Are you tired of ordering the same drink every time you get to a bar simply because you don’t know how to expand your horizons? Read on to learn how to mix things up, both literally and figuratively.
Summertime and the living is…gin and tonic season. If you’re a G&T fan who can’t bear the thought of being the guy that orders a T&T, expand your horizons with Nolet’s Dry Gin, a delightful detour from your standard brand of gin. The botanicals distilled in Nolet’s gin are unique, utilizing the floral and fruit forward notes of Turkish rose, peach, and raspberry.
I sampled Nolet’s gin in two different cocktail recipes, one generously provided from the people at Nolet’s and another that a friend developed during a debaucherous weekend at a summer cabin last year. Both were excellent, and Nolet’s should definitely be in your rotation moving forward.
Nolet’s Silver Lemonade Punch
750 ml NOLET’S Silver Dry Gin
2.25 L Fresh Squeezed Lemonade
375 ml Elderflower Liqueur
2 Bags Frozen Peaches
Mix all ingredients in a large pitcher and stir.Serve over ice and garnish with a fresh peach wedge.
Josh’s Silver Bullet
1 oz Nolet’s Silver Dry Gin
1 teaspoon sugar in the raw
2 slices cucumber
1 sprig of mint
⅛ cup of fresh squeezed lime juice
4 ounces club soda
Muddle cucumber, sugar and mint in a highball glass. Add gin and club soda, stirring until thoroughly mixed. Serve over ice with mint garnish.
Tired of ordering Patron or Herradura because they’re the only name brand tequilas that you recognize that AREN’T Jose Cuervo? El Consuelo is here to help. Certified organic and kosher, El Consuelo is a small batch, craft spirit made from the Jalisco region of tequila and is available in three forms: unaged blanco; Reposado, which is aged for six months; and 12 month old añejo. El Consuelo directly helps the Mexican farmers and families involved in its production. fAn independent spirit such as this is an enormous success story mainly because it is not a member of a large, globally operated company.
Though it may seem that every time you turn around, a new dietary restriction has infiltrated the food pyramid as we know it, the abundance of quinoa in cuisine over the last few years is one I can get behind. Fair Vodka is distilled through a proprietary production process that uses quinoa, one of the world’s most nutritious ingredients. Fair Vodka is organically grown and fair trade certified, and was awarded a platinum medal in 2013 by the Beverage Testing Institute. Medals and quinoa aside, I drink Fair Vodka because it’s a smooth, easy drinking vodka that is flavorful enough to be drunk on its own while also enhancing vodka based cocktails.
Armagnac? What am I, an old European man stroking his handlebar mustache while attempting to solve mysteries in a candlelit library? Here is some information on how you can explore armagnac that doesn’t involve a snifter and a snooty assistant. Similar to wine, armagnac is blended from grapes harvested from a distinct terroir and distilled through columns. Armagnac can be used in any cocktail that normally calls for brandy or cognac, such as a sidecar or a sazerac. The Chateau Laubade has notes of orange blossoms, honey and vanilla that lend itself to an excellent after dinner drink, or mixed with a sweet liqueur like Bailey’s.
While these spirits might seem unfamiliar, it’s a nice change of pace to get out of your comfort zone and try something new.
Twisted Talk: Have you heard of or tried any of these spirits before? What’s your go to liquor of choice? Discuss below!
