Chinese New Year

Happy Chinese New Year!  Also known as the Spring Festival which never falls on the same day on the calendar.  We are leaving the Year of the Monkey 2016 for the Year of the Rooster 2017. 

The first day of the New Year falls on the new moon between 21 January and 20 February.^[3] In 2017, the first day of the Chinese New Year is on Saturday, 28 January, initiating the year of the Rooster.^{[4]
(Wikipedia)}

Winter Daquiri

This is an incredible twist on a classic daiquiri with a mix of zingy clementines and maple syrup.

Ingredients:

50 ml Bacardi (8 yr. old) Rum
25 ml Clementine Juice
1 tsp. Maple Syrup
Cinnamon Stick, to garnish

How to mix:

Shake all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice cubes, then strain into a cocktail glass.  Crumble over the cinnamon stick to garnish.



Recipe by Andy Harris
Courtesy of Jamie Magazine

jamieoliver.com

Danish Mary

Mary Shauna Lynn illustration

2 oz. Akvavit*
4 oz. Tomato Juice
1/2 oz. Lemon Juice
2 dashes Worcestershire Sauce
2 dashes Tabasco Sauce
4 pinches Salt and Pepper

Combine everything in a glass filled with ice, then pour back and forth between two glasses to roll the ingredients together . Strain into a new glass filled with fresh ice. Garnish with lemon and celery and enjoy.






*What is Akvavit?
Akvavit or Aquavit is a flavoured spirit that is principally produced in Scandinavia, where it has been produced since the 15th century.  Akvavit gets its' distinctive flavor from spices and herbs, and the main spice should be caraway or dill.  (Wikipedia)

Viking Martini

Farideh Sadeghin

(saveur.com)

Bottled in the same spot in Iceland, brisk, dry Martin Miller's Gin and Tonic with spruce-flavored Bjork liqueur make a great duo, particularly matched with bitters and an herbaceous Alpine Amaro in this layered drink meant to evoke northern climes.

Ingredients:
3 oz. Gin (preferably Martin Miller's)
1 oz. Braulio Amaro Alpino
1 oz. Foss Distillery Bjork Liqueur
1/4 tsp. Angosutra bitters
Lemon wedge, for garnish

Instructions:
Combine gin, amaro, liqueur, and bitters in an ice filled shaker.  Shake vigorously and strain into a chilled martini glass; squeeze lemon over the top and drop it into drink.

Original Bloody Mary

Michael Kraus

This classic version has been the signature cocktail at the King Cole Bar at New York City's St. Regis Hotel since 1934.

Ingredients

2 oz. tomato juice

1 ¹⁄₂ oz. vodka

2 tsp. fresh lemon juice

Worcestershire, to taste

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Cayenne pepper, to taste

Lemon wedge, for garnish

Instructions

Combine ingredients in a mixing glass, stir, and pour into an ice-filled collins glass. Garnish with lemon.
(saveur.com)

Midnight Snowstorm

This recipe for a Midnight Snowstorm is very similar to a Hot Peppermint Patty, using crème de menthe in place of the harsher peppermint schnapps.  This substitution leaves the minty chocolate flavor but does so in a very smooth and creamy way.

Ingredients:
2 ounces white crème de menthe
Hot Chocolate
1/2 ounce green crème de menthe
Whipped Cream

1. Pour white crème de menthe and hot chocolate into an Irish coffee glass.
2. Top with whipped cream.
3. Drizzle the green crème de menthe on top.

cocktails.about.com

Still New Year's Holiday

George Harrison, Ding Dong Ding Dong