With a bottle of Chambord by my side, it was a very merry Christmas indeed. I am working my way through the recipes on the attached booklet, and this one was magnifique. 

Chambord Cosmopolitan
+ 1 oz Vodka
+ .5 oz Chambord
+ .5 oz Orange Liqueur
+ 1.25 oz Cranberry Juice
+ .25 oz Fresh Lime Juice
Shake with ice and strain into a martini glass. If you want to get really snazzy, garnish with raspberries.

Photo credit: Lush Lady  

After 3 weeks, the apple bitters are complete! I highly recommend trying it out. All it is is soaking, straining, and waiting. If you can do those things, you’re golden. 

APPLE BITTERS RECIPE

INGREDIENTS
Peels from 6 medium to large (preferably organic) apples
Zest of half a lemon, cut into strips
2 Cinnamon sticks
.5 tsp Allspice berries
.25 tsp Coriander
.5 tsp Cassia chips
.5 tsp Chinchona bark
4 Cloves
2 cups High-proof bourbon
1 cup Water
2 tbsp Rich simple syrup (two parts sugar, one part water)

PROCEDURE
Place the apple peels, lemon zest, cinnamon, allspice, coriander, cassia, chinchona bark and cloves in a 1-quart Mason jar or other glass container with a lid. Add the bourbon, making sure all the ingredients are covered. (Add more bourbon if needed.) Seal, and store at room temperature out of direct sunlight for 2 weeks, shaking once a day. Strain the liquid through a cheesecloth-lined funnel into a clean 1-quart jar, squeezing the cheesecloth to release any excess liquid. Seal the jar and set aside.
 
Transfer the solids to a small saucepan and add the water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cover, reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool completely. Add the contents of the saucepan to another 1-quart Mason jar, seal and store at room temperature out of direct sunlight, for 1 week, shaking once a day. Strain through cheesecloth until all solids have been removed and add the liquid to the bourbon mixture. Add the rich simple syrup and shake to combine. Let stand for 3 days and strain through cheesecloth again to remove any debris. The bitters will last indefinitely, but for best flavor use within 1 year.

Recipe credit: Brad Thomas Parsons (recipe link)

Photo credit: Lush Lady

Yesterday I had my first taste of Fall. The temperature never went above 70 degrees, the sky was cloudy and dreary, and a mist settled over the town. It was definitely time for the comfort of this deliciously thick milk stout.

Photo credit: Lush Lady

A bichon frise at Ziba’s Wine Bar in Grant Park: grapefruit, mint, soda, vodka & elderflower.

Shown here is a Crème Brûlée Imperial Milk Stout at Hand in Hand Pub, Virginia Highlands, Atlanta. Winner of my Best Smelling Beer award (if I had one). Made by Southern Tier brewery in New York, it boasts an ABV of 9.6%, so the serving glass will be short, but the richness of the brew will compensate. If you see this on a menu, I beg you to try it. 

Photo credit: Lush Lady

I sampled both the red and white sangrias made fresh at Goin’ Coastal in the Virginia Highlands, and they were both spectacular. I would go as far as to say it’s the best sangria I’ve had in Atlanta. I like a sangria that doesn’t taste like a sickly sweet fruit punch - I want to taste that there’s some wine in there! Now I know where to go when I get my craving for this Spanish libation.

Photo credit: Lush Lady

What better day than Saturday for some good day drinking? But where at? This past weekend I choose to try out the new Wrecking Bar Brewpub in Little Five Points, Atlanta. And man am I glad I did. There are some great drinks, fantastic people and brilliant brewmaster and bartenders in that joint. Since they are indeed a brewpub I had to try the brew. Shown here is a beer sampler, including a stout, IPA, WIT, and dubbel. See the rest of the list here. I will be featuring more of their libations throughout the week so check back for more!

Photo credit: Lush Lady

Lush Husband is at it again! This time it’s lemon infused tequila, which *almost* tastes like a margarita. I could, and will, drink it on the rocks easy.

Photo credit: Lush Lady