{friday cocktail: sparkling negroni}

I cannot believe that it has taken me this long to mix together one of my favorite cocktails, the classic negroni, with a topping of champagne!  After noticing a champagne cocktail using Campari at a local wine bar in our neighborhood, I knew the next chance I had to mix up a negroni I would be trying it as a sparkling version.  The negroni cocktail can turn some people off because of its very distinct strong taste and bitter flavor from the Campari, but a few ounces of champagne on top definitely cuts the taste a bit for those who might prefer it.  It's the perfect cocktail for cozying up on a fall evening (or if you live in California you can turn the AC up and pretend it's less than 80 degrees out!)

Oh and PS- that awesome needlepoint coaster pictured above is from this set!

Cheers!

{friday cocktail: poppy negroni}

I was looking to stock our bar with a few of the essentials that didn't make it through the move- specifically all the fixings to make a Negroni.  Downtown Los Angeles is pretty sparse on specialty liquor stores, but there is a pretty good selection at Artisan House which is right by us.  In spite of their variety they don't carry Campari, but they did inform me they carry an organic substitute called Grand Poppy and after reading a few reviews of the product I decided to give it a try.  While the bright red color of a classic Negroni is more subdued in this recipe, the flavor is definitely still there with a bit more of an herbal/floral note as well as a sweeter finish to the drink.

 {yarai mixing glass from here}

{a dried orange wheel instead of the classic fresh orange slice or peel}

Cheers!

{friday cocktail: his & hers negroni}

About 10 years ago, Chris and I traveled all around Europe for 6 weeks one summer while we were in college.  Back then was the first time I ever tasted Campari when it was served to me in a Campari Soda on the blazing hot streets of Italy.  I absolutely hated it's bitter taste and steered clear of it up until our recent trip in Florence were I decided to give it a second try with a Negroni.  Much to my surprise I didn't hate it at all- in fact I enjoyed the taste of this bitter yet sweet cocktail so much that I might go as far as to say it's my new favorite drink!

Once we got back to Paris, we picked up the fixings for a Negroni so I could try mixing one up for myself. While researching what the exact proportions are for the recipe we discovered that there isn't really one perfect way to mix up this drink, but rather to tailor the proportions to your taste.  While I like the balance of equal parts of all ingredients, Chris prefers his to have a drier flavor, but both of us agree that this drink is best served over ice.   I thought it might be helpful to provide both recipes and you can decide for yourself what you prefer!

Cheers!

{friday cocktail: a manhattan}

Sometimes (ok- most times) I make girly, sparkly, fruity cocktails and other times I just get down to business with a classic cocktail.  A cocktail so classic that you would expect to see it on Mad Men or in a dark mahogany library filled with weird taxidermy.  This Friday is one of those days and I bring you a recipe for a classic manhattan cocktail (if you don't know it then this is your chance to try it, if you already know it then well...here is the recipe presented to you once again).  It's simple.  It's old-school.  It will most likely impress somebody if you make it for them and act like you know what you are doing...

{luxardo cherries might seem pricey, but they last forever in your fridge so make the splurge 

and you will always have them on hand for manhattans}

Cheers!

{friday cocktail: a sherman}

Last night, Chris asked if i would make him a manhattan since we finally had vermouth in the fridge again.  While looking up the simple ingredients for the original classic recipe, I found a bunch of variations here which added different bitters/liqueurs to the base of rye and vermouth.  The Sherman was one of those variations and it is has the additions of absinthe and orange bitters.  While most manhattan recipes are actually stirred, I chose to shake this one.  The twist of new ingredients on a classic added some welcome and complex flavor to the otherwise simple drink.

Cheers!

{friday cocktail: the blackthorne}

 In honor of St. Patrick's Day tomorrow, I knew we had to try out a cocktail with Irish Whiskey.  Last year we celebrated St Patrick's with a dinner party and a very appropriate cocktail, Irish Coffee.  This year's cocktail is twist on a very classic cocktail out of the The Savoy Cocktail Book from the 1930s, The Blackthorn.  You can see the other variations of the cocktail and some history behind it here. 

Cheers!