A Muddled Thought

Pama Pomegranate Liquor is created by combining natural pomegranate juice, vodka and tequila, with the end result, a product filled with notes of pomegranate, and minor hints of vanilla and citrus.

After tasting Pama Pomegranate, we decided to try our hands at a few new recipes utilizing it as a component.

Buckley and Sunshine

2 oz Bombay
3/4 oz Pama Pomegranate liquor
1oz Vanilla coconut Demerara tea syrup
1 Dash Scrappy’s Lavender bitters
Garnish with burnt orange zest

Buckley and Sunshine. A combination of Pama Pomegranate Liquor, Bombay Sapphire Gin, Vanilla Coconut Demerara Syup,and Scrappy's Lavender Bitters.

A Tini Tipple of Tea
1 oz Lapsang Souchong Infused Pama Pomegranate Liquor
1 ¾ of Beefeater 24 Gin
¾ Vanilla Syrup
½ oz Lime Juice
1 Dash Angostura Bitters
Shake with Ice
Garnish with Lemon Peel

A Combination of Lapsang Souchong Infused Pama Pomegranate Liquor, Beefeater 24, Vanilla Syrup, and Angostura BItters.

The Red Smoking Bandit
1 oz Pama Pomegranate Liquor
¾ oz Lagvulin 16 Whiskey
1 1/2 oz Lillet Blanc
2 dashes whiskey barrel
¼ oz Lime juice
¾ oz Simple Syrup

Recently I had the opportunity to attend an event at The Astor Center known as the Cocktail Jam. During a jam session, brands generally sponsor an hour of bartenders seeing what they can come up with on the spot in while behind the bar. It doesn’t hurt that a portion of the proceeds from ticket sales went to The Food Bank of New York City.

While working at the Cocktail Jam, I ran into William Doyle who runs the marketing for Compass Box Whiskey. Compass Box had sponsored the hour from 7pm-8pm and I had offered to represent them with a cocktail behind the bar. Sharing the hour with Compass Box, was Partida Tequila, another favorite brand of mine to work with in cocktails.

During our conversation before my shift behind the bar, Billy had mentioned that in a past life he had worked with Partida and asked if I could create a cocktail with both products. As one whose always up for a challenge I told him it wouldn’t be a problem. My understanding at the time was I would be creating one cocktail with both spirits as ingredients.

I found out later that Billy had actually meant two separate cocktails, one with Compass Box and one with Partida.

I decided to go with my original thought and to see what I could up with by using both products in one cocktail

With the nice smokey yet subtle flavor that Peat Monster possesses, it lends itself quite easily to working in cocktails without overpowering the other spirits. Playing off the traditional margarita, I decided to combine some mole bitters that have a spicy yet sweet flavor, the Peat Monster and Partida Reposado with its hints of cocoa, and caramel.

The results of this misunderstanding became known as:

Branded and Confused
1 oz Peat Monster
2 oz Partida Reposado
¼ Lime Juice
1oz Demerara Sugar
Eggwhite

Branded and Confused. A combination of Peat Monster, Partida Reposado, Lime Juice, Demerara Sugar, Eggwhite and Mole Bitters.

We recently received a sample of Hiram Walker’s Gingerbread Liquor and as winter is the best time to enjoy the sweet yet spicy flavors of ginger bread, we decided to see what new recipes we could come up with.

“The Ginga Man is Callin”

1 ¾ oz Buffalo Trace
½ oz Hiram Walker Gingerbread Liquor
¾ oz Navan Vanilla Liquor
1 Dash Peychaud Bitters
¼ oz of Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice
Burnt Orange Zest

“Warm in Oh So Many Ways Cocoa”

For the next recipe with Hiram Walker Ginger Bread Liquor, we decided to try a version of homemade cocoa that utilizes a great deal of booze. That way if the heat doesn’t warm you up, at least the generous amounts of spirits might.

First we started with the cocoa base.

We combined the 2 1/2 cups of Milk and 1/2 cup of Hiram Walker Gingerbread Liquor, 20 black peppercorns, and 1/2 barspoon of chili powder. We heated these ingredients until everything began to boil. We then removed it from the heat, and added a bar and a half of Dagoba Mole Chocolate Bars and stirred until the chocolate was fully melted and combined with the rest of the base.

After this is complete, strain into a large mug that has already been filled with the following:

1 ½ Rhum J.M. Gold
1 Dash Mole Bitters
½ oz Solerno Blood Orange Liquor

For the boozy whipped cream:

Combine-

5 oz of Heavy Cream
2 teaspoons Sugar
2oz of Navan Vanilla Liquor

Shake until it becomes a whipped cream.

Distribute on top of the “Warm in Oh So Many Ways Cocoa”.

Warm in Oh So Many Ways Cocoa- The Navan Whipcream has started to melt slightly in this photo.

The Navan Vanilla Liquor based Whipcream before being used to top the Warm in Oh So Many Ways Cocoa.

Retailing in the low twenty dollar range, Hornitos Plata Tequila is a a nice introductory tequila if your looking to introduce the spirit to someone whose only experience has been those harsher brands. Hornitos Plata (unaged) tequila begins with light floral notes that are followed up with characters of cinnamon, touches of black pepper, balanced with minute inklings of sweet vanilla that ends with a smooth finish that introduces notes of lime.

If you prefer a cocktail as opposed to neat, try something a bit traditional like a Margarita.

The usual recipe being something like:

2oz of Plata(or Blanco) Tequila
3/4 Cointreau
3/4 Lime Juice

Note:If you like your Margarita more sweet than tart, add about 1/2 oz of Simple Syrup.

A Traditional Margarita

Or for something that might fit with the upcoming holidays a new eggnog inspired recipe using Hornitos Plata Tequila.

Mischievous Winter Nog
1 ¾ Hornitos Plata
1 oz Chai Tea Syrup
1 Dash Grapefruit Bitters
3/4 Amarula Liquor
Eggwhite
Top with Cinnamon

A Mischievous Winter Evening. A combination of Hornitos Plata, Chai Tea Syrup, Grapefruit Bitters,and Amarula Liquor.

This past October, Suntory released (previously unavailable in the US) Hibiki 12 Year Old blended Japanese Whiskey.
By taking a blend of over thirty aged Japanese whiskies, which are first aged in white oak casks and then moved to casks that were previously used to mature Umeshu Plum liquor, Suntory was able to create this very interesting and unique 12-year-old blended whisky.

Suntory Hibiki 12 slowly seduces you as you open the bottle, with hints of elegant sweetness. This aroma is merely a preview of what the depth that Hibiki holds once it hits your palate. As it opens up right away with mild cocoa, accompanied by notes of sea salt. Just as your palate starts to come to terms with these flavors the spirit introduces subtle hints of sweet mashed bananas, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Hibiki ends the show with a rock candy like sweet and soothing finish.

After experiencing the Hibiki 12 neat, we decided to add a splash of water which further allowed the spirit to come to life with additional notes of green tea and a sweet orange flavor showed themselves.

Whether tasted neat or with a splash of water, Suntory’s Hibiki 12 Year offering takes the palate on an amazing journey.

Final Score: 9/10

As we’re currently in the midst of the holiday shopping season, I’m often asked what type of spirits people should purchase as gifts. While I previously covered several suggestions in “A Muddled Thoughts, 12 Boozy Days of Christmas” the question keeps coming up regarding alternates to the somewhat pricey Johnie Walker Blue Blended Scotch.

Folks, I’d like to introduce you to Chivas Regal 18. Priced at around $55 for a 750ml bottle, it comes in at one-third the price of Johnie Walker Blue, which comes in at $150 for a 750ml bottle.

Chivas 18 starts off with a nose brimming with sweet caramel. These sweet aromas are merely a lead-up to a spirit full of characters of spice, apples and cinnamon. Just when you think Chivas has worked its way fully through your palate, your hit with notes elegant black cherries and chocolate.

Each sip of Chivas Regal 18, finishes very smoothly with minor hints of smoke and characters of cocoa and nutmeg.

Taking a look at Johnie Walker Blue, one of the more popular scotch gifts, your presented with a very different spirit than that of the Chivas Regal 18.

Johnie Walker Blue starts off with a nose filled with elegant and defined notes of sweetness.

Once you get past this nose, your greeted with a scotch that possesses characters of cocoa, hazelnut and sweet honey that finishes with more of those sweet honey notes and a mild hint of peat .

While the infamous Johnie Walker Blue is still an impressive specimen of blended scotch, the Chivas Regal 18 seemed to have more personality and possessed a more robust variety of flavors that remained balance through each sip. Taking both this and the price difference into account, the Chivas Regal 18 makes a great alternative to the higher priced Johnie Walker Blue.

If you’re looking for a last minute gift idea for your favorite spirit enthuiast, introduce them to Leblon Cachaca and Caipirinha’s, a combination of Cachaca(a Brazilian sugar case based spirit,similar to rum), muddled limes and sugar on the rocks.

Leblon Cachaca’s Holiday Caipirinha Set is the perfect gift for anyone on your holiday list from Hanukkah to office grab bags to hostess gifts to Christmas.  Complete with everything to make spirits bright, Leblon’s Caipirinha Set retails for $29.99 and includes a 750 ml bottle of Leblon Cachaca, a Leblon muddler, and a booklet of cocktail recipes.  

The Leblon Caipirinha Gift Set

Or if you’d like to try a twist on a Caipirinha, give this new recipe a try.

Seven Days of Insanity

2 oz Orange Blossom Infused Leblon Cachaca

1/2 oz Lime Juice

1/2 Canton Ginger Liquor

2 Dashes Grapfruit Bitters

2 Sugar Cubes

Muddle Sugar Cubes, Canton Ginger and Bitters

As you would a Caipirinha, shake all ingredients with ice and then pour entire contents (with ice) into highball glass. Top with Club Soda

Garnish with one star anise and an orange slice.

Seven Days of Insanity. A Combination of 2 oz Orange Blossom Infused Leblon Cachaca, Lime Juice, Sugar Cubes, Grapefruit Bitters, Canton Ginger.

(Editors Note:This recipe can be also be done as a punch if you multiple by the amount of people your expecting.)

The cover of Lushlife starring Gaz (Formerly Gary) Regan

Are you looking for that gift for the bartender or spirits fan that has everything?

Do they have every bottle and bar tool in existence?

Well what if you were able to give them a gift that celebrates the history and personalities of bartending?
Jill Degroff, famed artist and wife of Dale “King Cocktail” recently published the first in her series of “Lush Life” books chronicling the whose who of the bartending and mixology world.

By combining caricatures of some of the bartending world’s most well known figures with recipes and the stories behind how some of them got into the industry, Jill takes a fun approach to exploring and getting to know the personalities behind some of your favorite drinks.

From individuals such as Jim Meehan of PDT(NYC), Julie Reiner of The Clover Club, Jonathan Pogash(aka the Cocktail Guru), and Dale Degroff, Jill’s book is a one of a kind exploration combining both art and the written word to explore cocktail culture past to present in a way only Jill can.

Lush Life Retails for $24.95 and is available either through Amazon or direct through Dale Degroff’s Website.

Lunazul Tequila, a value priced and yet impressive blanco tequila. So flavorful you can sip it on its own.
We previously looked at Lunazul Blanco earlier this year, but felt it was worth a mention as it’s priced at around twenty dollars and is on par with most of its higher priced competitors who range in price between thirty and forty dollars.

With flavors that include espresso, orange cream, cinnamon and sweet agave in each sip, this is anything but a spirit that tastes like those other lower priced tequilas.
A great gift for any spirits lover, anyone who enjoys tequila or anyone that you might be looking to introduce to something new.

Sagatiba known around the world for their elegant unaged cachacha, Pura released an aged offering known as Sagitaba Velha in November 2008.

Aged two years, in American oak barrels this is not your usual cachaca.

Taking their Pura Cachaca and adding two years of aging shows itself right away.
With a nose filled with hints of orange and vanilla, the spirit really grabs your attention and has you wondering what’s different about this cachaca.
Once this spirit begins to hit your taste buds yours presented with a liquid rich with flavors of allspice, and caramel. Moving past these flavors your then hit with the presence of cloves, a tease of cocoa, figs, and just an inkling of barley wine
This taste ends pleasantly with a finish that shows characters of tobacco and cinnamon.

As one of the few-aged cachaca currently available on the market, Sagatiba Velha is an incredible unique product that would make any spirits lover jump up and take notice.

Final Score: 9/10

A few new recipes utilizing the Sagatiba Velha.

Teddy’s Toddy
2oz Sagatiba Velha
½ oz Allspice Dram
1 oz Cinnamon Syrup
Add 6oz of Hot Chai Tea
(I used Traditional Medicinal’s Organic Chai Tea)
Garnish with Burnt Orange Zest
Serve in Snifter

Teddy's Toddy. A combination of Sagatiba Velha, Allspice Dram, Cinnamon Syrup, and Chai Tea.

Fizzy and Lost on Lafayette
1 ¾ Sagatiba Velha
Barspoon Green Chartreuse
1oz Vanilla Syrup
Muddled Strawberries
Shake with Ice
Top with Zipang Sparkling Sake or Champagne
Garnish with Half Fresh Strawberry

Fizzy and Lost on Lafayette. A combination of Sagatiba Velha, Green Chartreuse, Vanilla Syrup, Muddled Strawberries. Topped with Champagne.