The PEACHES & CREAM SHOOTER, A Dessert Cocktail Shot

A friend brought over a bottle of Crown Royal Peach as a gift. I'm not really a huge fan of pre-flavored whiskey, if I want a particular flavor I prefer to control that myself but - hey - I also don't turn down free booze.

I popped the seal and poured us both a nip to check it out. Right off the bat I knew what to do with it.

PEACHES & CREAMSHOT

A Dessert Cocktail Shot

Ingredients
1 Part (Oz) Crown Royal Peach
1 Part (Oz) Whipped Cream Vodka

Garnish: Whipped Cream, Peach Slice

Directions
Pour equal parts (about an ounce each) of both spirits into a shot glass.
Top with whipped cream and serve with a small slice of peach.

Boom. Mic Drop. Done.

Enjoy!

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If you're  not a shot person try myPEACHES & CREAM MARTINI
National Peaches & Cream Day is June 21st.
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Homemade TOMATO VODKA Recipe

Once upon a time you could buy several different brands of tomato vodka. Now you kinda have to make it yourself.

Have no fear, it's pretty darned easy!

Homemade Heirloom

TOMATO VODKA

INGREDIENTS
1 Pound Heirloom Tomatoes
1 Fifth (750 ml) Bottle of Good Vodka

DIRECTIONS
Cut the tomatoes into eighths.
Add these to your infusion jar.
Pour in the vodka.
Close lid.
Gently shake
Store in a cool, dark place a week, shaking every day.
After 7 days, strain through a fine strainer or cheesecloth and discard the solids.

To store, pour tomato vodka back into its original bottle, and keep in a cool, dark place.

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The HOT FUDGE COCKTAIL Recipe

I love fudge. I love hot fudge. But I'm REALLY fussy about my fudge and my hot fudge, no grainy dry fudge or faux fudge chocolate syrup will do. I make my own fudge and I buy only one brand of hot fudge and that's Mrs. Richardson's. And, no, I'm not getting paid to say that. It's just the only commercial hot fudge that tastes like actual (good) fudge, you can literally eat it with a spoon right from that jar. When I'm too lazy to actually make fudge that's exactly what I do.
That's why I knew it had to be used as the main flavor ingredient in my new cocktail for National Fudge Day. The only problem with Mrs. Richardson's as a cocktail ingredient is the fact it doesn't come in a liquid state. You have to turn it into a liquid without heating it because once it cools down again it reverts back to its semi-solid state. My answer to this was to dilute it, and since this was for a cocktail, to dilute it with booze.
The obvious spirit to use would be vodka but I already have a Hot Fudge Sundae Martini that used vodka so I went with another alcohol that goes great with fudge and that's rye whiskey. I took some Mrs. Richardson's and stirred it into some rye until I got a syrup and I was ready to go.

TheHOT FUDGECocktail
INGREDIENTS2 Teaspoons Mrs. Richardson's Hot Fudge mixed into2 Oz. Rye Whiskey until dissolved.1/2 Oz. Coffee Liqueur2 Dashes Coffee BittersPinch of Smoked Salt
Garnish: Piece of Homemade Fudge
Tools: Cocktail Shaker
Glass: Nick & Nora
DIRECTIONSChill your glass.Add ingredients to an ice filled cocktail shaker.Shake until chilled.Pour into your chilled glass.Garnish with the homemade fudge.
That's it, a rich and decadent fudge cocktail to celebrate National Fudge Day on June 16th - or whenever you're in the mood for fudge.
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Han Solo Has a Rocket in His Pocket Shooter - Star Wars Cocktail Recipe

Big Star Wars fan here, particularly the first 3 original movies from the mid seventies. Obviously I had to do some Star Wars inspired drinks!

Yes, I started with Han Solo because this double entendre, silly pun came to mind and I couldn't shake it off.

HAN SOLOHAS A ROCKET IN HIS POCKETSHOOTER
INGREDIENTS1/2 Oz. Tequila1/2 Oz. Kahlua1/2 Oz. Espresso Vodka3 Drops Chocolate Bitters
Garnish: Whipped Cream, Chocolate Chip
DIRECTIONSPour the ingredients into a tall shot glass (shooter), add the 3 drops of chocolate bitters, top off with a dollop of whipped cream, place the chocolate chip on top and serve.
Perfect for Star Wars Day on May 4th (May the Fourth Be With You).
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The CILANTRO MARTINI Cocktail Recipe

I am a very big fan of cilantro, I even grow my own I use so much of it. Cilantro is a strong flavor and people either love it or hate it. I've never known anyone to shrug and say they can take it or leave it. (Turns out there's actually a genetic reason for this.)
This martini reminds me a little of a Gimlet, the lime is a co-star but, of course, secondary to the cilantro. The muddled cilantro infuses it's distinctive aroma and flavor into the mix when muddled with the lime juice and sugar in the shaker. It's a sublime and surprising experience for cilantro lovers.
I don't strain my Cilantro Martini at all, I love the little bits of cilantro that float around in the martini visually as well as enjoying those little bits of bursting flavor on my palate.
I truly love this martini, I find it a nice change from all the sweet and creamy martinis often requested of me and I treat myself often. I even do it in a version with ginger and with dill, but this one remains my favorite.

TheCILANTROMARTINI
INGREDIENTSHandful Fresh CilantroJuice of 1/2 Fresh Lime3 Tsp. Sugar2 Oz. VodkaSplash of Soda
Garnish: Sprig of Cilantro, Lime Twist
DIRECTIONSAdd the cilantro, lime juice and sugar to a cocktail shaker and muddle to release the herb oils and dissolve the sugar.Add ice cubes then pour in the vodka and shake until chilled.Add a splash of soda and pour into a chilled cocktail glass.Garnish and serve.
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The ESPRESSO MARTINI Cocktail Recipe

Believe it not the Espresso Martini started life as the Vodka Espresso. Originally created in London in 1983 by Dick Bradsell of the Soho Brasserie, the Espresso Martini was inspired by the messy coffee area near the bar. When a customer came in one night asking for a cocktail to "wake her up and f*** her up" she got handed a newly born drink of vodka, simple syrup, Kahlua and Tia Maria called a Vodka Espresso. Later Bradsell renamed his cocktail the Espresso Martini to cash in on the burgeoning  designer martini craze. Some years later Mr. Bradsell once again reinvented his cocktail and renamed it the Pharmaceutical Stimulant.

Now, no matter what it's called and nearly 40 years later, this caffeinated classic is still keeping folks awake and double buzzed. Much like a classic martini, the ingredients and ratios are up for debate, every bartender and era has put their own stamp on it, but the basics of freshly brewed espresso, vodka and some coffee liqueur are the essentials necessary to get woke and messed up simultaneously.

Below is my favorite version.

TheESPRESSOMARTINI
INGREDIENTS1-1/2 Oz. Vodka1 Oz. Coffee Liqueur1/4 Oz. Crème de Cacao1 Oz. Espresso
Garnish: 3 Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans
DIRECTIONS Add the ingredients to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously until well chilled.Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.Garnish with 3 chocolate covered espresso beans on top.
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National Espresso Day is November 23rd.
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The FRENCH MARTINI Cocktail Recipe

Invented in the late 1980s in New York, the French Martini is a deliciously simple cocktail of only 3 ingredients. The ratios of the ingredients change depending on who is shaking it but you'll find my personal preference below. I find this a nice balance of sweet to acid with enough vodka to let you know it's a cocktail and not a tame flavored water.

There are several variations on this recipe, including one using single malt whiskey called Le Frog, one called a French Daiquiri that uses rum and adds lime juice, the Hot Tub which adds sparkling wine (actually a very nice version with a stupid name) and the Mexican Martini which replaces the vodka with tequila.

All interesting, but I still like the original, simple French version best.

The
FRENCH
MARTINI

INGREDIENTS

1 Oz. Vodka
1-1/2 Oz. Chambord
1-1/2 Oz. Fresh Pineapple Juice

Garnish: Black & Red Raspberries

DIRECTIONS

Add the ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake until chilled. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with a couple of raspberries.

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