There’s no better time to whip up a refreshing summer cocktail than the 4th of July. Here are some ideas to add some American spirit into this festive holiday.
Very Berry Partida
5 Blueberries
3 Blackberries
0.5oz Organic Agave Nectar
1.5oz Blanco Tequila
1.5oz Organic Cherry Juice
Splash Strawberry Sparkling Water
Muddle berries in highball glass. Add agave, tequila and cherry juice, top with ice. Shake well. Top with strawberry soda
ZEN, White & Blue
1½ parts ZEN Green Tea Liqueur
3 parts prepared Silver Needle White Tea
1½ parts SKYY Infusions Raspberry
3 parts Fresh Blueberries, muddled or pureéd
Combine 1 part cold and 5 parts boiling water to approximate 180ºf. Use ½ cup dry tea leaves to 2 cups hot water (1:4). Steep 3 minutes. Strain and chill. Combine and stir ingredients. Serve on the rocks. Garnish with Fresh Mint.
Whenever I fly up north to visit my family, there is one thing I always do. No, it’s not that I visit my childhood hangout or walk down memory lane, but I sit down with my mother (and sometimes even my grandmother) and enjoy a cold and refreshing martini. There is something about this experience that I truly look forward to. Whether its staying up late that first night I get home and catching up or slipping away to sip on a new concoction that she has discovered since the last time I was in town, we always make this happen. In knowing that, we find that a perfect gift to give one another is a beautiful collection of martini glasses. We stay away from the traditional, that’s just not my way of doing things, and opt for something a little more unusual.
I found a company called Swank Martini a few years ago, and I couldn’t find anything that compared to it. Their selection of martini glasses can’t be beat. So when the time came when I had to pick out a gift for my mother, the difficulty wasn’t in finding a set of glasses, but it was on deciding what glasses to get – there are so many options, and all were so different from the next.
When I decided to organize a cocktail competition, I immediately contacted Swank Martini to see if they would work with me. They agreed, of course. I am happy to introduce this company to everyone, and if you are planning to come to our cocktail competition on the 27th at 3030 Ocean, you will receive one of these stunning glasses. I encourage you to check out their website and check out their large selection. Not only do they have martini glasses (and fabulous recipes to make your own), but they also have wine glasses, decanters, shakers, coasters, olives and more. And, if you are especially creative, they are open to buying new designs for glasses.
Swank Martini Glasses
Get Your Swank On Tonight! Send the prefect gift of martini glasses. Free shipping, gift wrap and card.
www.SwankMartini.com.
Photo Credit: Swank Martini
During our photo shoot a few weeks ago, my photographer, Simon Hare, was telling me about a restaurant that he had photographed recently called One Bleu, and that they served something called, edible cocktails. Edible cocktails? What could these be? I couldn’t even picture them. Well, yesterday was my lucky day as I was able to experience them firsthand.
1 Bleu serves three edible cocktails: Cosmopolitan, Rum and Coke and Pina Colada. Ooh and they are fabulous! I ordered the Cosmopolitan, but luckily the manager also brought out a 2nd (the rum and coke) to taste. The Cosmo was good. There was gelatin on the bottom of the glass, lemon sorbet and a foam mixed in and yes, you eat it with a spoon. Now, when I tried the rum and coke, nothing could compete. I never would’ve ordered it myself since I’m not a huge rum drinker. Imagine – gelatin on the bottom with rum, coke flavor mixed in, served with Pop Rocks on top. Yes! I said Pop Rocks. It’s a whole explosion of flavors and sensations at the tip of your tongue – literally.
Even with it raining outside, trying to get out of Miami at 5 o’clock, and knowing that I was going to be stuck in the car for over an hour, it was almost worth it to try this Rum & Coke Edible Cocktail at 1 Bleu – definitely worth a trip out of your way, maybe even worth a trip from Palm Beach.
I‘m a man of science but admittedly not a man of supremely accurate wine tasting skills (we leave that to Patrick). So when I read about the trendy Molecular Mixology, my interest was sparked. Apparently, the chemical styles of molecular gastronomy are starting to be applied to the world of booze and breeding a new heard of cool scientists-meet-bartenders.
Continue reading…