How you doin’? A lot of people think sipping whiskey is more of a fall or winter “sport.” But that’s not true. There are lot of complicated cocktails made with good old American whiskey that make great Happy Hour drinks.
 
Here is the simplest of whiskey cocktails that have all the character and flavor of your favorite American whiskey but lightened by bubbles and citrus for the perfect late morning/early afternoon sippin’ cocktail.
 
American whiskey or bourbon has regained its position as most popular spirit in the U.S.  Buoyed by the popularity of cocktails and craft distillers, corn-based whiskey overtook vodka a couple of years ago as the top-selling spirit category by dollar volume, a trend that seems poised to continue.
 
Because bourbon is a truly American drink, the Fourth of July is an appropriate time to delve into its history -- and savor a glass or two. Bourbon owes much of its commercial appeal to the connection it offers drinkers to the American past.
 
Scottish-Irish immigrants started coming to the U.S. in large numbers in the early 18th century. They brought with them their accent, their music, their language and their methods of distilling grain. In the old country, they applied these techniques to barley, but in America corn was far more plentiful.
 
The word “bourbon” didn't emerge until the 1860s. It derives from the French House of Bourbon, but the origin of its application to American corn whiskey remains under dispute. Some claim it refers to Bourbon County in Kentucky, others say that it comes from Bourbon Street in New Orleans, whose residents consumed most of the product. Some theorize that savvy merchants may have come up with the name to appeal to New Orleans residents of French descent.
 
Bourbon hit its stride in the decades after the Civil War, when rapidly developing transportation and communications networks started to weave the U.S. into a single market. Brands such as Old Forrester, Early Times and Jack Daniels date to the late 1800s. Old Forrester was also the first U.S. whiskey to be sold in sealed bottles. Previously, the spirit was transported in barrels to a merchant whose customers carried their purchases away in their own reusable containers, a practice that continued into the early 20th century. To the side are two ceramic jugs from George Dickel; note the corncob stoppers.
 
Today we see new signs of Whiskey innovation with several artisanal Whiskey producers who bring their talent and taste to the market continuing the “spirit” of America.
 
Ingredients 
2-1/2 ounces of your favorite American Whiskey or Bourbon
4-5 ounces of soda water
Lemon peel
 
Directions

1. Combine the whiskey and soda over ice in a Collins glass.
2. Express the lemon peel and drop into the glass.

ChefSecret:  Did you know the American Whiskey is a good investment? American Whiskey is an asset with a huge global demand, but with very limited supply. So just like any other collectible, when something is in limited supply, the price increases along with the rising demand. Whiskey was named as the best performing collectible of the past 10 years with 586% rise in value.

Quip of the Day: Sometimes the Universe puts you in the same situation again to see if you’re still the same old dumbass you were when you were younger.
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Do you have a question or comment? Send your thoughts to ed@perspectives-la.com.  All recipes and cooking tips are posted on our website https://www.perspectives-la.com/covid-19-survival-guide .
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To you and everyone dear to you, be strong, be positive, stay well, stay safe and be kind. Take a breath and count your blessings, and if you have a little extra to share with others, please consider donating to Feeding America. 

#Cocktail #HappyHour #Whiskey #LemonPeel #WhiskeySoda #Cheers #2022 #Cheers# QuarantineKitchen #Covid19 #FeedingAmerica #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup 

                                             ©Perspectives/The Consulting Group, Inc., 2022

How you doin’?  With summer almost in full swing, you’ll probably be spending some time outside around the barbecue with friends and family. Over the years we have developed lots of cocktail recipes for our clients, including those that are perfect for outdoor gatherings and events. Here is a light, refreshing summer beverage great for any outdoor occasion.
 
Blueberry Bliss is my answer to a summery refreshing and not too sweet happy hour cocktail. The secret is a touch of lemon paired with aromatic rosemary which creates multi-levels of flavor to this cocktail.
 
Ingredients 
2-1/2 ounces vodka
1 ounce blueberry syrup (or muddled blueberry jam)
1/4 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/4 ounce simple syrup
4 ounces soda water
1 small sprig of fresh rosemary
4 to 6 whole fresh blueberries (for garnish)
 
Directions

1. Using a cocktail shaker half filled with ice, combine the vodka, blueberry syrup, lemon juice and simple syrup—shake to chill.
2. Strain into an ice-filled stemless wine glass.
3. Top off with the soda water.
4. Garnish with a sprig of rosemary and drop in a few blueberries.

ChefSecret:  With this cocktail you don’t need the most expensive vodka—any standard well liquor will do. I sometimes like to use 4 ounces of Squirt instead of soda. I like the added level of the grapefruit flavor to this cocktail.  Look for more summery cocktails in the coming weeks.

Quip of the Day:  My tolerance for idiots is extremely low these days. It’s kind of like Covid; I used to have some immunity built up, but obviously there’s a new strain out there everyday.
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Do you have a question or comment? Send your thoughts to ed@perspectives-la.com.  All recipes and cooking tips are posted on our website https://www.perspectives-la.com/covid-19-survival-guide .
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To you and everyone dear to you, be strong, be positive, stay well, stay safe and be kind. Take a breath and count your blessings, and if you have a little extra to share with others, please consider donating to Feeding America. 
​
#Cocktail #HappyHour #BlueberryBliss #Blueberries #Lemon #Rosemary #Vodka #Cheers #2022 #Cheers# QuarantineKitchen #Covid19 #FeedingAmerica #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup 

                                          ©Perspectives/The Consulting Group, Inc., 2022

How you doin’? The Godfather took the world by storm in the seventies after doing what no other cocktail had done... combining a liquor and a liqueur together without a mixer. With a brave combination of Scotch Whisky and Amaretto, The Godfather is a drink to be sipped slowly, savoring every mouthful without the worry of spending the rest of the evening on the floor.

The origin of The Godfather is unknown, but the most popular theory is that it was created and named after Francis Ford Coppola’s legendary film, The Godfather, which was written by Italian author Mario Puzo. Disaronno has also claimed that The Godfather was Marlon Brando's favorite drink. Nobody knows if this is actually true or not but it makes for an interesting story, so we'll take it!
 
Ingredients 
1-1/2 ounces Scotch whisky
1/2 ounce amaretto liqueur
 
Directions 

1. In an old-fashioned glass with ice cubes, pour the scotch and amaretto.
2. Stir well.
3. Serve and enjoy.

 
ChefSecret:  Match the quality of the scotch and choose a top-shelf amaretto. Ice is this cocktail's third ingredient and is just as important as the spirits. Use the cleanest water possible and avoid using ice that has been in the freezer for too long or near foods with heavy aromas, such as onions or fish. The Godfather is a perfect drink for ice balls or large cubes. These will melt more slowly than standard ice cubes and prevent an overly diluted drink.

Recipe Variations:

• This version of The Godfather uses a 3-to-1 ratio of Scotch whisky to amaretto. This produces a sweet drink but with a less cloying result as the 1-to-1 ratio suggested by one popular amaretto producer. For even less sweetness, pour 2 ounces of scotch with 1/2 ounce of amaretto.
• The Godmother is the same cocktail, substituting vodka for scotch.
• The Godchild switches to cognac.
• For a Goddaughter, mix up a Godmother and pour equal amounts of amaretto and cream.

Quip of the Day:  An elderly gentleman in his mid-90s, very well dressed, hair well groomed, great suit, flower in his lapel smelling slightly of a good aftershave, presenting a well-groomed image, walks into an upscale cocktail lounge. He spies an elderly lady in her mid-80s. The gentleman walks over, sits alongside her, orders a drink, takes a sip, turns to her and says, "So tell me, do I come here often?"
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Do you have a question or comment? Send your thoughts to ed@perspectives-la.com.  All recipes and cooking tips are posted on our website https://www.perspectives-la.com/covid-19-survival-guide .
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To you and everyone dear to you, be strong and positive, stay well and safe and be kind.

#Cocktail #HappyHour #TheGodfather #FrancisoFordCopolla #MarioPuzo #MarlonBrando #Scotch #Amaretto #Cheers #2022 #Cheers# QuarantineKitchen #Covid19 #FeedingAmerica #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup 

#Cocktail #HappyHour #TheGodfather #FrancisoFordCopolla #MarioPuzo #MarlonBrando #Scotch #Amaretto #Cheers #2022 #Cheers# QuarantineKitchen #Covid19 #FeedingAmerica #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup 

                                         ©Perspectives/The Consulting Group, Inc., 2022

How you doin’? After a short break, we're back! Did you miss us? 

Hard ciders have been around for centuries. I’m sure that ciders were enjoyed by the ancient Romans and Greeks. The first recorded references to cider dates to 55 BCE when Julius Caesar found the Celtic Britons fermenting cider from native crabapples. The people of northern Spain were making sidra before the birth of Christ.
 
But when did they get so angry? According to Angry Orchard, the name comes from the fact that the very best apples for cider-making look, well, angry. When they started exploring orchard after orchard across the U.S., Italy, and France, they found that the best cider apples were nothing like the ones you'd find at the grocery store.
 
Crisp Apple, the flagship product from America's best-selling cider brand, Angry Orchard, is 5 percent ABV—the same as a Budweiser. Meanwhile, Vermont's Shacksbury, a more artisanal cider brand, cans its craft ciders at 6.5 percent ABV, getting into IPA territory.
 
With little to no added sugar, beer is the undisputed winner in the health category. It typically has less carbs than cider which makes it slightly healthier, even though the number of calories remains roughly the same. Regardless, it is a fun ingredient for a new age cocktail.
 
Prep time:  5 minutes
Yield:  1 cocktail
 
Ingredients
 5 ounces Angry Orchard Crisp Apple
1 ounce white rum
3/4 ounce lime juice
2-1/2 tablespoons granulated sugar
4 strawberries (you can substitute any other seasonal berries that are available)
2 cups ice
 
Directions

1. Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth. Serve in a rocks glass and garnish with a strawberry.

 
ChefSecret:  Britain drinks more cider than the rest of the world combined. But it's not the only country with a long, unique, and endearingly eccentric cider-making tradition. About 20 years ago America took European brewing traditions and created its own craft brewing industry. Now it's doing the same with cider. Influenced by the English ciders of Somerset and the three counties, but without access to the same stocks of bittersweet, tannic cider apples, craft American ciders tend to be sparkling, served chilled, and are increasingly common in Manhattan's best restaurants as a perfect low-alcohol substitute for wine.

Quip of the Day:  An Irishman, Englishman and Scotsman go into a pub and each order a pint of Guinness. Just as the bartender hands them over, three flies buzz down and one lands in each of the pints. The Englishman looks disgusted, pushes his pint away and demands another pint. The Scotsman picks out the fly, shrugs, and takes a long swallow. The Irishman reaches in to the glass, pinches the fly between his fingers and shakes him while yelling, “Spit it out, ya bastard! Spit it out!”
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Do you have a question or comment? Send your thoughts to ed@perspectives-la.com.  All recipes and cooking tips are posted on our website https://www.perspectives-la.com/covid-19-survival-guide .
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To you and everyone dear to you, be strong, be positive, stay well, stay safe and be kind. Take a breath and count your blessings, and if you have a little extra to share with others, please consider donating to Feeding America. 

#Cocktail #HappyHour #AngryHardCider #CrispApple #Shacksbury #Cider #WhiteRum #Strawberries #Cheers #2022 #Cheers# QuarantineKitchen #Covid19 #FeedingAmerica #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup 

                                    ©Perspectives/The Consulting Group, Inc., 2022

How you doin’? Here’s a famous Italian cocktail that will have you singing opera.  Named after one of Italy's 'fathers of the homeland', the Garibaldi is an iconic Italian cocktail. The Garibaldi was invented in Novara to signify the unification of north and south of Italy in the 19th century.
 
Made with Campari from the north and oranges from the south, Garibaldi is a very symbolic and popular cocktail amongst Italians. There are several variations of this drink which also includes rum or soda water, if you don't happen to have any orange juice nearby. The Garibaldi is a refreshingly fruity cocktail that's perfect for sipping on a warm evening.
 
My classic Italian cocktail couldn’t be simpler to make. It combines just two ingredients: Campari and orange juice. Some early versions of the cocktail call for a one-to-one ratio, but upping the juice creates a more balanced drink. It’s a winning flavor profile
 
Ingredients
1-1/2 ounces Campari
4 ounces fresh orange juice
Garnish: orange wedge
 
Directions

1. Fill a highball glass with ice cubes.
2. Add the Campari and orange juice and stir to combine.
3. Garnish with an orange wedge.

ChefSecret:  A Garibaldi biscuit consists of currants squashed and baked between two thin oblongs of biscuit dough—a sort of currant sandwich. The biscuits are like Eccles cake as well as the Golden Raisin Biscuits once made by Sunshine Biscuits. Popular with British consumers as a snack for over 150 years, the Garibaldi biscuit is conventionally consumed with tea or coffee, into which it may be properly dunked in informal social settings.

Quip of the Day:  An elephant walked into the men’s room and found a naked bartender. The ‘Phant just started laughing and asked the naked man, how do you breathe out of that thing?
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Do you have a question or comment? Send your thoughts to ed@perspectives-la.com.  All recipes and cooking tips are posted on our website https://www.perspectives-la.com/covid-19-survival-guide .
-------------------------------------------
To you and everyone dear to you, be strong, be positive, stay well, stay safe and be kind. Take a breath and count your blessings, and if you have a little extra to share with others, please consider donating to Feeding America. 

#Cocktail #HappyHour #Garibaldi #Campari #OrangeJuice #Italy #Cheers #2022 #Cheers# QuarantineKitchen #Covid19 #FeedingAmerica #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup 

                                             ©Perspectives/The Consulting Group, Inc., 2022