Reading a drink menu at a local restaurant I notice that most of the martinis are made with vodka. Exactly none of them contain the old school gin and vermouth. In our drink lab, we decide to test the Appletini with gin instead of vodka. We choose New Amsterdam in which we noted citrus-y botanicals duringContinueContinue reading “Appletinis and Appetizer of Tomato with Fresh Mozzarella”
Author Archives: J Reilly
Myers’s Rum
Some rums, such as Captain Morgan Sherry Oak, we like to drink neat or chilled. Appleton is perfect in a frozen strawberry daiquiri. We’ve made Bacardi Gold the staple for our sangria. Myers’s rum has posed a challenge as to how it fits into our spirits repertoire. Should we drink it neat? The aroma isContinueContinue reading “Myers’s Rum”
Summer Sangria with Rum
After trying several different recipes, we determined that we like our sangria made with rum instead of brandy. Our standard recipe is: 8 oz. wine 4 oz. triple sec 2 oz. rum 2 oz. orange juice 2 oz. sweetened lemon juice Add fresh fruit if you are feeling fancy. Served over ice, this recipe yieldsContinueContinue reading “Summer Sangria with Rum”
Main Course Summer Salad
Living in a climate of cold winters and hot summers, we find our food and wine changing with the seasons as well. Summer is abundant with fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables; tomatoes, corn, eggplant, squash, beans, and juicy ripe peaches. What better way to enjoy the raw crispness of summer vegetables than salad. TontonContinueContinue reading “Main Course Summer Salad”
A Real Marine’s Story
Silver Star Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as Leader of a Machine-gun Squad of Company L, Third Battalion, Twenty-first Marines, Third Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, 1 March 1945.
Ararat Brandy, Winston Churchill, and Bob
In 2010 my brother-in-law married a British girl and their wedding gave us the opportunity to meet her family from across the pond. One thing we remember about her father, Bob, is that he talked about Winston Churchill and WWII. Churchill isn’t as well-known in the US, we might think of President Franklin Delano RooseveltContinueContinue reading “Ararat Brandy, Winston Churchill, and Bob”
A Happy Hour Tale of Two Cities
We are walking back and forth on one block of Decatur Street in New Orleans trying to locate the entrance for Cane and Table which should be right next to Maximo’s. We must look like the perfect target for the panhandler shakedown and so it goes. He tries to be helpful, asking us what weContinueContinue reading “A Happy Hour Tale of Two Cities”
Daglia Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon 2011
The growing season of 2011 was challenging for many California wine growers. Napa suffered from a cold, wet spring and late, rainy harvest with a threat of noble rot. With this in mind, I was a bit skeptical when the wine merchant recommended the 2011 Daglia Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon. But all things considered, it certainlyContinueContinue reading “Daglia Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon 2011”
Cointreau Noir and Grand Marnier Throw Down
There are a copious number of clear orange flavored liqueurs knows as triple sec on the market including Cointreau which has been around since 1849. On the flip side, Grand Marnier, with its blend of orange and cognac, has stood out from the pack since inception in the 19th century. Gran Gala, made with orangeContinueContinue reading “Cointreau Noir and Grand Marnier Throw Down”
Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day
A recent news story featured a man who was completely disgusted with the public drunkenness associated with St. Patrick’s Day. He wants to make the holiday a “dry” one. I can’t argue when it gets to the point of throwing up and passing out, but Irish spirits and beer, consumed responsibly, deserve their place inContinueContinue reading “Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day”
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