Cocktail = Palenque

"I found myself caught in a dream about the lost tribes of the Maya and Inca last night - undoubtedly due to my recent overdoses of The History Channel. Knowing that I needed to post more cocktails on the blog, combined with my anticipation of my DJ friend from L.A. contributing music pairings to "all things alcoholic in nature", it seemed fitting that I create something that had the pinnings of some sort of tribute to Central and South America, which of course led me to tequila - figuratively, not literally. Hating the thought of a Margarita and wanting to keep some sort of local flavor - this is what I came up with. This tequila cocktail is crisp and fresh with undertones of botanicals, molasses, ginger, cinnamon, and rooibos tea provided by the addition of Snap - an Art in the Age ginger spirit from Philadelphia Distilling." - Corey

what you need:

Espolón Blanco Tequila, 2 oz.
Art in the Age Snap Liqueur, 3/4 oz.
Lime Juice, fresh, 1/2 oz.
Agave Nectar, 1 Tsp. 

Honey, 1 tsp.

Mint Leaves, fresh, 2 each
Jarritos Tamarind Soda, 1 oz.

how you make it:
1. Combine all of the ingredients in a shaker tin.
2. Shake vigorously for 20 seconds to break up the mint leaf and 
release the oils.
3. Double strain over cube ice into a double old fashioned glass.
4. Top with Tamarind soda.

Cocktail = Huckleberry Thyme

what you need:

Penn 1681 Vodka (or your favorite vodka), 1 1/2 oz.
St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur, 1/2 oz.
Fresh Lemon Juice, 1/2 oz. 

Lemon Zest, pinch
Yellow Chartreuse Liqueur, 1/4 oz.
Agave Nectar, 1/2 oz.

Honey, 1/4 oz.
Thyme Leaves, fresh, pinch

Huckleberries, fresh, 2 oz.
how you make it:
1. Muddle the huckleberries in a shaker tin with the lemon zest.
2. Add the remaining ingredients to the tin.
3. Add ice and shake hard.
4. Double strain over ice into a Collins glass.

*Note: If you don't have agave nectar you can substitute simple syrup. If you don't have huckleberries, you can substitute blueberries.

Cocktail = Cucumber + Vodka + Mint / Aqua Fresca

"This heat can make you do crazy things. Try cooling off with this refreshing cocktail." -Corey

what you need:

Your Favorite Vodka, 1 1/2 oz
Cucumber, peeled, diced, 1/2 each

Fresh Mint Leaves, 2 each
Fresh Sweet and Sour, 3/4 oz
Boylan's Lemon Seltzer, 1/2 oz
Cucumber Wheel Garnish, 3 slices
Mint Garnish, 1 bunch

how you make it:

1. In a shaker tin, muddle the cucumber with a couple leaves of mint and the sweet and sour.

2. Add ice and vodka and shake vigorously.

3. Pour into a glass and add seltzer and stir.

music pairing: andrew bird - nervous tic 
"My crazy sister used to stick her head in the oven trying to light it - giving her a new perm every time she found success. Thanks to her I get a nervous tic when the pilot light goes out." - Corey

Cocktail = Watermelon + Basil + Rum

what you need:
10 Cane Rum, 1 1/2 oz
Fresh Watermelon, seeded, chopped, 4 oz
Fresh Basil, 1 leaf, julienne
Fresh Sweet and Sour, 1/2 oz
Boylan's Lemon Seltzer, 5 oz
Basil Flower Garnish, 1 each
Watermelon Garnish, 1 each
how you make it:
1. In a shaker, combine the rum, watermelon, basil leaf, and sweet and sour with ice. 
2. Shake vigorously to break up the watermelon and release the oils from the basil.
3. Pour over ice, add the lemon seltzer and stir.
4. Garnish with basil flower and watermelon wedge.

Cocktail = The Bloody Mary

"A good Bloody Mary can sometimes be hard to find. Of all of the ubiquitous cocktails that populate most bar menus (Sex on the Beach, Pina Colada, Long Island Iced Tea), the Bloody Mary may be the only one worth saving. Roasting farm fresh tomatoes, and infusing the Vodka with Bacon in a technique called "Fat Washing", are just some of the ways you can make this classic even better. If you don't want to do all of that, just start with a good Bloody Mary Mash. Here's an easy recipe that is bound to make you a favorite amongst your party patrons." - Corey
What You Need For The Mash:
1 cup horseradish
2 oz. Dijon mustard (not whole grain)
1 1/2 Tbs. celery seed
1 1/2 Tbs. course black pepper
1 1/2 Tbs. Tabasco Sauce
1 1/2 Tbs. Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 Tbs. A-1 sauce
How You Make It:
1.Mix the mash together until well combined.
2.Add 1 Tbs. of the mash to 12oz. of V-8.
3. Add a shot of your favorite vodka.
4.Pour over ice and garnish with Lime and Olive.

Cocktail = The Passenger

"In all of our recipes, when we talk about fruit juices or syrups, we mean only fresh juice and housemade syrups. We also infuse our own vodkas, bourbons, and rums. If you don't have the time to do your own infusions, any one of your favorite ready-made infused alcohols will do the trick as well. ." - Corey
Mike Suermann, Cocktail Craftsman
What You Need:
2 oz Apple Infused Vodka
1 oz Calvados
.5 oz Cranberry Juice
.25 oz Caramel Syrup
How You Make It:
1. Combine all ingredients in a shaker tin.
2. Add ice and shake very hard.
3. Double strain in to cocktail glass.

Cocktail = Sazerac

"A New Orleans classic and the oldest known American Cocktail, The Sazerac has pre-civil war roots and is named for the Sazerac de Forge et Fils brand of Cognac. It is traditionally served with Peychaud's bitters, although some bars, including our's, are now making their own bitters. If you don't have Absinthe, you can substitute Green Chartreuse." -Corey
What You Need:
2 oz Sazerac Rye Whiskey
Teaspoon of rich simple syrup
3 dashes Peychaud's Bitters
2-3 Dashes Absinthe
How You Make It:
1. Rinse an Old Fashioned glass with a light coating of absinthe.
2. In a mixing glass, combine Rye, simple syrup and bitters.
3. Add some ice and stir until the drink is chilled.
4. Strain into an old fashioned glass.

Cocktail = The Rope Swing

"I found myself an early victim of flu season this past winter. Several of my childhood friends from Texas suggested various remedies- from Caldo to Toddies. The messages I received from people I haven't seen since childhood sent me back into my memories of Texas, and I started thinking again about how much I missed the Hill Country. So.... I came up with this "remedy"- I'm not so keen on the taste of toddies so I skipped over it all together- and came up with this cocktail, giving it the name of "The Rope Swing". It's my tribute to the times my brother and I spent swinging from long, knotted ropes into the chilly Guadalupe River. It may not work for the flu, but really...does anything? I'll sit back and sip on this, and imagine I'm back in the country, cooling off at Shumacher's Crossing in Hunt, Texas. It's pretty good in the summer too." - Corey
What You Need:
Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey 1 3/4 fl. Oz.
Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice 1/2 each
Sweet Tea 2 fl. Oz.
Cherry Syrup 1/4 fl. Oz.
Fresh Mint 1 sprig
Fresh Lemon Juice 1/4 each
Orange Wheel Garnish 1 each
Brandied Cherry Garnish 1 each
How You Make It:
1. Combine the whiskey, orange juice (use fresh squeezed, you can use the unused half to garnish), sweet tea, fresh lemon juice, and cherry syrup with the mint.
2. Shake vigorously with large ice cubes in a Boston shaker until it becomes frothy. The mint will break up into small pieces and flavor the cocktail.
3. Pour over ice, garnish with a brandied cherry.

Cocktail = Mary Pickford

"Named for a Canadian-born Hollywood star, the Mary Pickford has all of the markings of a classic silent-film era cocktail. Known as "Little Mary", Mary Pickford was a real mover and shaker in the early days of film. She was one of the original founders of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and a true pioneer. Here's to Mary." -Corey

What You Need:
2 oz White Rum
1 oz Pineapple Juice
.5 oz Maraschino Liqueur
1 Dash Grenadine

How You Make It:
1.Combine all ingredients in a shaker tin.
2. Add ice and shake hard.
2. Double strain into a chilled cocktail glass.