craftnorcal-blog

[craftnorcal-blog]

You do you, shrub. I'll hit you up in a week. These babies take patience, but they really take drinks to a different level. This is a blood orange/vanilla shrub. Typically citrus isn't used on its own in a shrub, so I invited vanilla to the party. I'm thinking something bourbon orange creamsicle-ish will come out of this.

[craftnorcal-blog]

First drink from The Canon book, had to try the Rubicon. Flaming rosemary in Green Chartreuse, then gin, Luxardo, and lemon. This drink is delicious; incredibly well balanced. I would have had so much more fun if I didn't have a cold, and didn't have to dig my rosemary plant out from under 18" of snow. Oh, that rock in the pic is from THE Rubicon (not the river), which is right in my neck of the woods.

[craftnorcal-blog]

Finally got a chance to try some Sabotage from local brewery @outbreakbrewingco . This is their IPA; kinda citrus-y, kinda pineapple-y, very tasty! If you are a fan of West-coast style IPAs, keep an eye out for these guys. Also doing some interesting stuff with Brett and cherrywood-smoked Belgians. I'll be back for more growler fills. P.S. if I don't like something, I don't post it.

[craftnorcal-blog]

Offer accepted on our first house, time for a drink! Especially since now we will be poor. Another first; first bottle of @1792bourbon and I am not disappointed. Sharp, smooth, and strong all at once. Will start mixing with this soon, but tonight we drink it neat.

[craftnorcal-blog]

Still looking for Michigan Maple Jesus to get to our neck of the woods. So tonight we are drinking @eviltwinbrewing Imperial Simcoe Slacker. Fair warning, I am a West Coast IPA fan, so I love my hop grenades. This is a solid IPA. Florals are not overpowering, enough bitterness to back it up. Pours out with quite a head, but it dissipates quickly. Clean hop taste. This beer is making me reminisce on the soft pretzels with beer cheese at @sierranevada or desperate for a pizza, all the good things that go well with a good IPA. Hopefully soon I can get my hands on some Maple Jesus!

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Garrrrr what do you do with a drunken sailor?!? Give 'em more Grog! Trying my best to #tikithesnowaway even with all the highways closed and lots of downed trees. Grog is exactly what it sounds like; something that will get you drunk (not much else to do right now). I made mine with @goslingsrum Black Seal rum. Now if I could just find my eye patch and parrot...

[craftnorcal-blog]

Employee appreciation night! What would you buy for your bar from Amazon for $25.? I'm thinking the new Amaro book, or some sexy copper jiggers...thoughts?

[craftnorcal-blog]

House hunting in ridiculous rain calls for a drink. This Blinker is an oldie, but a goody. Rye, grapefruit, simple, and a barspoon of raspberry jam. Perfect for keeping from losing your mind while trying to adult.

[craftnorcal-blog]

I spend a lot of time mulling over my cocktail books. When I came across the Improved Whiskey Cocktail on the PDT Cocktail Book, at first I thought it was the same as the classic Fancy Free in @deathandconyc . However, they are a bit different. Both have the same amounts of rye, Luxardo, and Angostura bitters. But, the Fancy Free has orange bitters and an orange twist. This Improved Whiskey Cocktail has a bit of simple syrup, and calls for a lemon twist. Close, yes. But definitely not the same. Sorta like how you may look like your sibling, but don't want to be called by their name.

[craftnorcal-blog]

Making good use of all this snow, keeping my Ten Fidy cool. Creamy, lacy head, incredibly smooth, and at 10.5%, not messing around. I love the depth of flavor on this stout. And it's scary easy to drink.

[craftnorcal-blog]

Today is my parents 56th anniversary. Fifty-six years. The two drinks they have always liked are dry martinis and whiskey and coke. This post is for them. Congrats Mom and Dad! Happy Anniversary!

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George Michael AND Carrie Fisher in 48 hours?!?! I think I can speak for everyone in saying 2016 sucks. I'm never going to dance again. My childhood has been destroyed like Alderaan. I need a drink. Blood and Sand seemed fitting, something about the sand of Tatooine...I mean, Princess Leia... This drink has a bad rap, but I quite like it. Scotch, Cherry Heering, orange and lemon juice, and just a bit of sweet vermouth. I used the specs from @deathandconyc Only four more days of this crappy year. Hang in there.

[craftnorcal-blog]

Hot Buttered Bourbon Chocolate For the chocolate butter: 1 stick Challenge Butter 2 cups superfine sugar 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon 1.5 tbsp Hershey's Special Dark cocoa powder 1 tsp vanilla Beat butter until smooth. Add cinnamon and cocoa powder. Blend. Add sugar. Blend, scrape down bowl. Blend again. Add vanilla. Blend again. Shape into 2" round log, and place in freezer until firm. Then...cut one 1" round from chocolate butter log. Place in mug. Pour 6 oz heated up milk over butter. Stir until chocolate butter is dissolved. Mix in 2 oz. Buffalo Trace Bourbon and .5 oz Buffalo Trace Bourbon Cream. Garnish as absurdly as you like. Mic drop 🎤

[craftnorcal-blog]

(Please read the following sentence in a Dr. Evil voice). It's frickin' freezing! Time for a tiki drink. I love how Chartreuse brings flavors out in unusual ways. This is the Daisy de Santiago from @smugglerscovesf book. It uses a #2 rum (you know what that means if you read the book), lime, yellow Chartreuse, a little demerara syrup, and seltzer. It's light and refreshing, and still has that tiki feel. And it's suppose to be garnished with mint, but mine is currently frozen to the dirt. Sorry.

[craftnorcal-blog]

If you can't be home with your bourbon, I am officially announcing that I am starting a bourbon companion service. I will come to your home and spend time with your bourbon for you. My brother-in-law recently benefited from these services, and I kept his Blanton's bourbon company. Otherwise, it would have been home, all alone.

[craftnorcal-blog]

Beer hunting today. This is was I found.

[craftnorcal-blog]

Love a good stirred drink. This is the Left Hand Cocktail from the PDT Cocktail Book; bourbon, Campari, sweet vermouth, and Chocolate bitters. Perfect pre-rain storm drink.