I’m sure we don’t have to remind you that it’s been cold, and dark and our proverbial spirits are low. We’re on the cusp of breaking out of the short winter we have here in Georgia, but we’ve got a few more weeks and we need a bit of a push.
This time of year, we like to still get fancy and make cocktails at home, but we like to vary up some of the classics to make more “winterized” versions. Here are a couple riffs on our favorites that are enhanced with spice and complexity that pair well with early sunsets and roaring fire happy hours.
Snow in the Desert
Ok, so this is a margarita riff. We love margaritas pretty much year-round, but there’s something about a margarita on the rocks in your hand right now…. just brrrr. So, let’s put it in a coupe! This riff uses mezcal (which you should totally be using in your margaritas anyway) and egg white for a frothy, more elevated cocktail. And hold by the stem so your hands don’t get cold.
1 oz of Mezcal
0.5 oz of Reposado Tequila
0.5 oz of Orange Liqueur
1 oz of Lime Juice
1 Egg White
0.25 oz of 1:1 Simple Syrup
Pinch of salt
Combine all ingredients into a shaker. Perform a “dry shake” (no ice) for 30 seconds. Then add ice and shake for an additional 30 seconds, double strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with a dried lime slice.
Bitter Negroni
This isn’t necessarily one cocktail but an endless array of cocktail possibilities. The Negroni is not only one of our favorite cocktails in-house, but also one that is so versatile using the 1:1:1 ratio of Spirit:Bitter:Vermouth. Swap in the spirit for something heavier like bourbon or rye to make a Boulvardier. Swap in some more bitter amari or aperitivi for traditional Campari and you get something more biting and complex. Swap in some herbal or alpine vermouths and you get something dry with a sharp, earthy finish. Don’t be afraid to find what combination works best for you. Take your jigger and get “jiggy” with it…
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