Love & Victory

Bar Cart Essentials

December 21, 2016 by Natalie Leave a Comment

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.

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

Flying Down to Rio

August 24, 2016 by Natalie 1 Comment

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I developed the Flying Down to Rio cocktail for the Summer menu at Archer Bar, the beverage program I have been running in my neighborhood of Downtown Jersey City, NJ. It’s a variation on a Pina Colada or a Painkiller cocktail, which are both fruity and tropical, perfect for the hot weather. It’s made with Avua Cachaca Amburana which has been matured for at least twenty four months in casks made from amburana, an indigenous wood found only in the forests of Latin America. The resulting spirit offers warm, savory notes of allspice, cinnamon, vanilla and Thai basil, backed by earthy sugarcane, with a hint of toasted almond on the finish.

This drink has defintely been the hit of the summer being one of the top sellers and also garnered a lot of attention over the past few months, (I even made it on a facebook live segment for Refinery29). I was on Avua’s Team USA, representing some of the best bartenders on the U.S. cocktail landscape during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Our job was to try to inspire Americans to drink better, upgrade their cocktail game and embrace Brazils national spirit, and the only cachaca brand from Rio de Janeiro available in the US – Avua Cachaca.

I wanted to pay homage to where the cachaca was from regionally when naming the drink but also keep it playful and fun. I have always been a classic movie fan and what says “escape to paradise” more than a musical with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in it? This drink makes me want to dance the night away! The most important thing about tiki drinks to me is the experience, I want to feel transported, this drink will surely do it. Make 2. The gold leaf flamingo glasses from Love & Victory don’t hurt either. Aren’t they darling? This was the perfect drink to serve in them!

Flying Down to Rio

1 1/2 oz. Avua Cachaca Amburana
1/2 oz. Giffard Banana Liqueur
3/4 oz. Coconut Cream
1 oz. Pineapple Juice
1/2 oz. Orange Juice

Add all ingredients to tin, dry shake, and pour into desired serving vessel, top with crushed ice, and garnish with grated nutmeg, and pineapple leaves. Throw a parasol on there if you have one too!

Check out the Flying Down to Rio’s mention in USA TODAY and on Liquor.com.

Women & Whiskies Event

June 22, 2016 by Natalie Leave a Comment

Last week I had the pleasure of working with some of the most talented and inspiring ladies. I collaborated with Women & Whiskies + Love & Victory to put together a wonderful summer cocktail party featuring drinks with Glen Grant Scotch, Forty Creek Whisky, and Wild Turkey Bourbon. Beautiful flower arrangements graced every table thanks to RoseHip Floral, and 50+ women mingled over sips of elegant whiskey cocktails in the sundrenched garden of Tuffet in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

I can’t thank everyone who was involved or all the lovely women who attended enough, you all truly made that night as special as it was. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Each and every one of you is the reason why I love what I do. Can’t everyday be a garden party with whiskey, friends and edible flower garnishes?

I’ve included recipes for all the cocktails that I made for the party incase you’d like to recreate them at home.

Photos are a collaboration with Love & Victory shot by Kerry Ann Stokes

Pretty in Pink

1 oz Glen Grant Scotch
1 oz Aperol
3/4 oz lemon juice
3/4 oz hibiscus tea syrup
sparkling wine
edible flower garnish

In your shaker add lemon juice, hibiscus tea syrup, Scotch, and Aperol. Shake with ice and strain into a wine glass, top with sparkling wine, stir, and garnish with an edible flower.

To make Hibiscus Tea Syrup, steep 2 Hibiscus tea bags in 1 cup water for 5 minutes. Add 1 cup of sugar, and stir. Let cool, stirring periodically to dissolve sugar. Refrigerate.