Category Archives: bourbon

Unexpected Mixes

Posted on October 17, 2009 by | 4 comments

I do love a chance to sample a new cocktail menu, and last evening I did just that at a friend’s birthday celebration. Lemaire, the restaurant in the historic Jefferson Hotel, is something of a Richmond institution. But that institution recently received a facelift, complete with a posh new bar. Plenty of marble fills the space, along with modern glass chandeliers that look more like sleek lucite. It’s a chic and comfy spot for some post-work imbibing.

While I haven’t sampled the eats at Lemaire, I did partake in their delectable and creative cocktail menu. My pick was IMG_0888the new-to-me Lady Astor, which combines Patron Tequila, Woodford Reserve Bourbon, house-made grenadine, lime juice and agave. I was intrigued by the combo of tequila and bourbon, and the results were fairly delightful and even fruity. It takes its name from Nancy Langhorne Astor, who was the first lady elected to British parliament. According to the cocktail menu, “she was a complex lady, and we think this drink represents her well.” The mix of tequila and bourbon was certainly complex, but I might have a lighter hand on the sweet agave when I remake this cocktail at home.

I wore a pair of basic black booties for the evening’s festivities, but when I return I’ll go with something a bit more festive. And since the Lady Astor is an unexpected mix of bourbon and tequila, my pick is an unexpected mix, too. This fun print from Nine West does it for me: from a distance, the heel resembles a cheetah pattern while the toe looks a bit more floral. Call it complex or call it crazy, but I call it too cute.

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Posted by Miss Mojito.

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Posted in bourbon, shoes, spirits, tequila

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Mad about the classics

Posted on August 13, 2009 by | 1 comment

This Sunday, Mad Men, the sexy sophisticated 1960’s drama, returns to television — and, I can’t wait. If you haven’t watched: the show follows the lives of Madison Avenue advertising executives. And the show is as much about 1960’s culture as it is about the drama-filled lives of colleagues at Sterling Cooper. Episodes have highlighted events surrounding JFK’s presidency (the election, Jackie O, the Cuban Missile Crisis), portrayed scenes from the traditional 1960’s family life, and it has certainly emphasized the drink and fashion trends of the time.

It would surprise few that First Lady, Jackie Kennedy, epitomized 1960’s fashion, especially during the early part of the decade. It was a time when women were very elegant, with their pillbox hats, suits, dresses with close-fitting waists, and purses that match shoes. Speaking of shoes, stiletto heels were widely popular during this period (then come the Go-Go boots). For a better glimpse of early 60’s fashion, check out the awesome images below, courtesy of AMC’s Mad Men photo gallery.

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The stars of Sterling Cooper Advertising Agency

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The beautiful, yet troubled, Betty Draper

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The boys of Sterling Cooper

In addition to its focus on fashion, cocktail culture is also an important element on the show. Martini lunches and afternoon scotches are practically obligatory. The office and the home are filled with booze. There is so much drinking, you could seriously get a buzz from just watching. The great (okay, maybe scary) part is, it seems to be an accurate depiction. The New York Times published a recent article praising the authenticity of the drinking culture on the show. And, AMC has an extensive cocktail guide of popular 60’s drinks that you see the characters imbibing.

While Mr. and Mrs. S&C are worlds away from Don and Betty Draper, our tastes in cocktails happen to be similar. So, I’m thinking we should have these classics as we toast the show’s return: Old Fashioned for him; Tom Collins for her (it’s really quite refreshing). Both recipes serve one, and contain ingredients that are considered staples in any home bar.

Old Fashioned

Ingredients:drink_oldFashioned

  • 2 dashes Angostura bitters
  • ½ tsp sugar
  • 1½ oz bourbon
  • 1 maraschino cherry
  • 1 orange slice
  • 1 lemon wedge

Instructions:

Dissolve sugar with bitters and about a tsp of water in an old fashioned or rocks glass. Add cherry, orange slice, and lemon wedge and muddle (use back of spoon if no muddler is available). Fill with ice. Pour in bourbon and stir well. Garnish with extra orange slice and cherry, if extra are available.

Tom Collins

Ingredients:drink_tomCollins

  • 1 oz fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tsp sugar (superfine or simple syrup)
  • 1½ oz gin
  • Seltzer water or club soda
  • Lemon slices and a maraschino cherry

Instructions:

Dissolve sugar with lemon juice, if needed. Shake together with gin over ice. Strain and pour into a collins glass filled with ice. Top with club soda and garnish with lemon slices and a cherry.

Fun Fact:

The Tom Collins is in the fizz category of drinks (almost a twin sister of the drink gin fizz). TC is referred to as a plain fizz, and recommended as an “eye opener” for the “morning after the night before.” – from “Cocktail Bill” Boothby’s World Drinks and How to Mix Them

posted by Ms. S&C

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Posted in bourbon, cocktail type, cocktails, fizz, gin, spirits

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Make Mine a Manhattan

Posted on June 15, 2009 by | 3 comments

Strawberries are already on their way out of season, so it’s time we take advantage of them while they’re still in their Strawberry Manhattanprime. The folks at Gourmet had the same inclination, and offered a host of strawberry-inspired ideas in a recent electronic newsletter. My favorite suggestion? Infuse some bourbon with fresh strawberries and bottle up some berry bourbon. Miss Mojito decided to use hers to whip up a batch of Strawberry Manhattans.

To make the strawberry bourbon, hull a pint of strawberries and place in a large bowl. Pour bourbon over the berries (I used a 750-milliliter bottle of Jim Beam because that’s what I had on hand, but I’m sure a liter of some nicer bourbon would work just fine). Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2-3 days. Strain out the berries and bottle the bourbon. I’m not entirely sure of the shelf-life of this liquor, but I’m guestimating you have a week or so to enjoy the intoxicating strawberry flavors.

Although I am a bourbon fan, I haven’t participated in much Manhattan mixing, and was pleased with the results. After much investigation, we decided on equal parts sweet and dry vermouth as a nice balance for the fruity bourbon. And the strawberry garnish is a necessary addition to fully enhance the fruity flavor. I advise you whip up a batch immediately, before it’s too late!

Strawberry Manhattan
Serves one.

  • 2 ounces strawberry bourbon
  • ½ ounce sweet vermouth
  • ½ ounce dry vermouth
  • 1-2 dashes Angostura bitters
  • Ice
  • Sliced strawberries for garnish

Pour bourbon, both vermouths and bitters into a cocktail shaker. Shake well and pour over ice. Garnish with strawberries and serve.

Posted by Miss Mojito.

3 Comments

Posted in bourbon, cocktails, S&C categories, spirits, spring/summer cocktails

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Footwear and Fun in the Field

Posted on May 1, 2009 by | 2 comments

foxfieldThe pounding hooves, blistering sun and lingering scent of bourbon in the air can only mean one thing: Foxfield. Miss Mojito spent this past weekend at one of her favorite springtime celebrations. The Foxfield Races are steeplechase races (distance horse racing with jumps and such) that are basically an excuse for Albemarle County’s biggest tailgate party.

Miss Mojito’s favorite part of Foxfield has, traditionally, been the wardrobe picks. My favorite outfit in the seven years that I’ve attended the races entailed a horse-pattern dress (custom made by Mother Mojito) with a petticoat, cowgirl boots, a straw hat covered in feathers and a matching purse.

Since graduating from college, Miss Mojito has toned down her outfits a bit – but that doesn’t mean she takes the task of dressing for Foxfield any less seriously! With sunny skies and 90 degree temps in the forecast, I snagged a strapless, bohemian-style frock from Off 5th, the Saks outlet store. But what to choose in the way of footwear?

Flops are de rigueur for Foxfield. While standing in the grass all day, you certainly don’t want to find cutout_wedgeyourself in a pair of stilettos. But flats did nothing to accentuate the empire styling of my dress. A 4.5-inch heel was desired–nay, required–to make this particular outfit work. And with a $10 coupon to DSW in hand, I decided that wedges were the way to go. I’ve been coveting a cut-out heel for ages now, so this pair by Madden Girl met multiple shoewear desires. And while they weren’t the most comfortable pair of shoes ever worn, they were most certainly the most comfortable pair of 4.5-inch heels that ever graced Miss Mojito’s feet.

Mint juleps were the libation of choice for this day of fun, but since we encountered that particular concotion just last week, let’s examine another race-friendly drink today. After a bit of research, I discovered that all of the “big” races (the Belmont, the Preakness and the upcoming Derby) have their own signature drinks. So why not Foxfield? I’m taking a nod from Ms. S&C and recommending this festive Bourbon Punch as a contender for the official drink. Foxfield just isn’t Foxfield without a bit of bourbon, and I’m crazy about the addition of tangy grapefruit juice. And though I’ll have to wait until 2010 to give the punch an official test run at the races, there’s nothing stopping me from conducting a cocktail dress rehearsal this weekend!

Posted by Miss Mojito.

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Posted in bourbon, cocktails, shoes, spirits, spring/summer cocktails

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Imbibing in New Orleans

Posted on April 21, 2009 by | 1 comment

Miss Mojito just returned from a trip to Mississippi, but had the chance to take a quick detour to New Orleans. Tuesday nolaafternoon found me on the patio at Pat O’Brien’s beneath blue skies and enjoying a balmy breeze. The perfect locale was only enhanced by the perfect New Orleans beverage: the Mint Julep.

It may not be as indicative of New Orleans culture as the Hurricane or the Sazerac, but I think the Mint Julep is the perfect drink to enjoy while you’re visiting New Orleans: it packs a punch while remaining festive. I like to think of it as the mojito’s American cousin. They’re both classified in the same category of drink (perhaps Miss Mojito’s favorite category), the smash, in which ingredients are “smashed” and muddled together with alcohol and mixer.

mintThe Pat O’Brien version is assertive and fun. They pair plenty of bourbon with plenty of garnish for some fantastic results. So until you can make your way to Pat O’Brien’s and try their version for yourself, here’s a quick recipe to test out. And with the Kentucky Derby coming up on May 2, it’s the perfect time to hone your julep-making skills. Enjoy!

Mint Julep
Serves one

  • 2 ounces bourbon (Miss Mojito recommends Woodford Reserve)
  • 1 Tbl. simple syrup
  • Small handful mint leaves
  • Whole mint leaves, cherry and orange for garnish (optional)
  • Crushed ice

Muddle mint leaves in bottom of a glass. Fill with crushed ice. Add syrup and bourbon and stir. Garnish as desired.

Posted by Miss Mojito.

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Posted in bourbon, cocktails, spring/summer cocktails

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Shoes & Cocktails in Staunton

Posted on April 3, 2009 by | 1 comment

Staunton, Va, is one of my favorite places for a quick weekend visit. They have a great Shakespeare theater company and beautiful architecture, but most importantly, Staunton is home to some amazing restaurants and great shops.

I’ve been dreaming of sculptural purple heels for a while now, so I decided to indulge myself in this wedge pair at the cute clothing store Design at Nine. The patent body is a very dark purple, while the swath of suede across the wedge itself is a more brilliant shade of violet. Plus, they were a steal at 50 percent off. While there’s still a bit of a chill in the air, I’m pairing these with my black opaque tights, but they’ll also be flattering bare legged as the spring temperatures pick up.

purple_shoes

Miss Mojito was equally excited by the cocktails she encountered that same evening at Staunton Grocery Store. The Gin Fizz was my drink of choice. This quick cocktail relies on just gin, key lime and soda with satisfying results. We also sampled the Dr. Gonzo (pictured in the background), a mixture of Wild Turkey, cherry and lime. Festive cocktails were the start of an excellent meal (not to mention a highly worthwhile weekend getaway).

staunton_cocktails

Posted by Miss Mojito.

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S&C alerts–red hot fashion and cocktails

Posted on February 27, 2009 by | 1 comment

Here are some of Ms. S&C’s favorite finds in the worlds of shoes and cocktails.

New York Fashion Week was last week. I’m always a bit overwhelmed and underwhelmed by fashion weeks. There’s always so much coverage, and I never know what to read. Plus, there’s the whole never-in-my-lifetime-will-I-ever-afford-this-so-why-bother aspect. Well, I’m happy to report two things:

  • Fashion Washington covered fashion week via their FW Runway Report blog. It is a great digestible collection of photos, runway reports, backstage stories and fashion commentary. Note to self: need to tone arms and shoulders — lots of one-shoulder looks and fur coming in the fall.oscar-de-la-renta
  • Footwear News also spotlighted designers shoes. Subscription access prevents us from seeing a lot of the styles, but it appears platforms, booties and exotic prints will be popular in the fall. I particularly like the pointy platform booties from Oscar de la Renta.

And speaking of digestible, in last week’s Washington Post Food Section, Gastronomer columnist Andreas Viestad, shared a very interesting dessert cocktail using chili peppers. The Hot and Cold Whisky cold-whisky-chili-granitaChili Granita is definitely a contender for the S&C test kitchen. You can change the flavor depending on the chili pepper and spirit used. For example–for a smokier flavor, use chipotle peppers and single malt scotch; for something sweeter, use bourbon. The Whisky Chili Granita is described as something that could “wake up” guests after a long dinner. Cheers to that.

posted by Ms. S&C

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Posted in alerts, bourbon, scotch, shoes, spirits, whiskey

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