Flair Project
No no, this is not a typo, and I am not trying to trick you with a catchy title – this is happening! I am not sure who started it first and why, but mustard concoctions have been gaining popularity over the last few years. From mustard seed infusions to actual mustard as a recipe ingredient, these bright yellow and slightly spicy cocktails have been popping up on cocktail menus in bars all over the country, and I love it!
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Melon has to be my go to summer flavor. I spent most summers at my grandparents’ farm, where the melon field spread as far as the eye could see. Picking up cantaloupes from my grandma’s garden was one way to earn your “playtime” back then. And even though harvesting them wasn’t exactly a picnic, feasting on home grown melons, wrapped with whatever cold cuts my grandma was able to get her hands on that week, had to be one of the high points of my summers. Needless to say, I can eat melon in any shape or form, but I have always found fresh melon cocktails rather disappointing, often lacking that genuine melon taste.
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I’ve always found making summer cocktails with bourbon somewhat challenging, as I usually don’t mix bourbon with what most people presume to be summer ingredients – watermelon, pineapple, mango, passion fruit, etc. When I think of summer cocktails with Bourbon, personally, I think the classic Mint Julep is the way to go.
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I hope you can get past the rather unusual title here. When we are talking about cocktails, fat washing might sound bizarre or borderline discussing, but washing” alcohol with fats (and oils) is an excellent way to infuse without over seasoning while adding a unique texture to a spirit.
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Last week, I was invited to attend the 6th year anniversary of “Farm to Bar”, held at Wildcat in Santa Barbara. The “Farm to Bar” is a weekly 4-hour-ish event hosted by some of Santa Barbara’s finest cocktailers, with a straightforward concept – bartenders exploring farmers markets for a few hours and concocting a variety…
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If you are a frequent reader of our blog, then you might know that we love making, what we call, complex cocktails. And no, I don’t mean overly complicated drinks or using rare ingredients and unusual combinations of flavors that no one has thought of mixing before. I’m talking about paying attention to more than just the initial taste when a cocktail hist your lips.
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With temperatures in the upper 80’s in July, boozy floats may just be the best thing since sliced bread. I mean, who wouldn’t want a fizzy cocktail topped with a touch of silky ice cream? I don’t know about you, but I think sipping on a boozy float by the pool might be my new summer tradition.
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The summer heat is in full swing this year, and everybody is looking for creative ways to chill their palates and find their oasis. Possibly with a drink in hand. With the emergence of handcrafted spirits, artisan sodas, and fancy kombuchas, freshly juiced watermelon often takes a back seat in summer cocktails in bars around the U.S.
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As bartenders, our cocktail creations are often influenced by seasonal flavors and inspired by trending ingredients. But as cocktail enthusiasts ourselves, the thrill of trying out new booze and creating something different and exciting is what keeps us going forward. And yes, sometimes, we get our cocktail muse from the most unlikely of sources – like today’s inspiration, a Khordz glass…well, a mug to be more precise.
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