Preston

Preston cocktail

The cherry garnish complements the tannic note of this original cocktail by Matthew Benevoli.

Ingredients:

1.5 oz bourbon (such as Basil Hayden)

1 oz Japanese plum liqueur

0.5 oz cherry liqueur (from canning)

2 oz steeped and chilled Earl Grey tea

Optional: a dash of lemon juice

Garnish: Boozy Cocktail Cherries

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Last word

Last Word cocktail

Boozy cocktail cherries add a personal note to this herbaceous classic.

Ingredients:

0.75 oz London Dry Style Gin (such as Sipsmith)

0.75 oz green Chartreuse

0.75 oz maraschino cherry liqueur

0.75 oz lime juice

Garnish: Boozy Cocktail Cherry

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The cherry on top

These garnishes add a grace note to cocktails—and make an excellent gift, too

While fresh cherries are best, frozen will work just fine to create a complex and just-boozy-enough garnish. Matthew Benevoli photos

Garnishes can be beautiful, vibrant, eye-catching additions to what we eat and drink. The more appealing, the more they add to our enjoyment. Though usually small in size, garnishes can have a large impact on our overall experience; just because they’re small doesn’t mean they’re not integral to the flavours and finish.

Enter the cocktail cherry.

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Sip clearly now

With clarified cocktails, both the process and the result are a little bit magical

The process of clarifying this Piña Colada Punch creates both smooth texture and visual intrigue. Matthew Benevoli photos

Clarifying cocktails may seem like a modern technique, but it actually dates to 1700s England, when milk punches were batched in large quantities in advance of parties.

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Barrel-Aged General Waverly

Barrel-aged General Waverly. Matthew Benevoli photo

Ingredients:

15 oz Reifel Rye

6.75 oz Punt E Mes

2.5 oz Galliano liqueur

2.5 oz Krupnik Spiced Honey Liqueur (or any honey liqueur)

10 dashes orange bitters

2 dashes orange bitters

Garnish: Honey, freshly ground black peppercorn

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Well aged

Cocktails are better in a barrel—even if you don’t have one

Before, during and after—the spirits, the barrel and the finished, barrel-aged cocktail. Matthew Benevoli photos

What exactly is barrel aging? Simply put, it’s the interaction between alcohol and the wooden barrels it’s resting in. This process can range from a mere 60 days to years, decades, even centuries. When temperatures rise, spirits absorb deeper into the barrel staves; then they retract out when temperatures cool. This constantly changing interaction affects the spirits by mellowing harsher notes, adding body and giving deeper, richer flavours.

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