Blood Orange Negroni

The Blood Orange Negroni by Justin Taylor. Talia Kleinplatz photo.

INGREDIENTS:
1 oz London dry gin
1 oz Campari
1 oz sweet vermouth
3 oz freshly squeezed blood orange
2 cups of cubed ice

METHOD:
Add all ingredients to a blender, leaving the cubed ice until last. Put the lid on and blend on the lowest setting. Slowly increase the speed until the desired texture is reached. Pour into double Old Fashioned glasses. Garnish with a fresh rosemary and a straw, or maybe even a spoon. Serves 2.

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Hemingway Daiquiri

The Hemingway Daiquiri by Justin Taylor. Talia Kleinplatz photo.

INGREDIENTS:
4 oz light cuban rum
1 oz maraschino liqueur
1.5 oz freshly squeezed ruby red grapefruit juice
1.5 oz freshly squeezed lime juice
0.5 oz simple syrup*
2 cups of cubed ice

METHOD:
Add all ingredients to a blender, leaving the cubed ice until last. Put the lid on and blend on the lowest setting. Slowly increase the speed until the desired texture is reached. Pour into Martini glasses. Garnish with fresh mint and a grapefruit wedge. Serves 2.

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Return to blender

The cacophony of spinning blades is usually the sign of an inferior cocktail — but bartenders are now seeing the gadget’s potential

Talia Kleinplatz photo

Once a derided device of the past, the blender is slowly finding its way back into cocktail bars around the globe.

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Suffering Barbarian

main411.ca photo

This cocktail created by Justin Taylor of the Cascade Room is an easy and refreshing way to enjoy bourbon

• 2 oz (30 mL) bourbon
• 0.5 oz (15 mL) fresh lemon juice
• 3 dashes Angostura bitters
• 4 oz (120 mL) ginger beer

Place all ingredients in a highball glass, add lots of ice and stir. Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint. Serves 1.

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Chocolate Basil Daiquiri

Chocolate Basil Daiquiri by Justin Taylor. Danika Sea photo.

INGREDIENTS:
2 oz light rum
1 oz fresh lime juice
3 fresh basil leaves, plus one for garnish
1 oz cocoa nib syrup*
1 egg white
cocoa powder for garnish

METHOD:
Pre-chill a cocktail glass. Add rum, lime, basil (torn in half), cocoa nib syrup and egg white to a cocktail shaker and dry shake without ice for about 10 seconds. Add ice and shake for an additional 10-15 seconds. Double strain into the glass using a fine mesh. Garnish with a fresh basil leaf and a small pinch of cocoa powder.

­—by Justin Taylor

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Turn of the Century

Turn of the Century by Justin Taylor. Danika Sea photo.

INGREDIENTS:
1.5 oz single malt Scotch whisky
0.5 oz dry vermouth
1 oz white chocolate syrup*
0.5 oz fresh lemon juice
3 dashes Bittered Sling Malagasy Chocolate Bitters
candied cocoa nibs

METHOD:
Pre-chill an Old Fashioned glass. Add ice and all liquid ingredients to a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously for 15 seconds. Strain over crushed ice into your glass. Garnish with candied cocoa nibs.

*White chocolate syrup: Boil 2 cups heavy cream and pour over 6 oz white chocolate chips, stirring to dissolve. Reserve in a sealable jar or bottle and refrigerate until needed.

—by Justin Taylor

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Spicy Oaxaca Old Fashioned

The Spicy Oaxaca Old Fashioned by Justin Taylor. Danika Sea photo.

INGREDIENTS:
2 oz mezcal
0.5 oz cocoa nib syrup*
2 dashes Scrappy’s Fire Water
1 dash Angostura bitters
orange zest for garnish

METHOD:
Pre-chill an Old Fashioned glass. Add all liquid ingredients to a mixing glass with ice and stir for 20 seconds. Strain cocktail into the glass, over fresh ice. Garnish with orange zest.

*Cocoa nib syrup: Add 1 cup cocoa nibs, 1 cup raw sugar and 1.5 cups water to a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, stir, and simmer for 10 minutes. Allow syrup to cool and strain into a sealable bottle or mason jar and refrigerate (it will keep for about four weeks). Dry the nibs on parchment paper to use as garnish.

—by Justin Taylor

 

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Dad’s Hot Chocolate

Dad's Hot Chocolate
Dad’s Hot Chocolate by Justin Taylor. Danika Sea photo.

INGREDIENTS:
4 oz 70 per cent dark baking chocolate
3 tbsp cocoa powder
0.5 tsp salt
1 cup sugar
8 cups whole milk
1 cup Fernet Branca
0.5 cup peppermint liqueur
12 dashes Angostura Bitters
marshmallows or whipped cream for garnish (optional)
shaved tonka bean for garnish (optional)

METHOD:
Add chocolate, cocoa powder, milk, sugar and salt to a medium saucepan and heat gently, stirring constantly. As the mixture reaches a slow boil, remove from heat and add liquor. Pour into mugs and garnish with whipped cream or marshmallows, and shaved tonka bean. Makes 8 cups.

­—by Justin Taylor

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Hot Buttered Rum

Istockphoto.com photo.

In the 17th century, American colonialists replaced the whisky in their toddies with rum. Then some genius added a pat of butter to the concoction while another added baking spices, and so they created the gloriously unctuous drink we know as hot buttered rum.

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