Booze Clues: What to drink on Saint Patrick’s Day

 

Irish Eyes Are Smiling

Green beer will flow freely today and so will the whisky, but if neither is your drink of choice, Here are a few other options to wet your whistle whether you’re a lightweight or a boozehound.

Exclusiv St. Pat’s-tini

2 oz Exclusiv Vodka                       1/2 oz Creme de Cocoa
1 oz Bailey’s Irish Cream                  1/2 oz green Creme de Menthe

Shake first three ingredients pour into a chilled martini glass and then sink Green Creme de Menthe.

Garnish with a mint leaf and chocolate shavings.

Created by Exclusiv’s in-house mixologist, Daniel Seelbinder.

 

Herradura Paddy’s Cocktail

2 oz Herradura Silver                        1/2 oz Lemon juice                           1/2 oz Simple syrup                           2 inches of cucumber diced finely                                                A large pinch of cilantro

 

Make sure you have chilled Coupe or Martini glasses ready. Dice the cucumber and add to a boston shaker, then crush with a muddler. Add a large pinch of cilantro. Add the Herradura Silver, lemon juice and simple syrup. Fill with ice and shake hard. Strain into the chilled coupe/ martini glass. Garnish with a disc of cucumber and a cilantro leaf.

Xante Different Shade of Green

1 ½ oz of Xante                                   1 oz gin                                              ¾ oz freshly squeezed lemon juice                                                     ½ oz simple syrup                      Approx. 2 chunks of cucumber            Fill with ginger ale

Muddle cucumber, add all ingredients and shake with ice.  Strain into a highball glass and top with ginger ale. Garnish: long strips of cucumber.

 

Spicy Irishman

1 oz Russian Standard Vodka                                1.5 oz Lucid Absinthe                                             ¼ oz Siracha Hot Sauce                                  Topped with Killian’s Irish Red Beer

 

 

 

 

 

AGWA Bolivian Kiss

1 Shot of Agwa de Bolivia Coca Leaf Liqueur                                                1 lime wedge

Bite the lime, then drink the shot. You’ll feel a quick buzz.

 

 

 

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!!!

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Booze Review (Valentine’s Day Edition): Exclusiv Vodka

An Exclusiv Relationship

My favorite Valentine’s Day gift this year came from Exclusiv Vodka. The package arrived a bit early, but that gave me time to sip, mix and get acquainted with the Moldovan vodka before our big date.

First kiss (sip): Very simple. Slightly sweet, but pretty clean. Considering its low price point, it surprisingly managed not to taste like rubbing alcohol. Still, it definitely had a kick and quite a bit of spice.

Introduction to the crew (mixing): It definitely plays nicely with others. When introduced to orange juice, cranberry juice and other flavors, it blended well. It didn’t leave the aftertaste I’ve experienced with some other lower cost vodkas.


Cupid’s Arrow: An Exclusiv Valentine (recipe trademarked by Daniel Seelbinder)



1 1/2 oz Exclusiv Vodka
1/2 oz raspberry liquor
1/2 oz simple syrup
5 rose petals
champagne
In a collins glass, muddle rose petals and simple syrup add ice. Pour vodka and raspberry liquor then fill with champagne.
 
This cocktail was crisp and effervescent, but just sweet enough to be romantic. It looks gorgeous, too. I’ll probably add it to the list of cocktails my friends and I consume at gatherings (sans rose petals).

Post-date opinion (review): We can hang out, but I will definitely have to see other vodkas. It’s great for shots and for mixing, but I can’t see myself sipping it solo on the rocks or using it in a simple martini.

Shoe Pairing:

Sergio Zelcer Capri Bootie (avail. via Amazon.com)

 

Technorati Tags: cocktail recipes,booze review,Exclusiv Vodka,Valentine's Day