This was a labor of love 🇵🇭🫰🏽
In my ongoing quest to make my childhood Filipino desserts into a cocktail, may I present the Buko Pandan — a coconut/pandan clarified daiquiri variation topped with an ube-coconut foam. This was a love letter to my childhood growing up in the Philippines and I’m so glad I had the opportunity to share it with those who attended this Kamayan for @chswineandfood.
Note that the ube foam was a little trickier than I first intended, I wanted to make the foam float about the cocktail but had a hard time doing so without coagulation of the foam (since it was mostly dairy). Luckily, @kevin_kos and @jfdesfosses came to the rescue in the form of super foam which I incorporated into the iSi and it worked like a charm.
This was a fun (but labor intensive) drink to make so I included a single serving version below if you don’t feel like making 9L for your next event (unless you do, in which case, I included that batch recipe as well).
Big thanks to my friends at @campari_southcarolina for graciously donating product for this event!
Cheers y’all.
Just a wee-Guinness for this St. Patrick’s Day 🍀
2-INGREDIENT COCKTAIL REVIEW | EP. 3 | BABY GUINNESS 🍀
I already had a feeling that I’d like this one. It’s literally coffee and cream so you can’t go wrong. It’s a bit on the sweet side so I’d maybe add some Irish whiskey to this if I made it into a full cocktail. I’d also probably whip shake the Irish cream too to put on top. Also, don’t skimp on the coffee liqueur, Mr. Black is a staple at my bar and always recommend going with that, Creme de Moka by tempusfugit or Espresso Liqueur by @luxardousa.
Check out my review above and let me know what I should make next!
It’s like an Irish Coffee, but not.🍀☕️ This enhanced version of the classic is still very easy to make and only takes a few more ingredients to execute. Chicory and coffee have always been a match made in heaven but together with an eight year old Irish Whisky like thequietmanwhiskey it just brings it to a whole other level. The notes of sweet vanilla and oak that is imparted from the barrel is on full display in this version of Irish coffee, only to be accentuated with a salted caramel foam to balance out the bitterness from the coffee.
Now cheers, and #HappyStPatricksDay.
Sick of boring ole mint juleps? This one is for you.
If you haven’t had Chartreuse vegetal elixir before, you need to find a bottle. It has all the herbaciousness of Chartreuse without the sweetness. It works really well in a julep and really complements the mint and bourbon, y’all gotta try it out.
Big thanks to @jameswitty for hooking me up with my first bottle! 🙏🏽
Hey at least I can admit when I f**k up, right?
In an effort to do a bit more research, I want to share the incredible history behind an iconic tiki cocktail: the zombie. Created by Don the Beachcomber (and NOT Trader Vic — thanks to everyone who pointed that out). This classic tiki cocktail is as full of history as it is rum. I hope y’all found this video as informative as I did.
Now… who wants to know the recipe to Don’s Mix? Should I make a zombie in the next video? Comment below.
Cheers y’all.
Spring has sprung, so lets celebrate with a delicious and floral spring themed cocktail with my friends over at @bentlyheritagedistillery.
I’ve partnered with @sourceonevodka to produce an easy sipping cocktail created with a local ingredient to pair with their small batch, single estate vodka. I landed with an Earl Grey syrup from Charleston Tea Plantation and combined it with delicate but floral ingredients to create a well balanced cocktail perfect for any spring day. Check out the recipe below!
Who doesn’t love adding a bit more locality to their cocktail ingredients? I’m excited to finally announce a new series with my friends at @herradurateq! In this series I’ll be showcasing some of Charleston’s finest mixologists to create recipes featuring Herradura Ultra Añejo and utilizing ingredients local and unique to the Lowcountry. First up is my friend, and huge agave spirit advocate: Morgan Hurley (@mixpoursurf) who used a local ingredient found in his own backyard.
“My inspiration for the cocktail comes from the Tequila itself. The Herradura Ultra Anejo is incredibly smooth with a touch of sweetness from the Agave. Bringing in Dry Vermouth and French Gentian Liqueur added some herbal elements as well as some floral notes to the cocktail. Tying it all in was the orange bitters and Corazon bitters adding a layer of depth and spice. Bringing in a touch of Agave Nectar infused with Pecans from my backyard brought the Agave notes back to the front of the cocktail and complemented the toasted oak from the barrel aging.
A smokey, coffee-forward tequila cocktail… say less.
The recipe was created by my dude Dalton Bedard (@intent_to_imbibe) at @eattheordinary here in Charleston, SC. If that name sounds familiar, it’s because Dalton placed in the Top 5 US Bartenders for @worldclassus in 2024. But good news y’all, he’s back at in 2025 as a finalist for the East Coast and we’re all pulling for him to take it all home this year.
’Tis the [fig] season here in the Lowcountry so why not make the best of it in an Old Fashioned?
Next up on the #FestiveOldFashioned series with @oldforester is the talented, Meagan Cheek (@meaganvision) with a fig inspired Old Fashioned that is as local as it it is seasonal. Check out his details below.
“Figs, allspice, brown sugar, maple syrup, and of course bourbon... what flavors could be more fitting for the holiday season? I wanted to feature figs because they often get a bad rap (pun intended). For this representation of the OG Old Fashioned I have chosen Old Forester 1920 for its warming winter flavors of cherry, vanilla, and graham cracker sweetness. The spirit is then infused at a low heat with dried figs rolled in a bit of brown sugar. Finish with a touch of allspice dram, maple syrup, and cherry bark vanilla bitters. Garnish with a fresh halved fig nestled in a big beautiful peel of winter grapefruit. If you don’t know, now you know!”
Here’s a cozy Old Fashioned to curl up to this season
Read More2-INGREDIENT COCKTAIL REVIEW | EP. 2 | FERRARI🏎️
A while back I made the M+M (Monte + Mezcal) and asked y’all what your favorite 2 ingredient drinks are and y’all delivered. This first one had me a little skeptical but this one seemed like they shouldn’t ever belong together, check out my review above.
Llet me know what I should make next!
🎅🏻🎄 MERRY CHRISTMAS! I’ve been wanting to smoke a Holiday themed cocktail for a while now and I think I found the perfect vessel for it. I saw this at @target and immediately thought it was for smoking my cocktails… is that weird? Anyone know what this is really for? …either way it doesn’t matter because this drink ended up being delicious.
Read MoreA julep in December? Yes please.
Together with my friends at @vineyardvines, we’re making a drink before we head to a holiday party. Who says a julep is only a spring cocktail, this one combines the traditional with some winter elements to make a fun, refreshing and seasonal variation on a classic.
We’re getting a little dressed up for this one too, so make sure to stay till the end to see how I can transform this casual/cozy combination to something that is a bit more elevated and easy to pull off.
Happy holidays! Cheers y’all.
#EDSFTG #vineyardvines
Is it safe to assume you’ll be hosting or attending a Holiday Party this year?
Need some tips on what cocktail to make? Well how about we batch it? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. The best part about this recipe is you can make it ahead of time and that it does NOT freeze, so keep it in the fridge or freezer until your guests arrive and have them serve themselves over a large clear cube so you can enjoy the party instead of making drinks all night.
Now try this out and go be hero at the next party.
Get all the holiday vibes with this festive take on the Old Fashioned. Cheers y’all!
Rosemary, with its fragrant and pine-like aroma, has long been cherished as a symbol of remembrance and love during the holiday season. Its vibrant green needles evoke the festive colors of the holidays, while its robust flavor adds a touch of warmth to holiday dishes and cocktails. Whether infused in rich gravies, delicately dusted over roasted meats, or incorporated into hearty stuffings, rosemary brings a sense of tradition and comfort to any holiday table. Cocktails are no exception.
Read MoreA Batanga, but make it 🍒
Shoutout to my guy @cocktailsbyhawk for the idea!
Let’s do drinks…
This one goes out to one of my inspirations for @holycityhandcraft, my homie @apartment_bartender. Me and Elliott go back to the infancy of @instagram. Back when it was all about pretty, curated photos and baked in filters via the app.
Elliott was one of the first people on Instagram that made home bartending approachable and look cool as hell doing it. Back when there were only a handful of cocktail accounts, he was one of the firsts who picked up a real camera and truly took cocktail content on social media to the next level. I’m almost positive he came up with the term ‘#boozemail’ which is ubiquitous among creators these days. I feel like brands didn’t even know what to do with us back in the day because the term ‘influencer’ wasn’t coined yet.
Fast forward a couple years later, I get a phone call from Elliott while we’re both at our real office jobs, telling me he’s going to quit his sales job and do AB full time - I was completely blown away at even the thought of that. I don’t think I knew anyone at that point who quit their job to pursue a career in social media/content creation. But I remember him telling me, ‘you’re next!’ and at that point in my life, I just couldn’t even fathom that happening but always appreciated his hustle and his endless support. I loved following his growth and journey as he paved the way for other creators in the cocktail space.
I’m sitting here, writing this over 4 years since I quit my office job and pursued HCH full time. While I probably would have gotten to this point eventually, I don’t think I would have been here as fast without Elliott. I’m proud to call him a friend and can’t be more proud of him for releasing his first book ‘Let’s Do Drinks!’. So I figured what would be a more fitting way to celebrate then by making a recipe from the book.
Moral of the story is: everyone needs an Elliott in their life. Someone who supports you and you can draw inspiration from. Someone who inspires you to be your very best and do what you’re good and and just fucking hustle.
Cheers to you E, let’s do drinks soon.
Hosting a dinner party soon? I got you covered…
Together with my friends at @milagrotequila, I’m excited to share the newest bottle in their lineup that’s perfect for such an occasion; Milagro’s new #CristalinoAñejo. This tequila made with 100% blue agave that’s been aged up to 24 months in French and American oak and filtered to have a nice blend of caramel and vanilla sweetness from the barrel with an extra smooth finish from the filtering process. Today I’m going to show you TWO easy ways I’d serve it to my friends for our upcoming dinner party that we’re hosting.
Let’s start off with a cocktail shall we? I love the idea of making a spirit-forward classic like a martini to showcase the nuances of flavors in this Cristalino. The second serve is more for those tequila-purists that want to taste ever single aspect of the liquid, this signature serve is highlighted by a grapefruit twist to complement the citrus notes in this tequila.
The cure for all those Sunday scaries 💀🥃
Together with my friends at @blackenedamericanwhiskey, we took the traditional elements of a classic Boulevardier but enhanced it with caramelized banana and some torched absinthe to create something unique and familiar. BLACKENED American Whiskey provides a great base that provides both depth and richness to this already delicious recipe. Let me know what y’all think if you make it! #ad21+
Cheers y’all.