Summer Favorites
Friday, September 4th, 2009Summer is almost over….NOOOOOOOOOOO.
Wait a minute. I happen to Love Fall! Yay Fall!
I can feel it in the air, the nights are crisper than they have been. I’ve had a busy two months and really cannot believe it has gone by so fast.
The highlighted drinks of my summer being:
Cherry Julep
2 oz Cherry Infused Bourbon
1/2 oz Mint Syrup
4 Mint Leaves
Muddle Mint, Syrup & Bourbon together lightly in a mixing glass. Shake on ice for 10 seconds. Strain over crushed ice into a highball glass or if you have it a julep cup. Garnish with “disciplined” mint sprig (smack it between your palms to release the oils and aroma) and a house brandied maraschino cherry.
This drink inspired me to create the Mountain Julep:
Mountain Julep
As quoted from Andrew Morrison of Scout Magazine here’s the recipe:
Danielle Tatarin made her wonderfully complex “Mountain Julep” using 1.5oz of tart cherry-infused bourbon, 1/4oz hand-blended Moroccan mint syrup, 1/4oz of house made maraschino cherry jus, and 4oz of Honey Lager in crushed ice. One of my favourites…
http://scoutmagazine.ca/scout/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/img_3350.jpg
Oh so strong but smooth and cooling… Watch out they sneak up on you 
My next favorite drink comes from the 1930’s, Walter Bergeron the head bartender of the Hotel Monteleone. The name is from the old French term for the French Quarter, la Vieux Carre translated to the Old Square. The Vieux Carre is a classic New Orleans cocktail and although it was one of my favorite drinks this summer it will stay on my list for fall.
Vieux Carre
1 oz Rye Whiskey
1 oz Cognac
1 oz Italian Vermouth (Carpano Antica Formula if you have it)
1/4 oz Benedictine
Dash of each Peychauds and Angostura
Stir all ingredients on ice and strain over ice into highball glass. Garnish with a lemon twist, releasing the oils over the drink and around the rim.
One more drink I’ve been enjoying, its a twist on the Last Word (Gin, Green Chartruese, Maraschino Liqueur, Lime). I am kicking myself for not entering it into the Victoria Gin Competition on September 2nd… The drink I entered was more of an experiment with some bitters and infusions that I am working on.
The Second Last Word
1 oz Gin
1 oz Yellow Chartruese
1 oz Lemon Juice
1/2 oz Maraschino Liqueur
1/2 oz Cherry Heering
Shake all ingredients on ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with House brandied cherry.
The drink is a little sweeter than the last word but using the Cherry Heering gives it a wonderful crimson color. Delish. You can try this one at DB Bistro. Come down to see me and ask for it.
Cheers!
Dani