Snowed In? Here, Have a Drink…

Well, it happened.  Snow fell by the centimeter in the Seattle area and, predictably, everyone freaked out.  If you want my advice, which I assume you always do, the first thing you should do is go build a snowman or have a snowball fight with the neighborhood kids.  Enjoy the snow while it lasts.  After you’ve had your fun and pummeled the neighbor’s twelve year old with a snowball attack that could take down an adult grizzly bear, you should treat yourself to a nice warm drink… here are three great suggestions for a cold winter’s night.

Blood Orange Hot Toddy

Blood Orange Hot Toddy

10 oz Blood Orange Rachel’s Ginger Beer

2oz Bourbon

Star anise and clove garnish

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Heat the ginger beer in a tea kettle pour into a heatproof mug, add whiskey and garnishes to taste.  It’s delicious but, full disclosure, I’ve yet to make to make this one at home (hence the bad photo at the RGB bar in Pike Place).

The Bourbon Furnace

The Bourbon Furnace

5oz hot apple cider

1.5oz Bourbon

0.5oz Allspice Dram

Apple slice (garnish)

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Combine ingredients in a heatproof mug, sip, enjoy, relax.  Be warm.  See my Cocktail Christmas write up on this delicious drink here.

Never Dry Hot Toddy

4oz Hot Water

2oz Goslings Black Seal Rum

0.5oz Allspice Dram

0.5oz Simple Syrup

2 dashes Angostura Bitters

Lemon wheel studded with cloves

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The photo on the right is not my hot toddy.  It’s a fantasy of what this drink should look like.  The Never Dry Hot Toddy is not photogenic, in fact it comes out looking like dark black tea, but it is damn good. Like, really good.

It’s by far the best iteration of a hot toddy that I have ever even heard of.  That’s right, it’s the real deal.  I’m proud enough of this drink to put my name on it and send it out in batches to my friends.  It’s not only a great drink, it’s  a miracle cure.  It will get rid of your flu or cold.  It might even have other magic properties to it that haven’t been discovered yet.  Get on that.

Anyway, I hope you try these three great winter drinks and enjoy them on a cold day like today…preferably by the fire.  Even if that fire is an app on your iPhone.

Cheers!

Cocktail Christmas Day 20: The Tom & Jerry

Oh dear lord, I do love this drink.  This drink is THE classic American holiday drink… well, maybe Eggnog deserves that title, but this is a close second.  This drink was so popular in the 20th century that there were mug and bowl sets specifically made to hold this delicious nectar.  It wasn’t Christmas in the midwest and northeast until the family (usually the drunken uncle) would break out the Tom & Jerry bowl and whip up a batch.

Well, I am that drunk uncle.  And I whipped up a batch.

The Tom & Jerry

k.  Here’s my recipe…

Tom & Jerry

6 eggs

1/2 cup sugar

Half a stick of butter

Cinnamon, Allspice, Vanilla, Nutmeg

Dark, Aged Rum & Brandy

Hot water

The process of actually making the batter takes about a half hour and has quite a few steps.  Basically, you separate the egg whites from the yolks and put them into different bowls.  Combine the yolks with the sugar and butter.  Beat that until it’s smooth and set aside.

Then you take the egg whites and, using a whisk (or mixer), whip those bad boys until the literally triple in size, turn white and form “stiff peaks.”  This is easier said than done by hand and my wrist is not thanking me right now.  This takes quite a while depending on your speed and skill.  Anyway, once you have your nice white, fluffy, almost meringue like egg whites that you just spent 20 minutes whipping… ruin them by folding in the egg yolk/sugar/butter mixture.  This will drive you nuts.  The frustration is part of the experience and leads to you enjoying the drink more than anyone else.

Then add the allspice, cinnamon and vanilla to taste.  Start with ~1tsp each and go from there.  You can always add spice, never take it away.  Use real vanilla extract if you can.  And fresh spices make a big difference… if it came in a plastic canister, in a box, from Target, it’s not going to be as good as if you ground it yourself.

After the spices are added, you have your batter.  Congratulations.

Now, heat up some water in a tea kettle.  While that’s warming, mix a shot of nice, dark, aged rum (bolder flavors are better… lay some cash down on a nice one and the drink will be 10x better) and any old brandy you can find.  The top shelf brandy isn’t worth it in this drink as the finer points get lost under the batter and rum.  Pour the mix into a heatproof mug.

Add about 4oz of hot water, and then about 2oz of the batter mixture.  Use a microplane, or if you’re cheap/awesome like me- a household grater, and grate some fresh nutmeg on top.  Not only will this add a really nice aroma to a drink that doesn’t smell like much, you will look awesome and professional in front of your friends.  Do this at a party and you’ll have a reputation as the coolest home bartender in town.

The finished drink is delicious, thick, warming and strong (use more water for folks who want a little weaker of a drink).  It’s festive and fun for the holidays.  It lends itself to a party or a family gathering where everyone can gather around and enjoy each other’s company while sipping on a great winter drink.

Cheers!