Habañero x Paloma x Margarita = ?

Introducing a fiery twist on two classic cocktails, the Paloma and the Spicy Margarita. This original recipe combines the refreshing citrus notes of a Paloma with the heat of a Spicy Margarita to create a unique drink for your summer cocktail arsenal. It’s the perfect blend of sweet, sour, and spicy, making it the ideal choice for those who enjoy a bit of a kick in their cocktail.

Cheers y’all.

Just remember to pace yourself with this one 😏

How’s everyone’s #DryJanuary going? Or are yall still #TeamTinyCocktails?

Which tiny cocktail should I do next? 🍸

Is this the official cocktail of 2024?

If you haven’t heard already it’s #BatangaWeek and we’re all here for it.

Cocktails don’t have to be hard and this is no exception. When we were in Mexico last week with @drinkcazcanes, we all fell in love with this drink. The ingredients are simple: tequila, lime and [Mexican] @cocacola. You might be saying, “well Miguel, thats just a tequila-coke…” - it’s not until you add the salt on the rim and IN the glass will this drink just shine. The salt accentuates everything in the cocktail from the agave to the herbal [almost amaro-like] flavors from the soda. If you haven’t had this yet, you need to. I can almost guarantee you already have all the ingredients.

Cheers y’all.

A festive freezer door old fashioned? I got you!

Let’s cool off with a summer spritz, shall we?

Together with hennessy I’ve created a recipe worthy of this summer heat called The Summer Spritz. This recipe combines #HennessyVSOP with flavors of elderflower and lemon to create a recipe that is both refreshing and elegant. Enjoy responsibly, cheers y’all!

Just because #CincoDeMayo is over doesn’t mean these tequila cocktails have to stop…

#HandcraftAfterDark | Episode 4: Apricot Blvd
(Original recipe & suggestion by: trufflesontherocks/jfdesfosses)

On the last episode of #HandcraftAfterDark, I asked y’all for some suggestions on what I should make next and I happily obliged on one of the submissions from my friend Jean-Félix (jfdesfosses) of trufflesontherocks. This recipe is dark, moody, complex and of course, delicious. I’m so glad this was suggested. It was an honor to be able to make this one and hope y’all give it a try too!

About this series:
I’m featuring some of my favorite night caps and maybe even some recipes that YOU recommend. Here’s the catch: they always have to be stirred and must contain 4 or less ingredients (not including the garnish).

This series will be no-frills, quick, easy, and straightforward recipes that you can make in less than 5 minutes. Have a favorite recipe that fits the description above? Let me know in the comments section and maybe I’ll make it for the next episode.

Cheers y’all

Filipino-inspired drinks have my ❤️🇵🇭

That’s why I’m so excited to work together with drinkspindrift to add two original N/A recipes to their new coffee-table recipe book called “Tastes of Home” - inspired by chefs/mixologists from around the country sharing their unique culinary traditions, recipes and stories. The best news is I’ll be giving away FIVE (5) of these books (check out the link in my stories for more info). #SpindriftPartner Now on to the recipe:

This recipe takes me back to the Philippines, the traditional pairing of coconut (or “buko” in Tagalog) and pandan (a sweet herb with notes of vanilla) are a match made in heaven for desserts. I remember my Lola (grandma) would make a non-alcoholic version using fresh coconuts, condensed milk and pandan jelly. This is my take on that as an elevated non-alcoholic drink.

Yeahhh, you’ll want to make this one 🥭

Mangos are near and dear to my heart just because it was so ubiquitous in the Philippines and I had it almost every day as a child. Whether it was fresh off a tree, or sliced unripened with a side of shrimp paste; I loved it in all its forms. I figured it was only fitting to make a non-alcoholic drink and pair it with Spindrift’s Mango Black Tea. It’s fruity, light and refreshing - hope you give this one a try! Cheers y’all!

Its a classic, but let’s elevate it, shall we? #ad21+

Together with my friends over at empress1908gin, we put together a spin on a traditional last word using Empress Gin with a slight Mezcal rinse it give it a touch of smokiness to compliment the herbaceous qualities of this cocktail. Hope y’all enjoy this one!

Together with my friends at millerhighlife, we’ve created a new cocktail to kick off the season. Combining the #ChampagneOfBeers with the flavors bourbon, maple, cinnamon and lemon to create a fall Radler that is perfect for the season. Give this recipe a try this season and let us know what you think below!

Cheers y’all!

HandcraftAfterDark | Episode 3: White Venetian

I’m a sucker for a Negroni with a couple dashes of saline but have you ever tried it with olive brine? Its a match made in heaven.

Here’s the third episode of Handcraft After Dark. In this series, I’ll feature some of my favorite night caps and maybe even some recipes that YOU recommend. Here’s the catch: they always have to be stirred and must contain 4 or less ingredients (not including the garnish).

This video series will be no-frills, quick, easy, and straightforward recipes that you can make in less than 5 minutes. Have a favorite recipe that fits the description above? Let me know in the comments section.

Alright notjustabartender, you convinced me…

Some people are out there hoarding their Green Chartreuse and some of us are using it as a base spirit 😂 This one is like if a Piña Colada and a Chartreuse Swizzle had a baby and served it over crushed ice in a Coco Lopez can. A big thank you Erick Castro-Diaz (hungrybartender) for this spec. Absolutely incredible.

Here’s your Friday night in a glass.

This one is a little more involved but I promise it’s worth it. When it comes to crushable tiki-style cocktails, this is it right here. With the addition of peach, this might just be the perfect end to summer cocktails.

Did you know there are only three places in the US where you can try my cocktails at actual bar? Two of them are in Charleston but one is actually at claytonandcrume’s speakeasy in Louisville, KY. Last year I had the opportunity to help craft the menu for their inaugural opening right before the Kentucky Derby. This was one of those recipes.

It’s an easy one and one of my go-to cocktails to make at home.

A summer Negroni? This is the Enzoni 🍇

This cocktail was created in the early 2000s and way ahead of its time. Back in those days I was crushing Keystone Lights and Kentucky Gentleman + Diet Cokes… because college. This cocktail is so far removed from that, I think it would be like if a Negroni was a summer drink, this would be the recipe. Make sure to give this one a try, it’s fruity, sweet, bitter and sour. So, so good.

Cheers y’all.

MSG gets a bad rap, but don’t let it scare you from making this 🍸

MSG or Mono-sodium Glutamate has been widely used in cooking for centuries, but did you know it can be naturally derived as well? This compound is found in every day food such as mushrooms, tomatoes, meat and many other vegetables. There’s nothing scary or dangerous about this ingredient, just like anything else… when used in moderation. MSG is important in cooking since it provides that ‘5th’ flavor profile - UMAMI.

“What does umami taste like?” - you (probably)
Umami is the savory or meaty taste of foods. It comes from three compounds that are naturally found in plants and meat: glutamate, inosinate, and guanylate.

A two ingredient NA cocktail?? Yep, it’s possible AND it’s delicious.
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The GARIBALDI the signature cocktail over at @dantenewyorkcity but with my friends at @ritualzeroproof, I wanted to make a #NoABV version with their new NA Aperitif. The key to this cocktail is the texture, the frothiness in vigorously shaking or frothing orange juice brings a light and fluffy mouthfeel to this simple recipe. Its a great mix of bitter, citrusy and this new Ritual Aperitif didn’t disappoint, its got familiar notes of bitter, citrus and even adds a bit of a kick that you won’t normally find in other NA spirits.

Cheers y’all

What do you know about Grappa?

I’ll be honest, up until a few days ago, I didn’t know much about either, but luckily, together with my friends at hellograppa, we’re here to get to know the spirit a bit better. We’ll be talking about how to taste it neat, but also provide you with an easy you can make it with using Italian ingredients.

So what is Grappa? The Short answer is: A spirit distilled from grape marcs grown exclusively in Italy (Reg. (EU) 787/2019). In fact, Grappa is not distilled from grapes, but from Marcs. There’s so much more to it though. Grappa can be flavored/aromatic and aged/unaged. The aged variety can be aged anywhere from 12 months to 18+ months in oak barrels imparting flavors of vanilla and fruit, while also mellowing the unaged spirit.

Here’s a little something to help you stay warm this Christmas night 🔥🎄 I’ve created an easy 4 ingredient cocktail for y’all to celebrate the holidays with. It takes the traditional highball recipe and twists it to create a festive spin on a classic using Rabbit Hole Distillery’s Boxergrail Rye. Cheers and wish you and your family a very merry Christmas🎄

We found the perfect cocktail to kick off the weekend.

Charleston-based photographer and mixologist Miguel Buencamino of Holy City Handcraft (holycityhandcraft) whipped up a jumbo Manhattan cocktail, complete with a giant “cherry,“ at the gardenandgun offices. The recipe below provides 20-25 servings of this classic cocktail and can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge or freezer. Cheers and happy Friday! 🥃

Please note: This is a great way to enjoy a batched cocktail to share with friends, but we don’t recommend consuming alone.