drinks
Posted on July 12, 2014
What You will Need/Measurements:
Instructions:
Combine all of the ingredients in a pitcher and let stand at room temperature for 3 hours, or cover and refrigerate overnight. Serve in wineglasses over ice.
Category: Food, Uncategorized Tagged: cocktails, drinks, food, happy hour, sangria, sangria flora, sangria flora recipe, saturday, Sauvignon Blanc
Posted on June 6, 2014
I discovered The Blond Cook a few weeks ago and have been experimenting with her recipes ever since. One of my recent favorites is a spin on the classic margarita. Last week, we talked about watermelon margaritas, and I’ve made them twice since then. Patio drinking just got a kick in the butt with this easy drink recipe.
Prep Time: 5 Minutes
Total Time: 5 Minutes
Servings: 6
Category: Food, Uncategorized Tagged: Cherry Beer Margaritas, cooking, Corona, drink recipe, drinks, food, Margaritas, The Blond Cook
Posted on May 30, 2014
Hot summer nights call for cool fruity drinks. Today we’re putting a classic spin on the margarita. A watermelon margarita is an easy way to update a summer staple in five short minutes. Make sure you have supplies for a second round!
Michael Chiarello’s famous watermelon margarita:
Category: Food, Uncategorized Tagged: Cooking channel, drink recipe, drinks, Food Network, margarita, recipe, Triple Sec, watermelon, watermelon margarita
Posted on May 13, 2014
With so many options, it is hard to know what kind of bubbly to purchase. Google is not much help, only offering hundreds of different links with scatter brained suggestions. I was up early this morning skimming through my favorite sites, and found a champagne guide via Cupcakes and Cashmere. With six Under $20 suggestions and a description of each taste, I bookmarked it instantly for future reference. Champagne comes with the connotation that you have to spend a lot of money, which is false if you choose the right bottle.
If you are not going to finish the bottle, simply put a stopper in the opening and place it in the fridge. To chill you bottle of champagne fast, wrap it in a damp paper towel and put it in the freezer for 10-15 minutes. Having a girls night or a date night? Crate & Barrel II (CB2) has great champagne glasses for about $1.95 a piece, so you do not have to spend a small fortune to make the drink look as great as it tastes. Personally I prefer stemless glasses to prevent accidents. Pair with a simple cheese platter, strawberries, or grab some small desserts to compliment your drinks.
One: Bernard Rondeau Bugey Cerdon Rosé ($13.99). Vibrant, fruity taste on the sweeter side, pairs well with chocolate.
Two: J. Laurens Brut Cremant de Limoux ($13.99). Pleasant citrus notes, nice alcohol balance.
Three: Jean-Louis Cremant de Limoux ($14.99). Balanced fruity flavor, smooth finish. Great bargain.
Four: Graham Beck Brut Rosé ($14.99). Pale pink, with a nice floral taste. Very crisp, with a deeper, fruity finish.
Five: Antech Cremant de Limoux $13.99). My go-to brunch bubbly. Fresh, light taste with a clean finish.
Six: Deligeroy Cremant de Loir Brut ($11.99). Easy drinker, with slightly spicy finish. Nice to serve at a larger party.
Personally, I would much rather have a glass of champagne than a vodka or whiskey based drink. I enjoy the taste, and can sip slowly without making strange faces. I like to add a little fresh orange juice to my champagne, or peach juice.