Rock & Rye

The Manhattan. Probably one of my favorite cocktails and one that is open to almost endless tweaks and variations, while still remaining distinguishable as a Manhattan. This particular variation is one of our house cocktails at the Oyster Bar, and really shows the versatility of this classic cocktail.

While at first glance chai and bourbon may not seem like a likely pairing, the flavors of chai and vermouth pair extremely well, and a nice high proof bourbon ties the sweetness together perfectly. Cheers!

Park Avenue Manhattan
1 oz Chai-Infused Vermouth
2 oz Bourbon (90 proof or higher preferred)
3 dashes Orange Bitters

Chai-Infused Vermouth
750ml Dolin Blanc Vermouth
3oz (by volume) loose Chai
Steep in covered container for 24 hrs. Strain through coffee filter and bottle. Refridgerate infused vermouth for up to one month.

One of my most recent experiments, is a twist on the Margarita. Taking the base recipe even further with the addition of cilantro and avocado, this pairs well with some blackened halibut tacos. A couple of these drinks, along with some friends and you are setting yourself up for the perfect summer afternoon. Cheers!

El Gaucho
1 1/2 oz Tequila
1 oz Lime Juice
1/2 oz Grand Marnier
Fresh Cilantro
Wedge Avocado

Hey All,

I do apologize for my absence of late. The past two months have been incredibly busy, and coupled with some personal stuff, I just haven’t found the time to post anything. But now I am back, and hopefully will be regaling you with all sorts of fantastic stuff!

For those that don’t know, I am now managing the bar at the Bayou Oyster Bar. Look for a new seasonally rotating menu and some other cool stuff in the coming months. If you want to come and visit me while I’m working, I am there most Friday and Saturday nights.

I also had the pleasure of attending Tales of the Cocktail on Tour Vancouver this past February, and I’ll have a couple posts about some of the sessions I attended up soon.

And last, but not least, I have a cocktail for you. This cocktail comes from the PDT Cocktail Book, but I believe is an original creation from The Raines Law Room. The pairing of gin, aperol, and cucumber is an absolute delight. Perfectly balanced and refreshing, this is one drink that you must try at least once, if not twice. Cheers!

The Archangel
2 oz Plymouth Gin
3/4 oz Aperol
2 slices muddled Cucumber

It’s New Years Eve again. And what better way to celebrate than with a traditional glass of bubbly. But perhaps you are tired of the mundane, and looking to spice up your drink a bit. Well here a couple of drinks sure to make your New Years just that much better!

The Champagne Cocktail
1 Sugar Cube
Angostura Bitters
Champagne

Simple and effective, the addition of a bitters soaked sugar cube livens up the champagne, and the extra bubbles rising up your flute add that dramatic flourish.

The Kir Royale and other Twists
3/4 oz Creme de Cassis
Champagne

Simple adding a liqueur such as Cassis, St. Germain, Chartreuse, Aperol, or anything similar gives a nice flavor addition while still retaining that classic champagne cocktail feel.

The French 75
2 oz Gin
1 oz Lemon juice
1 tsp Simple Syrup
Champagne

Occasionally made with Cognac vs Gin, this champagne cocktail is strong and tasty. For those who aren’t big champagne fans, you can also substitute the bubbly with either a Belgian beer to keep the sweetness, or a nice IPA for a little more bitterness.

Soyer Au Champagne
2 dashes Maraschino
2 dashes Brandy
2 dashes Grand Marnier
2 dashes Pineapple Juice
1 scoop Vanilla Ice Cream
Champagne

This one is more of a dessert drink and it fits the bill perfectly. Sweet and creamy, this drink is masterfully blended to create a complex, flavorful cocktail that really hits the spot.

The Seelbach Cocktail
1 oz Bourbon
1/2 oz Cointreau
7 dashes Peychaud’s Bitters
7 dashes Angostura Bitters
Champagne

This one is for the whiskey lovers out there. Paired with a very generous amount of bitters, this one is for those who would otherwise be drinking Old Fashioneds and Sazeracs.

So there you have it, several variations that are sure to please everyone’s palate. So go out, celebrate and enjoy responsibly. Cheers!

This month’s round of Mixology Monday is hosted by Lindsay at Alcohol Alchemy; for this month’s theme, Lindsay has picked Local Color, a chance for us all to showcase our favorite local craft distilled spirits. — Here’s how she puts it:

“Pull out your favorite “local” craft spirit (for those of you not in the US, what hidden gem from your neck of the woods do you want to give some cocktail press?), tell us a little bit about it and why you love it, and let it shine in whichever way (or ways!) you see fit!”

Since the liquor market is a worldwide industry, I really consider anything produced in Washington State to be local, and Washington seems to have exploded into the craft distilling market in the last two years, thanks largely in part to a craft distilling bill introduced through the efforts of Don and Kent at Dry Fly Distilling in Spokane. In fact, there are probably a dozen or more distilleries within a 2 hour drive from my house.

For this MxMo, I have chosen to use spirits from two northwest Washington distilleries; Ebb & Flow Gin from Sound Spirits in Seattle, and Pacifique Absinthe from Pacific Distillery in Woodinville. Both products are exceptional hand crafted spirits that really showcase the distillers love for their respective products.

For my cocktail, I have chosen to go with the White Lady, as it gives me a chance to use both of these spirits, while sipping something different than the corpse reviver that I would normally pair those two spirits with. Created by either Harry Craddock or Harry MacElhone (both lay claim to the creation of the cocktail) the White Lady is a simple twist on the Sidecar. Light and frothy with just the right amount of sourness, this is a cocktail that really showcases the spirits. Don’t forget to head over to Lindsay’s site in a couple of days to check out the round up of local spirits. Cheers!

White Lady
1 1/2 oz Gin
1 oz Lemon Juice
3/4 oz Cointreau
2 dashes Absinthe