Cocktail Advent 5: Signal Fire

Sips

Would you believe how many times I’ve heard a fire truck in the last 2 weeks? Sure, they’re not always there to put out actual fires (they seem to share various paramedic duties and general emergency response, especially in smaller towns) but this time of year as people start to use their fire places more, turn on space heaters, and string lights on trees, making sure you remove the chance of hazard is a good way to avoid needing their services.

  • Always make sure flamable materials are kept away from open fires or space heaters.
  • Never leave said heat-sources unattended. Same goes for candles.
  • Keep your Christmas tree well-watered and healthy to reduce fire-risk.
  • Make sure all cords and outlets are in good shape.
  • Consider switching to LED or other low-heat light sources on trees and decoration to further reduce risk of conflagrations.

With that PSA out of the way, how ’bout we take a look at a different sort of fire, this one in cocktail form!

Image via Bow & Truss

Image via Bow & Truss

As you can see, this recipe comes from Bow & Truss, a North Hollywood restaurant and bar that I would probably never had heard of if it weren’t for these cocktail-related press releases. They didn’t include measurements, but from another cocktail by the same name, let’s go with the following:

Signal Fire

  • 2 oz Jalapeno-infused Gin
  • 1 oz Peach-Cilantro Syrup
  • 3/4 oz fresh Lime Juice
  • Orange zest and salt for garnish

Mix together fresh orange zest and kosher salt on a shallow plate. Rub the edge of the lime wedge around the outside of a low-ball glass and dip the prepared rim in the salt mixture. Set aside.

Combine gin, syrup, and juice in a shaker glass filled 3/4 full of ice and shake like a house on fire. Strain into prepared cocktail glass.

Now, in the interest of a) efficiency and b) the theory that the garnish reflects the food/drink it’s enhancing, I would have first zested the lime for the rim mixture before juicing it and left the orange out of the picture entirely. But that’s me.

To make the infused gin, chop up a fresh jalapeno (leave the seeds in for maximum heat) and add it to a small to medium-sized jar along with enough gin to cover plus a bit. Obviously how much you make is going to depend on how many of these cocktails you want to mix up, so adjust accordingly. Let this sit for at least overnight, a couple of days would be best.

To make the peach-cilantro syrup you can go a few ways. If fresh peaches are available (frozen could work, too, I suppose), combine the sliced fruit with an equal-ish amount of sugar and a good handful of rough-chopped cilantro leaves plus just enough water to cover. Bring to a boil and cook until the sugar dissolves, remove from the heat and let sit for an hour or so to cool and infuse. Strain and store in the fridge. Alternately, you can get a can of peach nectar, combine it in equal amounts with the sugar, add a good amount of cilantro (again, chop ’em up a bit to help the process along), and cook as above. No extra water needed in the second option.

***This “recipe” was provided by a representative of Bow & Truss Restaurant and Bar. I am not affiliated with the establishment nor have I been compensated for the sharing of this recipe or image. As always, we encourage responsible refreshment and the use of the Designated Driver. No drunken monkeys, please!***

Cocktail Advent 4: Winter’s Kiss

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There’s generally no fence-sitting with gin: either you like it or you don’t. And if you don’t, you probably prefer vodka. Which is fine, I just prefer to taste my alcohol rather than not. So I’m a gin fan and often say it’s the best way to drink a tree. In honor of all those pine trees adorning so many homes this time of year, here’s a highly botanical bevvie to match!

Image via Bombay Sapphire

Image via Bombay Sapphire

“Winter’s Kiss”
–Created by Bombay Sapphire SF’s Most Imaginative Bartender Winner, Brian Means of Dirty Habit in SF

  • 1.5 oz. Bombay Sapphire Gin
  • .75 oz. fino sherry
  • .75 oz. Martini Rossi Bianco Vermouth
  • 3 dashes bitter truth celery bitters

 

Another pet peeve of these sorts of press releases that flood my Inbox before any given holiday? No instructions with the recipe! Sure, I know that a drink comprised of all alcohol, no mixers, is typically stirred to prevent clouding (and now do you, by the by), but you know what they say about assuming…

***This recipe was provided by a representative of Bombay Sapphire Gin. I am not affiliated with this brand nor was I compensated to post this recipe, not even with review samples. As always, we encourage responsible refreshment and the use of the Designated Driver. No drunken monkeys, please!***

Cocktail Advent 3: Candy Cane Cooler

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I can generally take-or-leave candy canes, but the soft, pillowy, melt-in-your-mouth peppermints that this cocktail uses are one of the few “hard” candies that I truly love.

Image via NoMa Social

Image via NoMa Social

Candy Cane Cooler

Ingredients:

  • 1 tbs crushed soft peppermint candy
  • 1½ fl oz vodka
  • splash of white creme de menthe
  • ¼ fl oz brandy
  • ½ fl oz half-and-half
  • Crushed ice
  • Peppermint stick for garnish
  • Mint sprig for garnish

 

Directions:

Combine the vodka and crushed peppermint.  Stir to dissolve.  Add the remaining ingredients, stir and garnish.

This recipe comes courtesy of NoMa Social, a restaurant in New Rochelle, NY, who is running a 4×4 promotion between 4 and 8 pm each evening throughout the “winter season.” While I understand the potential global reach of blogging, I generally don’t post promos from restaurants outside of my little corner of the continent since I cannot vouch for them, personally. So this Cocktail Advent series is really the only time a pitch like this would ever see the pixels of day here on ScrapsOfLife!

I’m fairly certain you could sub any non-dairy milk for the half-and-half in this recipe and that it would scale quite well into an entire pitcher of peppermint pink-ness. Maybe switch the garnish to a peppermint patty for whenever you plan to watch a Charlie Brown Christmas special?

***This recipe was submitted by a representative of NoMa Social. I am in no way affiliated with this restaurant nor have I been compensated in any way. As always, we promote responsible refreshment and the use of the Designated Driver. No drunken monkeys, please!***

Cocktail Advent 2: Cranberry Celebration

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One good cranberry deserves another, yes?

Well, maybe not, but if you over-bought on the whole berries and are looking for something to do with them other than make garland, here’s an idea.

Image via Ketel One

Image via Ketel One

CRANBERRY CELEBRATION

  • 1 ½ oz. Ketel One® Citroen
  • 1 tablespoon of cranberry reduction
  • ½ oz. fresh lemon juice
  • ½ oz. simple syrup
  • Club soda

Combine first four ingredients in a mixing glass. Vigorously shake with ice and pour contents into a rocks glass (fine strain over new ice if you prefer no chunks). Top with a splash of club soda. Garnish with a cranberry and mint sprig.

****To make a cranberry reduction, take a 12 oz. bag of cranberries, rinse and add 4 oz. of orange juice and 4 oz. of simple syrup. Bring it to a boil, and let simmer for 5-7 minutes. Stir occasionally while it is simmering. Place the reduction into the freezer for 30 minutes and allow the reduction to thicken.

I like that this one seems fairly low-alcohol (all depends on how much club soda you add, I suppose–that splash could be extended to a good pour without too much trouble) and a good possibility for sipping throughout an evening.

***This recipe was submitted by a representative of Ketel One®. I have no affiliation with them nor was I compensated for posting this recipe, not even with review samples. As always, we encourage responsible refreshment and the use of the Designated Driver. No drunken monkeys, please!***

Cocktail Advent 1: The Cosmopolitan Pilgrim

Sips

To start off our Cocktail Advent, here’s a recipe that uses up a Thanksgiving leftover: cranberry sauce!

Now, it might sound odd, sure, but if you’ve ever used a syrup or preserve in your cocktail this isn’t all that different. Made your own cranberry sauce with, say, some orange zest and cinnamon? It could totally work! So will the canned/jarred stuff, just give it a whirl!

The Cosmopolitan Pilgrim

In a shaker combine:

  • 1.5 parts American Harvest
  • 2 scoops of leftover cranberry sauce
  • 3/4 parts fresh lime juice
  • 1/4 part orange liqueur

Add ice and shake well, strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a lime wedge.

This recipe was sent in by a representative of American Harvest, which is a vodka distilled in Idaho and certified organic. Never tried it, so can’t speak to how good it is or how it compares to others. Have you tried it? Let me know what you think!

I have an issue with cocktail authors who use “parts” along with some other nebulous measurement (in this case “scoops”), leaving the entire recipe up to anyone’s guess as to how much of anything to use! I would suggest a part is an ounce, and I’d suggest a barspoon or teaspoon as the scoop measurement.

And if I have to tell you to use Cointreau over something like Triple Sec you need to read more of my cocktail archives!

Cheers!

***I have absolutely no affiliation with American Harvest Organic Spirit and was not compensated for posting this recipe, not even with samples for review. As always, we support responsible refreshment and the use of the Designated Driver. No drunk monkeys, please!***