Slashfood http://www.slashfood.com Slashfood http://www.slashfood.com/media/feedlogo.gif Slashfood http://www.slashfood.com en-us Copyright 2009 Blogsmith, LLC. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/LeNell It All - Kentucky Joehttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/11/25/lenell-it-all-kentucky-joe/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/11/25/lenell-it-all-kentucky-joe/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/11/25/lenell-it-all-kentucky-joe/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


kentucky joe

Photo: LeNell Smothers

Alabama-born LeNell Smothers defines herself first and foremost as a bartender, but she's been called many things -- most recently, the proprietress of LeNell's liquor store. She's owned her own whiskey label, called Red Hook Rye, and has been recognized by her home state as an honorary Colonel. Other interests include gin, sin and men.

I've been a bit in my own isolated world lately trying to unpack into a new home in a foreign land. When a friend in New York told me on the phone that he's busy making plans to serve 18 people for Thanksgiving this week, I gasped. How could I forget that this week is Thanksgiving?

Casa Cóctel's kitchen is still a work in progress, so we won't have a full-on Thanksgiving dinner in Mexico this year. We are still waiting for the arrival of the wine and spirit collection and the newly restored vintage Faema espresso machine. With all that in my mind, I decided to just make it all easier with a Kentucky Joe, a tasty dessert drink made with bourbon and coffee liqueur.

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]]>kentucky joelenell smothersthanksgiving dinnerthanksgiving drinksLeNell Smothers2009-11-25T17:00:00+00:00LeNell It All - Playboy Bourbon Coolerhttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/11/19/lenell-it-all-playboy-bourbon-cooler/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/11/19/lenell-it-all-playboy-bourbon-cooler/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/11/19/lenell-it-all-playboy-bourbon-cooler/#commentsFiled under: , ,


playboy bourbon cooler

Photo: LeNell Smothers

Alabama-born LeNell Smothers defines herself first and foremost as a bartender, but she's been called many things -- most recently, the proprietress of LeNell's liquor store. She's owned her own whiskey label, called Red Hook Rye, and has been recognized by her home state as an honorary Colonel. Other interests include gin, sin and men.

My first truck load of household goods has arrived at Casa Cóctel, my new home in Baja, Mexico. As I am unpacking my vintage Playboy collection and eagerly awaiting the arrival of my bourbon collection, I am reminded of one of my favorite drinks of all time.

Several years ago for my birthday, Miss Flighty Alberta Straub combined both her jamaica and her famous "Spa Mix" with other delicious ingredients in what she calls her Playboy Bourbon Cooler.

When she first sent me the instructions to prepare this drink for my birthday party, I was so nervous about getting every detail perfect. I was a bit intimidated about finally meeting this famous bar personality who had made plans to come to my former shop LeNell's in Brooklyn to host not only my birthday, but the store's anniversary.

As we assembled all the ingredients in some of my beautiful antique punch bowls and got to know each other better, I realized there was no need for the fear of not getting it all "perfect." It's not always about having an exact recipe, but understanding flavor and pleasing guests. Important lesson, indeed.

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]]>Lenell It Alllenell smothersLenellItAllLenellSmothersplayboyplayboy bourbon coolerPlayboyBourbonCoolerLeNell Smothers2009-11-19T17:00:00+00:00LeNell It All - Spa Mixhttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/11/11/lenell-it-all-spa-mix/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/11/11/lenell-it-all-spa-mix/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/11/11/lenell-it-all-spa-mix/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

lenell's spa mix

Photo: LeNell Smothers

Alabama-born LeNell Smothers defines herself first and foremost as a bartender, but she's been called many things -- most recently, the proprietress of LeNell's liquor store. She's owned her own whiskey label, called Red Hook Rye, and has been recognized by her home state as an honorary Colonel. Other interests include gin, sin and men.

While unpacking into my new home in Mexico, my drink making options remain limited. We still await the delivery of my wine and spirits collection. No drinks possible with original Amer Picon, Red Hook Rye or Old Schiedam genever just yet.

I have grown accustomed to having hundreds of bottles of liquor and wine on hand to experiment with every day. When faced with limited supplies, our creativity can often open up combinations we normally would not consider. However, I've just honestly been too exhausted from this move to get very creative these past few weeks. Having easy yet delicious old favorites on hand gets us through hard times.

All the stress from this major over-the-border move from New York to Baja, Mexico, has taken its toll on my body. I cannot afford a real spa visit, but I have a spa-mix recipe. Bartender Alberta Straub's famous "Spa Mix" is one of those easy standby's that's healthy and so versatile when you don't have a pantry full of esoteric liqueurs and bitters on hand.

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]]>cocktailslenell it alllenell smothersLenellItAllLenellSmothersspa mixSpaMixLeNell Smothers2009-11-11T16:00:00+00:00LeNell It All - Jamaicahttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/11/09/lenell-it-all-jamaica/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/11/09/lenell-it-all-jamaica/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/11/09/lenell-it-all-jamaica/#commentsFiled under: , ,

dried hibiscus jamaica flowers

Dried hibiscus flowers. Photo: empracht, Flickr.


Alabama-born LeNell Smothers defines herself first and foremost as a bartender, but she's been called many things -- most recently, the proprietress of LeNell's liquor store. She's owned her own whiskey label, called Red Hook Rye, and has been recognized by her home state as an honorary Colonel. Other interests include gin, sin and men.

My first truckload of household goods from the States arrived in Mexico this past week. As soon as the refrigerator powered on, we headed to the market for groceries. First stop was a stand labeled "Semillas," meaning "seeds," where we found nuts, spices and dried hibiscus known as "jamaica" heaped tall in metal tubs and baskets. Tired of the boring jamaica we've found in restaurants -- over diluted and often made with jamaica concentrate -- Demian and I were excited to make a big batch of deep ruby red, tart jamaica as one of the first things to put into Casa Cóctel's refrigerator.

Alberta Straub, aka Miss Flighty, is a bartender committed to organic, natural ingredients in her drink making. She introduced me to making cocktails with jamaica. Miss Flighty loves using it as a replacement for cranberry juice and has been quite the evangelist for jamaica's refreshing, inexpensive and kidney-cleansing benefits. Jamaica is one of Alberta's bar essentials and she proved to me how delicious and versatile it is. Now it's a bar essential for me, too.

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]]>dried hibiscus flowersDriedHibiscusFlowershibiscushibiscus drinksHibiscusDrinksjamaicaLenellItAllLenellSmothersLeNell Smothers2009-11-09T15:00:00+00:00LeNell It All - Absinthe Servicehttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/28/lenell-it-all-absinthe-service/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/28/lenell-it-all-absinthe-service/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/28/lenell-it-all-absinthe-service/#commentsFiled under: ,


absinthe lenell smothers

Photo: LeNell Smothers.

Alabama-born LeNell Smothers defines herself first and foremost as a bartender, but she's been called many things -- most recently, the proprietress of LeNell's liquor store. She's owned her own whiskey label, called Red Hook Rye, and has been recognized by her home state as an honorary Colonel. Other interests include gin, sin and men.

A dear friend who loves his absinthe fully deserved my splurge on a 1910 sample of pre-Prohibition absinthe as the perfect way to celebrate his birthday. Older absinthes made without the use of fake coloring often show off what the French call "feuille morte" (or "dead leaf"), simply meaning the green hue has turned more golden. This old sample had stood the test of time and proudly displayed a golden-green hue.

We tasted it on its own, then enjoyed a nice glass in traditional French style, diluted with ice-cold water, enjoying the slow milky color that appeared. The French call this precipitation of essential oils out of the absinthe the "louche." Other methods of serving might include the addition of anisette, maraschino or sugar syrup. The pure pleasure of tasting an old sample was enough for us to savor simply with sugar and water.

True absinthe is back on the retail shelves again in the U.S., but sad to say this delightful beverage is still grossly misunderstood. Yes, the real product contains wormwood. No, you will not hallucinate and kill people by having a glass of it.

Modern science has revealed that true distilled absinthe even made with wormwood contains very little thujone, the ingredient in artemisia absinthium that our government officials claimed to be so worried about. Funny thing is that the herb sage has more thujone than wormwood, but the FDA never banned it. The truth is absinthe was not "legalized" again in the U.S. -- it just took 75 years for someone to work through all the bureaucratic red tape to clarify thujone limitations.

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]]>absintheAbsintheCocktailhow to drink absintheHowToDrinkAbsintheLenellItAllLenellSmotherslouchesazeracthujonewormwoodLeNell Smothers2009-10-28T17:00:00+00:00Black Vodka for Halloweenhttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/23/black-vodka-for-halloween/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/23/black-vodka-for-halloween/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/23/black-vodka-for-halloween/#commentsFiled under: ,

black vodka

Photo: Refracted MomentsTM/flickr

Looking for a spooky way to serve a cocktail this Halloween? How bout black vodka?

Blavod has been marketing a vodka distilled from molasses and colored with extracts from the Burmese black catechu tree since 2004. The black vodka coloring brings a dark shadow to any Halloween bash.

Click here for more Halloween cocktails.
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]]>black vodkaBlackVodkablavodhalloweenHalloween cocktailsHalloweenCocktailsSlashfood Editor2009-10-23T14:15:00+00:00LeNell It All - Forget Me Nothttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/21/lenell-it-all-forget-me-not/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/21/lenell-it-all-forget-me-not/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/21/lenell-it-all-forget-me-not/#commentsFiled under: ,


forget me not

Photo: LeNell Smothers.

Alabama-born LeNell Smothers defines herself first and foremost as a bartender, but she's been called many things -- most recently, the proprietress of LeNell's liquor store. She's owned her own whiskey label, called Red Hook Rye, and has been recognized by her home state as an honorary Colonel. Other interests include gin, sin and men.
When I had to shut down my liquor shop in Brooklyn due to a lost lease back in February of this year, I decided to hit the road the very next day after vacating the former LeNell's Ltd storefront. Guest bartending, teaching classes and learning from talented bartenders made the pain of losing my beloved business sting less.

I spent a month in Holland learning from the amazing men of Amsterdam's door 74, which is without a doubt Amsterdam's best classic cocktail bar. While there, I decided to reach out and see if I could finally meet a woman I had admired from across the Atlantic ocean.

Ms. Fenny van Wees, the distiller of A. van Wees Distillery de Ooievaar, runs the last authentic distillery left in Amsterdam. The distillery's heritage goes back as far as 1782. I was eager to meet this feisty woman, whose passion is to keep the old ways alive and not give into pressures to mass produce, which compromises quality. She uses only raw, natural products and hand-selects her herbs, flowers and spices. We spent a whole day together at the distillery, leaving me so elated I could barely get to sleep that night.

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]]>amsterdamAvanWeesDistillerydoor74forget me not liquerForgetMeNotLiquerlenell it alllenell smothersLenellItAllLenellSmothersparfait amourParfaitAmourVergeet mij niet liqueurVergeetMijNietLiqueurLeNell Smothers2009-10-21T17:00:00+00:00Vodka Rosemary Lemonade Fizz - Feast Your Eyeshttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/21/vodka-rosemary-lemonade-fizz-feast-your-eyes/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/21/vodka-rosemary-lemonade-fizz-feast-your-eyes/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/21/vodka-rosemary-lemonade-fizz-feast-your-eyes/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Photo: thebittenword.com, Flickr.

The approach of chilly weather may leave many craving warm libations, but this Vodka Rosemary Lemonade Fizz is truly a drink for all seasons. The bloggers of the Bitten Word tackled this Gourmet recipe, which eschews the usual infusion to instead create a simple syrup with sugar, rosemary and lemon juice subbing for water. The syrup can keep for weeks in the fridge and need only be topped with vodka and a dash of club soda to be served.

Rosemary adds a nice mouthfeel and complexity to the crisp, refreshing drink, but almost any herb will serve well in simple syrup, from lavender to Thai basil. Spill your simple syrup recipes or ideas in the comments.

Become a member of the Slashfood Flickr pool to get a shot at having your photos featured in Feast Your Eyes.
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]]>cocktailgourmetinfused alcoholinfused vodkaInfusedAlcoholInfusedVodkalemonaderosemarysimple syrupSimpleSyrupthebittenwordvodka rosemary fizzVodkaRosemaryFizzAlexa Weibel2009-10-21T10:00:00+00:00LeNell It All - Fécamp Frappehttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/14/lenell-it-all-fecamp-frappe/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/14/lenell-it-all-fecamp-frappe/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/14/lenell-it-all-fecamp-frappe/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Fécamp Frappe. Photo: LeNell Smothers

Alabama-born LeNell Smothers defines herself first and foremost as a bartender, but she's been called many things -- most recently, the proprietress of LeNell's liquor store. She's owned her own whiskey label called Red Hook Rye and has been recognized by her home state as an honorary Colonel. Other interests include gin, sin and men.

Back when I was first learning to make drinks, bartenders weren't overwhelmed with a gazillion competitions to prove their skills. Everywhere you turn now, some liquor brand is sponsoring a cocktail competition. As a result, bartenders and mixologists feel the pressure to expand their resumes with accolades and titles.

Last year, B&B celebrated its 70th Anniversary with a Master Mixologist Showcase. I realized I had judged several competitions, but never actually been in one, so I thought this experience would be good to humble an old dog like me. My drink didn't come in first place, but in the words of my British pals "my chat was on fire." What's the use of a bartender if she can't entertain you and make a decent drink at the same time?

The competition took place in New York's historic 21 Club where bartenders first served up a mixture of equal parts brandy and the herbal liqueur known as Bénédictine in the 1930s. Eventually this drink became so popular, Bénédictine decided to start bottling their liqueur with brandy themselves -- in 1937. I named my cocktail after the abbey where the liqueur was born in Normandy, France.

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]]>21 Club21ClubBandBBenedictinefecampfrappeherbal liqueurHerbalLiqueurLenellItAllLenellSmothersLeNell Smothers2009-10-14T17:00:00+00:00LeNell It All - Irish Coffeehttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/07/lenell-it-all-irish-coffee/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/07/lenell-it-all-irish-coffee/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/07/lenell-it-all-irish-coffee/#commentsFiled under: ,


Irish coffee.
Photo: LeNell Smothers
Alabama-born LeNell Smothers defines herself first and foremost as a bartender, but she's been called many things -- most recently, the proprietress of LeNell's liquor store. She's owned her own whiskey label called Red Hook Rye and has been recognized by her home state as an honorary Colonel. Other interests include gin, sin and men.

Whiskey and wine consume me as well as I them, but coffee must have captured my heart. Unfortunately, my household move from New York City to Mexico has been held up by the restoration of my antique Faema "Urania" espresso machine. Thank the java gods who inspire rare folks such as the Italian gents at Omnipak Imports in New York to work their magic and lovingly bring back to life such old monster machines. How can I ever serve guests at Casa Cóctel with my dignity intact without a proper machine to make lovely coffee drinks? Coffee is just yet another ingredient in the cocktail pantry.

Sean Muldoon is the mastermind behind the award-winning bar menu of the Merchant Hotel in Belfast. When I say award-winning, I mean they took the 2009 Tales of the Cocktail Spirit Awards by storm, with World's Best Drink Selection, World's Best Hotel Bar and World's Best Cocktail Menu. I had my best ever Irish Coffee in this gorgeous historic bar with the sweetheart, Mr. Muldoon, as my host.


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]]>belfastBuenaVistaIrishCoffeecoffee cocktailsCoffeeCocktailsfaemairish coffeeIrishCoffeelenell smothersLenellItAllLenellSmotherstales of the cocktailTalesOfTheCocktailTheMerchantHotelLeNell Smothers2009-10-07T17:00:00+00:00Manhattan Cocktail Classic 2009http://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/06/manhattan-cocktail-classic-2009/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/06/manhattan-cocktail-classic-2009/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/06/manhattan-cocktail-classic-2009/#commentsFiled under: , ,

manhattan cocktail classic
Photo: Sara Bonisteel
New York City isn't about to forget its cocktail roots.

The wild popularity of New Orleans' Tales of the Cocktail has prompted imbibing New Yorkers to get into the cocktail conference game. Enter the Manhattan Cocktail Classic, which held a preview session over the weekend in anticipation of a full-blown, five-day cocktail conference next May 14-18. Lucky attendees to the preview seminars were taught cocktail lessons from behind the bar at swank locales throughout the city.

The cap to the weekend was a wild party at the main branch of the New York Public Library on Oct. 4, complete with a Prohibition-style "Free Lunch," cocktails from more than two dozen bartenders and a live band that made the place jump in "Great Gatsby"-like fashion. Check out Slashfood's photos after the jump.

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]]>dale degroffDaleDegroffmanhattan cocktail classicManhattanCocktailClassicnew yorknew york public libraryNewYorkNewYorkPublicLibrarytales of the cocktailTalesOfTheCocktailSara Bonisteel2009-10-06T16:00:00+00:00LeNell It All - Little Bit of Countryhttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/09/30/lenell-it-all-little-bit-of-country/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/09/30/lenell-it-all-little-bit-of-country/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/09/30/lenell-it-all-little-bit-of-country/#commentsFiled under: , ,


lenell smothers
LeNell Smothers.
Alabama-born LeNell Smothers defines herself first and foremost as a bartender, but she's been called many things -- most recently, the proprietress of LeNell's liquor store. She's owned her own whiskey label called Red Hook Rye and has been recognized by her home state as an honorary Colonel. Other interests include gin, sin and men.

The moving truck rolls into Brooklyn this week. The big international move to Mexico has been brutal to organize, but -- lucky me! -- I had the very cool cats called Ladies United for the Preservation of Endangered Cocktails (LUPEC) host a splendid Hasta Luego shindig in my honor.

One of the members, Elayne Duke, served up an original creation she called "Little Bit of Country," that's perfect for the chill coming in the air these days. Her cocktail pretty much sums me up: kick of bourbon, little sweetness, nice tartness, touch of spiciness and just enough bitter to balance it all out. My Granny sent me a fabulous leopard-print dress to wear that just had to have a pink feather boa for the party ... and I sported my cowboy boots for a "little bit of country."

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]]>bourbonjalapenoslenell it alllenell smothersLenellItAllLenellSmothersmaple syrupMapleSyrupmexicoLeNell Smothers2009-09-30T17:00:00+00:00'Sips and Apps' - Cookbook Spotlighthttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/09/30/sips-and-apps-cookbook-spotlight/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/09/30/sips-and-apps-cookbook-spotlight/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/09/30/sips-and-apps-cookbook-spotlight/#commentsFiled under: , ,


sips and apps
Photo: Chronicle Books.
'Sips and Apps: Classic and Contemporary Recipes for Cocktails and Appetizers'
By Kathy Casey
Photos by Angie Norwood Browne
Chronicle Books -- 2009
Buy it on Amazon

Kathy Casey isn't a mixologist, she's a "bar chef" -- a trained chef with mad cocktail skills. In "Sips and Apps," she ventures off the well-trod path of standard cocktail guides to explore cocktails with such seductive names as Black Feather and Clear Conscience.

But it's her appetizers that are sure to offer a new trick or two for your next cocktail soiree.

See what we tested and find out whether the book's worth buying after the jump.

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]]>angie norwood brownAngieNorwoodBrowncookbook spotlightCookbookSpotlightdeviled eggsDeviledEggskathy caseyKathyCaseymad menMadMensips and appsSipsAndAppsSara Bonisteel2009-09-30T14:00:00+00:00LeNell It All - Rosé The Riveterhttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/09/23/le-nell-it-all-the-riveter/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/09/23/le-nell-it-all-the-riveter/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/09/23/le-nell-it-all-the-riveter/#commentsFiled under: , ,


The Riveter. Photo: LeNell Smothers.
Alabama-born LeNell Smothers defines herself first and foremost as a bartender, but she's been called many things -- most recently, the proprietress of LeNell's liquor store. She's owned her own whiskey label called Red Hook Rye and has been recognized by her home state as an honorary Colonel. Other interests include gin, sin and men.

I drink rosé year round. Get over the idea that it's a flimsy soda-pop wine meant for picnics. When in doubt for food pairing, I often go with the pink. Rosé can be so versatile, even as an ingredient in a cocktail.

You can still find Bordeaux bottles every now and then, labeled claret, that are dark, dry, "serious" rosés. For my cocktail feature this week, I strongly suggest picking up a bottle. If not Bordeaux, look for a rosé made with Bordeaux grapes like cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc or a malbec that's so dark, it's almost a light red.

Rosé ain't for wimps. Neither is this cocktail named after Rosie, the American icon who represented the many women who went to work in factories to help us make it through World War II. Toast all the beautiful and strong women in your life who make this world a better place!

Get the recipe for Rosé the Riveter after the jump. ...

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]]>bordeauxcocktailcocktail recipesCocktailRecipeslenell it alllenell smothersLenellItAlllenellsmothersroserose cocktailrose the riveterrose wineRoseCocktailRoseTheRiveterRoseWinerosie the riveterRosieTheRiveterLeNell Smothers2009-09-23T17:00:00+00:00LeNell It All - Beetroot Margaritahttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/09/16/lenell-it-all-beetroot-margarita/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/09/16/lenell-it-all-beetroot-margarita/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/09/16/lenell-it-all-beetroot-margarita/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Beetroot Margarita.
Photo: LeNell Smothers
Alabama-born LeNell Smothers defines herself first and foremost as a bartender, but she's been called many things -- most recently, the proprietress of LeNell's liquor store. She's owned her own whiskey label called Red Hook Rye and been recognized by her home state as an honorary Colonel. Other interests include gin, sin and men.

Hotel bars have the potential to serve as a haven while you are on vacation, but often they are just places to get ripped off for a mediocre drink. When you're lucky enough to happen upon that truly special hotel bar where no detail has been overlooked, the sticker shock on the cocktail menu might just melt away into your highballs.

I had the quintessential hotel bar experience in London's lovely Connaught Hotel. The barmen were as beautiful as the surroundings, but the drinks were the showstoppers. After the most divine martini service ever, the barman suggested I try a margarita.

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]]>beetrootbeetroot margaritaBeetrootMargaritaConnaughtHotelGallianoBalsamicolenellitalllenellsmothersmargaritaLeNell Smothers2009-09-16T17:00:00+00:00LeNell It All - The Lost Wager http://www.slashfood.com/2009/09/09/lenell-it-all-the-lost-wager/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/09/09/lenell-it-all-the-lost-wager/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/09/09/lenell-it-all-the-lost-wager/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


The Lost Wager. Photo: LeNell Smothers
Alabama-born LeNell Smothers defines herself first and foremost as a bartender, but she's been called many things -- most recently, the proprietress of LeNell's liquor store. She's owned her own whiskey label called Red Hook Rye and been recognized by her home state as an honorary Colonel. Other interests include gin, sin and men.

Do you ever get a little argumentative when you've imbibed a little too much? Alcohol consumption often does loosen up the tongue. After a few drinks with my best friend Ben, I recently got all belligerent about Scotch cocktails.

Anybody who knows me knows I love my American whiskeys: bourbon, rye, wheat, even corn whiskey. I'll always prefer bourbon over Scotch -- although, I do enjoy plenty of Scotch whiskeys too. But I've rarely had a Scotch cocktail that made me want to come back for more.

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]]>lenell it allLenellItAlllenellsmotherslost wagerLostWagerscotchscotch cocktailscotch whiskyScotchAndSodaScotchCocktailScotchWhiskyLeNell Smothers2009-09-09T17:00:00+00:00Cocktail Ingredients Quizhttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/09/01/cocktail-ingredients-quiz/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/09/01/cocktail-ingredients-quiz/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/09/01/cocktail-ingredients-quiz/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Can you identify the ingredients in a martini, cosmopolitan, Manhattan, Mai Tai, Long Island Iced Tea, Harvey Wallbager and more? See how well you know your cocktails.

Cocktail Ingredients Quiz

Crazy for Cosmopolitans? You'll need vodka, Cointreau or triple sec, lime juice, and one other ingredient to shake 'em up at home.

  • Grenadine
  • Orange juice
  • Cranberry juice
  • Pink grapefruit juice

Some folks get fancy with the recipe, but a traditionally-made Mai Tai gets its signature flavor from lime juice, dark rum, grenadine (or simple syrup), curacao and what other key ingredient?

  • Almond syrup
  • Mango juice
  • Coconut milk
  • Orange juice

Shaking up vodka, cream, and this variety of liqueur results in a White Russian.

  • Coffee
  • White chocolate
  • Vanilla
  • Peppermint

The rim of a Sidecar glass is coated in what tasty substance?

  • Sugar
  • Salt
  • Cocoa
  • Honey

The non-alcoholic classic Shirley Temple contains ginger ale (or lemon-lime soda), orange juice and a sweet splash of what?

  • Fruit punch
  • Cranberry juice
  • Grenadine
  • Pineapple juice

Vodka or gin would need just this ingredient to be shaken or stirred into a gimlet.

  • Roses Lime Juice Cordial
  • Olive juice
  • Fresh lime juice
  • Pickle juice

Rye (or bourbon), vermouth, bitters and a cherry are the components of which classic cocktail?

  • Negroni
  • Old Fashioned
  • Manhattan
  • Rob Roy

Mix up rum, lime and Coca-Cola to make this drink.

  • Cuba Libre
  • El Presidente
  • Bronx
  • Corpse Reviver

Mint, sugar, lime, soda water and this liquor come together to be muddled into a mojito.

  • Cachaca
  • Tequila
  • Rum
  • Pisco

Standard ingredients in a Negroni include gin, vermouth and what other liquid?

  • Lemon juice
  • Egg whites
  • Angostura bitters
  • Campari

It's not just a punchline -- the Harvey Wallbanger is a fern bar staple featuring vodka, orange juice, and this odd liqueur.

  • Goldschlager
  • Rumplemintz
  • Galliano
  • Peach Schnaaps

When this is popped into a Martini in lieu of an olive, it becomes a Gibson.

  • Jalapeno pepper
  • Lime wedge
  • Gherkin
  • Cocktail onion

James Bond may be more commonly associated with the Martini, but writer Ian Fleming also had him slugging down Vespers, which are concocted from Lillet Blanc and which two liquors?

  • Brandy & Scotch
  • Gin & Vodka
  • Vodka & Bourbon
  • Bourbon & Brandy

Mix orange juice and this spirit for a hard-hitting Screwdriver.

  • Rum
  • Vodka
  • Champagne
  • Whiskey

Sure, you could ask for a vodka & cranberry with a lime wedge, but it's much more festive to order it this way:

  • Greyhound
  • Salty Dog
  • Cape Cod
  • Madras

If you've got bourbon, mint, and a splash of soda, you're on the right track to make the Derby Day classic, a Mint Julep. What's still missing?

  • Lime
  • Sugar
  • Bitters
  • Nothing

The Bloody Mary is a brunch standard, but this addition transforms it into a hearty Bloody Bull.

  • Beef broth
  • Red Bull
  • A whole hot pepper
  • Pepper vodka

Creme de menthe and cream are terribly tasty together, but if you want a Grasshopper, hop to the store for a bottle of:

  • Vanilla vodka
  • Creme de Cacao
  • Green food coloring
  • Mint extract

A Greyhound gets its distinctive flavor from vodka and this mixer:

  • Sweetened lime juice
  • Pineapple juice
  • Cranberry and orange juice
  • Grapefruit juice

We all know that a Long Island Iced Tea has no tea in the mix, but what liquor isn't part of the standard recipe?

  • Bourbon
  • Vodka
  • Rum
  • Tequila
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]]>bittersbloody maryBloodyMarybourboncamparicocktailscosmopolitansgimletsgingrenadineharvey wallbangerHarveyWallbangerlong island iced teaLongIslandIcedTeamai taiMaiTaimanhattanmartinimartinismint julepMintJulepmojitonegronirumscrewdrivershirley templeShirleyTemplesidecartequilatriple secTripleSecvermouthvodkawhite russianWhiteRussianSlashfood Editor2009-09-01T16:17:00+00:00LeNell It All - Micheladas for Muggy Weatherhttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/08/19/lenell-it-all-michelada/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/08/19/lenell-it-all-michelada/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/08/19/lenell-it-all-michelada/#commentsFiled under: ,


A michelada. Photo: Winemeup, Flickr.
Alabama-born LeNell Smothers defines herself first and foremost as a bartender, but she's been called many things -- most recently, the proprietress of LeNell's liquor store. She's owned her own whiskey label called Red Hook Rye and been recognized by her home state as an honorary Colonel. Other interests include gin, sin and men.

I love cocktails. I love my wine. However, sometimes nothing hits the spot like a cold beer when the sun's blistering down. If you are still in the mood for a cocktail but craving that beer, try a michelada.

As with many mixed drinks, you may get a different flavor depending on your location and bartender. A michelada may have some sort of tomato juice or it may not. Like a martini, always specify how you like your drink.

In Baja if you ask for a michelada, you'll typically get a cocktail with beer, salt, and fresh Key lime juice. On the mainland you can order a Clamato (which has clam broth) or some type of tomato juice spiked with various sauces. It's similar to a Bloody Mary, with beer instead of vodka. (Even if the cocktail does not contain the brand-name Clamato mix, the drink is still often referred to as "a Clamato.") I prefer a Clamato as a brunch drink rather than an afternoon refresher.

Two recipes for a michelada and a michelada Clamato, after the jump!

Continue reading LeNell It All - Micheladas for Muggy Weather

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]]>beer cocktailbeer cocktailsBeerCocktailBeerCocktailsclamatolenell it allLenellItAllmicheladaLeNell Smothers2009-08-19T15:00:00+00:00Tru Blood Cocktailshttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/08/07/tru-blood-cocktails/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/08/07/tru-blood-cocktails/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/08/07/tru-blood-cocktails/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Dutch Blood and Tru Blood. Photo: Sara Bonisteel
What do you do when you get a bottle of Tru Blood -- the real blood-orange soda inspired by the synthetic blood vampires like Bill Compton drink on HBO's "True Blood"?

If you're me, you head to a bar with a sinister name in an isolated part of town and see what a brilliant bartender can do.

Dutch Kills bartender Giuseppe Gonzalez happens to be a fan of the Southern Gothic tale and was downright delighted to play around with this new sweet soda, which has a faint, bitter caffeine aftertaste that goes well with bitters but can be problematic with other players on the liquor cabinet shelf.

Get the Dutch Blood recipe and more after the jump.

Continue reading Tru Blood Cocktails

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]]>bill comptonBillComptoncocktailsdutch killsDutchKillseric northmanEricNorthmangiuseppe gonzalezGiuseppeGonzalezhbosookie stackhouseSookieStackhousesynthetic bloodSyntheticBloodtru bloodTruBloodtrue bloodTrueBloodvampiresSara Bonisteel2009-08-07T17:30:00+00:00Stunning Sangria - Feast Your Eyeshttp://www.slashfood.com/2009/08/06/stunning-sangria-feast-your-eyes/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/08/06/stunning-sangria-feast-your-eyes/http://www.slashfood.com/2009/08/06/stunning-sangria-feast-your-eyes/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

sangria
Photo: REC(ession)IPES
Times are tough, but that doesn't mean we should stop sipping on drinks like this stylish sangria. In fact, an uncomfortable economic climate might be just the reason to sit down with a lavish-looking cocktail or two.

This sangria from REC(ession)IPES is made using rosé, crème de cassis, strawberries, raspberries and pineapple, and sparkles with seltzer. It's even somewhat nutritious, thanks to all of that beautiful fruit. Best of all: It costs less than a dollar per serving to make. We'll have three!

[Via Rec(ession)ipies]
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]]>creme de cassispink sangriarecessionipesrosesangriaEmily Farris2009-08-06T10:00:00+00:00