Arsenic Lace

Cocktails

Giveaway with American Juice Co.

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Hello Everyone! I hope you all enjoyed your weekend. I’ve teamed up with American Juice Company to bring you a fun giveaway to celebrate me hitting 4K on Instagram. To enter is simple, all you need to do is:

A winner will be chosen at random, contacted, and wins a subrscription cocktail box, just like the one I photographed here.

American Juice Company makes amazing, all natural cocktail mixers that are used in bars & restaurants all over the world and are perfect for the at home drink maker as well. They have a lot of really unique flavors like spicy pumpkin seed, mango, blueberry, peach, apple, lychee and ginger (which is what I used to make these delicious cocktails).

Sometimes ginger cocktails can be too spicy and a little aggressive. Thats why they made a delightful blend of fresh ginger, oranges, lemons, lemon verbena infusion and cane sugar. Super refreshing, with a little bit of bite, but not overpowering. They recommend making a Moscow Mule but I did a little twist with cranberry and fresh rosemary that paired perfectly with their Ginger Gershwin juice/syrup blend.


Cranberry Spice Mule

2 oz. Titos Vodka

1 oz. AJC Ginger Gershwin

1.5 oz. Cranberry Juice

1/2 oz. Lime Juice

Top with Perrier Sparkling Mineral Water

Fresh Rosemary

Cranberries

Add vodka, ginger, cranberry, and lime to a mule cup, add ice and stir. Top with sparkling water and add ginger candy, rosemary and cranberries as garnish.

Please go enter the contest and if you’d like to try any of American Juice Companies amazing all natural juices and syrups enjoy 15% off when you use the code “arseniclace15”. Cheers everyone and good luck!

Sparkling Apple Cider Punch

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I hope everyone is off to a good New Year! This week has been a little bit more mellow and I’m not going to lie, I’m enjoying it. I love the holidays but theres also stress and pressure that goes along with them. I’m excited to get back to normal life and a brand new year. I know its cliche to set all of these goals once the calender flips to January 1st, I know its not a clean slate, but it is a good time to get youself motivated to accomplish the things that maybe you’ve been putting off or didn’t have enough time for in the previous year. I did set a lot of goals for myself in 2016 and I am very proud of how far I’ve come, but there’s still work to be done!

Is there anything special that you’re setting some extra time aside for this year? Work goals? Relationship goals? Health goals? I’m looking forward to continuing the blog, I started running this week (I can only make it a 1/2 mile before dying), and I have some major home goals. I’ve been looking around at buying, but real estate is insane here in the NY/NJ area. If I can’t accomplish buying a house or condo in the new year, I’m going to do a major overhaul in the little rent controlled railroad apartment that I’ve been living in for the past 8 years. I’m going to be 30 in 49 days and I moved in when I was 21. THAT’S CRAZY!! The apartment has always been a work in progress but I have changed a lot and so have my tastes. I have been trying to slowly incorporate new things in over the past year but I’m getting a little overwhelmed. Someone please help me.

The most recent photo of my bedroom, which I hope to repaint and do some simple decor updates to. I painted the wardrobe myself and changed the hardware. Inside the drawers are ombre from light blue to navy. Salvation Army purchase along with that mid-century sideboard. The most recent photo of my bedroom, which I hope to repaint and do some simple decor updates to. I painted the wardrobe myself and changed the hardware. Inside the drawers are ombre from light blue to navy. Salvation Army purchase along with that mid-century sideboard.

Anyways, since I got way off track, I’ve teamed up with The Hair Room here in Jersey City to bring you delicious drinks (my Sparkling Apple Cider Punch) for the Golden Globes tomorrow. If you’re local swing by for a cocktail, pajama attire is recommended! If not, I’m posting the recipe here for your at home enjoyment. This punch is yummy! Its resfreshing, super fragrant and fruity. Comment below to let me know what you think. Either about all of my random thoughts, the cocktail or your favorite red carpet looks. I’d love to hear from you. Cheers to all of you from snowy New Jersey!


Sparkling Apple Cider Punch

1 1/2 oz. Gin (I used Fifty Pound)

3/4 oz. Elderflower Liqueur (Giffard or St. Germain work)

1 oz. Apple Cider

1/4 oz. Lemon Juice

Top Champagne or a Sparkling Wine, Club Soda also works in a pinch for something lower ABV.

You can make a batch of this cocktail by simply multiplying each ingredient by how many people you will be making drinks for. You can put it in a pitcher, build in a punch bowl or make to order. If you’re making to order add all ingredients besides sparkling wine to a tin, shake, strain into your desired glassware like a coupe or flute, and top with champagne/sparkling. Garnish with an apple slice. Cheers and enjoy!

Apple and Pear Champagne Cocktail

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New Years is upon us. Time is flying and I’ve been so busy with work I can barely keep up. I woke up early today to shoot, just got done editing, and now I’m writing this blog post before heading in for my shift tonight. Oh and I picked up tomorrow night (NYE) which I am regretting already. I can’t say no to the money and I’m a workaholic. My resolution for 2017 is to definitely be better at time management and concentrate on consulting and the blog. I can’t keep having 4 jobs at a time anymore, I’m always burning the candle at both ends, and when I finally get a break I spend it recuperating and not enjoying the things that make life worthwhile. I’m not trying to be negative but I have been reflecting these past few days after Christmas and right before the beginning of the new year, which I’m sure a lot of you have been doing as well. What are you most looking forward to in the New Year? What kind of improvements will you be concentrating on in your life?

Lets get down to business which is DRINKS!

I wanted to make something topped with bubbly because it only seems appropriate. You have to drink Champagne on NYE! This is a little riff on a French 75 and is perfect for your New Years Eve gatherings. You can batch this, and just top with sparkling to serve, put it in a punch bowl, or make to order if there are just a few of you. The Calvados and Poire Williams combine magnificently to bring you something thats fruity yet winter appropriate with some citrus and a fizz!

I found these little tinsel coasters that slip onto the foot of your glass at a thrift store! Perfect find for holiday parties! I found these little tinsel coasters that slip onto the foot of your glass at a thrift store! Perfect find for holiday parties!


Apple & Pear Champagne Cocktail

1 oz. Calvados (or Apple Brandy like Applejack)

1 oz. Poire Williams

3/4 oz. Lemon Juice

3/4 oz. Simple Syrup (1:1)

Top Champagne

Combine all ingredients except Champagne into a tin, shake with ice, strain into a flute or coupe, and top with Champagne.

It’s been a really hard year for me with the passing of my father and that put a lot of things into perspective for me. Life is short and it’s flying by. I want everything I do to be more meaningful. I want to have the life I’ve always dreamed of because I work really hard and I deserve it.

On the other hand this year has also been very positive for me. I have accomplished a lot, and I’ve worked really hard and I am proud of myself. I started the blog and although I have a long way to go with growing it, it has only been 6 months and I’m really happy with where it has gone in such little time. I want to thank all of you who take time out of your day to read my posts, like my photos, and give me supportive feedback. Sometimes it’s really hard to want to put forth the effort to do this when people are being negative or when you’ve had a really long week at work and just want to stay in bed. It is another full time job (that I love), but it is a lot of work and I appreciate every kind word that is sent my way.

There is a lot to be excited about in the New Year and I can’t wait to get there! Have a wonderful NYE and I will see you in 2017!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Adult Milk and Cookies

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Happy Christmas Eve everyone! I’m sure you’re all excited for tonight and tomorrows festivites. I spent all day Friday baking, wrapping presents, finally finished decorating my cactus, and listened to all my favorite Christmas records. Woo hoo! Christmas Eve was always a big celebration with my family growing up. If you came from an Italian family (my father was Italian) you know The Feast of the Seven Fishes, and thats what we did. That was our day to spend together before the rest of the family came Christmas Day. For my whole life holidays were hosted at our house, up until my parents sold the house and flew south for retirement. So if you host, you know Christmas Day and any major holiday is filled with stress, prep, and lots of clean up (and also joy)….

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Bar Cart Essentials

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I did a little holiday decorating last week and decided to spruce up the bar cart in the studio. I bought a bunch of branches for props for shooting Christmas drinks, but they look wonderful as a garland on the cart and smelled super festive! I put all my favorite spirits that I couldn’t imagine (living) drinking without, and some basic bar tools for your Holiday Bar Cart Essentials.

For the holidays, especially when you will be entertaining, pick a few higher end spirits for your cart. I would say try to have 1 of each spirit, that way there’s something for everyone. Vodka, Gin, Bourbon, Rye, Rum, Cognac or Brandy, Scotch, Tequila, and then have sweet and dry vermouth on hand (but keep that in the fridge), an aperitif (like Aperol or Campari), and most definitely include an Amaro. Having Amaro on hand is crucial for drinking after meals, it settles your stomach and helps you digest. If you don’t drink bitters regularly start making it a tradition, I love Averna and Cynar! While we’re on the subject of bitters, basics here are good too. Have Angostura, Orange, and Peychaud’s, these are cocktail basics. If you’re making something special that requires different bitters like chocolate or cardamom, make sure you have those too! Having Ango on hand is crucial for those Manhattans and Old Fashioneds. Have a few bottles of soda, and tonic on hand for simple mixed drinks as well.

  1. Home Decorators Collection Eliza 2-Shelf Bar Cart in Gold (Home Depot $249.00)
  2. Polka Dot Ice Bucket by Mr. Ice Bucket (Wayfair $48.99)
  3. Premium Julep Strainer in Gold (Cocktail Kingdom $21.95)
  4. Octagon Coasters in white Behr & Co. $49.95
  5. Oh Joy! Pink Ombre Glass and Rose Gold Cocktail Shaker Pink (Target on sale 16.99)
  6. Leopold Jigger (Cocktail Kingdom $28.95)
  7. Skull Barspoon in Gold (Cocktail Kingdom $31.95)
  8. Yarai Mixing Glass (Cocktail Kingdom $39.95)
  9. Cherry Striped Paper Straws – 25 count (Target $7.39)
  10. Liquor Decanters Love & Victory $50.00

Here are some of my favorite carts to inspire you while you’re getting ready this week for the big Holiday Weekend. Would love to hear from you and what you’re making for Christmas and what some of the favorite things on your bar cart are. Cheers and Happy Holidays!

Pineapple Pomegranate Punch

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I found this mid-century blue carnival glass punch set brand new in box at a thrift store for $2.99!

I found this mid-century blue carnival glass punch set brand new in box at a thrift store for $2.99!

Hello Everyone!

I’m sure you’re all doing the rest of your shopping for the remaining days before Christmas and finalizing your holiday menus. I wanted to include a large format drink this month on the blog because I know how hard and stressful it can be to entertain. I basically entertain for a living! While I may be making every drink to order when I’m behind the bar, I know how much easier it can be to have some of the pressure off of you by putting together a punch and letting people serve themselves. Not assembling cocktails to order will save you time and allow you to enjoy yourself more by spending it with your loved ones. It beats running back to the kitchen everytime you need to refill someones glass, that’s for sure!

This might be the largest bottle of Vodka ever!

This might be the largest bottle of Vodka ever!

I’m working with Sobieski Vodka and Dole Pineapple Juice to bring you my Christmas Pomegranate Punch! I usually stick to using all fresh juices when I’m developing drinks, but sometimes it’s a hassle to juice pineapple, especially when you don’t have the right equipment. It can also be very time consuming to juice, as well as expensive. I’m tryng to shorten your prep time so you have more party time! Dole Pineapple Juice is your answer, it is 100% juice, not from concentrate, and works great in cocktails. It’s naturally a very sweet fruit so you can cut back on adding additional sugars and syrups.

Sobieski & Dole are awarding twenty-five $100 gift cards to shoppers who post their own vodka/pineapple juice cocktail recipe. You can enter by tagging your original recipe with the hashtag #SobieskiAndDoleContest. Shoppers can save up to $5 on Dole 100% Canned Pineapple Juice & Sobieski vodka with a digital coupon at SobieskiAndDoleCocktail.com. So go get your coupons, make some drinks, snap a photo, and use the hashtag!

Pineapple Pomegranate Punch (serves 12)

9 oz. Sobieski Vodka

9 oz. Tawny Port

12 oz. Dole Pineapple Juice

6 oz. Triple Sec (like Cointreau or Combier)

3 oz. Grenadine or preferably Pomegranate Molasses

Assemble right in bowl. If you have the space refrigerate or freeze your bowl beforehand to keep your punch extra cold!

Assemble right in bowl. If you have the space refrigerate or freeze your bowl beforehand to keep your punch extra cold!

You can build this right in your bowl, give it a good stir, and add ice. I used a large piece of block ice, but I am spoiled and have access to such things. If you don’t, freeze water in a large baking pan, bundt pan, or small cooler. Any type of shape that can hold a large amount of water and that fits in your punch bowl. You can even freeze fruit and garnishes in the ice if you want to get fancy. I added rosemary sprigs and pomegranate seeds to the bowl as well. Give it a heavy grate of fresh cinnamon on top. Serve, sip, enjoy!

They call it

They call it “The Flowing Bowl” for a reason! Get your party started!

The Port in this punch really works well with Sobieski Vodka. Tawny port is full of delicious flavors like caramel and peanut brittle, apricot, plum, raisin and walnut. These flavors are perfect for the holiday/winter season and compliment the other ingredients beautifully. It is super simple, easy to assemble, has a very approachable flavor, yet still is very refined taste. Happy Holidays!

Cheers!

Cheers!

 l love BIG ice!

 l love BIG ice!

Sobieski Vodka & Dole Pineapple Juice.

Sobieski Vodka & Dole Pineapple Juice.

xo

Natalie

Peppermint Old Fashioned

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Christmas is just around the corner and I have a few recipes coming to the site over the next two weeks, so stay tuned! I can’t believe how time is flying, before we know it, it will be the New Year. Does anyone have any big plans for the holiday or NYE? I have the perfect cocktail to get you in the mood to decorate the tree, listen to your Christmas vinyl, do some online shopping, and wrap those presents! My Peppermint Old Fashioned is great for your next holiday party or Christmas Eve and Day festivites. If you’re not familiar with a classic Old Fashioned it’s just Bourbon, sugar, Angostura Bitters and a twist of lemon and orange. Super simple! I didn’t want to over complicate such a simple drink, so I used the same template with just a few minor adjustments.

My main trick was infusing the Bourbon with Harney & Sons Peppermint Tea, which is devine if you haven’t had it. All of their tea is delicious and great for drinking on its own hot, iced, or using to infuse wine, vermouth and spirits. The tea is really fragrant so it didn’t sit very long with the Bourbon, I’d say 30 minutes maximum. Honestly, I only let mine sit for about 15 minutes and the flavor was already very strong. This will all depend on how minty you want your drinks to be, so I suggest straw testing as you go until you get your desired level of flavor. You can infuse a whole bottle or a few ounces depending on how many cocktails you want to make. You will need 2 ounces of Peppermint Tea Bourbon per drink. I would estimate 2 tea satchels for every 12 ounces of whiskey for the infusion.

Peppermint Old Fashioned

2 oz. Peppermint Tea infused Bourbon

1/2 oz. Honey Syrup (3:1 Honey & Water)

2 dashes Scrappys Cardamom Bitters

Build all ingredients in a single old fashioned glass, add ice, stir. Garnish with a candy cane.

Cranberry Harvest Punch

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Hello Everyone!

I bet you’re all getting ready for Thanksgiving this week. Ethan and I are both working the night before and we decided we’re staying home this holiday, which is exciting because we just gave the kitchen some updates and I love a good excuse to bake a pie (and make some cocktails). I wanted to post a cocktail for this week that was really festive and seasonal for everyone to make and enjoy with their loved ones. I’m so happy with this recipe because it’s so yummy and perfect for any Thanksgiving celebration. My Cranberry Harvest Punch can easily be made for a few or many, with some prep beforehand. Bourbon, lemon, apple cider, and mulled cranberry syrup. YEP! I said mulled cranberry syrup and it is so delicious I may just use it on everything! Pancakes? Ice Cream? Iced Tea? PIE? Who knows! What I do know is you’re all defintely going to enjoy sipping on a few of these.

First things first, you will need fresh cranberries, so if you’re making fresh cranberry sauce buy some extra for the syrup. I basically made a rich demerara sugar syrup (1:1) with fresh cranberries and brought it to high heat and then let it simmer with mulling spices. It’s super easy and didn’t take long at all and the rest of the ingredients are very easy. Make a batch in a pitcher or a punch bowl and all the work is done! You can also serve this drink warm. Just add all ingredients to a pot and heat until warm or you can keep it in a crockpot. Sip and enjoy.

This year was a hard year with the passing of my father, but it was also a very exciting year filled with promise and new opportunites. I consulted on The Archer, started the blog, got a studio space, had a lot of great press thrown my way and have gained many new clients. I am truly thankful for all the positive things and all the support anyone has given me. I’m looking forward to the holiday season and doing great things in the new year! Cheers to each and every one of you reading this and I hope you have a lovely Thanksgiving.

Cranberry Harvest Punch (for 1)

2 oz. Bourbon (I used Wild Turkey)

3/4 oz. Lemon Juice

2 oz. Apple Cider

3/4 oz. Mulled Cranberry Syrup

Add all ingredients to tin, shake on ice, serve up in your desired glassware, and garnish with cranberries and a sprig of rosemary.

Cranberry Harvest Punch (for 8-12 ppl)

1 Bottle of Bourbon (I used Wild Turkey)

9 oz. Lemon Juice

3 cups of Apple Cider

9 oz. Mulled Cranberry Syrup

Add ingredients to pitcher or punch bowl and serve cold or hot.

Mulled Cranberry Syrup

2 cups Cranberries

2 cups Water

2 cups Demerara Sugar (I use Florida Crystals)

1/4 tsp. Cloves

2 Allspice Berries

2 Cardamom Pods

1 Star Anise

1 Cinnamon Stick

4 Black Peppercorn

Long orange peel

Combine all ingredients to pot, simmer so that all sugar dissolves, bring to high heat until cranberries become soft (about 10 minutes). Let cool and strain into bottle or jar.

Country Village

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Hey everyone! We’re a little less than 2 weeks away from Thanksgiving and I bet you’re planning all of your meals and cocktails if your hosting at your house for the holiday or friendsgiving. I’ll be sharing some delicious fall cocktail ideas in the mean time and I’m starting off with my Country Village cocktail. I developed this drink for the fall menu over at The Archer. It has Reposado Tequila, Fig infused Sweet Vermouth, Licor 43, and Chocolate Bitters. It’s stirred and boozy but also has a lot of desserty qualities which makes it perfect as an after dinner drink (especially if your serving some pie).

The fig infused sweet vermouth had some trial and error but I’ve figured out how to do it so that you can achieve the most flavorful (and easy) results. At first I got really excited when I found fresh figs, so I cut some up and threw them in a cup of vermouth and let it sit, periodically tasting it to see how much longer it would need. I wound up letting it sit for 24 hours and honestly wasn’t happy with the outcome. The problem with fresh figs is that they have a very short season, usually late summer to early fall, and then they disappear. This was a problem because I was developing it for a menu and I need ingredients to be available and consistant on a regular basis.

I decided to try making the vermouth infusion with dried figs instead. I knew I could always get them, we could order them in large quantities, and they would also make a delicious garnish! If this didn’t work I was going to have to go back to the cocktail development drawing board. I did a handful of dried figs in a cup of vermouth and within hours I was already getting a better product than the first time around. I didn’t even let it sit over night because the infusion had already developed such a nice flavor. I let it sit for about 5-6 hours covered, but keep tasting and if you’d prefer a stronger flavor you can let it sit longer. When your happy with the result strain the vermouth into a bottle, keep refrigerated.

Country Village

1 1/2 oz. Reposado Tequila

3/4 oz. Fig infused Sweet Vermouth

1/4 oz. Licor 43

2 dashes of Chocolate Bitters

Combine all ingredients into a mixing glass, add ice, stir, and strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with a dried or fresh fig.

Sip and enjoy everyone!

Sunny Side Up Fizz

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Hey Everyone! I’m currently up in the sky en route home from my Disney vacation with mom. I loved Disney so much I’m already planning my next trip back. I meant to write this post while I was away but the long days got to me, and honestly I was snoozing around 9pm every night. It’s safe to say my schedule will be pretty messed up for the next week. Excuse me if I fall asleep while making your drinks.

Recently I partnered with Time Out New York and Herradura Tequila for their “Meet the Bartender” series. I was asked to create a drink based on a place in the NYC area that felt like home to me. I picked an old soda fountain/luncheonette my Grandpa and I use to stop at from time to time. I was inspired by the location but also by the types of food and drink you enjoy at luncheonettes, like breakfast, coffee, milkshakes and egg creams.

I decided that the drink was going to be a fizz, but I wanted to use a whole egg to add more of a creamy texture to the drink. I wanted to incorporate coffee not only because it’s something associated with breakfast and something I enjoy there often but because my Grandfather worked at Maxwell House Coffee, which was located a very short distance from the luncheonette in Hoboken, NJ. I picked the Reposado expression of Herradura because of its notes of vanilla and warm brown spice elements. I knew it would go along with the flavor profile of the drink and add a lot of depth. Cinnamon ties the drink all together, an ingredient that goes so well with coffee, cream, and the flavors of the Reposado. Lastly the drink gets topped off with soda for the fizz element with a dash of cayenne pepper to add some spice.

Sunny Side Up Fizz

1 1/2 oz. Herradura Reposado Tequila

3/4 oz. Coffee Liqueur

1/2 oz. Cinnamon Syrup

1 whole egg

Soda

Cayenne Pepper

Crack egg into the larger side of your tin. In smaller side build tequila, coffee liqueur, and cinnamon. Pour smaller tin into larger tin, close shaker, and dry shake for about 15 seconds. Open tin, add ice, and shake on ice. Strain into serving vessel, top with soda, and dust with cayenne on top.

On Thursday November 3rd from 5-8pm I will be hosting a Happy Hour Event at The Archer in Jersey City, NJ where I will be making the Sunny Side Up Fizz. You can purchase tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tequila-herraduras-meet-the-bartender-happy-hour-series-tickets-28695512049 . After the Happy Hour you can vote for my cocktail online and at the finale event that will be held in NYC on Sunday November 20th from 4-7pm. Tickets available for the finale event here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/meet-the-bartender-finale-event-tickets-28709282236 . Hope to see some of you there and check out the video for the series below!

Don’t forget to vote for me!