Hello readers! As the days grow shorter and air grows crisper, I have been getting in the mood for holiday inspired cocktails. As per a request on Instagram here is my new favorite Egg Nog Recipe.
Scottish Eggnog
4 egg yolks
4 egg whites
1 pint whole milk
1 cup heavy cream
12 oz Drambuie
1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
+4 oz Glenfiddich 12yr (optional, if you’d like more of a kick!)
In a bowl, beat the egg yolks until they lighten in color. Add the Drambuie, milk, cream, nutmeg, and vanilla.
Place the egg whites in the bowl and beat into stiff peaks.
Whisk the egg whites into the mixture. Chill and serve in a punch bowl with grated nutmeg atop.
*Tip: Make the day before and chill covered in the fridge. Eggnog traditionally sat for days before serving to meld the flavors.
During the crisp fall season, there are not many things I rather be doing then wrapping myself in a cozy sweater and sipping a fine whiskey. New Yorkers have returned to the city from their summer getaways and bars and restaurants are buzzing with locals once again. It never fails that once October comes, I get a resurgence of excitement about living in one of the greatest cities in the world. With a multitude of things to do in this city, I turn to my whiskey friends to fill up my weekends.
A few weeks ago I was delighted to meet Tullamore D.E.W. Brand Ambassador Eimear Kelleher. Fresh to this new adventure, Eimear has already tapped into the NYC whiskey scene. She is partnering with Irish designer, Sinéad Lawlor to celebrate whiskey for a cause. Sinéad has designed limited edition one of a kind labels for Tullamore D.E.W. to celebrate the work being done at the Susan G. Komen foundation. This Sunday, October 26th from 6 to 8PM Eimear and Sinéad invite you to be a part of the unveiling of the limited edition bottles. The event is at Whitman & Bloom where there will be custom created whiskey cocktails (appropriately in the shade of pink). So if you are a fan of the whiskey, stop by for an evening of fine drinks and design in support of a great cause!
When traveling near or far I make sure to get my yoga fix in. Thanks to FYM Productions and Clay From the Bay for the action shots! How do you stay fit on the road?
Back in March I wrote to you about the exciting competition Hudson Whiskey had launched to find their new Brand Ambassador. After following the contest for the past four months, the team at Hudson has found their match! Check out Han Shan, Hudson’s newest addition.
When warm weather approaches, many imbibers switch from sipping whiskey to an icy concoction. I too enjoy a cooling beverage on a hot day, but often keep my beloved whiskey as a base. To start Memorial Day Weekend off with a bang i’d like to share my favorite whiskey cocktails on ice! NEW YORK SOUR I have to admit, I never thought of mixing red wine with whiskey, but hey why not! Liquor.com contributor Jacques Bezuidenhout shared this cooling sweet and sour tipple.
2 oz Rye whiskey or Bourbon
.75 oz Simple syrup (one part sugar, one part water)
1 oz Fresh lemon juice
1 Egg white (optional)
.5 oz Red wine
Add all the ingredients except the wine to a shaker and fill with ice. Shake well and strain into a rocks glass filled with fresh ice. Carefully pour the wine over the back of a spoon so it floats on top of the drink. (recipe from Liquor.com)
PENICILLIN For those who cannot get enough of the smokiness of an Islay Scotch, The Penicillin is the way to go. A spirit forward cocktail balanced with gooey honey and citrus and topped off with your favorite Scottish smoke.
2 ounces blended Scotch whisky (such as Grant’s)
3/4 ounce fresh lemon juice
3/4 ounce honey syrup
3 slices fresh ginger
1/4 ounce Islay single malt Scotch (such as Laphroaig)
Muddle fresh ginger in the bottom of a cocktail shaker until it is well mashed. Add blended Scotch, lemon juice, and honey syrup to the shaker. Fill the shaker with ice and shake quickly until chilled. Strain into an ice-filled rocks glass and pour the Islay Scotch over the back of a bar spoon so that it floats atop the drink.MONKEY JAM SOUR Last but not least is my personal favorite of the moment. Mixing this with Monkey Shoulder is a MUST but it will not disappoint!
1.5 ounces Monkey Shoulder
.2 ounces sugar syrup
2 tsp Jam (of your choice – any and all work!)
.7 ounces fresh lemon juice
Soda water (optional)
Dash orange bitters
Combine all ingredients in a shaker. Add fresh ice and shake quickly until chilled. Strain into an ice filled glass. Top with soda water if you choose! I would love to hear what your favorite whiskey cocktails are and add to my ever growing recipe book. Cheers and Happy Memorial Day!
In the spirit of March Madness, BourbonBlog.com gives you Booze Brackets! Visit BoozeBrackets.com to submit your vote (or votes) to support your favorite whiskies. The first round ends tonight at midnight so catch it while you can!
Last week in my post A Whisky Lovers Dream Job, I announced to you all the amazing program that Hudson Distillery has launched to find their new Brand Ambassador. This week I couldn’t resist but share with you this episode I received from the Hudson team about Women in Whiskey. Enjoy and stay tuned for more Hudson Whiskey episodes!
Saint Patrick’s Day is less than a week away and I intend to have a full agenda for celebrating this wonderful holiday. If you will be in NYC this weekend, below are a few events that should get you into the spirit! I’ve also included a list of my favorite Irish Pubs. How will you be celebrating?
Events for the Sophisticated Whiskey Drinker(or the drinker that doesn’t feel like standing in a Parade of madness!)
A special tour for St. Patrick’s Weekend. Explore the former “Little Ireland” district of the Lower East Side, between City Hall and Houston Street as we examine the tremendous role of Irish immigrants in the history of New York City. This “family friendly” tour will explain why St. Patrick’s Day is more popular here than in Ireland. Stops could include: the founding site of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Al Smith’s home, the Five Points, the first Catholic church in the city, and sites associated with Tammany Hall, Thomas Addis Emmet, and many others.
For those of you who enjoy a fine whiskey food pairing, join Anthony Caporale (host of the Art of the Drink Web series) for a night of handpicked craft Irish whiskey cocktails paired with world-famous cheeses from Ireland. In addition to tasting you will get a 101 on mixing cocktails like the Zesty Irishman (Bushmills, Drambuie, triple sec) and the Jameson-spiked Buena Vista Irish Coffee. Each drink will be paired with fromage selections from Murray’s Cheese Shop.
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with the Astoria Whiskey Society and Tullamore D.E.W. at Hell Gate Tiki. Festivities will kick off with a VIP tasting exclusively for Astoria Whiskey Society members from 2 – 3:30PM. Tim Herlihy, Brand Ambassador for Tullamore D.E.W. will walk you through their exciting portfolio. After that, get the party started with $3 Tullamore D.E.W. shots and $6 “Luck of the Irish” cocktails. Enjoy live music and get your grub on with an Irish BBQ beginning at 4PM!
Ever dream about jet setting around the country talking about whiskey? If so, you are in luck! Hudson Whiskey is looking for a new Brand Ambassador, someone to represent the brand nationally as the face of the craft spirit. Hudson is looking for someone with a passion for whiskey who embodies their can-do spirit.
They’ll need it, because they’ll be traveling around the country, talking to bartenders and restaurant owners, hosting events, connecting with whiskey enthusiasts via social media and representing Hudson in the national press. If you are a rare character and whiskey lover, this is the job for you.
On February 6th The American Craft Council along with The Balvenie declared Douglas Brooks, Vermont Boat Builder, as the winner of the American Craft Council Rare Craft Fellowship Award. The award was presented at an exclusive luncheon at Thomas Keller’s Per Se in New York City where a select group of influencers including the longest standing Malt Master in history, David Stewart honored the five nominated craftspeople and their respective traditional art forms.
The American Craft Council Rare Craft Fellowship Award in association with The Balvenie recognizes one winner and four finalists who are awarded annually in recognition and support of contributions to the maintenance and revival of traditional or rare crafts in America. To be considered for the Fellowship, individuals must demonstrate a contribution to the preservation of traditional and rare craft techniques, processes, or products and meet a quality criterion. Hundreds were vetted and five were selected as finalists with Douglas Brooks honored as the 2014 Fellow. Brooks will receive an exclusive trip to Scotland and a $10,000 endowment to go towards materials and continuing his craft. The four additional finalists received a $5,000 endowment and a trip to New York City where they showcased their work at the awards luncheon.
The once-in-a-lifetime trip to Scotland awarded to Brooks will provide the Fellow with an opportunity to spend time at the legendary distillery, apprenticing under a local craftsman of his choosing. The two-week Fellowship will feature a week at the historic Balvenie distillery, where Brooks will learn more about the traditional crafts of whisky making while also receiving the rare opportunity to work with legendary malt master David Stewart, who was part of the jury that selected the finalists and awarded Brooks with this unique opportunity.
To illustrate the passion and commitment to craft of the Fellow and the nominees, each of them were showcased in a short film that was premiered at the luncheon. The beautiful films were shot over two months from FYM Productions, a New York City based production company. Click on each of the names below to take a look in to the workshops some of the men and women who are keeping craft alive in America!
The Whiskey Dame 