Citrus Dark'n Stormy

So, Kim was making some candied orange peel for a biscotti recipe this past weekend (click here for the recipe) and the left over fluid looked and smelled so good we had to filter and save it for cocktails. It's an obvious choice for Old Fashion's but here is a unique twist.  If you don't have any of this liquid gold, an easy substitution would be to use plain simple syrup with some orange bitters mixed in.

Citrus Dark'n Stormy

• thinly sliced fresh ginger
• 1 1/2 tablespoons orange simple syrup*, or plain simple syrup plus orange bitters
• 2 oz dark rum
• 4 oz ginger beer
• large lime wedge

Add fresh ginger, saving some for garnish, and orange simple syrup to a high ball glass, gently muddle.  Fill with ice and pour rum over top, stir to combine.  Top with ginger beer.  Squeeze lime wedge over drink and drop it in.  Gently stir and enjoy.

Dr. Jekyll & Mr. "Rye"

Happy Halloween!

Wow, it's been over a month since my last post?!?  What better way to get back into the swing of things than posting a cocktail for one of my favorite holidays, Halloween.  This cocktail has some great fall flavors in it, both apple and ginger.  I have seen similar recipes online that call for normal, boring non-alcoholic cider and ginger beer (Dr. Jekyll). However, after a quick trip up to Frankfurt last weekend, where I got my hands on some more delicious Apfelwein and a random find at the grocery store of an English alcoholic ginger beer why not create a Mr. Hyde version where every ingredient has the potential to get you drunk by itself. Enjoy.

Dr. Jekyll & Mr. "Rye"

• 1.5 oz. Rye Whiskey (Templeton Rye: 40% ABV)
• 3 oz. alcoholic Apple Cider (Blauer Bock Apfelwein: 5.5% ABV)
• 3 - 4 oz. alcoholic Ginger Beer (Stone's Ginger Joe: 4.0% ABV)

Fill both a cocktail shaker and glass with ice.  Add whiskey and cider to the shaker and stir for ~20 seconds.  Strain into ice filled glass.  Top with ginger beer and gently stir to combine. And that's it.

* Originally I was thinking of adding something to sweeten the drink a bit, but I enjoy the tanginess of this fall cocktail.  However, if you like things on the sweeter side try adding a teaspoon or two of honey or maple syrup to the shaker with the whiskey and cider and stir until dissolved.