Aperol Spritz, a Classic Italian Beverage

While you can order an Aperol Spritz just about anywhere in Italy, its beginnings are in the north.  It is particularly popular in Venice and Verona where it is the aperitivo drink of choice.  It's bright orange color is unmistakable and while it is served in a variety of different glassware, the recipe remains the same.  This is the classic recipe from Aperol, the company who has produced this low alcohol spirit since 1919.  We'll be serving these at our first Aperitivo Thursday this week at Swirl.  Come over and try one with a complimentary plate of snack from our friends at Good Eggs!

Aperol Spritz

3 parts Proscecco

2 parts Aperol

Splash of club soda

Fill a wine glass with ice. Add the above ingredients and garnish with half an orange slice. Insert straw, close your eyes and imagine yourself sitting in a lively piazza it Italy! 

A Dangerously Simple Summer Cocktail

Sunday evenings = cocktail time.  We've done a long, hard bike ride at the end of a busy week, and a nice refreshing beverage is the perfect recovery tonic!  We love citrus based cocktails and this one with fresh lemon juice, ginger and agave nectar added to some Square One Organic Basil Vodka is the BOMB!
Salute!

1 1/2 oz. Square One Basil Vodka

3/4 oz. fresh lemon juice

3/4 oz. agave nectar or simple syrup

1/2-1 teaspoon of chopped fresh ginger

Combine all in a shaker with ice. Shake well and pour into a rocks glass.  Garnish with a fresh Basil leaf and a little of the chopped ginger.

The Perfect Gin Cocktail

Inspired by a bottle of John D. Taylor Velvet Falernum we've been experimenting with lately, Kerry has created our new favorite summer cocktail.  Velvet Falernum is an addictive sugar cane liqueur from Barbados and is a staple in many of the classic Caribbean cocktails.   A little cane syrup and Barbados rum are infused with lime, cloves, almond ginger, and offers limitless possibilities for the adventurous mixologist!

Just add friends, ocean breezes and a beautiful sunset and you'll have the perfect beach cocktail.  Enjoy!

1 jigger gin (we like Broker's or Aviation with this)
1/2 jigger velvet falernum
1/2 jigger fresh lime juice
splash of simple syrup to taste
shake with ice
pour into a rocks glass
top with a splash of aged rum or cachaca
garnish with a thin wedge of lime or lime peel

Savory Bites

...offering tidbits of information on interesting discoveries in the food and wine scene of New Orleans.

The Best Gimlet in Town 

During the busy holiday season when 12 hour work days are the norm you can often find Kerry and me sitting at the bar at Cafe Degas sipping on a cocktail and resting our feet.  Nick, the sometimes cranky but always entertaining bartender, knows what we want before we even sit down, his perfectly mixed Vodka Gimlet.  So refreshing with the tart lime combined with just a touch a sweetness, it is the perfect end to a long hard day.

We went over to Cafe Degas last night to toast the end of the holiday season and I asked Nick if I could have his recipe for this blog.  But like any good bartender or cook, the recipe is not exact as it depends on how juicy or tart the limes are (fresh limes are a must), what type of vodka you use, etc.  So here's his basic Vodka Gimlet recipe, that you can adjust based on how tart or sweet you like your cocktails.  

Cheers!

Vodka Gimlet

    * 2 oz Kettle One Vodka
    * 3/4 oz Lime juice, freshly squeezed
    * 1/4-1/2 oz Simple Syrup

Combine ingredients in a shaker ¾ full of ice. Give it all a good shake, strain into a pre-chilled cocktail glass, garnish with a twist of lime, and settle down to enjoy one of life’s tarter pleasures.
 

It's Cocktail Season, almost...Kerry's Smokin' Caipirinha

We are seasonal cocktail drinkers. As the weather warms up here in New Orleans, I'm much more inclined to go for an interesting icy cold beverage before dinner. We are fortunate to live in a city where cocktails are an art and bartenders are sought after for their creative talents with a muddler, fresh local ingredients, herbs and interesting spirits.

Take for instance our latest trip to a Mano. As well as a great wine list they've got a really cool lineup of cocktails with a focus on Italian spirits. I ordered the Chinotto, a delicious combination of Junipero Gin, Averna Amaro, Local Bitter Orange Juice and Brown Sugar. A wonderful way to start the evening and I loved the unique flavor combination.

So on Sunday evenings in the summer we like to have a cocktail as we cook dinner and although it was not very warm last night we decided we would celebrate the first weekend of spring with one of our favorites, a Caipirinha. But Kerry got the brilliant idea to top it of with a little Del Maguey Crema de Mezcal, a combination of 10% roasted agave syrup and 90% mezcal made in the original, natural, handcrafted way. It is slightly sweet, with this incredible smoky, stewed fruit flavor that was absolutely incredible with the tart, limey Caipirinha. Very dangerous stuff here...you've been warned.

Kerry's Smokin' Caipirinha

Ingredients:

* 1 lime, quartered
* 2 tsp fine sugar
* 2 oz cachaca
* splash of crema de mezcal

Preparation:

1. Place the lime wedges and sugar into a rocks glass.
2. Muddle well to create a paste.
3. Fill the glass with ice cubes.
4. Pour in the cachaca.
5. Stir well.
6. Top off with a splash of crema de mezcal.

el diablo...