Posts in Cocktails
Apricot Boulevard

About this series:
I’m featuring some of my favorite night caps and maybe even some recipes that YOU recommend. Here’s the catch: they always have to be stirred and must contain 4 or less ingredients (not including the garnish).

This series will be no-frills, quick, easy, and straightforward recipes that you can make in less than 5 minutes. Have a favorite recipe that fits the description above? Let me know in the comments section and maybe I’ll make it for the next episode.

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Buko Pandan Collins

Filipino-inspired drinks have my ❤️🇵🇭

That’s why I’m so excited to work together with drinkspindrift to add two original N/A recipes to their new coffee-table recipe book called “Tastes of Home” - inspired by chefs/mixologists from around the country sharing their unique culinary traditions, recipes and stories. The best news is I’ll be giving away FIVE (5) of these books (check out the link in my stories for more info). #SpindriftPartner Now on to the recipe:

This recipe takes me back to the Philippines, the traditional pairing of coconut (or “buko” in Tagalog) and pandan (a sweet herb with notes of vanilla) are a match made in heaven for desserts. I remember my Lola (grandma) would make a non-alcoholic version using fresh coconuts, condensed milk and pandan jelly. This is my take on that as an elevated non-alcoholic drink.

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Mango Royale

Yeahhh, you’ll want to make this one 🥭

Mangos are near and dear to my heart just because it was so ubiquitous in the Philippines and I had it almost every day as a child. Whether it was fresh off a tree, or sliced unripened with a side of shrimp paste; I loved it in all its forms. I figured it was only fitting to make a non-alcoholic drink and pair it with Spindrift’s Mango Black Tea. It’s fruity, light and refreshing - hope you give this one a try! Cheers y’all!

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Sunday Scaries

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.

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Final Word

Its a classic, but let’s elevate it, shall we? #ad21+

Together with my friends over at empress1908gin, we put together a spin on a traditional last word using Empress Gin with a slight Mezcal rinse it give it a touch of smokiness to compliment the herbaceous qualities of this cocktail. Hope y’all enjoy this one!

Together with my friends at millerhighlife, we’ve created a new cocktail to kick off the season. Combining the #ChampagneOfBeers with the flavors bourbon, maple, cinnamon and lemon to create a fall Radler that is perfect for the season. Give this recipe a try this season and let us know what you think below!

Cheers y’all!

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White Venetian

HandcraftAfterDark | Episode 3: White Venetian

I’m a sucker for a Negroni with a couple dashes of saline but have you ever tried it with olive brine? Its a match made in heaven.

Here’s the third episode of Handcraft After Dark. In this series, I’ll feature some of my favorite night caps and maybe even some recipes that YOU recommend. Here’s the catch: they always have to be stirred and must contain 4 or less ingredients (not including the garnish).

This video series will be no-frills, quick, easy, and straightforward recipes that you can make in less than 5 minutes. Have a favorite recipe that fits the description above? Let me know in the comments section.

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Louisville is for Makers (Smoked Salt Boulevardier)

Did you know there are only three places in the US where you can try my cocktails at actual bar? Two of them are in Charleston but one is actually at claytonandcrume’s speakeasy in Louisville, KY. Last year I had the opportunity to help craft the menu for their inaugural opening right before the Kentucky Derby. This was one of those recipes.

It’s an easy one and one of my go-to cocktails to make at home.

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Enzoni

A summer Negroni? This is the Enzoni 🍇

This cocktail was created in the early 2000s and way ahead of its time. Back in those days I was crushing Keystone Lights and Kentucky Gentleman + Diet Cokes… because college. This cocktail is so far removed from that, I think it would be like if a Negroni was a summer drink, this would be the recipe. Make sure to give this one a try, it’s fruity, sweet, bitter and sour. So, so good.

Cheers y’all.

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Garibaldi (Non Alcoholic)

IA two ingredient NA cocktail?? Yep, it’s possible AND it’s delicious.
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The GARIBALDI the signature cocktail over at @dantenewyorkcity but with my friends at @ritualzeroproof, I wanted to make a #NoABV version with their new NA Aperitif. The key to this cocktail is the texture, the frothiness in vigorously shaking or frothing orange juice brings a light and fluffy mouthfeel to this simple recipe. Its a great mix of bitter, citrusy and this new Ritual Aperitif didn’t disappoint, its got familiar notes of bitter, citrus and even adds a bit of a kick that you won’t normally find in other NA spirits.

Cheers y’all

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Grappa Negroni

What do you know about Grappa?

I’ll be honest, up until a few days ago, I didn’t know much about either, but luckily, together with my friends at hellograppa, we’re here to get to know the spirit a bit better. We’ll be talking about how to taste it neat, but also provide you with an easy you can make it with using Italian ingredients.

So what is Grappa? The Short answer is: A spirit distilled from grape marcs grown exclusively in Italy (Reg. (EU) 787/2019). In fact, Grappa is not distilled from grapes, but from Marcs. There’s so much more to it though. Grappa can be flavored/aromatic and aged/unaged. The aged variety can be aged anywhere from 12 months to 18+ months in oak barrels imparting flavors of vanilla and fruit, while also mellowing the unaged spirit.

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Mulled Cider Highball

Here’s a little something to help you stay warm this Christmas night 🔥🎄 I’ve created an easy 4 ingredient cocktail for y’all to celebrate the holidays with. It takes the traditional highball recipe and twists it to create a festive spin on a classic using Rabbit Hole Distillery’s Boxergrail Rye. Cheers and wish you and your family a very merry Christmas🎄

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Deepfake Irish Coffee

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.

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Jumbo Manhattan

We found the perfect cocktail to kick off the weekend.

Charleston-based photographer and mixologist Miguel Buencamino of Holy City Handcraft (@holycityhandcraft) whipped up a jumbo Manhattan cocktail, complete with a giant “cherry,“ at the @gardenandgun offices. The recipe below provides 20-25 servings of this classic cocktail and can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge or freezer. Cheers and happy Friday! 🥃

Please note: This is a great way to enjoy a batched cocktail to share with friends, but we don’t recommend consuming alone.

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Parmesan Espresso Martini

Ok ok… Its time to finally make this monstrosity… the PARMESAN(?!) Espresso Martini.

This idea was initially suggested by the talented thebittergringo and with highproofteacher’s stamp of approval, I knew I had to try it… and I’m not gonna lie y’all, this was astonishingly delicious. I typically put a pinch of salt in my espresso martinis anyway but that savory, cheesy, funky salinity you get from parmesan is just unmatched and worked perfectly in this cocktail. I would not be surprised to see this pop up at more bars soon, but y’all already know that would be a $24 cocktail 😂

TL;DR: You need to make this, its so good.

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Leche Flan ni Nanay Old Fashioned

An ode to my Filipino grandmother (Nanay) 🥃🇵🇭

You know when you try a particular food or drink it just takes you back to place and time in your life or childhood? This is it for me. This recipe’s flavors reminds me of my Nanay (Tagalog for ‘mom’ - she was everyone’s mom) and her famous leche flan. She would make this recipe for every special occasion and it was always a crowd favorite. What set it apart was the incredible amount of balance in flavors, between the massive amount of lime zest in the condensed milk custard (think souped up key lime) and a caramel sauce that was just brought past caramelization, bringing a sweet, but nutty element to table. I’m honored to be able to create something to pay homage to those flavor profiles and the nostalgia that comes along with it.

I’ve been covering the chswineandfood going on seven years, but this year but I knew this year was special when I was asked to be a participant for a signature dinner with my friends at @pinkbellies and the world famous @pawkhrua. I knew this had to make on the menu along with some other recipes that I can’t wait to show y’all. Our event is tomorrow, so make sure you’re following along on the accounts mentioned above and chswineandfood. If you’re going to make it to any other CHSWF events, let me know which ones!

Cheers y’all!

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Negroni Sbagliato

The Negroni Sbagliato - now there’s a drink fit for a 🐉 Queen…

What can I say, this cocktail is having its moment in the sun thanks to the @livkatecooke (Alicent Hightower) and emmaziadarcy (Rhaenyra Targaryen) interview for @hbomax and @gameofthrones.

This drink may be going ‘viral’ at the moment but this recipe has been around since 1972 and was created at Bar Basso in Milan by Mirko Stocchetto. I’m not mad about it though, I always said this was my go-to brunch drink and I’d take it over any mimosa any day of the week. Cheers y’all!

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