What's For Dessert?

The Chocolatier, O.M.G. & Berry Creme Fresh

Sweet tooth? Dessert Cocktails have everything you need to satisfy those after dinner cravings

Chocolate? Peanut butter? Fresh Fruit? What does it for you? Dessert Cocktails are the perfect end to any evening and when you know how to shake up the perfect mix, you can avoid those syrupy, overly sweet disasters that some bartenders attempt to slay their customers with after dinner. Take a break from your everyday Chocolate Martini.

Try inovative simple syrups, like honey roasted peanut, or white chocolate macadamia nut paired with interesting spirit choices. Skip the norm and opt for Nut Liquor, Nocello Walnut Liquer, St. Elizabeth Allspice or Vanilla Infused Rum. And then look for common dessert-esk liquors to blend... Amaretto, Godiva, Kaluha, Tuaca, Lemoncello, Gran Marnier, Chambord and then keep it simple and not too sweet. I usually skip the "Sugar Rim" that has become so popular, but in a dessert cocktail, it may add something a little extra. A rim should be used as an addition to the cocktail, not just for looks. Get creative with your garnishes too. Dessert is about the whole package, don't skip the details.

O.M.G.

1.5 oz Nut Liquor

.75 oz Honey Roasted Peanut Simple Syrup

1 oz Cream

.5 oz Amaretto

Dry Shake the mix to froth up the cream then shake vigorously over ice. Serve up in a cocktail glass with a honey roasted peanut and brown sugar rim

Garnish with fresh sliced banana





Simple Syrups-- Sweet & Sassy

Simple Syrup is the easiest way to take your cocktail creations to the next level. Start by boiling equal parts sugar and water for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally and go crazy from there. If you want a more viscous syrup you can add more sugar, but make sure you stir more frequently to prevent the sugar from burning. Try changing to brown sugar or natural sugar for more flavor options.
Some commonly made and versatile syrups are honey, ginger, lemon, lime, pepper, jalepeno and vanilla. You can get really creative and use herbs and spices to produce some interesting flavor combinations. Try cherry vanilla, honey lavender, peach, lychee, caramel apple, lemon grass, thyme, cayenne pepper... it takes a little time and a lot of tasting to get things just right, trust your palate. Remember, there is no "right" way to make something up. I try not to limit myself to following exact recipies, especially when using fresh ingredients. Some methods are more effective than others for specific ingredients. For instance, when using ginger, I find that grating it helps release the most amount of flavor into the syrup. Deciding to include or omit the peel of a lemon of an orange can really make a big difference in your final product. If you are having a hard time with gettting enough flavor out in the boiling process, try letting the syrup cool with the flavoring agents still in it and then bringing it back up to a boil. Also, if you leave the syrup at room temp overnight before straining it off, you will find a much more potent result. Invest in a funnel and some cheese cloth, it works wonders.
So you made a creative syrup, now what? Try and create cocktails that compliment or contrast with the flavor of your syrup. You will find that sweet needs to be balanced with sour, bitter or dry. Work to create cocktails that have balance, that is the key to success. When experiementing, add one element at a time to your mixing glass, taste, smell, evaluate and move forward. It may take a couple tries to get what you are looking for so be patient. Have fun, and think outside the box, some of the best cocktails have very surprising combinations of flavors and you won't know how they work together until you try it yourself.

Summer Libations

What kind of fresh fruit or veggies do you find yourself reaching for this summer? Your favorite flavors can easily become part of your favorite cocktail. Hit your local grocery store or market and grab what looks good. Here is one to get you started:

Summer Fling
1.5 oz Vodka (I like Ketel One, this cocktail is also great with Gin)
.75 oz St. Germain Elderflower Liquer
.75 oz Fresh Squeezed Lime Juice
.75 oz Honey Simple Syrup
3-4 Chunks of Fresh Watermelon

Muddle the Watermelon with the Lime Juice, add ice and build tall, top with a splash of Soda Water
Garnish with scewered Watermelon

Tip: This mix can be built in high volume and served from pitchers, great for summer time parties or sitting on your porch with family and friends. For an added punch try infusing the watermelon with a Citrus Vodka the night before your party.