Holidays on Ice

Tonight: A Bourbon cocktail with Pear & Ginger

It was a wonderful day involving an Arsenal win (which put us at the top of the Premier League table- even if it is only because the Manchester United game was called off on account of the weather) and finding the perfect Christmas tree despite the insanity of a giant home improvement store on a Saturday. I was planning on having traditional Christmas cocktails while trimming the tree, or maybe just a giant bottle of red wine. But when I asked Colin if he wanted eggnog, hot toddies, apple cider, etc. he said the first thing that popped into his head was the cover of David Sedaris's "Holidays on Ice."

So, I was faced with coming up with a Christmasy cocktail on the rocks...

I started with Bulleit bourbon, fresh pear and ginger. Oh, if only I had a bottle of Domaine de Canton at the apartment. It was quite strong, so I added some seltzer, and voila: the perfect cocktail for getting through the holidays, on ice (skip the seltzer if your family warrants a bit more of a kick in the velvet pants.)

I'll name it for Mr. Sedaris because he deserves it, and I'll give the recipe as I would prepare it at a fully stocked bar:

The Sedaris

1.5 oz Bulleit Bourbon
.5 oz Domaine de Canton French Ginger Liquer
.25 oz pear nectar
Top with seltzer
Serve over ice
Garnish with fresh pear slice and a sprinkle of cinnamon

Enjoy with:
The Audiobook version of "Holiday's on Ice" is adorable and read by David Sedaris himself, Ann Magnuson, and Amy Sedaris. Being in New Orleans, we enjoy Kermit Ruffins' Have a Crazy Cool Christmas. Also try The Reigning Sound's If Christmas Can't Bring You Home 7", the classic Vince Guaraldi Trio's A Charlie Brown Christmas, and my personal fave since 1997: Hanson's Snowed In (but beware: you may lose friends over this one... even my 9 year old brother and sister cringe when I pop it in.)

Cheers, darlin.

Relax Baby Be Cool

Tonight: A St. Germain & Champagne Martini...

Typically after a shift at the bar I want a shot and a beer while I'm finishing up my paperwork- mainly because I want to get out of the next bartender's way, but also because I just need a quick drink, no fancy stuff necessary. But every now and then I'll make tons of martinis for customers and find myself getting jealous. Tonight was one such jealous evening and I couldn't wait to have a martini, but it did need to be a simple one for the whole "getting out of the way" reason.

I love St. Germain martinis with pear. but have yet to find a suitable pear-flavored vodka... (Hello, Stolichnaya?) The Grey Goose La Poire isn't worth the price, and the Absolut Pear leaves you with a strange aftertaste- almost medicinal. So that leaves me to use plain vodka with some other form of pear. However, tonight I took the easy route and did a Stoli martini with St. Germain and a champagne float- still delicious in its simplicity. Listening to Serge Gainsbourg tonight and wondering what cocktail he enjoyed after a long day of being awesome... Absinthe, Scotch, pure liquid sex? I wish I knew, but I'll go ahead and name this easy cocktail for him, for lack of any other ideas, as well as my need to call it something other than "a St. Germain & Champagne Martini."

Le Monsieur

2 oz vodka (I prefer Stoli, Tito's, or Monopolowa for a more affordable option)
.5 oz St. Germain Elderflower Liquer
Shake and strain into chilled Martini glass
Top with Champagne
Garnish with lemon zest

Enjoy with:
Monsieur Gainsbourg, of course. For a few other French pop/rock/punk options try Francoise Hardy, Carla Bruni, Crusaders of Love, Creteens, France Gall, or April March (she is American, but sings some of her songs in French and is so adorable.)

Cheers, darlin.

God Bless the Indian Summer

Tonight: A Bourbon cocktail with St. Germain & seltzer...

Just left PRAVDA on Decatur and had the experience of running into some Premier League Football fans who are in town from London and New York. One was a fellow Arsenal supporter, thank God. If this gentleman had not been there I believe the rest of the bunch would have booed me outta the joint. The Aston Villa supporter in particular took great offense to my Arsenal tattoo - we're talking blasphemous anti-Arsenal chants, some distasteful gestures, and I do believe he may have called me a wanker (a term of which I was certain to be reserved for men, exclusively.) They were a fun bunch though, and its always nice to get a chance to talk soccer. I had two St. Germain and seltzers with lemon then ordered an iced coffee. They lost it at this point too, "How can you order a coffee at a bar?! In New Orleans?!" I have an addiction, sir! (Not to mention, running on an average of 4 hours of sleep a night lately.) I followed it up with a Makers Mark and got out of the French Quarter while the gettin was good.

I wondered on the ride home what cocktail might go nicely while kicked back on the front porch with the Best of the South issue of the Oxford American that I still haven't gotten around to finishing. The weather in New Orleans right now is perfection. The Indian Summer- the dreamiest time of year in the deep South. Lately I've been playing with a recipe including bourbon and elderflower liquer... sounds strange, I know. Although those are two of my favorite drink ingredients I would have never thought to marry them in the same glass. I first tasted them together when my manager fixed up a celebratory shot of Jameson with St. Germain after we had made it through an exceptionally busy shift. I may have even cringed when she handed me the glass and told me what it was, but after I had a taste I was hooked. Jameson certainly has its place (particularly in shot form after a hard day) but I figured the St. Germain might be happier with a nice bourbon, and in cocktail form so we can both be happy longer. My first instinct was Bulleit, one of my mainstays, but that proved to be a bit too overbearing for what I was going for. After a few tries I settled on Makers Mark, which still stands out but creates a good balance (also tasty with Basil Hayden's if it's pay day.) Until now I couldn't come up with a name, but I think "Indian Summer" will do nicely - that perfect mix of summer and autumn right there in your glass.

Indian Summer

1.5 oz Makers Mark Bourbon Whisky

.5 oz St. Germain Elderflower Liquer

Finish with soda water

serve over ice in a Highball or Rocks glass

Enjoy with:

Tom Waits is working well for me right now, but I am definitely having a hard time getting Pedro the Lion's "God Bless the Indian Summer" out of my head. Also maybe some Nina Simone or Gillian Welch (something tough but a touch flowery.)

Cheers, darlin.