Bling in the New Year with Luxaholics and The Liquid Muse

Is your 2009 all about luxury? Are you on a crusade to the cush-life? Will you be living la vida loca? Well, then, be sure to check out The Liquid Muse Luxury Cocktails on Luxaholics - that fabulous website dedicated to all things luxurious and lovely... Here's to 2009!

Shot of Gratitute!

Apple Pie Shooter from The Liquid Muse

I created this recipe for Every Day With Rachael Ray a couple of years ago - and thought this is the perfect time of year to share it with all of you! If you're looking for a tiny dessert drink to present to your guests along with the pies and cakes, this might be a good one. Happy Thanksgiving!

Get recipe here!

Pairing Cocktails With Thanksgiving

A "Revolutionary" Idea...

While taking a quick jaunt around the cocktailian blogosphere, I came across The Cocktail Revolution, a DC-based blog with an interesting slant: "Each week we will expose the government’s tampering with the free market and the highlighting excessive tyrannies of the modern nanny state. Additionally, in keeping with the conservative tradition we will examine the classics and find new meaning in the experience of the past."

Sounds cool, no? I like this cerebral approach to pleasure and inebriation.

Jeff Fulcher's latest post called "What to drink with Thursday's Cornucopia" brings up the topic of (gasp!) cocktails with the Thanksgiving meal rather (or in addition to) merely wine or beer. Fulcher references a MxMo cocktail-and-food pairing, which I hosted on this blog, last year (I'm quite enthusiastic about cocktail pairings, personally) and also presents a quote from Eric Felten at the Wall Street Journal who boldly states "Thanksgiving is not a cocktail holiday" and that they have no business beyond the aperitif. Obviously, I disagree with Mr. Felten completely. Wine, beer and cocktails can easily be part of any celebration. It just takes a little 'know how!'

Jeff's post is an interesting topic, and a timely one, with everyone preparing for "indulgence Thursday." I'm posting my thoughts (from the comments page on Jeff's blog) below. Why not join the inter-blog conversation?


While I am a wine lover, and out of habit / convenience / enjoyment do tend to drink wine with a meal more often - especially at home - I would like to also sing the praises of a well crafted cocktail pairing. Rule #1: The Cocktail must not be too sweet. This seems to be the first mistake of an inexperienced chef / bartender team. Herbal notes, citrus notes tend to work well with most dishes. They are best when the flavors of the drink are subtle... ie: enhance the dish rather than over power it. Rule #2: Choose appropriate spirits. With something like salmon, I would tend to go for a vodka based drink. Think about it --- vodka is drunk routinely in Russia, Poland and like countries. Normally, it is drunk neat, but slight enhancement would be lovely. I, personally, am fond of gin drinks with cheese, and cognac or whiskey drinks with a chocolate torte, for example. Rule #3: Don't be afraid to experiment! When I teach my cocktail classes, I always stress that COCKTAILS ARE FUN! Eating and drinking is not only sustenance but recreation. Don't get too uptight or stuck on "what's supposed" to go with what. This ain't brain surgery, no one will die. Get creative... you may find a combination you love!

Pumpkin Beer

Now, don't get all macho on me here... We know you don't like anyone messing with your Michelob, tough guy. But, its nearly Halloween. And, Thanksgiving. A little holiday spirit never hurt anyone, bub.

Jack's Pumpkin Spice Ale is my kind of beer. Admittedly, I like all things pumpkin. And, I like flavorful beer. So, for me its a win-win.

Don't take my word for it. Watch this video and learn all about it first-hand. (The Mid-Western accent totally works - and he even gives food pairing suggestions!)

Happy 4th of July with the Yankee Doodle Candy Cocktail!

Earth Day in Boston

"Sustainable Sips" Take On More Meaning

I am so happy to be teaching The Liquid Muse "Sustainable Sips" cocktail class on Earth Day! If saving the planet and eating for a healthy body aren't enough incentive to "go green," how about a delicious cocktail?

Last night, I kicked off the first of a week-long run in Bean Town - and we had a blast!

Yes, Lance Armstrong ran the Boston Marathon, yesterday. Yes, the Red Sox won (again). But, I seriously challenge other fun-lovers to have had as much fun as we did down at the Method Home store, down on Newbury Street.

Members of the environmental awareness group called Conscious Consuming attended the class, and learned to reduce their "carbon footprint" while sipping a luscious libation. Conscious Consuming focuses on "increasing awareness of the impact of buying decisions on our health, happiness and environment," which can by all means be brought into the glass. Some students jumped behind the bar to try their hand at whipping up - and even creating - their own drinks!

I've invited some wonderful organic and / or sustainably-minded liquor companies to sponsor my series of classes over the coming months (in Boston, NYC and Minneapolis), and I've designed some yummy drinks with those products. Each of the cocktails is inspired by Method Home, which uses appetizing essences such as cucumber, mint, ginger, lavender and berries to make your home smell like a big, organic field of fruits and flowers!

Below, I'm sharing my recipes so you can whip up a little eco-buzz for your Earth Day party!

(All recipes are intellectual property of The Liquid Muse, LLC and may not be reprinted online or in print without permission from Natalie Bovis-Nelsen.)

Method Margarita Martini

1 1/2 ounces 4 Copas organic tequila
1 ounce lime juice
11/2 ounces grapefruit juice
1 slice jalapeno
1 tsp 4 Copas agave nectar
course sea salt

Rim a martini glass with course sea salt. Muddle jalapeno, lime juice and agave nectar in the bottom of a mixing glass. Add grapefruit juice and tequila. Shake well and gently strain into glass.
*****

Detox America Cocktail

1 1/2 ounces Bluecoat gin
1 ounce Veev acai liqueur
2 ounces organic pomegranate juice
1/2 ounce lime juice
1 teaspoon sugar (or 1/2 ounce simple syrup)
pinch freshly grated ginger

Pour all ingredients, except ginger, into a cocktail shaker. Add ice and shake well. Strain into a martini glass. Grate fresh ginger over the top of the cocktail.
*****

Method Mojito

1 heaping tablespoon organic cucumber
1 heaping tablespoon of diced organic lime
1 heaping teaspoon raw brown sugar
2-3 torn mint leaves
1 1/2 ounces Purus organic vodka
Organic Italian sparkling lemonade

Muddle cucumber, sugar and mint leaves in tall glass. Pour in vodka. Top with sparkling lemonade. Garnish with a sprig of mint or lime wheel.
*****

“Green” and White Summer Sangria

Organic strawberries, peaches, kiwis
Purus organic vodka
Veev acai liqueur
Lavender honey
Organic peach juice
Bonterra organic chardonnay

Finely chop fruit into a bowl or Tupperware container. Drizzle with honey then add a half-inch of each peach juice and vodka. Let marinate several hours. When ready to serve, spoon one tablespoon of fruit mixture into each glass, and top with Bonterra. Garnish with strawberry on the rim of the glass.

HAPPY EARTH DAY!

The Liquid Muse Easter Spritzer

I celebrated the Holiest day of the year like any good Catholic girl would... by creating a themed alcoholic libation. (Hey, we drink wine in church - why shouldn't we continue our 'worship' at home?)

This refreshing little sipper is fab for a summer dinner party, book club meeting or to dress up a casual barbeque. It looks pretty but it is easy and cheap to make!

Step 1) Make raspberry lemonade ice cubes by filling an ice tray with lemonade and plopping one fresh raspberry into each cube. Freeze overnight.

Step 2) Fill a large wine glass with about 3 regular ice cubes and 2-3 raspberry lemonade ice cubes.

Step 3) Fill about 3/4 with cheap white wine. I used two-buck Chuck chardonnay. (aka: Charles Shaw from Trader Joe's).

Step 4) Add a splash of lime-flavored sparkling water.

Sidenote: Make this drink non-alcoholic by using my favorite alcohol-removed chardonnay, Fre by Sutter Home! Speaking of which... have you sent in your recipe for our wine cocktail contest? The winner gets a trip for two to fabulous Las Vegas!

Call A Truce on St. Patty’s Day!

The English and Irish have at least one thing in common… they both love to drink! Make like shiny, happy people and toast the Emerald Isle with a classic-style English gin. (The recipes are even in metrics!)

Plymouth Express
50 ml Plymouth Gin
25 ml Lime Cordial
25 ml Sparking Water

Pour in Plymouth Gin and Lime Cordial into a rocks glass. Top with Sparkling Water. Stir and add cucumber garnish.


Aviation
50 ml Plymouth Gin
35 ml Lemon Juice
15 ml Maraschino Liqueur
1 dash Syrup de Gomme

Pour Plymouth Gin, lemon juice (freshly squeezed), maraschino liqueur and syrup de gomme into an ice-filled mixing glass. Shake well. Strain into a martini glass. Add lemon zest garnish.

The Leap Year Cocktail

According to PR Maven Debbie Rizzo, legend has it that Harry Craddock himself created this at The American Bar at The Savoy in 1928.

2 oz. gin (we'll plug Debbie's client here)
1/2 oz. Grand Marnier
1/2 oz. sweet vermouth
1/2 oz. lemon juice

Stir with ice and serve up.