TIP OF THE DAY: Homemade Grenadine

First, what is grenadine? A deep red syrup used for hundreds of years to flavor and give a reddish/pink tinge to drinks and other recipes, true grenadine is made from pomegranate juice and sugar syrup. The name comes from the French grenade and the Spanish grenada, words for pomegranate. Alas, today’s mass-marketed “grenadine” is faux…
Continue reading “TIP OF THE DAY: Homemade Grenadine”

TIP OF THE DAY: More Affordable Champagne Cocktails

A yummy Prosecco cocktail that can be adapted into a mocktail. Photo courtesy Harvard Common Press.   Champagne cocktails make any occasion more festive. And they don’t require Champagne, per se, but can use more affordable bubblies such as Prosecco and Asti Spumante from Italy, Cava from Spain and Sekt from Germany. You can also…
Continue reading “TIP OF THE DAY: More Affordable Champagne Cocktails”

TIP OF THE DAY: For A Twist, Substitute Saké For Wine

Summer saké punch with strawberries andcucumber: delicious! Photo courtesyGeikkekan.   For warm weather entertaining—like Father’s Day—serve something different and unexpected. Party drinks like sangria and punch are popular, affordable and easy to make. For a fun fusion, make them with saké. Saké, which many people think of as rice wine (we’ll skip the technicalities for…
Continue reading “TIP OF THE DAY: For A Twist, Substitute Saké For Wine”

FATHER’S DAY GIFT IDEA: Blended Scotch Whisky

Last night we learned how to blend Scotch, courtesy of America’s best-selling Scotch brand, Dewar’s. A few decades ago, when single malt Scotch became all the rage, we became a snooty single malt drinker and hadn’t drunk a blended Scotch until now. We were missing out! Single malt versus blended Scotch is purely a matter…
Continue reading “FATHER’S DAY GIFT IDEA: Blended Scotch Whisky”

FATHER’S DAY GIFT IDEA: Premium Gin

We are big fans of Cold River Vodka and Cold River Blueberry Vodka, made by Maine Distilleries of Freeport, Maine. They’re artisan-made from Maine potatoes and are gluten-free, as well as very flavorful (we drink them straight up*). *The difference between straight up and neat: “Neat” means an undiluted shot served at room temperature; straight…
Continue reading “FATHER’S DAY GIFT IDEA: Premium Gin”