The Grapefruit Margarita

Last Friday I posted about the appeal of the cocktail. And for real, I had full intentions of working on a few of my new ideas this weekend including some seriously spiced up spritzers, but the pull from one of my favorite and most simple drinks won the day. I figured I’d simply hold off on the next post thinking you’d be bored with a repeat and the basic, but then again, wasn’t I just the person who was touting simplicity?

The Grapefruit Margarita is one of the most refreshing cocktails out there. It takes the bright and delicious standard and adds some serious freshness and bracing acidity. It’s great for a weekend brunch or a summer BBQ and is surprisingly impressive to share with your friends and family. You see, we all claim to love margaritas, but the majority of us drink terrible versions of the margarita the majority of the time. The tequila and orange liqueur should be highlighted with the citrus and the sweetness should be balanced, dare I say subtle. No sugar bombs please!

So if you are still searching for your cocktail, the one that you can make your own, give this sucker a shot and try not to drink 4000 of them…

The Grapefruit Margarita

3 oz Fresh Grapefruit Juice (or high quality bottled stuff, not from concentrate)

2 oz Tequila (I often lean on a silver tequila here but a reposado will work just as well)

1 oz Orange Liqueur (triple sec can work but if you haven’t tried some of the nicer options out there, I strongly suggest you do)

Lime Wedge for Garnish

Mix all of the above ingredients and pour over a rocks glass full of crushed ice. Yes, it’s that simple.

The Cocktail Classics

For those of you in New York and for those who have made the trip, tonight marks the opening of the Manhattan Cocktail Classic. The Classic is a series of events, some educational, some experiential that celebrate the world of spirits and the enthusiasts that keep it interesting. Tickets have been on sale for many of the events for some time and most sold out pretty darn quickly but there may be a few events still open so check it out here…

But in honor of the classic, I thought I’d put together a little post about the cocktail. You know, the notion of the cocktail. Because when well executed the cocktail represents a confidence and an intrigue that no other drink can encompass. And most importantly, you can make your cocktail your own. Maybe you tweak a recipe, maybe you choose something historical or cutting-edge, but no matter what, having “your’ cocktail is a damn good feeling.

What perfect timing then, that the folks over at Serious Drinks put together this list of 25 classic cocktails to get us all started. I’ll tell you, it’s a great list with a lot of great drinks; but encourage you to make these your own. Choose your favorite spirit and brand, choose your favorite garnish, and be sure to recognize the fun in choosing. Next week the Noblers are gathering for a little cocktail creation of our own and I bet we’ll have a few more options to report back on. So enjoy the weekend, at the Classic or not, and most importantly, enjoy a cocktail!

Update: Maker’s Exceeds the Mark Ironically

You’ll probably remember myself and just about every other liquor blogger out there commenting on the Maker’s Mark controversy from earlier in the year. As a quick refresher, in order to meet increasing demand and therefore limited supply, Maker’s Mark planned on decreasing the proof of their bourbon from 90 to 84 essentially watering down their final product to stretch their inventory capabilities. Well, after a few weeks of online outrage, the brand reversed course sticking with their classic 90 proof formula…you know, for us of course.

But you’ll also remember I (along with a number of others) had another theory. Not one necessarily rooted in conspiracy but at least one that acknowledged the potential boost that this whole “debacle” could create. And turns out, this was the case. I’ve been meaning to post this for a few weeks but this article over at Quartz highlights the amazing Maker’s sales numbers seen in the first quarter. A 45% jump in first quarter profit seems to suggest the Maker’s Mark lovers out there went out in hoards to gobble up the stuff upon hearing the news. This of course is highly ironic, as the Quartz writer points out, in that the news to water down the bourbon was in response to a limited supply issue. 

I know I wasn’t one of the reasons for increased sales but what about you all? Anyone rush out to hoard the 90 proof stuff?

Apricot and Star Anise Bitters Giveaway

I’ve been itching to try a new batch of bitters for a while now, particularly after how much I loved my first attempt. I really enjoyed the orange bitters I made a number of months back, with only a few complaints on my end. While the bittering agents did their trick, I never felt the “orange” hit home as much as I was hoping. Which is why I went back and forth for some time on what to make next. I wanted to marry flavors that were bright and interesting, but were also something I could see myself (and ultimately you all) using often. Enter some culinary inspiration…

I’ve been finding ways to incorporate star anise into just about anything I cook these days. I love it to add flavor to a simple broth or sauce and it does amazing things in marinades for meat. And nothing balances the vibrant flavor of star anise like a little sweetness and acidity. Now enter the apricot…

These apricot and star anise bitters are friggin’ awesome. So pumped with how these turned out and thrilled to be able to offer the second Nobler bitters giveaway to let you in on all the enjoyment. You know the drill, simply comment, re-post on Facebook, or re-tweet and you are in the running for one of three free bottles. I’ll announce the winners tomorrow! Good Luck!

Coffee and Gin, Batman and Robin

I normally find these things kind of idiotic but this one definitely resonates. After a quick 52 hour trip to Israel this week, I’m back in town and it’s going to be coffee and alcohol in a Batman and Robin like adventure this weekend. For now, I’m giving the Batman role to coffee…KAPOW!

And while there are many suitable leads to play the role of Robin, I’m on a serious gin kick these days, as there is nothing quite like a refreshing gin cocktail to ring in the warm weather. And I’m clearly not the only one who feels this way. Check out New York’s Grub Street, Spring Drinking guide to Gin and Tonics. You’ll remember my re-hash of our experience at Cata which definitely sums up the Spanish resurgence but I have a number of these other options on my radar to check out the latest and greatest in NYC. Most recently, we hit up Alder and I tried the Zereshk Is History and loved it.

The point is, the gin and tonic we all grew accustomed to is only the starting point; a most often shitty starting point at that. So much can be done with subtle and/or bold flavor profiles to highlight the wonderful herbaciousness in gin. But then again, if you find yourself a product as good as Tuthilltown’s you might choose to drink that sucker straight on its own. At least that’s what I do…

Using a blend of wheat and apples to make their base neutral spirit, the Half Moon Orchard Gin is hands down my favorite product in the category right now. The apple (distilled from, not flavored) adds such a nice smoothness that the herbs and botanicals shine through without being overwhelming. Last night I slowly sipped away at a glass with just a tiny lemon wedge and I couldn’t stop being amazed. So delicious.

But regardless of how you’ll enjoy it, it’s time to get on the gin train…Check out a few of my older gin posts here, and enjoy the beautiful (let’s hope so) weekend!

No Luck, Many Juleps

“You are all winners in my book” just doesn’t hold up on Derby Day. Overanalyze, my big bet this year, once again fell flat while Emily on the other hand nailed her pic of Orb. But ask us who won the competition of drinking basil juleps…BOOM.

Hope you all enjoyed your Derby Day!

Last Minute Derby Cocktail: Go Overanalyze!

Deep in derby day prep and I’ve got a last minute tip to share. Maybe you are worried some of your guests won’t like the basil julep you’ve perfected over the last 24 hours. Well don’t worry, the fix is simple. Kick them out of your house…

Okay just kidding. But for one of the world’s easiest cocktail recipes, perfect for summer days and derby victories, look no further than a few simple ingredients to make this green tea lemonade; a perfect companion for just about any liquor in your collection.

Just a few hours to go…I’ll be cheering for Overanalyze! So actually, that’s probably a better tip. Bet on any other horse, because I haven’t won anything since a $10 scratch-off at the age of 12. Good luck and Happy Derby!

The Overanalyze

2 oz vodka, gin, or bourbon (your choice)

5 oz green tea lemonade (recipe below)

Splash of seltzer

Lemon and cucumber to garnish

Mix all of the ingredients over ice and enjoy. Drink slow because these are damn drinkable.

Green Tea Lemonade

1 Liter of Boiling Water

3 tea bags of green tea

2 liters of lemonade (get something on the natural side, not too sweet otherwise this will be gross, or better yet make your own)

1 cucumber (sliced)

1 lemon (sliced)

Steep the tea bags in the liter of boiling water and let cool. Pour the tea and lemonade into a pitcher and fill with the slices of cucumber and lemon. Keep chilled until serving.