The idea of a lemonade with the right amount of heat and the right kind of booze is a tricky thing to come by. To be honest, I was surprised at how well this particular experiment turned out, but it’s a perfect storm of flavors. The lemonade and Bourbon go remarkably well together, and the habañero flavor kicks in right at the end. The great thing about using the habañero is that it gives you distinctive “spice” without a pronounced vegetable flavor often encountered with jalapeño infusions. … Read entire article »

With the weather becoming colder and grayer, I’ve been craving whiskey drinks more – and my standby, a frosty beer, less and less. And while you can’t beat a top shelf Bourbon (Woodford, Makers Mark, Bakers, etc.) at room temperature in a glass with nothing else, the downside is that it’s an expensive way to catch a delicious buzz. I wasn’t too keen on moonlighting at the docks to support my cocktail fetish, so I came up with a cheaper alternative. A good Bourbon has a full flavor that is less evident in it’s more wallet-friendly brethren. You can easily dull the sharpness and bite of any harsh liquor by adding some tonic, soda, or water, and Bourbon is no exception. But these cocktails usually taste too much like the ingredient … Read entire article »

With the onset of cooler weather, I thought that a spiced bourbon would make for some pretty tasty cocktails, and I was right. Try out this recipe for spiced bourbon and you’ll agree. To begin with, use a decent bourbon (Maker’s, Evan Williams Single Barrel will do). To make the spiced bourbon, you can use whatever spices you want-it’s all about personal taste. But since my personal taste is better than yours, you should follow these guidelines. For the infusion I chose cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and clove. Whatever spices you choose, use the whole (not ground) versions. If you do use nutmeg, crack the nut – don’t leave it whole.  I wrapped mine in cheesecloth and let them steep in the bourbon. The key to this project is daily tasting.  Each spice … Read entire article »