Essensia Dessert Wine

 

   Looking for a balanced dessert wine to complement a holiday meal finale? Consider the award-winning Essensia, an intriguing, sweet dessert wine from Quady Winery, in Madera California. Quady Winery specializes in dessert wines from muscat varieties. Essensia and another dessert wine  Electra  are made from the Orange Muscat and can easily accompany or replace a dessert and are best if served chilled.

  

                            

                                                                   http://www.quadywinery.com/

The Mayflower Martini

 A seasonal twist featuring the Fine Rums of Martinique from Rhum Clément


1.5 oz. of Rhum Clément Première Canne
.5 oz. of Rhum Clément Créole Shrubb
1 oz. of Cranberry juice
Purée of half of a golden pear
Powdered cinnamon
Method: In mixing glass filled with ice, stir Rhum Clément Première Canne and Rhum Clément Créole Shrubb with cranberry juice and allow to sit for 30 seconds. Rim the cocktail glass with the powdered cinnamon and pour the purée of the pear in the bottom of the glass. Slowly pour the cocktail over the back of a spoon onto the purée of the pear. 

http://www.rhumclement.net/

As always, be responsible when you drink and when you serve drinks.

Untraditional Traditions

What exactly is Bourbon? Bourbon is a uniquely American whiskey made primarily from corn. In 1964, the U.S. Congress recognized Bourbon as America’s Native Spirit. This was about  200 years after the first bourbon went into a barrel. The distillation of Bourbon  is tightly regulated and what you see on the label must be exactly what you get from the bottle.

Here are two holiday recipes from Jim Beam, which has been distilling bourbon since about 1795. These feature their newer bourbon, Red Stag, a four year old bourbon infused with natural black cherry flavors. These recipes will also work with traditional Bourbon.

As always, never drive after drinking. Never.

Holiday Sweater

1.25 parts Red Stag by Jim Beam™ Bourbon

.75 part DeKuyper® Hazelnut liqueur

4 parts hot chocolate

Green crème de menthe

Whipped cream

Mint leaf

                                 

Sleigh Ride

1.50 parts Red Stag by Jim Beam™ Bourbon

4 parts hot chocolate

Whipped cream

Cherry

                    

An Elegant Chocolate Martini

Here is a festive version of the sweet modern martini:

TAZA CHOCOLATE MARTINI
1 ½ oz Vanilla Vodka
1 oz *Taza To Go Liquid Chocolate
2 oz Cream Liquor
Shake with ice and strain into a martini glass swirled with Taza To Go liquid chocolate.
Garnish with dark chocolate shavings.


*Taza To Go, by way of Spain, is a ready to serve thick and creamy
liquid chocolate
www.valorchocolate.com
 
http://www.tienda.com/
  
 

Cider Rum Rules

This seems like a warm choice for this time of year:

Spiced Mulled Cider

2 cups apple cider
1 cinnamon stick
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon Tabasco® brand green pepper sauce
¼ cup Captain Morgan rum
Apple slices for garnish

Heat apple cider, cinnamon stick, honey, and Tabasco sauce in 1-quart saucepan over high heat, to a boil. Reduce heat to low; simmer 5 minutes. Remove from heat; add rum.

Pour into glasses. Serve warm; garnish with apple slices.

Serves 2.

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A Tropical Rum Wave

Summer is in full swing in the Northern Hemisphere and it's just about time for a tropical looking and tasting drink.

Peachy Keen--Tropical and chilled July Drink of the Month from Tommy Bahama:

1 part Tommy Bahama Golden Suns Rum

1 ½ part peach schnapps

½ parts passion fruit juice

1 part mango juice

1 part fresh orange juice

Pour all ingredients into a mixing glass with ice and shake 20 times and strain into a chilled martini glass.

Garnish with an orchid!

The Rum Season

Summer is a great season for rum drinks. Here is a low-keyed, non-umbrella cocktail that just happens to be Tommy Bahama’s signature drink-of-the-month. Made with Tommy Bahama Rum, an ultra premium spirit from Barbados, these exclusive seasonal cocktails bring the flavor of the islands to your taste buds whether relaxing at Tommy Bahama’s Restaurant and Bar or lounging at home.

JUNE Drink-of-the-Month

A light and refreshing summer cocktail that’s perfect anytime you want to relax and cool off.

2 ½ parts Tommy Bahama Golden Sun^® Rum

1 ¾ parts lemon-lime soda

1 ¾ parts soda water

½ lime freshly squeezed

Mix all ingredients and serve over ice. Garnish with a lime wedge

http://www.tommybahama.com

Cheesecake Martini?

Copeland’s Restaurants, known for its innovative takes on traditional Cajun dishes, has taken dessert to a new-level of southern comfort with its Banana Foster Cheesecake Martini (yes- cheesecake IN a martini)

Copeland’s Banana Foster Cheesecake Martini:

Ingredients:

ü 2 oz Premium Vanilla Vodka (Copeland’s recommends Absolut Vanilla)

ü 1 oz Premium Vanilla Cognac (Copeland’s recommends liquor 43)

ü 1 1 oz Scooped Cheesecake

ü . .50 oz Copeland’s Banana Foster Sauce

ü . .25 oz 151 proof rum

Directions

1. Put all ingredients in martini shaker, shake vigorously and strain.

2. 1/16 of banana cut on 2” bias (garnish)

3. All served in a martini glass rimmed w/ cheesecake crust (again proprietary)

This could be a nice brunch or after dinner drink. "What," you say. "Cheesecake Martinis!?" Why not? After all, if there can be Chocolate Martinis, why not cheesecake? And it's summer after all. Time enough for serious drinks in the Fall.