MULLED WINE!

I remember this one from when we used to go skiing in the Swiss Alps – if it wasn’t hot wine (gluhwein), it was something they called hunter’s tea (Jaegertee) which was more like a hot grog.  Both warmed you up – the latter just knocked you out a bit quicker.   Neither were supposed to be consumed by anyone under 18 (18 in Europe not 21!) – both were great lessons in tempering your drink consumption.

The thing about all these hot drinks is they’re sweet and they go down really easily – especially when it’s below freezing outside.

My grandmother’s family moved from Switzerland before she was born – however one of the traditions that got handed down and that was the recipe for the Gluhwein – I remember being so happy when I discovered that I didn’t need to travel back to Switzerland every time for a great mulled wine.

The secret she always told me was not to use bad wine or light wine! 

SAZERAC - HAPPY MARDIS GRAS!!

Declared the official cocktail of New Orleans on June 23 2008, the Sazerac is synonymous with New Orleans  - what’s less known is that the main ingredient that it’s supposedly named after “Sazerac de Forge et Fils” was a cognac – not a whiskey as we now expect in a Sazerac. (this may have something to do with the fact that Sazerac is now the name of a company that produces Rye Whiskey!)

Other ingredients in the Sazerac include Peychaud bitters originally created by Antoine Peychaud, a Creole apothecary from the French colony of Saint-Dominique, now Haiti and Absinthe, the liquor that got banned for so long but is now making a comeback – without the wormwood!

The Sazerac has made many movie & TV appearances – think Treme and the curious case of Benjamin Button.

KIR ROYAL JARNAC! - HAPPY VALENTINE'S WEEK!

Bubbly, Cassis and a dash of Courvoisier – Happy Valentine!

Ahhh Courvoisier – the brandy of Napoleon! – a Cognac is a brandy but not all brandies are Cognacs. I had that ingrained into me whilst growing up in the Cognac area.  Brandy comes from the German “BrandWein” which translates loosely as cooked wine – that’s to say distilled wine which is of course is fermented fruit (not necessarily but generally grapes)!

So there’s a lot of product out there that qualifies as brandy – what makes Cognac special is that is comes from the Cognac area of France, it’s made from specific grapes, distilled twice and has various age & geographical restrictions…blah blah blah – it does mean though that you know what you’re drinking is good J

Why Courvoisier and not any other Cognac?  No reason really except loyalty to the smaller Cognac producing town of Jarnac and a company that I once worked for as a tour guide!

WHISKEY SOUR - IN CELEBRATION OF LINCOLN'S BIRTHDAY

So, we all know that Abraham Lincoln was born in Kentucky – what some of us don’t know is that his father worked in a distillery and that in 1811 his family moved from Sinking Spring Farm to Knob Creek – Hmmm that sounds familiar! – I  always wondered where that name came from and why anyone thought it would make a good name for a bourbon.

Lincoln wrote “My earliest recollection however, is of the Knob Creek place.” He was saved from drowning in Knob Creek (the river that is!) by his schoolmate Austin Gollaher – perhaps we should name a drink the Gollaher to celebrate his birthday! 

In honor of Abraham Lincoln’s Kentucky distillery roots – lift a glass to celebrate his birthday this week.

HAPPY GROUNDHOG DAY - A European Martini!

Happy Groundhog Day!

Whenever I hear Groundhog Day, I think of Punxsutawney and the 1993 film with Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell and Chris Elliott.   I’m sure you’ve all seen it – you know the one where he’s the weatherman and keeps re-living the same day again and again (hmmm - sounds familiar – no of course not, I’ve never heard you tell that story before).

What some of you might not remember is the cocktail that Phil Connors (AKA Bill Murray) is forced to drink whilst chatting up his producer – you got it, the very European Vermouth on the rocks (in this case sweet)– often referred to in Europe as a Martini, which also explains why some Europeans are a little shocked with what they get when they order a Martini here – but that’s another story!

We're going to be using Tribuno at Barramundi Bar on the Lower East Side but Martini Rosso or Cinzano are also good - which do you prefer?

Cheers! Happy Ground Hog Day -did I already say that? - maybe we are in a loop.

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