Fig & Thyme Cocktail

The figs I brought home this week were extremely tender, unusually sweet, and provided the inspiration for a few Fall cocktails. Here's one for today:

Fig & Thyme Cocktail
3 ounces vodka
1 ounce simple syrup
Squeeze of lemon
4 dashes orange bitters
Fresh, organic figs
Fresh thyme

Directions: Gently muddle the vodka, figs, and thyme. Filter a few times for clarity. Strain into a shaker and add simple syrup, lemon, and bitters. Shake well and pour into a martini glass or serve over ice.

The Taste Test: Blue Ice Multi Grain Vodka

We had the opportunity to share Blue Ice Multi Grain Vodka with friends this week and it was a hit. Let's just start with the fact that it's made in America and considered multi grain. If that doesn't get you feeling good about drinking vodka then you're probably a snob.

It also uses a special distillation and advanced filtration system that yes, every company claims to employ, but with Blue Ice I feel like I can really taste the "special."


My friend who hosted was also the amazing mixologist of the night, whipping up perfect drink after drink. These are the recipes the guests enjoyed and I think you will too:

Hot Lemon Drop
2 ounces Blue Ice "g" vodka
1 ounce fresh squeezed lemon juice
1 ounce homemade simple syrup
2 dashes cayenne pepper
Sugared rim

Limon Ginger Drop
2 ounces Blue Ice "g" vodka
1 ounce fresh squeezed lime juice

1 ounce homemade simple syrup

1/2 teaspoon ginger juice

Sugared rim

THIS GIRL'S Basic Bar Bites: Jambalaya

Prepare this meal when you're in a pinch for time or want to guarantee yourself some leftovers. I've adapted this Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya recipe from Cooking Light Magazine and will make if for casual family dinners and pot lucks.

                                         Ingredients
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 package precooked, nitrate free spicy sausage
1 large onion, chopped
4 celery stalks, chopped
3 garlic gloves, minced
1 cup white rice
1 cup water
1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper
6 fresh thyme sprigs
1 can chicken broth (low sodium)
1 can no-salt diced tomatoes (undrained)
2 organic chicken breasts, chopped

Directions
Cook the chopped chicken in the vegetable oil, then add the sausage and brown. Add the onion, celery and garlic until tender. Then add the rice, water, red pepper, thyme, and chicken broth. Bring to a boil, and then simmer about 20 minutes or until the rice is cooked. Remove the thyme sprigs. Stir in the can of diced tomatoes and add salt and pepper to taste.

THIS GIRL'S Pick of the WEEK: Hi*Ball Sparkling Water

This soda slash energy drink was discovered Saturday on the sidelines of a 5-year-old's AYSO soccer game. It's definitely an unusual place to see a mom drinking from a can with the same name as the popular cocktail glass called a "highball," so I just had to ask her what it was and where I could get it.

A few hours later after shopping at Whole Foods I had three of the Hi-Ball flavors in my cart and guzzled a Vanilla Sparkling Energy Water on the way home. This morning I'm on my way to get more.

These are the most understated sodas I've tasted to date and I like them...a lot. For the zero-calorie, zero-sugar cans, imagine drinking soda water with the essence of grapefruit, wildberry, lemon-lime, or vanilla. Now visualize adding an ounce and a half of vodka, whiskey, or rum with a lemon twist and you've got yourself a skinny cocktail under 100 calories.

And then of course there's the energy factor. Each soda contains a small amount of caffeine, guarana, and ginseng to keep you going without all the junk. Remember nine years ago when a vodka Red Bull was all the rage? Clearly we've come a long way from that, and ordering a vodka Hi-Ball just sounds better.

Raspberry Lemonade Whiskey

This is a very simple drink to make, especially if you buy the pre-made, store-bought lemonade that I did. Otherwise you can create a homemade mix with equal parts fresh lemons, raspberries, sugar, and water. Using clear corn whiskey makes this drink interesting but substituting vodka or rum will work just fine too.

Ingredients
2 ounces whiskey
2 ounces raspberry lemonade
Squeeze of one lemon wedge

Lost Feedburner Subscribers

Dear Email Readers,
Due to an error with Feedburner, all subscriptions have been lost. We hope that Feedburner fixes this problem on their end soon and that on Monday our blog post is delivered to your email box once again. This has affected thousands of bloggers. As soon as we know more, we'll let you know.
Best,
Jocelyn and Jordan

Mixology 101: Strawberry Simple Syrup

This strawberry simple syrup tastes like the fresh version of the syrup that accompanies frozen sweetened strawberries. I like to add it to vodka and bourbon drinks, but you can always use it as a regular syrup as well over pancakes, ice cream, or fresh fruit.

Ingredients
1 cup organic strawberries
1 cup water
1 cup sugar

Directions Boil the strawberries in the water and sugar for about 10 minutes. Reduce heat and simmer for another 30 minutes. Remove from heat and strain the strawberries to capture the syrup. Store chilled up to a week.

Strawberry & Blueberry Whiskey Cocktail

My rum and gin has been pushed to the back of the bar for a break while we focus on whiskey, scotch, and bourbon. I can't yet shake the desire to include fresh fruit yet, so for the rest of the month we'll share more drinks with a summer & fall hybrid.

Ingredients
2 ounces clear corn whiskey (such as Moonshine)
1 ounce strawberry simple syrup
1/2 cup fresh blueberries
Strawberry for garnish

Directions Muddle the strawberries with the whiskey and strain into a shaker. Add the simple syrup and ice, and shake well. Strain into a low ball filled with ice or into a martini glass. Garnish with a strawberry.

The Menu for Fall Mixology Parties

Fall seems to be nowhere in the air here in Southern California but that hasn't stopped dozens of people from landing at our blog after conducting "Halloween drinks" and "candy-corn martini" searches.

We have several private mixology parties lined up in the coming months and I have to say that those types of drinks just won't be on the menu. I'm not too proud to design festive and themed cocktails, but there's something about charging people to dissect marshmallow peeps that feels unethical. People sign up to learn the art of bartending and cocktail construction, not how to make candy corn jello shots (though that recipe will be posted here in October). Ha!

Instead I'll continue trying to move people from the comfort and safety of vodka while still trying to satisfy those less adventurous pallets. Bourbons, scotches, and whiskeys mixed with fruits and sweet liqueurs will dominate the menu and hopefully become a new staple in my clients' home bars.

It is so satisfying to hear people say, "I can't wait to make this for my next party," and "this is so much easier than I thought." I'd rather those comments be attached to an adult drink and not something made with trick-or-treating ingredients. Don't worry- plenty of pumpkin, cloves, cinnamon, and maple will be used to satisfy the kid in all of us.

Clementine Vanilla Cocktail

I don't know if it's the heat here or the endless supply of clementines in my fruit basket that have me on a mission to find cool, refreshing citrus drinks. Clementines are so sweet you can basically add them to any spirit and call it a cocktail, but sometimes a little sweet boost doesn't hurt either.

Clementine Vanilla Cocktail

3 ounces fresh squeezed clementines

2 ounces vodka

1 tablespoon vanilla premium gourmet syrup

Citrus sugar rim (orange, lemon, lime, or grapefruit)

Setting The Bar: Filming Has Started!

Amanda & Crew

Filming for the cocktail-themed show Setting The Bar has started! Jordan will be co-producing this fun series with Amanda Salem, her cocktail video partner for the AOL Patch series you may have seen.

Last week the crew inspected the primary location of the first episode and took footage of our "host's" home. The planning that goes into putting something like this together has a steep learning curve but it truly is a thrill of a ride to be on.

I watched as the crew planned out where the cameras would go, which windows would need to be covered to keep out the bright sunlight, which doors would need to be removed for easier maneuvering,  where cameras would be stationed for continuous filming, and what not to wear. I didn't want to put on red anyway.

Jordan and Amanda

The next update on this endeavor will be at the end of October, but you can subscribe early to our YouTube Channel at Setting the Bar TV!

End of Summer - PICNIC STIX

One of my favorite memories from last summer was enjoying an outdoor concert in the grass at the Huntington Library lawn in Pasadena, CA. Everyone brought lawn chairs, picnic blankets, and a stash of goodies including wine. If only I had known about Picnic Stix then, I would not have spilled my perfectly chilled glass of Chardonnay while searching for a hard surface to place it on.

Picnic Stix allows you to set your glass and even an entire bottle into these nifty yard sticks that anchor securely into the grass. Now if only that couple next to me hadn't practically set up camp on my lap, it would have been a perfect evening!

For other fantastic picnic accessories, check out...
The Corkcicle
Stacked Wines

End of Summer Picnic - STACKED WINES

I'm sorry, but this product is genius. GENIUS! Stacked Wines has come up with a wine bottle comprised of four individual glass servings of wine (187ml), all stacked up on each other, perfect for a party of four, a picnic or an outdoor concert.

Never again will that last little trickle of wine at the bottom of the bottle end up in your glass while everyone else's is practically to the rim.

Beautifully packaged and available in three California varieties: Chardonnay, Merlot and Pinot Grigio, Stacked is affordable at only $14.99.

For other items that make a perfect picnic, check out...
Wine sticks
The Corkcicle

End of Summer Picnic - CORKCICLE

Our friend Beth introduced us to Corkcicle, a useful gadget that helps keep your white wines chilled from the inside of the bottle. Say you're entertaining outdoors, and rather than hauling a bucket of ice with you, simply insert this cleverly designed device into your bottle to maintain the chill for up to an hour. Corkcicle can also be used to maintain the temperature of red wine, if say your bottle warms up too much.

The Corkcicle website is beautifully designed, as is the product itself. Choose from the classic Corkcicle, with a cork top, or select from an array of colors—to match your lipstick or shoes perhaps? The website boasts a very thorough and informative (aka long) video if you need further persuasion that this is one hell-of-a-great hostess gift! I'm sold.

Beth found hers at Uncorked, a great little wine bar/shop in Hermosa Beach, CA, however it's also available directly from the Corkcicle site.

For other amazing picnic items, try these...
Stacked Wine
Picnic Stix

THIS GIRL's Pick of the WEEK

There are skid marks from my shopping cart on the Whole Foods floor where I first spotted Tommy's Famous Maragarita Mix. I'm constantly hunting for a store-bought mix that can rival a homemade batch of sweet n' sour. This one comes damn close. Made only with lime and a little agave nectar, it's extremely sour, but in a good way (pieces of lime are swimming around the container to remind you how fresh it is). There may not be any enamel left on my teeth by the time I finish with this bottle, but I could seriously drink it straight from the jug without even touching the tequila. Cruise over to your local Whole Foods and for $8.99, you may just get yourself your new favorite Margarita mixer.

15 Tips for Planning the Bar... at your Wedding

Not too long ago I discussed these wedding tips during a Twitter party with BevMo. But my recent conversation with a dear friend about her wedding this Fall made me remember how much planning goes into a wedding, and many important decisions must be made about the big, non-refundable day. I of course think the bar is the most important part of a wedding, and most guests would probably agree. ;) 

1. Don't just plan for enough alcohol; plan for more than enough. For most parties you would bank on each guest enjoying two cocktails over the course of an evening. Because people tend to be at weddings longer, prepare for each guest to have 3-4 drinks. You don't want the bar to run dry.

2. If you are on a budget, don't forgo your favorite quality brands. Instead, look for great deals and sales, and join membership programs for a larger discount at the register.

3. Unless your wedding site is permitted to only serve beer and wine, always include the basic spirits at your wedding's bar. Vodka, gin, tequila, rum and whiskey are a must. Or be able to offer several cocktails built around one spirit or signature cocktail.

4. A cash bar at a wedding is usually frowned upon. If you are truly concerned about the bar bill, consider picking up the tab for a set time period. Treat your guests to wine, beer, and cocktails during the reception and dinner, and then switch to a no-host bar after dinner is served.

5. Don't shy away from offering premium spirits at your wedding. You may be surprised to learn that the cost per person doesn't vary as much as you would think when serving premium brands instead of the bottom shelf.

6. Create a custom cocktail for your event that your friends will enjoy and include the recipe on your wedding website or on cards at the bar. Ask us if you need help with this!

7. Be strategic about where you have your bar set up. Make sure that the bartender doesn't have too far to go to restock glasses, ice, or spirits. You don't want your guests standing around for a drink.

8. If you would like a self-serve area of the bar, opt for a covered beverage dispenser instead of open pitchers or punch bowls.

9. Think about including a non-alcoholic option other than soda or water, like a sparkling juice or a mocktail. 

10. If you are leaving wine bottles on the tables for people to self serve, uncork them ahead of time to avoid any accidents or injuries.

11. Hire a professional bartender. Don't leave it up to Uncle Joey to wing it behind the bar. Free help doesn't necessarily mean better help.

12. Check with the catering company to find out if they will be staffing your bar with trained bartenders or waiters acting as bartenders, or actors acting as bartenders.

13. Decide ahead of time what kind of glassware you will need. If you have your heart set on a certain style of wine or cocktail glass, you won't be able to make that happen at the last minute.

14. Be vocal about what you do and don't want on your bar's counter. Is a tip jar acceptable? Cocktail straws? The bartender's business card? Don't wait to find out about what was solicited when you get your wedding photos.

15. Demand that a pitcher of water is ready to serve your guests at all times, especially as the night wares on. Dancing the night away requires some serious hydration, and vodka just ain't the same as water.

Mixology 101: Vermouth Infused Olives

Ordering a martini with vermouth is generational. If you're over 60, there's a strong chance you expect vermouth to be part of the drink. If you're 59 or younger, you've either become accustomed to ordering your martinis without vermouth, or you just assume the drink is made without it.

My dirty little secret is that I almost always made my martinis without this popular fortified wine, and you can read about that here. But what I didn't use until many years later were vermouth infused olives, which seem like the perfect solution for the traditional martini drinkers, and the youngsters. You have just a hint of it instead of a measured out amount.

Directions
Purchase a jar of your favorite olives, dump the water out, and rinse them in a colander. Pour the olives back into the jar and replace the liquid with vermouth. Refrigerate for 24-48 for ideal marination time and then serve. The olives will keep for a while, possibly until you start asking for vermouth in your martini.

How to Prepare for The Taste of Los Angeles

Jocelyn & Jordan

On Saturday night we went to one segment of The Taste, an annual event sponsored by The Los Angeles Times. Jocelyn and I always have a blast together, even when the function we're attending isn't topping our "Best Ever" list. While we enjoyed many aspects of Cocktail Confidential, we do have a few suggestions for those who attend next year.

Jocelyn "tagging" the chalk board

1. Eat something before you go The title of the event could not be more appropriate. We stood in line for 10 minutes to enjoy one chip with a tablespoon of guacamole. So buy your ticket early and you won't feel bitter about leaving hungry. We got our tickets about a month in advance for $40 and avoided forking out $75 at the door. Of course if I include the $10 parking fee and the $7.00 I spent at In-N-Out on the way home to shut my stomach up, it was actually a $57.00 event.

Very excited to eat a cupcake

2. Wear comfortable shoes There is plenty of seating once you're inside The Taste, but the walk from your car to the center of the Paramount Lot is seriously like 20 minutes long. And then of course you have to walk or crawl back at the end of the night.

3. Plan your wine and spirit theme You'll move from wine to Skinny Girl to whiskey to Prosecco to vodka to tequila to scotch to booze-filled cupcakes. Don't try it all. Go in with a plan to try all the bourbon drinks or every winery. I suppose you could try it all if you're disciplined enough to sample the teeniest, tiniest amounts.

We were JUST there!

4. Take notes You'll have the program for reference but after tasting so much good food and wine it will all be a blur by the end of the night. Take notes, photograph your favorite vendors, tweet out the best of the best, or voice memo your first impressions.

5. Prioritize your goals Our number one priority was to watch the cocktail competition so we definitely met our objective. However, it was an hour and a half long mixology contest and we ended up missing a lot of vendors by sticking it out to the bitter end (congrats Marcos Tello!).  I suspect that the organizers will reorganize the structure of the competition for next year to maintain interest and a crowd.

Major Cocktailoreanism happening here

6. Be Prepared to Be Dazzled The cocktails we sampled were crazy good. If you like something you taste, don't be shy about asking for the recipe. Every mixology we met was extremely friendly and forthcoming with their drink secrets.

7. Ask The Taste Staff & You Shall Receive The staff running the event was friendly, courteous, and helpful. They helped us navigate around to particular tents, cleared our plates at just the right moments, took photos for us, and one amazing dude even brought me a Margarita while I was watching the cocktail competition.

It was definitely a memorable night worth a return trip next Labor Day weekend.