by Rachel on March 10, 2010
Wow - thank you for visiting Girly Drinks again. Looks like you're a regular here. Do you have a signature cocktail recipe that you want to share? If so, contact us at staff@girly-drinks.com with an image and recipe and link (optional) so that you can be part of our site.
Rhubarb Cocktails
Another round of links from cocktailers around the web! This week, the Pickle Back talk is beginning to die down and Creme Yvette talk is heating up. There’s contests, recipe submission opportunities, cocktail recipes, and blind taste testing results to keep you busy for a few minutes:
- The Pickle Back: For the past few weeks, all the cocktailers on twitter have been talking about The Pickle Back: a shot of Jameson Irish Whiskey followed by a back of pickle juice. While it doesn’t sound appealing, the flavors supposedly work well together.
- Creme Yvette Cocktails: The newest trend, however, is Creme Yvette. A blend of berries, spices, honey, vanilla, and a touch of violet petals, Creme Yvette ceased production in 1969 and just recently made a reappearance. Use it in gin cocktails if you’re a fan of the Aviation, or try it in an absinthe based cocktail.
- Six Signs You’re in a Serious Cocktail Bar: @Swigs_ has reposted an article that originally ran in the Metro Times, detailing the six signs that you’re in a serious cocktail bar. When an “apple martini” is actually a “Jack Rose” (applejack brandy, fresh lime juice, grenadine) instead of vodka and sour apple liqueur, that’s a sign that the bartender knows their stuff.
- Women Who Drink Gain Less Weight: According to a study that was posted in the New York Times, nondrinkers gained more weight over time while regular moderate drinkers gained much less. “The risk of becoming overweight was almost 30 percent lower for women who consumed one or two alcohol beverages a day, compared with nondrinkers.“
- Chance to Appear in The Cocktail Deeva’s Newest Cocktail Book: @CocktailDeeva is working on her newest book and you have a chance to be featured in it! Send The Cocktail Deeva your life stories and the cocktail that goes along with that story – if chosen, you’re in the book!
- The Whiskey Renaissance: Top 5 Rye Bottles: Bon Appétit Magazine writer Andrew Knowlton blind taste tested 16 different brands of Rye with PDT bartender, Jim Meehan. The result: 5 Ryes that are worth your money.
- 20+ Recipes That Call For Beer: From Fine Living Network, over 20 Recipes that use beer, including “Bubba’s Beer Biscuits” and “Beer-a-mi-su.”
- LUPEC Boston Celebrates International Women’s Day With a Ladies’ Cocktail: March 5th was International Women’s Day, and the ladies of LUPEC (Ladies United for the Preservation of Endangered Cocktails) Boston suggest that you try the Ladies’ Cocktail to celebrate.
- Beer With Branson: This is just a fun story. Justin “Bugsy” Sailor wants to have beer with Richard Branson, and he’s reaching out to anyone that might have a connection to Sir Branson.
- Bartender’s/Waitresses/Hostesses Wanted For LA Reality Show: Your chance to be on TV! One of Hollywood’s celebrity restaurateurs, along with a major cable network, is looking for bartenders, servers, and hostesses to audition for a chance to be on national TV.
- Pinky Vodka Mixology Contest: Pinky Vodka is giving mixologists the chance to create a new featured cocktail for their brand and an opportunity to win $500 to $1,000 dollars (grand prize and runner up winners). One entry per participant is allowed, and the entries must contain at least one fresh ingredient and Pinky Vodka, with no more than five ingredients total.
- Rhubarb Cooler: Just in case you missed it - The Rhubarb Cooler, a recipe from Kara Newman’s book and virtual cocktail party.
- The Razz: Cheri Loughlin, The Intoxicologist, is on a coffee kick (check out her tweets) – so much so that she decided to come up with a few coffee cocktails, including The Razz (DaVinci Raspberry syrup, half & half, hot coffee, whipped cream).
- Tales of the Cocktail: Just a PSA that Tales of the Cocktail is only 132 days away! Tickets went on sale last week, with seminars covering everything from gin to a “Ladies Only hands-on demo” with master mixologist Tony Abou-Ganim (The Modern Mixologist).
For more cocktail news and recipes, follow Girly Drinks on twitter or facebook.
by Rachel on March 3, 2010
Spice & Ice by Kara Newman
Kara Newman, author of Spice & Ice, invited me to a Virtual Cocktail Party. First off, credit to her for being innovative, but more so than that, I was excited to be a part of her online cocktail party. A few months after starting Girly Drinks, I hunted (for a lack of a better term) Kara down to seek her advice in how to enter into the cocktail blogging world. Not only is Kara a great writer and enthusiastic cocktailer, she was also extremely helpful in leading me to a number of cocktail resources.
I received a copy of Kara’s book last week and immediately found the recipe that I wanted to make: The Rhubarb Cooler. Turns out, rhubarb is ridicuously hard to find in the winter. Perhaps that’s why Kara placed this recipe in the “Spring” section of her book, but I was set on making a rhubarb cocktail.
Luckily, I found rhubarb yesterday and promptly set out to make the Rhubarb cooler this morning. I mean afternoon.
Rhubarb Cooler Recipe:
- 1.5 Oz Gin
Rhubarb Cooler Cocktail
- 1 Oz Domaine De Canton Ginger Liqueur
- I Oz Rhubarb Puree
- 1 Mint Sprig (garnish)
Vigorously shake together the gin, ginger liqueur, and rhubarb puree over ice, until frothy. strain into a martini glass and garnish with mint.
Rhubarb Puree Recipe:
1.5 cups 1 inch pieces rhubarb (apx 1.5 stalks of rhubarb, based on size)
Rhubarb Cooler With Mint
Puree rhubarb in a blender and strain outthe sediment through cheesecloth.
I used New Amsterdam for the Gin, but I tested the recipe out with Hendrick’s on the second try. The New Amsterdam version was smooth as far as the gin taste and let the ginger and rhubarb stand out more, but the Hendrick’s blend had a nice kick. I may be partial to Hendrick’s gin in general, but the next time I make the Rhubarb cooler, that’s the gin I’ll use.
I love the taste of rhubarb, but if you don’t, or if you can’t find it when it’s out of season, you could try substituting strawberry for the puree. You’ll still get some of the kick from the ginger liqueur, and you can also add muddled ginger to the blend (during the shaking stage).
I also had to add a dash of simple syrup to the rhubarb – while I was pureeing it – to speed up the process. You could also add a bit of gin instead of simple syrup, but if the rhubarb had been fresh, I don’t think anything would have been required.
Preserving and Freezing Rhubarb:
Rhubarb
According to the farmers market around my house, you can freeze rhubarb for up to 9 months. If you find rhubarb and want to enjoy it later, clean the stalks and cut into desired length (.5 to 1 inch pieces are perfect for sauces and purees), then store in an airtight container or freezer bag.
Spice & Ice
The Rhubarb Cooler wasn’t the spiciest of cocktails from Kara’s book, so if heat is your thing, don’t be put off by my pick. I’m still set on making a Gin and Tonic with Spiced Ice from Spice & Ice (Saffron and habanero pepper ice), and cocktails like the Cajun Martini (jalapeno infused vodka) or Lemon Pepper Martini (jalapeno infused vodka, Blueberry vodka, lemonade) are high on my list as well.
For more recipes and information about Spice & Ice, visit Kara’s blog or follow her on twitter @karanewman.
by Rachel on March 1, 2010
While I was out frolicking in chilly Atlantic City last week, at least three national cocktail or food holiday’s managed to come and go: National Kahlua Day, National Pancake Day, and National Margarita Day were some of the popular ones. There was also National “Drink Wine Day,” and although it’s over a month past, February 5th was
World Nutella Day.
Where I slacked, however, some great cocktail bloggers posted a variety of cocktail recipes, including those for the National Cocktail Days that have passed.
National Margarita Day
- National Kahlua Day Cocktails: National Kahlua Day has gone and passed, but The Intoxicologist has rounded up a list of cocktails made with Kahlua that can be made any day.
- Absolut Mandarin Dreamsicle Cookies: Not cocktails, but these delicious looking cookies are made with Absolut Mandarin vodka. Very cool and out of the box – perfect for a themed party or the next family get together
- National Pancake Day: Alas, I also missed National Pancake Day last week. IHop was giving away free pancakes and twitter was buzzing about pancake recipes. Of course, the cocktail connoisseurs out there came up with a pancake cocktail (it’s not gross, I promise). Lettuce Martini presents the Blueberry Pancake Martini.
- St. Patrick’s Day Cocktails: St Patty’s Day is still a few weeks away, but Drink of the Week is already gearing up with a list of St. Patrick’s Day Drinks.
- The Lemon Meringue Pie Cocktail (discovered via Liqurious): The folks over at Hello Sonoma have re-created the Lemon Meringue Pie in cocktail form!
- Best Picture Cocktails: Just in time for the Oscars (March 7th), Chow.com has identified 10 Oscar worthy cocktails that fit in with each of the nominated films this year. Perfect excuse to host a Oscar watching party
- National Margarita Day: Yep, this was a national holiday last week, as well. I drank a margarita on National Margarita Day (at Harrah’s Atlantic City), but I didn’t post anything. Still, you can celebrate with a margarita any day. Cosmo Online posted two different recipes, a honeydew margarita and a pink margarita.
- Budget Friendly Cocktails: Using Seagrams Lime Melonade as the base, these three summer cocktails can be made in large quantities for a low price.
- Tales of the Cocktail is less than 142 days away! Specialty tickets go on sale today, March 1st. Take it from someone that loves cocktails so much she started a blog about them – this is the most amazing event! I could go on and on (I am) about why you should attend, but here’s the top 3 reasons: discover new spirits that you’ve previously shyed away from (I discovered my obsessive love for gin, a spirit I thought I didn’t like, because of TOTC); meet some talented folks that know how to make excellent and unique cocktails; and discover the beautiful city of New Orleans through a wonderful cocktail event.
by Rachel on February 22, 2010
I have an admission: I love drinking and discovering cocktails and liquors and wines, but I’m super lazy when it comes to writing about those cocktail adventures. I have a backlog of posts that I’ve been meaning to write. While I may not get information up on my blog in a timely manner, I do put lots of info up on Twitter and Facebook, and frequently! Follow me on Twitter (@girlydrinks) or Facebook (facebook.com/girlydrinks) for up to date information on cocktails and contests.
Anyways, the real reason for this post is to announce that today is the last day to enter the Xplorador contest for a chance to win a trip to Chile!
By writing this post, I’m also entering myself into the contest (I’ve also been tweeting and facebooking about it, instead of writing posts…), but you have an opportunity to enter as well: tweet about the contest – before 11:59 on Feb 22 – using the #XploradorHarvest hashtag, write a blog post about it, submit a photo or video, or go ahead and email the Xplorador folks.
The winner of the Xplorador Harvest contest wins a trip to Chile to meet the Xplorador winemakers and an opportunity to partake in the Xplorador winemaking process!
If you’re a wine lover or just need a wine related vacation, I suggest you enter NOW! Who could resist a vacation of wine and sun and more wine and relaxation?
Visit the Xplorador Harvest contest website at http://xploradorharvest.tumblr.com/
Find Xplorador on Twitter: http://twitter.com/xplorador
Friend Xplorador on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Xplorador
Visit the Xplorador website: http://www.xplorador.com/
*Sorry for being a lazy blogger. I have lots of fun posts coming up and I’m getting back on track. I’ve got the drinking and facebook/twitter thing down, just need to sharpen my drinking/blogging talents.
