If you love cardamom, this Amaretto Cardamom Cocktail reels you in with its strong cardamom aromatics and keeps you sipping. It combines an infused amaretto, cardamom bitters, and just a dash of rose water. A few weeks ago I had a cardamom/rye sweet bun filled with almond paste called a semla. It’s a Nordic treat […]
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The Suze Sour – A Must Mix Angry Cocktail
This Suze Sour, with its cheery yellow color, balances sweet citrus and bitter herbaceous notes in a tangy and bitter sour. The bitterness compels you to keep drinking – just to check. It’s sweet, but that spice and hint of bitterness coat the tongue, making it an intriguing cocktail I had stolen from my hand […]
Easy Hot Toddy Warms All Your Toes
If you’re feeling under the weather, or just need a warm comforting tipple, this easy hot toddy is your cold cure for what ails you. Growing up near Louisville, Kentucky, I learned early on the powerful healing benefits of a hot toddy. That little bit of citrus, the soothing taste of the honey, and the […]
Must Mix Gin Toddy
Try this Gin Toddy and you’ll know for a fact that hot toddies are meant for more than whiskey. You may have seen a random rum toddy, but the gin hot toddy is relatively rare, and I’m here to tell you, it shouldn’t be. (Post may contain affiliate links.) What is a Hot Toddy in […]
Salted Caramel Manhattan – A Killer Valentines Cocktail
You need this salted caramel Manhattan in your life. It’s sweet, a touch salty, and mostly, just pure decadence – you must make this Valentines’ cocktail. I’m calling it a Manhattan because the base spirit is whiskey, but it doesn’t have any vermouth or amaro in it, so it’s only a Manhattan in that it’s […]
Reese’s Manhattan – A Peanut Butter Chocolate Cocktail
I came up with the perfect cocktail for any of you that love Reese’s cups – a Peanut Butter Chocolate Cocktail that’s easy and fast. You know I love Ballotin Whiskey, and I wanted to see how it played with spicy rye and some amaro. The amaro makes it more complex and adult, but it […]
Chocolate Sazerac: The Ultimate Sazerac Riff
I love the striking contrasts in a chocolate sazerac cocktail. You taste pepper and spice from the rye, earthy chocolate notes, and the cold medicinal taste of absinthe, all in each sip. It’s a great reminder that a cocktail made of contrasts can be more compelling than one of similar flavors. (Post may contain affiliate […]
Blood Orange Whiskey Sour
My cat, Arlo, destroyed two glasses while I was making this Blood Orange Whiskey Sour. It’s a good thing it was so delicious. You don’t have to do much to make a blood orange sour sing besides add a little fresh-squeezed lemon juice to adjust the acid, a bit of simple syrup (I used champagne […]
Kamala’s Birthright – Indian Hot Buttered Rum
To celebrate a day of accomplishments and firsts I had to create a cocktail for our new Vice President Kamala Harris and came up with an Indian Hot Buttered Rum. With elements from both Jamaica and India, it’s a complex set of flavors with a big kick of fun in it. The best part, in […]
Best Ever Aperol Sour
Aperol’s bittersweet citrus flavors shine in this easy Gin Aperol Sour. While some build this cocktail without the gin, I find the addition of a floral gin adds to the complexity and enjoyment of the cocktail. To balance the cocktail, I added both grapefruit and lavender bitters. While you can make this cocktail without egg […]
Earl Grey Old Fashioned Cocktail
This Earl Grey cocktail blends the sweet scent of bergamot tea with the spicy aromatics of bourbon. Using a simple syrup made of strong Earl Grey tea and some tea and lemon bitters, it’s a great old fashioned for a late happy hour. While this Earl Grey cocktail doesn’t have the warmth of a fresh-brewed […]
Hot Jammed – Spicy Old Fashioned
Hot pepper jelly, bourbon smoked sugar, five spice and peach liquor in a spicy old fashioned? Did I think it would work? Hell, no! Did it, Hell yes! No one in their right mind would put hot pepper jelly in an old fashioned, would they? Well, I never claimed to be in my right mind, […]
How to Make a Fantastic Lion’s Tail Cocktail
The complex, spicy Lion’s Tail cocktail is a perfect one to make while limes are fresh and spice flavors are on my mind. With a simple list of ingredients, just bourbon, lime, allspice dram and simple syrup, it’s an easy shake. (Post may contain affiliate links.) What is a Lion’s Tail Cocktail? I’ll admit I […]
Bourbon Carajillo
The Carajillo, a spanish cocktail of coffee and liqueur, usually sticks to a lower proof liquor such as Licor 43 or other brandy, but you know I had to make my own whiskey version with this Bourbon Carajillo. This cocktail packs a caffeinated punch with almost two ounces of espresso
How to Make Jam Cocktails
One of the easiest ways to add a boost of fruit flavor to your next cocktail is to use a little jam or preserves to make a jam cocktail. Running out of simple syrup or flavored syrups doesn’t have to be a tragedy in the house. Simply use some jam or preserves to add that […]
Strawberry Campari Gin Jam Cocktail
Jam makes everything taste better, so I’m using a cheat in my Strawberry Gin Jam Cocktail today. I’m building the cocktail using strawberry preserves to give the cocktail a great taste of strawberry without having to make a simple syrup. One of the easiest hacks to use with a sour is to swap out all […]
DIY Champagne Cocktail Kit
Why gift someone a bottle of Champagne when you can give them a DIY Champagne cocktail kit to make their own celebratory cocktails? When it was time for a socially distant New Year’s Eve celebration, I wanted to put together a little gift/kit for my friends I’d usually be spending the evening with. Creating a […]
Raspberry Bourbon Bubbles for New Years Eve
One of the easiest and fanciest cheats for dressing up a bourbon cocktail is topping it with champagne or sparkling wines and this Raspberry Bourbon Bubbles recipe for New Years Eve fits the bill. The easiest way to do this for two is to make your favorite old fashioned cocktail, pour a half serving in […]
Boozy Caramel Brulee Latte
I always associate sea salt caramels with this time of year, so I’m happy to announce a boozy caramel brulee latte for your drinking pleasure. The holidays are one time of year I rejoice at making exceptions to eating healthy. And home-made caramel is one of those guilty pleasures. Not that I make it, but […]
Boozy Toasted White Chocolate Mocha
White chocolate lovers rejoice – I have a boozy toasted white chocolate mocha for you today! Another installment in my boozy adult lattes, this latte doesn’t require any actual toasting of white chocolate to make the drink. Rather, it relies on a small splash of caramel syrup to give it that nutty, toasty, sugary flavor […]
How to Make the Perfect Bourbon Eggnog
In Kentucky, there’s no substitute for whiskey in your eggnog; we always make bourbon eggnog. The baking spices inherent in the spirit, the sweetness of it and it’s ability to cut through the cream to still shine through makes it a perfect match for this holiday drink. I hated eggnog until I made it. My […]