BLACK PANTHER - SCOTCH & ESPRESSO COFFEE LIQUEUR COCKTAIL

Inspired by the Black Watch Cocktail (blended scotch, coffee liqueur in a 2:1 ratio with a splash of soda, garnished with a lemon peel) I played around with my favorite scotch again for this year's International Scotch Day.

The name of this cocktail was inspired by all the hype for the premier of new Black Panther Marvel superhero movie coming out this week. The finished drink is as visually sleek and sexy as the movie previews and I couldn't resist the reference but it's  a great drink name even without the inspiration.

The

BLACK PANTHER
COCKTAIL

INGREDIENTS

1-1/2 Oz. Johnnie Walker Black Blended Scotch Whiskey
3/4 Oz. Caffé Borghetti Espresso Liqueur
3 Dashes Scrappy's Chocolate Bitters
1 Dash Angostura Orange Bitters

Garnish: Orange Peel

Tools: Bar Spoon

Glass: Rocks

DIRECTIONS

Add a large ice cube to a chilled rocks glass.
Pour in the scotch and coffee liqueur.
Tap in the bitters.
Stir until chilled.
Express the orange twist over the top then drop twist in cocktail and serve.

PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY

The Sparkling Heart Cocktail for Valentines Day

The

SPARKING HEART COCKTAIL
TO A CHILLED FLUTE Add 2 Oz Fragoli Strawberry Liquor Drop in 3 Frozen Strawberries Tap in 2 Dashes Lemon Bitters Top off with Champagne Mist Orange Liqueur over Top Garnish with an Orange Twist For a mocktail version: Replace the strawberry liqueur with strawberry syrup. Use club soda instead of Champagne. Add a dash of orange bitters on top.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY from The Martini Diva
PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY

STRAWBERRY JAM OLD FASHIONED COCKTAIL

While having a nosh at one of my favorite eateries, Prep And Pastry in Tucson, they served some homemade Strawberry Jam with my (delicious) Monte Cristo. I don't usually like strawberry jam but it was homemade so I tried it and got one heck of a surprise when I realized I loved that jam. I loved it so much I specifically mentioned it when the waitress brought the check. I told her it would be great in a cocktail and asked if I could have a couple tablespoons to try it out. When my change came back so did a small carton filled with the jam. In turn I promised Kevin, the owner, I'd post up the cocktail recipe featuring his strawberry jam.   I knew immediately I was going to pair that jam with some premium whiskey in an Old Fashioned. A good Canadian Whiskey would be a great match for the flavor of the strawberries in the jam and the jam was a great way to replace the standard sugar cube and cherries used in a classic, muddled Old Fashioned.   Good thing I love Prep and Pastry because I really liked this cocktail, it was easy to make, bursting with flavor and a great way to change up an Old Fashioned.  I just wish Prep and Pastry was closer so I could mooch some of their strawberry jam more often.  

 
STRAWBERRY JAM OLD FASHIONED   INGREDIENTS 2 Oz. Canadian Whiskey 2 Tsp. Strawberry Jam 2 Dashes Rhubarb Bitters   Garnish: Orange Twist, Strawberry Filled Ice Cubes.   Tools: Mixing Glass, Bar Spoon   Glass: Old Fashioned   DIRECTIONS Chill glass. Muddle the strawberry jam in the bottom of the glass with the rhubarb bitters. Fill glass with strawberry ice cubes. Add 2 ounces of premium whiskey, stir to chill, garnish and serve.
MORE OLD FASHIONED COCKTAIL RECIPES
By the way, if you're in Tucson you definitely want to hit up one of Prep and Pastry's several locations. Not only is their food locally sourced and delicious, they are also pretty creative with their cocktails (try one of their fabulous Mimosas) AND, omg, those incredible house pastries!!  

PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY