About.com Cocktails

Kahl�a's Gone Creamy

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:00:43 +0000

We all know Kahl�a and most of us regularly stock it in our bars, but for the next few months we can get a taste of the richer, creamier side of Kahl�a. For this holiday season the famous coffee liqueur brand has released Kahl�a Coffee Cream and it is spectacular. For as good as it is it will only last for awhile (so the story is at this moment) and we should enjoy it while it lasts then chalk it up as yet another coffee cream liqueur that will vanish (anybody recall Starbucks attempt?).

Kahl�a Coffee Cream Liqueur
Photo © The Kahl�a Company

It is quite a shame that Kahl�a Coffee Cream is supposed to be a fleeting bottle because I have come to dig it as a smooth cream for my afternoon coffee, a relaxing dessert, and an quick alternative to the many Kahlua and cream mixed drinks. The balance of coffee and cream is nice; not too rich, nor too sweet and just the right amount of coffee flavor without the caffeine kick. This one also has those luscious chocolate, vanilla and caramel notes that are signature Kahlua. At any rate, while it's around I encourage you to check this liqueur out and enjoy it on the long, cold nights ahead in some of your favorite coffee-flavored cocktails.

Full review of Kahl�a Coffee Cream and cocktail ideas...

Kahl�a's Gone Creamy originally appeared on About.com Cocktails on Thursday, November 5th, 2009 at 01:00:43.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Timeless Tipple of the Week: French 75

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:43:16 +0000

The cocktail of the week is notoriously a hard hitter despite its elegant look and that is why the French 75 is named after a piece of World War I artillery. In fact, in The Savoy Cocktail Book Harry Craddock says that it, "Hits with remarkable precision."

Like many of the cocktails of its day, the French 75 has some controversy. It is still debated if the original cocktail Harry MacElhone concocted was made with brandy or gin. Then there's the adaptation to a French 76, which brings vodka in as the base and with that one most agree. For me the French 75 is excellent with either of the two spirits, and yes both do pack a punch, but the brandy version has a richness that is extra delightful. Which one you choose probably depends on your mood at the time: if you feel like something semi-sweet go with the brandy and if dry is more to your taste at the moment go with the gin. Both are good choices.

French 75 cocktail recipe...

Follow me on Twitter

Timeless Tipple of the Week: French 75 originally appeared on About.com Cocktails on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 11:43:16.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Speed Pouring: Cap Friendly Style

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:19:25 +0000

Speed pourers are a one of the essential tools of the bar and while the standard design is perfect for busy bars there are a few drawbacks for the home bartender and those with a "mobile bar." The biggest of those disadvantages is the fact that every night, after you have entertained a dozen or so guests (or even poured yourself a favorite nightcap) you need to remove all of the pourers, wash them and wait for all the crevices to dry before putting them back in their proper storage place. And, when we are talking about that personal drink after a hard day's work, a pourer of any kind is not even feasible and you deal with the "glugs" of pouring straight from the bottle. Fear not, there is an option...

Cap-On and V-Rod from BarProducts.com
Photo © Colleen Graham

The solution is a different style of speed pourer called the Cap-On. This cheap little device allows you to have a speed pourer permanently placed inside your most used bottles while giving you the ability to replace the cap on the bottle when you are not using it, ultimately saving its freshness. For those who use a spirit here and there or may entertain one night every couple of weeks these disposable caps are one of the handiest tools you could come across.

Read the full Cap-On review...

Speed Pouring: Cap Friendly Style originally appeared on About.com Cocktails on Monday, November 2nd, 2009 at 14:19:25.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Saturday Sipping: Domaine de Canton and the Spirited Punch

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 11:30:04 +0000

If you are one of the millions hosting a party tonight I have another tasty punch option for you to check out. This week's feature sipper is one that you can sip all night with all of your Halloween party guests and has a very fitting name: simply Spirited Punch.

Spirited Punch
Photo © Domaine de Canton Ginger Liqueur

The punch is an interesting mix of Rittenhouse rye whiskey, Canton ginger liqueur and 42 Below Manuka Honey vodka, which are all brought together by the main ingredient, an orange oolong tea. Served chilled with some fruit juices and a touch of sugar, it is an autumn punch that can work for tonight and any occasion in the coming months. The best aspect is that this punch is not one of those overly fruity or sweet ones, but has the depth of flavors that you normally only get in a single cocktail.

Spirited Punch recipe...

Saturday Sipping: Domaine de Canton and the Spirited Punch originally appeared on About.com Cocktails on Saturday, October 31st, 2009 at 11:30:04.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

New Cocktail Videos Out There

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:34:49 +0000

There are some new and interesting cocktail videos available online that I have recently learned about and wanted to pass along. Also, in the very near future, About.com has a new Hot Toddy video coming out just in time for "toddy season" (for now you can read recipes here).

12 Second Cocktails - There are just a handful of cocktails so far, but if you want to watch a quick video - just 12 seconds - on how to mix a cocktail it's a good place to land. The other 15 seconds or so are a few commercials and the NYC bartenders' passing on a little history about the drinks.
Mixmaster Mixology Competition - If all those cooking competitions on TV are boring you, switch over the SmallScreenNetwork and watch the coverage of last week's bartending competition from the Great American Distiller's Festival in Portland, Oregon. It's the uncut version of the show and a little under 2 hours, but rather interesting. (Note: to watch it let the player load, then click On Demand at the bottom, then the MMC title.) And while you're there browse through SSN's great video library, it's like our own TV channel, online of course.

About.com Cocktail Videos...

Follow me on Twitter...

New Cocktail Videos Out There originally appeared on About.com Cocktails on Friday, October 30th, 2009 at 16:34:49.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Square One Botanical

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:39:23 +0000

Infused spirits are getting more and more interesting and the example of the day is one of the shining lights. The "spirit" can be found under the label Square One Organic Botanical Spirit and it is brought to us by the same geniuses (namely Alison Evanow whose blog you can read here) who brought us one of the best organic vodkas to date.

Square One Botanical
Photo © Square One Botanical Spirits

What Square One has done to their organic vodka and cucumber vodka they have done with this newest spirit, which is not branded a vodka but a spirit. For this one think of the complexity of a gin, minus the juniper, and add in a variety of fruits and herbs against a rye base - all of this is, of course, organic. It's quite a taste that has already brought about some amazing cocktails and is sure to bring about many more.

Read the full review of Square One Botanical...

Square One Botanical originally appeared on About.com Cocktails on Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 at 09:39:23.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Tuesday's Timeless Tipple: Alexander

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:07:10 +0000

When we think about old-time cocktails we don't often think that creamy, dessert-like delights were a hit around the turn of the 20th century. Yet, there was at least one, the Alexander, that was so popular that you can find it in almost any classic bar book.

When referencing an "Alexander" the drink will typically have a gin base, but at some point the Brandy Alexander became popular. Personally I go with the brandy version because the darker spirit seems to be more congenial with the creme de cacao and cream. There's something about gin and cream that doesn't set right with me, though many people do enjoy that combination. So there are two cocktails in one that make terrific nightcaps for this season. Enjoy!

Brandy Alexander cocktail recipe...

Tuesday's Timeless Tipple: Alexander originally appeared on About.com Cocktails on Tuesday, October 27th, 2009 at 12:07:10.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

New Van Gogh Vodkas Bring the Bottle Count to 22

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 11:42:51 +0000

Just when you think a company like Van Gogh had everything covered in their extensive portfolio they release another bottling, and then another and another. Over the last few months you may have noticed not one but two new vodkas under the label that are outstanding and completely different from each other. One is a wheat, 80-proof vodka named Blue and the other a deep Dutch Caramel (reviews here).

I spoke with CEO Norman Bonchick about the newest vodkas from Van Gogh and they are both already making a mark in the market, despite being available just a few months. There's a good reason for this and it is simply that both are so good. Van Gogh Blue is a triple wheat vodka that you can use in any vodka cocktail, especially a Vodka Martini if you want one with little more flavor (wheaty notes) than most other clear vodkas. Or, as I have been inclined, simply drink it chilled and straight. If ever there were a vodka screaming for bringing out your prized vodka chiller set, this is it, and it's only a few dollars more than Van Gogh's classic vodka.

As far as the Dutch Caramel goes, it is as useful, delicious and tempting as the company's espressos are. It is a lush brown with wonderful, rich caramel and follows Bonchick's theory of their flavors, especially the most recent, "Caramel & espresso taste great by themselves, but as an additive to other drinks it is just astonishing." And the cocktails can be simple. The other night I did a basic mix of the caramel and their apple vodkas, shaken with a dash of orange bitters and it was as satisfying as most caramel apple cocktails I've had.

Once again, we think that Van Gogh cannot go further, but I was told that, "There's no limit to the imagination, so there's no limit to what will be the next set of flavors..." With that in mind I can't wait to see what comes out next, though the short mention of a new gin that is in development has peaked my interest even further.

New Van Gogh Vodkas Bring the Bottle Count to 22 originally appeared on About.com Cocktails on Monday, October 26th, 2009 at 11:42:51.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Saturday Sipping: Blavod Vodka and the Black Martini

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 12:45:53 +0000

What would Halloween be without a cocktail a black as night? I don't know, but it could be a lot more fun with one and that's where this week's sipper comes in. It's an easy variation of the Vodka Martini, but when Blavod black vodka is employed the result, clear becomes dark.

The one thing that will be compromised when switching from your preferred vodka to Blavod is a little taste. The vodka does taste good, but it's certainly not equivalent to some of the top shelf vodkas. For the Halloween effect it does serve the purpose. Another option is to follow this Black Martini recipe and mix your favorite gin or vodka with Chambord or blackberry brandy - though the former is preferred. This version has a little more flavor though you do lose some of the black hue.

Saturday Sipping: Blavod Vodka and the Black Martini originally appeared on About.com Cocktails on Saturday, October 24th, 2009 at 12:45:53.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

This Year's Halloween Cocktail Collection

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:04:08 +0000

Halloween has to be one of the best holidays for creative cocktails. There are so many ghoulish and ghastly possibilities with drinks, just like there are with costumes and party decorations. From creepy eye ball-like garnishes hovering over a neon blue drink like the Mad Eye Martini, I heard made a splash at many of last year's Halloween parties, to the simple, almost classic Black Vodka Martini featuring the only black vodka on the market, Blavod, these drinks are fantastic for accenting the atmosphere of the night.

This year I added 8 new recipes to my Haunting Halloween Cocktails list, here they are...

This Year's Halloween Cocktail Collection originally appeared on About.com Cocktails on Wednesday, October 21st, 2009 at 21:04:08.

Permalink | Comment | Email this