cocktail – In Good Taste

A Safest Choice™ Party at Nellcôte [Recipe: Lemon Thyme Fizz]

Maris Callahan — Mon, 13 Oct 2014 05:15:02 +0000

There are plenty of reasons to have a party. Birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, the day that ends in a ‘y.’ Last month, we felt it would only be proper to have a party celebrating our redesign and relaunch after six years of delicious content. We teamed up with one of our favorite restaurants in Chicago, Nellcôte, and one of our favorite brands, Safest Choice™ Pasteurized Eggs, to throw a quick Tuesday night cocktail party last month. No matter what is on the menu, every good cocktail party needs a signature cocktail. At our launch event, we served a frothy, refreshing beverage made with fresh juice, thyme-infused simple syrup, rum and St. Germaine Elderflower Liqueur. So, where do Safest Choice™ Pasteurized Eggs have a place in a cocktail party? You’ve probably noticed that egg whites are cropping up in bars all over the country as a primary ingredient on house cocktail lists. Besides novelty, egg whites give cocktails a rich, creamy texture and a beautiful foamy cap. They’re basically odorless and flavorless, so their contribution to cocktails is primarily in the texture, like in a mousse or meringue dish. Liquor keeps the egg whites from solidifying adding a fancier, more elegant touch to your beverage. The problem with busy bartenders […]

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Spa Water Sangria

Maris Callahan — Fri, 15 Aug 2014 05:00:43 +0000

Sangria, arguably one of the most popular summer beverages, is inexpensive to make and just a step or two more festive than opening a bottle of wine when you’re entertaining friends. Though ubiquitous and undeniably cheerful during the warmer months, not everyone enjoys sweet sangria. By adding fruit and wine and liqueur and anything else that make sangria delicious, it’s also easy to create a sugar bomb that will leave you feeling sluggish before you’ve even drained your glass. This recipe is a take on classic sangria that combines a day at the spa with a day on the beach. It uses fresh herbs and the savory flavor of cucumber along with white wine and sparkling water (but if you want to go big, go ahead and throw some sparkling wine in there too). Use your favorite, crisp white wine in this sangria. We like a dry sauvignon blanc or a simple vinho verde, but the important thing is to make sure the wine is completely chilled. It’s naturally low carb, which will be a hit for your health conscious friends and tastes great, so it will definitely be a crowd-pleaser. Save Print Spa Water Sangria Serves: 4 Ingredients 2 […]

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Chicago: The Firecracker Cocktail at Rebar

Maris Callahan — Mon, 01 Jul 2013 05:00:51 +0000

The Fourth of July falls on a Thursday this year, but why not start celebrating earlier on in the week? Like say, today? This week, Rebar at Trump International Hotel and Towers will offer the Firecracker Cocktail ($18), a summer sipper that consists of strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and Red Berry Ciroc vodka. The beverage is nothing if it isn’t festive, topped with whipped cream and presented with a flag and sparkler.firecracker In addition to its holiday offerings, Rebar presents an ever-evolving mixology program with emphasis placed on the use of fresh juices, mixers, herbs, spices and edible flowers. All pair well with the Japanese-inspired fare and sushi platters available to enjoy while you take in the view of the Chicago river. Other seasonal cocktails include the Reveev, a refreshing martini made with Veev Açaí, fresh blackberries and champagne; and the Red Dragon, a spicy blend of jalapeño infused Chopin & fresh raspberry puree, accented with fresh lime. If you’re celebrating with a group, ask about the bar’s punch bowl service and splurge on the Flor Blanco, a white sangria creation made with St. Germain, Absolut Vodka, Far Niente Chardonnay and a bouquet of fresh, seasonal fruit. Whether you’re finishing your […]

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Perfect Party Cocktail: Pomegranate Martini

Maris Callahan — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 19:00:00 +0000

Whenever I look at a cocktail menu on a bar, a Cosmopolitan is undoubtedly on the menu. Now, I have nothing against the Cosmpolitan but at the risk of sounding, oh, I don’t know, snobby, aren’t Cosmopolitans a little bit…you know, 2004? Let’s make this the year of the pomegranate martini instead. While pomegranate juice isn’t exactly new to the block, it has a refreshing tartness that a lot of cocktails lack. Pomegranate juice can often be costly, but PAMA Pomegranate liqueur offers the same tartness and a touch of triple sec goes a long way in balancing a not-to-sweet flavor in your beverage. With my recently acquired martini shaker I made a couple of quick batches of this martini, which I think would be perfect for any holiday party, dinner or get-together. Save Print Pomegranate Martini Author: Maris Callahan Recipe type: Things to Drink Prep time: 5 mins Total time: 5 mins Serves: 2 cocktails Ingredients ½ cup PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur 3 ounces (2 1.5-ounce shot glasses) premium vodka ½ oz. Orange Flavored Liqueur (such as Triple Sec) Instructions Combine all ingredients into a mixing glass. Add ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a lemon zest. […]

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Strawberry Sangria

Maris Callahan — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 06:00:00 +0000

Sangria is right up there with tequila as one of those alcoholic beverages that it seems everyone has a story about. It’s always either a “I’ll never drink that again” story or a “well last time I had that things got a little crazy” story. As much as I like the potent, red wine version of the Spanish summer sipper, there is something about white wine (and of course, plump red strawberries but that goes without saying around herre) that screams summer and tempts me to shelve the red vino until September. I have no aversion to sangria (tequila is another story) but even if you do, I recommend that you give this a try. My friend Angie and I made a double-batch for a friend’s birthday party over Memorial Day weekend and it would be an understatement to say that none of the party guests have sangria aversions either. Tequila? That might be another story for another day. Save Print White Strawberry Sangria Prep time: 5 mins Cook time: 60 mins Total time: 1 hour 5 mins Serves: 6 Ingredients 1 750-milliliter bottle dry white wine, such as Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc ½ cup strawberry schnapps ¼ cup […]

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