Author Archives: Susie O

The $100 Saints Cocktail

Ok, y’all … I love an expensive drink as much as the next person (which is not at all), but this one caught my attention. The head mixologist at Vitascope Hall in the Hyatt Regency New Orleans mixed up a cocktail that costs a pretty penny but will let Saints fans rep their team with more than just jerseys and face paint.

The cocktail is called Black & Gold … and by gold, they actually mean gold. It’s made with Absolut 100 vodka (just $34 for a 750ml), Champagne Charles Mignon “Cuvée Billionaires Row” Brut Rosé Grand Cru, and a splash of raspberry Chambord liqueur and chilled pineapple juice. Oh … and the icing on the cake … err … topping on the cocktail … there’s edible gold on top and a black and gold sugar rim. (How does one make gold edible? I’m just seeing a flashback to the day after a Goldschläger binge.)

The drink runs cocktail enthusiasts a cool hundy stick ($100). Because sometimes it takes money to show you’re a fan. (What?)

$100 Black & Gold Cocktail (Available at Vitascope Hall in the Hyatt Regency New Orleans)

2 oz. Absolut 100 Super Premium Vodka
½ oz. Chambord
3 oz. Champagne Charles Mignon “Cuvée Billionaires Row” Brut
Rosé Grand Cru
2 ½ oz. Pineapple Juice
Served with a black and gold sugar rim and topped with shaved edible gold.

About the Hyatt Regency New Orleans: Situated in the heart of downtown New Orleans, adjacent to Mercedes-Benz Superdome and just blocks from the historic French Quarter, Hyatt Regency New Orleans is a preferred destination for leisure and business travelers alike, boasting 1,193 strikingly sophisticated guest rooms, including 95 suites and four presidential suites. www.neworleans.hyatt.com.

Troy & Sons, Now Available in Dallas

A couple weeks back, I had the opportunity to meet a true dynamo, Troy Ball. She’s a horse riding, blonde haired, mother of three who makes moonshine in Asheville, NC and a spark plug to boot. (Like, the kind of person I’d really like to be friends with. Like … actual friends that go to brunch and watch “Scandal” together.)

[slideshow_deploy id=’2818′]
Her distillery is at the foot of the Blue Mountains in Asheville and they have family members that actually work there. They even use white corn sourced from a local farm to make their spirits. Troy & Sons’ moonshines were created when Troy learned that most back woods moonshiners (can I say that?) keep the best of each batch of moonshine for themselves and sell of the harsh leftovers. So, she decided to make good moonshine and give the people the best of it. (Nice.) The smoothness of all the T&S moonshines is incredibly surprising. We sipped each before trying them in cocktails, and both ways were enjoyable.

Troy & Sons Platinum Moonshine | The mildly sweet flavor of Platinum isn’t too powerful but still stands up nicely in cocktails. Unlike the name “moonshine” suggests, it doesn’t burn at all. The Platinum is also in a beautiful bottle (that I’m stoked to add to my new bar (cart) when I get it!)
80 proof, $29.99 for 750ml

Troy & Sons Oak Reserve Moonshine | While it’s bottled similarly to the Platinum, the flavors couldn’t be more different thanks to its six months of aging in bourbon barrels*. The short aging gives it a light amber color and slight flavor notes of caramel with a touch of pepper. It is smooooooth (oh baby) and was delicious in the cocktails that we were given during the tasting dinner.
80 proof, $39.99 for 750ml

Blonde Whiskey | The first of their “Blonde” line options, it is made from “the best grains of the old world to the latest in distilling technology.” The flavor is sweet with notes of vanilla, caramel, and honey earned during its 1.5 year aging in custom honeycomb barrels. This deliciousness SHOULD be sipped on its own, tainted only by the two cubes of ice (tops) if you MUST.
80 proof, $42.99 for 750ml

TROY & SONS – NOW AVAILABLE IN DALLAS
website | Facebook | Twitter
Buy Online, available (at least) at Lark on the Park

*Troy told us the story about how she visited a well-know whiskey distillery and convinced them to give her their used bourbon barrels to age their Oak Reserve. She ended up saving their butts by connecting them with a barrel supplier when they needed new barrels during the barrel shortage (yes, there’s apparently a barrel shortage in the US). (Disclaimer: I think that’s the story. I heard it from the opposite side of the table after three tastings and four cocktails.)

Solerno’s “Drink, Pray, Love”

Solerno recently came to town with one of what might have been the coolest events I’ve ever been to … an hour of yoga on a terrace during sunset followed by a cocktail hour. I mean … amazing.

SOLERNO is a blood orange liqueur made in Sicily and created by Master Distiller Lesley Gracie (yes, that Lesley Gracie). The flavor is incredibly rich without being too overpowering, which makes is a beautiful base for cocktails. Solerno’s tasting notes: “The nose bursts with whole-fruit blood orange, red berries, orange blossom, and a hint of bright lemon. The palate yields a velvety sweetness, balancing tartness, and the full body of an 80 proof spirit with a long, dry finish.”

The two drink options they had during cocktail hour were both incredible (and made me feel like I was being healthy while drinking … ha.)

Solerno & Sparkling (DIY Drink)
1 part Solerno Blood orange liqueur
2 part prosecco
2 part Italian Soda (Pellegrino flavors are fine – lemon, blood orange, mandarin or pomegranate)

Guests added their choice of fruit & berries. All items poured over ice, and garnished with fruit.

Picture courtesy of Solerno

Blood Orange Cosmopolitan
1 part Solerno Blood orange liqueur
1 part fresh beet juice
1 part fresh carrot juice
1 part fresh orange juice
1/2 part fresh lemon juice
1/2 part fresh ginger juice

Roll ingredients with ice in a shaker and strain over fresh ice in a rocks glass. Garnish with a slice of fresh ginger.

One of the brand representatives also gave me the tip to try this amazing combination:

2 parts Solerno
1/3 part Campari
1/3 part lemon juice

Combine and pour over ice. Top with club soda.

CBS Local Names SDD in List of “Best Local Bloggers in DFW”

Can you tell that my photographer, Josh Fortuna, told me to look away and laugh?

I am truly honored to have been included on the list of “Best Local Bloggers in DFW“ by DFW.CBSLocal.com! I’m humbled to think that the little idea that my dad and I came up with over margaritas five years ago has gotten me here!

My illustrious cohorts include:

Farah Fleurima – Dallas Diva
Cynthia Smoot – Oh So Cynthia
Steven Doyle – CraveDFW
Candace Evans – Candy’s Dirt
Leah Byrd – Byrd About Town

Read the full article here: http://dfw.cbslocal.com/top-lists/best-local-bloggers-in-dfw/

Being Popular Totally Pays

So … who isn’t a fan of free stuff? I know I am. I came across an awesome app called Popular Pays thanks to the great Jeyson Paez. (FOLLOW HIM ON INSTAGRAM NOW.)

Retailers offer free items that you can qualify for by having a certain number of Instagram followers and posting pictures of the free items. This is why you may see some of your favourite influencers on social media working with brands to produce sponsored content. No wonder why some people look to check out Gainmorefollowers to buy followers online, especially if they are struggling to grow their account. Who wouldn’t want to be sent free products?
Just look up the retailer’s free offering, get your “swap” approved, snap a pic of the free item, and post it. Food influencers on platforms like Instagram will have a field day with this app! Those who are just starting out or who are struggling to get a foothold on the platform may want to drive engagement with their posts artificially using something like BuzzVoice (https://buzzvoice.com/instagram/views/order) to help them be picked up by the algorithms which promote your content. It will also help your image and credibility, which is especially important for brands and influencers.

The awesome places offering up free awesomeness around Dallas so far are:

Glazed Donut Works – one small batch donut (500+)
Mudsmith – iced latte (500+), specialty grilled cheese (1,000+), “The Van Gogh”(500+)
Oak Lawn Coffee – any coffee under $5 (500+)
Pokey O’s Cookies and Ice Cream – a standard ice cream sandwich (500+)
Urban Taco (either Mockingbird or Uptown) – Chips & Salsa Trio (500+) or Churros de Canela (1,000+)

Those are the only offers so far in Dallas, but check it out in these cities when you travel:

Austin, TX
New York City, NY
San Francisco, CA
Los Angeles, CA
Philadelphia, PA
Chicago, IL

Check out Popular Pays on iTunes!

Limited Edition Cowboys Maker’s 46 Released

Dallas Cowboys fans, rejoice! Maker’s Mark has released a limited edition Cowboys Maker’s 46! These bottles will be dipped in silver and blue wax instead of the traditional red and will be available at liquor stores in the D/FW area later this month for ~$34.99.

From Maker’s Mark:

A contemporary interpretation of original Maker’s Mark, 46 delivers a mouth-watering oaky finish unlike any other. A bold and complex bourbon that’s soft enough to hold on the tongue, even at 94 proof, it’s aged just a few months longer than Maker’s Mark inside barrels that contain seared French oak staves – a process that eliminates the bitterness that usually comes with older whiskies.

Alcohol That Gives Back

If you’re on my site, chances are that you enjoy your spirits. (Duh.) Why not do good WHILE enjoying your spirits? The companies below let you by giving back. Now that’s something I can really sink my straw into.

LIQUORS

RED RIVER WHISKEY | RRW gives back to wildlife conservation and has neat drawings on the bottles. Oh, and it’s a local business and delicious. Win-win-win.
Check out William‘s review here: Red River Whiskey Review

SNOW LEOPARD VODKA | “a unique new vodka made from the distinctive spelt grain and distilled six times in small batches using natural spring water and was born out of the desire to save the Snow Leopards from extinction, so 15% of the proceeds  is donated directly to Snow Leopard conservation projects.”

WESTERN SON VODKA | a sister brand of Red River Whiskey, WS donates a portion of proceeds to the Peter Burks Unsung Hero Fund.

VeeV | while you’re “cheating on your vodka” with VeeV, you’re drinking one of the most eco-friendly liquors on the market. Along with that, they have donated $200,000 to green-minded non-profits and planted more than 40,000 trees (1 cocktail = 1 tree planted).

JIM BEAM | “Jim Beam has partnered with Operation Homefront to provide emergency assistance to the U.S. military, the families thy leave behind, and wounded warriors when they return home. This marks the sixth year that Jim Beam has donated to the organization, resulting in over $900,000 in donations.”

VIVA Tequila | “10% of net proceeds donated to animal abuse prevention. VIVA XXXII supports organization like SPCALA, ASPCA, and START,regularly donating to animal welfare charities that make a difference.”

WINES

ONE HOPE WINE | produced in partnership with Rob Mondavi, Jr., HALF of their profits are donated to their partner causes – each varietal supports a different cause.

BAREFOOT WINE | one of the causes they support is Soles4Souls, a not-for-profit organization that gives shoes to those in need. So far, they’d donated millions of pairs of shoes!

AFRICAN PASSION | “For every bottle of African Passion Wine, 10% of the profits will go to support TransAfrica Forum, an organisation dedicated to the human rights and social justice advocacy of the African world.”

FLIPFLOP WINES | the apparent fun-loving brand donates to charity on a regular basis thanks to feedback from its fans. Case in point: they announced on 9/15/14 that they’d be donating $100,000 to four charities picked by their fans.

BEERS

FINNEGANS | “100% of profits go to the Finnegans Community Fun to be used for good.” (Available in Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and South Dakota)

BOULEVARD BREWING COMPANY | BBC donates to 12 worthy organizations each year, 3 per quarter.

TAKE IT A STEP FURTHER …

NAPA WINE CHILLER | this lightweight stainless steel ball (dubbed “balls of steel” by the company) can chill your wine or spirits without diluting it … and it donates 15% of proceeds to MD Anderson’s Cancer Center in Houston.
$29.95/ball, available at www.originalbos.com.

UNION GROWLER CO. | This local growler supplier claims that they “don’t pay [themselves] a dime; rather, [they] donate 100% of profits to organizations striving to make our world a better place.”

CAUSE | this “philanthropub” in DC donates profits (up to $100,000) to charitable organizations. They choose a different organization each quarter. More information.
If you know of another company along these lines that donate to charity, please let me know and I’ll add them to the list!

Fall Cocktails | 2014 Edition

The Flamenco (recipe by Javier de las Muelas)
3/4 oz. sherry (chilled)
1/2 oz. white crème de cacao
1/2 oz. white rum
5 oz. Freixenet Cordon Negro Brut

Add ingredients directly to a chilled champagne flute. Garnish with an edible flower or an orange peel.

PUMPKIN SPICE MARTINI (available at Olenjack’s Grill in Arlington)
1.5oz Herman Marshall Texas Rye Whiskey
1oz Domaine de Canton ginger liquor
1oz heavy cream
0.5oz simple syrup
1 teaspoon spiced pumpkin puree
garnish sugar/cinnamon rim and fresh grated nutmeg

KETEL ONE DAYLIGHT
1 ½ oz. Ketel One® Vodka
1 oz. fresh grapefruit juice
1 oz. fresh orange juice
½ oz. rosemary maple simple syrup

Build in wine glass over ice. Stir for 10 seconds. Garnish with a rosemary sprig and a dusting of cracked black pepper.

Cider Tequila Hot Toddy
1 part Sauza® Blue Reposado 100% Agave Tequila
½ part JDK & Sons™ O3 Premium Orange Liqueur
8 parts apple cider
2 parts cranberry juice cocktail
Lime slice (for garnish)
Dash of cinnamon (optional)
Dash of nutmeg (optional)

In a saucepan heat the apple cider and cranberry juice just until steaming hot (do not let the liquid boil) and remove it from the heat. Stir in Sauza® Blue Reposado and liqueur. You can add a dash of cinnamon or nutmeg if you want a bit more spice. Serve Hot Toddies in mugs, garnished with lime slices.

KETEL ONE FUMBLES & FOLIAGE
1 ¼ oz. Ketel One® Vodka
1 oz. Pimms #1
¼ oz. allspice dram liqueur
1 oz. fresh orange juice
½ oz. fresh lemon juice
¾ oz. ginger simple syrup

Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass. Shake with ice and strain into a highball glass filled with ice. Garnish with an orange slice and a sprinkle of nutmeg.

DECADENT GUINNESS
1½ oz. Van Gogh Vanilla Vodka
Guinness Stout, cold

Add ingredients to a pint glass.

Hot Pumpkin Spice Tequila
1 ½ parts Sauza® Blue Silver 100% Agave Tequila
½ part Torani® Pumpkin Spice Syrup
3 parts cream
1 part sugar
½ tsp. vanilla extract
¼ tsp. cinnamon
¼ tsp. pumpkin pie spice
6 parts freshly brewed hot coffee
Whipped Cream and additional cinnamon (for garnish)

In a saucepan, combine cream with pumpkin syrup, sugar, vanilla, spices and coffee until hot. Pour into mug, add Sauza® Blue Silver and stir. Top with whipped cream and cinnamon.

KETEL ONE ROSEMARY’S BABY
1 ½ oz. Ketel One Citroen®
½ oz. Meyer lemon simple syrup
1 oz. fresh lemon juice
1 rosemary sprig
Club soda

Muddle rosemary and lemon simple syrup in a mixing glass. Add remaining ingredients and shake with ice. Double strain into a rocks glass filled with ice. Top with club soda. Garnish with a lemon wheel and rosemary sprig.

Herradura Espresso

Herradura Espresso
1 ½ oz Herradura Añejo
½ oz coffee liqueur
1 ½ oz espresso
½ oz simple syrup
1 ½ oz heavy cream

Place all ingredients excluding the heavy cream in to a cocktail shaker filled with cubed ice. Shake hard and strain over ice in to a chilled coupe glass. In a separate shaker place the heavy cream and cubed ice, shake hard to aerate then pour carefully over a bar spoon to layer the cream over the coffee. Garnish with 3 coffee beans.

Crisp Apple Cooler
1 ½ parts Skinnygirl® Bare Naked Vodka
¾ part apple juice
¼ part agave syrup
Green apple slice for garnish

Stir agave syrup with vodka in the base of a shaker until the agave syrup dissolves. Add apple juice and shake thoroughly with ice. Strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a green apple slice.

Fall Festival-tini
1 part Skinnygirl® Tangerine Vodka
3 parts apple juice/cider
½ part light rum
Lemon wedge for garnish

Mix ingredients in a shaker, and pour into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a lemon wedge.

KETEL ONE MIDNIGHT SOUR
1 ½ oz. Ketel One Oranje®
¾ oz. vanilla bean simple syrup
¾ oz. fresh lemon juice
3 drops fig bitters
3 drops mole bitters

Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass. Shake with ice and strain into a highball glass filled with ice. Top with a float of red wine port.

BELGIAN BEAUTY (Created by Jonathan Pogash, the Cocktail Guru)
1 oz. Van Gogh Acai-Blueberry Vodka
½ oz. Fresh orange juice
½ oz. Honey syrup
Top with Belgian White Ale (such as Blue Moon)

Build ingredients directly into highball glass with ice. Pour beer slowly and garnish with an orange half wheel.

Ketel One Pumpkin Pie
1.5 oz. Ketel One Oranje
1 bar spoon of pumpkin pie mix
.5 oz. honey syrup
.5 oz. fresh lemon juice
Pinch of cinnamon

Combine ingredients in a mixing glass. Shake with ice and double strain into a martini glass.

Bohemia Spiced Cookies

Bohemia Spiced Cookies
½ oz lime juice
1 oz Creme Yvette
.5 oz Allspice liqour
1.5 oz Bohemia

Shake all ingredients except the Bohemia and strain in rockglass over ice coupe glass. Top with Bohemia beer and grate nutmeg on top.

Indio Canela

Indio Canela
1 oz Tequila Añejo
½ oz lemon juice
½ oz cinnamon syrup
Indio beer
2 slices of fresh ginger

Place ginger slices, lemon juice, cinnamon syrup and añejo tequila into a cocktail shaker and fill with cubed ice. Add Indio beer and stir to combine, garnish with lemon discs or shaved ginger.

Sauza® Pumpkin Pie-tini

Sauza® Pumpkin Pie-tini
1 ½ parts Sauza® Blue Reposado 100% Agave Tequila
3 parts cream
½ part Torani® Pumpkin Spice Syrup
1 part simple syrup
½ tsp. vanilla extract
¼ tsp. cinnamon
¼ tsp. pumpkin pie spice
Whipped Cream and cinnamon for garnish (optional)

Shake all ingredients vigorously with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Top with whipped cream and cinnamon (optional).

IRISH SPICED CIDER
1½ oz. Van Gogh Dutch Caramel Vodka
½ oz. Thatchers Spiced Apple Liqueur
Kelleys Irish Cider

Serve over ice in a pint glass.

Cranberry Orange Margarita

Cranberry Orange Margarita
1 ½ parts Sauza® Blue Silver 100% Agave Tequila
½ part DeKuyper® Triple Sec
4 parts cranberry juice
2 parts orange juice
2 oranges
½ cup cranberries, frozen
2 tbsp. sugar

First make your garnishes. Freeze ½ cup of cranberries. Using a channel knife cut a long spiral from on orange (see if you can make it all the way in one try!) and cut into 6 inch pieces. Twist the peels around your bar spoon and reserve for garnish.
Zest the other orange with a spice grater to remove just the peel and none of the pith and combine with sugar.
Cut the zested orange into wedges. Rub a wedge of orange around half the rim of your glasses. Roll the glasses through the sugared orange zest.
In a shaker, combine the rest of the sugar and orange zest mixture with the cranberry juice, orange juice, Sauza® Blue Silver, orange liqueur, and the juice from the orange. Twist the orange peel over the drink and place on the prepared glass. Top with frozen cranberries and serve your cocktail!

Pumpkin Spice Sipper
1 ½ parts Skinnygirl® Bare Naked Vodka
1 part canned unsweetened pumpkin
¾ part fat free sweetened condensed milk
¾ part unsweetened almond milk
½ tbsp pumpkin pie spice

Shake ingredients with ice in a cocktail shaker. Strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice.

Turkey Day Toast

Turkey Day Toast
3 parts Skinnygirl® Prosecco, chilled
1 part grapefruit juice, chilled
1 part cranberry juice
1 part ginger ale
Grapefruit slice for garnish

Mix all juice ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Top with Skinnygirl® Prosecco and ginger ale. Garnish with grapefruit slice.

Wine & Vine (created by Philip Duff)
1 oz. G’Vine Nouaison gin
1 oz. dry vermouth
1 oz. dry white wine
3 drops orange bitters

Stir all the ingredients with ice and strain into the glass. Garnish with three fresh green grapes, speared.Put all the ingredients in a shaker, add ice, shake and serve in a martini glass. Garnish with a star anise.

G’incarnation
1 ½ oz. G’vine Gin
1 oz. Godiva Chocolate Liqueur Dark
½ oz. Baileys Irish Cream
1 oz. Half & Half Milk
½ oz. Monin Pumpkin Spice Syrup

Put all the ingredients in a shaker, add ice, shake and serve in a martini glass. Garnish with a star anise.