Arsenic Lace

holiday cocktails

Pumpkin Butter Flip

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Halloween might be over but we have until Thanksgiving to capitalize on all things pumpkin flavor. Recently I did an apple cider + pumpkin butter cocktail for my farmers market cocktail column on Chicpeajc and I thought why not use pumpkin butter in another drink? I came up with this Pumpkin Butter Flip to bring you a seasonal and creamy dessert cocktail. It’s so good it might rival pumpkin pie for dessert at your Thanksgiving dinner table.

A flip is a category of mixed drink. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the term was first used in 1695 to describe a mixture of beer, rum, and sugar, heated with a red-hot iron. The iron caused the drink to froth, and this frothing (or “flipping”) engendered the name. Over time, eggs were added and the proportion of sugar increased, the beer was eliminated, and the drink ceased to be served hot.

The first bar guide to feature a flip (and to add eggs to the list of ingredients) was Jerry Thomas‘s 1862 How to Mix Drinks; or, The Bon-Vivant’s Companion. In this work, Thomas declares that “The essential in flips of all sorts is to produce the smoothness by repeated pouring back and forward between two vessels and beating up the eggs well in the first instance the sweetening and spices according to taste.”

With time, the distinction between eggnog (a spirit, egg, cream, sugar, and spice) and a flip (a spirit, egg, sugar, spice, but no cream) was gradually classified in America’s bar guides. In recent decades, bar guides have begun to indicate the presence of cream in a flip as optional.

Personally, I love a flip with a little cream in it. It mixes with the egg so well while adding a smooth and silky texture to the drink. Also, it tastes delicious!

Pumpkin Butter Flip

1 1/2 oz. spiced rum

1/2 oz. Faretti biscotti liqueur or amaretto 

1/2 oz. fall spice syrup

1/2 oz. heavy cream

1 heaping barspoon pumpkin butter

1 whole egg

pumpkin baking spice mix for garnish

In the larger side of your cocktail shaker add the whole egg and cream. Add the rest of your ingredients to the smaller side of your tin, pour into the large side and seal. Dry shake, add ice and shake again long and hard. Pour into a coupe glass and garnish with a dusting of pumpkin baking spice. Sip and enjoy!

I used my fall syrup in this cocktail and linked to the recipe above. You can also sub it out for regular demerara or simple syrup. I had it on hand and the flavors went so well with the drink it was a no-brainer to use it. The spiced rum contributes to the baking spice flavors of this Pumpkin Butter Flip but you can also use aged rum or even bourbon.

If you’ve never had Faretti Biscotti liqueur you are in for a treat. I use this in replace of amaretto all the time in cocktails. It’s sweet and delicate with hints of nuts, citrus, and anise. The liqueur is made in Northern Italy, near Lake Como, where delicious biscotti cookies are baked in rustic brick ovens. It goes great in coffee or as a little aperitif after dinner as well.

I love that this Pumpkin Butter Flip is reminiscent of eggnog but appropriate for the Fall and Thanksgiving. What will you be making for Thanksgiving dinner or dessert? This cocktail is definitely worth a try and consideration for your holiday menu. Cheers everyone! xo

 

Smoky Cinnamon Apple Cider Margaritas

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After the week I had I definitely need a drink! I’m so happy to team up with Teroforma for this post to talk about one of their newest collections 1pt. 1pt is a collection of infusion blends and kits for alcohol and spirits. I’ve used the 1pt Master Kit to create these Smoky Cinnamon Apple Cider Margaritas and I’ll show you how easy it is to use and how wonderful the end result can be.

Whether you’re an experienced bartender or an at home enthusiast the 1pt Master Kit is a must-have. It comes with a beautiful high-durability lab glass infusion bottle that infuses 375 ml of liquid (half of a standard bottle of spirits). There’s a stainless steel infusion basket that holds the infusion blends which makes infusing so much easier. No mess and no fine straining! You also get a reusable, gold-finish, stainless steel tasting straw so that you can taste-test during the infusion process. The kit also includes a simple instruction guide, 7 blends variety pack and some cocktail suggestions to start you off in the right direction.

I knew I wanted to make apple cider margaritas this month and thought the cinnamon infusion would be a great addition to this cocktail. Using the infusion kit is super simple. The first step is putting your infusion blend into the infusion basket. It clips right back into the top of the bottle with a little push and then you pour your spirit directly into the bottle. Let the infusion sit for 6 hours or to taste. Of course with your fancy gold straw! 😉

Smoky Cinnamon Apple Cider Margarita, serves one

1 oz. cinnamon infused tequila

1 oz. mezcal

1 1/2 oz. apple cider

1/2 oz. lime juice

1/2 oz. agave nectar

First, rim your glassware with an equal part mixture of cinnamon, sugar, and salt. Add all of your ingredients to a cocktail shaker and shake with ice. Strain into a double rocks glass over ice and garnish with a slice of apple, lime wedge, rosemary sprig and a cinnamon stick.

These smoky cinnamon apple cider margaritas were even better than I imagined. Cinnamon goes so well with tequila and I really love the smokiness the mezcal provides the drink. If you want the drink the be less sweet than swap out the agave nectar for some Cointreau. The 1pt infusion kit was so simple to use and really streamlined the whole infusion process. I love that you only infuse a half a bottle of spirit and that I don’t have to fine strain. It makes the whole process more simple but most importantly delivers consistent results. If you want to try any of the Teroforma 1pt collection products you can use “arseniclace10″ when you checkout for 10% off orders over $20, valid through January 31, 2018 on Teroforma.com. Cheers and happy infusing! xo

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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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.