Irish Old Fashion

Happy St. Patty's Day!  Looking for a new way to have a little Irish Whiskey, Guinness and Bailey's today that doesn't involve chugging a whole pint before it turns into alcoholic cottage cheese?  Try an Irish Old Fashion.  It does take a little preparation before hand to make the Guinness simple syrup, but its worth it in the end.  And you can always use the left over syrup on your late-night flapjack craving.

Irish Old Fashion

• 2 oz Irish whiskey
• 1/2 oz Guinness simple syrup (Recipe below)
• dash bitters
• splash of Bailey's Irish Cream (Optional)
• crushed cocoa nibs (Optional)

To garnish the glass with crushed cocoa nibs, pour the Bailey's and crushed cocoa nibs into separate shallow bowls.  First wet the lip of the glass in the Bailey's, then roll in the cocoa nibs.  It's a little backwards to prepare the drink in a glass that is already garnished but this isn't your typical Old Fashion.  Add the Guinness simple syrup and bitters to the glass.  Top with plenty of ice, then pour the whiskey over the ice.  Gently stir to combine.  Cheers!

Guinness Simple Syrup

• 12 oz Guinness
• 8 oz demerara sugar

Pour Guinness into a sauce pan.  Bring to a simmer over medium heat and reduce by 1/3 to about 8 oz.  Remove from heat and stir in sugar until dissolved.  Cool and store in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. If it last that long.

Pomegranate Martini

Happy 2013!!!

Looking for something to help detox after your New Years celebration.  Why not use every one's favorite super food in your next cocktail. Fresh pomegranates are readily available this time of year.  Sure it's a bit messy and time consuming to juice fresh pomegranates, but you can always buy it by the bottle. So give this tangy refreshing cocktail a try.  (And yes we're hooked on candied orange peel, see my post for Citrus Dark'n Stormy for a recipe and how to use the left over orange syrup)

Pomegranate Martini

• 4 oz pomegranate juice (it took seeds from half of a fresh pomegranate or just use the Pom juice)
• 1/4 oz Martini Rosato or sweet vermouth
• 1.5 oz vodka
• lime wedge

Chill a martini glass.  Fill cocktail shaker with ice and add pomegranate juice, Rosato and vodka.  Shake vigorously for 15 seconds.  Strain into chilled martini glass and squeeze lime wedge over top.  Garnish with fresh pomegranate seeds and a candied orange peel.