How you doin’? The American Trilogy is a cocktail that embodies the spirit of innovation while honoring tradition. Created by renowned bartenders Richard Boccato and Michael McIlroy in New York City, this drink is a modern riff on the classic Old-Fashioned. It cleverly splits the base between rye whiskey and applejack, a quintessentially American apple brandy, adding depth and complexity to the flavor profile. The use of a brown sugar cube introduces a richer sweetness, while orange bitters provide a bright, citrusy lift. This cocktail is perfect for those who appreciate a well-balanced drink with a touch of history.
 
The American Trilogy is not just a cocktail; it's a celebration of American heritage. Applejack, once a staple in colonial times, marries beautifully with rye, a grain that has long been associated with American whiskey-making. This drink is a testament to the creativity and craftsmanship that defines modern mixology, offering a taste of nostalgia with every sip. Whether you're a seasoned cocktail enthusiast or a curious newcomer, the American Trilogy is sure to delight your palate.
 
Prep time:  5 minutes
Yields:  1 cocktail
 
Ingredients 
1 long, wide orange zest twist
3/4 ounce applejack brandy bottled
3/4 ounce 100 proof American whiskey
2 dashes orange bitters (I prefer Angostura)
1 brown sugar cube
 
Directions

1. Read the recipe all the way through before starting. Measure all ingredients and have at your side.
2. Chill an old-fashioned glass in a freezer.
3. Prepare the orange zest twist for the garnish.
4. In a mixing glass stir the applejack, whiskey and bitters with ice.
5. Strain into the chilled ice-filled glass (preferably over a large cube or chunk of block ice).
6. Drop in the brown sugar cube.
7. Garnish with a slice of expressed orange zest twist over the cocktail.

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ChefSecret:  If you don’t have brown sugar cubes handy, add 1/3 ounce of brown sugar syrup (2 parts light brown sugar / 1 part water).
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Quip of the Day:  Q. What do you call a cocktail that makes you laugh?  A. A gin and giggles!
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Do you have a question or comment? Send your thoughts to [email protected]. All recipes and cooking tips are posted on our website https://www.perspectives-la.com/perspectives-on-food.
 
We also have 1,000 archived Covid Era recipes that you can easily access using this link https://www.perspectives-la.com/Covid-19-Survival-Guide. Use the search box above our pictures to find what you’re looking for.
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To you and everyone dear to you, be strong, positive, kind, thankful, and stay well and safe. Take a breath and count your blessings, and if you have a little extra to share with others, please consider donating to Feeding America, Tunnel to Towers, Union Rescue Mission, Samaritan’s Purse and/or American Red Cross.

#Cocktail #HappyHour2026 #AmericanTrilogyCocktail #Applejack #Brandy #Whiskey #Bitters #Cheers2026 #Cheers #Recipes2026 #URM #T2T #FeedingAmerica #RedCross #SamaritansPurse #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup 

                                                              ©PERSPECTIVES/The Consulting Group, LLC, 2026  

How you doin’? If you have any leftover New Years Champagne in the fridge, this is a cocktail to try before it goes completely flat.
 
Soyer au Champagne is a luxurious cocktail that combines cognac, orange liqueur, maraschino liqueur, Champagne and vanilla ice cream (yes, I said vanilla Ice cream). All this creates a delightful blend often likened to an adult ice cream float. It's typically served in a tall stem cocktail glass and is perfect for special occasions or non-special occasions—any time really.
 
Soyer au Champagne is unique due to combining Champagne with ice cream, creating a dessert-like drink. It has a rich history dating back to the 19th century and is often associated with the creator and famous chef Alexis Soyer.
 
The cocktail first appeared on the menu at the Washington Refreshment Room in London in 1851, during the Great Exhibition.  Alexis Soyer wanted to introduce intricate mixed drinks to Victorian England. The drink has evolved over time, with variations including the addition of different liqueurs and garnishes—Champagne and vanilla ice cream remains a constant. Soyer au Champagne remains a popular choice for those looking to enjoy a festive and indulgent cocktail or a complex, yet sparkling dessert.
 
Prep time:  5 minutes
Yields:  1 cocktail
 
Ingredients 
1 scoop vanilla ice cream (I prefer Ben & Jerry’s)
1/2 ounce cognac or brandy
1/2 ounce orange curaçao liqueur
1/2 ounce maraschino liqueur
Brut Champagne, to top
Orange slice or cocktail cherry, to garnish
 
Directions

1. Read the recipe all the way through before starting. Measure all ingredients and have at your side.
2. Scoop the vanilla ice cream into a large glass (like a cocktail, coupe or large martini glass).
3. Add the cognac (or brandy), orange curaçao and maraschino liqueur.
4. Top with Champagne.
5. Garnish with an orange slice or cocktail cherry.

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ChefSecret:  A sparkling wine can only be called Champagne if it’s produced in the Champagne region of France and according to strict production rules. Sparkling wine producers in other regions can’t even say that they use the “Champagne method” to create their products; they have to say, “traditional method.”
There are about 4,300 Champagne producers in the Champagne region, many of them small family-run operations. To visit most of them, you need to venture into the countryside for several days. There you get to meet the growers, see the vineyards and visit the production and tasting rooms.
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Quip of the Day:  Why did the Champagne bottle need a map? It was trying to find its way to the party without getting corked!
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Do you have a question or comment? Send your thoughts to [email protected]. All recipes and cooking tips are posted on our website https://www.perspectives-la.com/perspectives-on-food. We have hundreds of archived Covid Era recipes which you can easily access using this link https://www.perspectives-la.com/Covid-19-Survival-Guide
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To you and everyone dear to you, be strong, positive, kind, thankful, and stay well and safe. Take a breath and count your blessings, and if you have a little extra to share with others, including those still suffering the effects of the recent hurricanes. Please consider donating to Feeding America, Tunnel to Towers, Union Rescue Mission, Samaritan’s Purse and/or American Red Cross.

#Cocktail #HappyHour2026 #BubblySoyerAuChampagne #Champagne #IceCream #Cognac #Brandy #CuracaoLiqueur #MaraschinoLiqueur #Brut #Cheers2026 #Cheers #Recipes2026 #URM #T2T #FeedingAmerica #RedCross #SamaritansPurse #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup 

                                                        ©PERSPECTIVES/The Consulting Group, LLC, 2026  

How you doin’? Cold, dark evenings don’t have to mean dull nights. A vibrant, seasonal cocktail can effortlessly elevate your January gatherings and cozy nights in.
 
Whether you’re setting the mood for a fireside get-together or looking to brighten up an ordinary winter weeknight, my January Spiced Apple Bourbon Cocktail combines fresh winter flavors and soothing spirits for a welcoming mix of comfort and celebration.
 
The Spiced Apple Bourbon Cocktail is aromatic, cozy, and slightly sweet. It blends good old American bourbon with apple cider, a touch of cinnamon and a hint of lemon for a comforting winter drink. My January Spiced Apple Bourbon Cocktail is ideal for warming you up on cold nights and pairs beautifully with savory or sweet winter snacks. And it’s got fruit… so, a little healthy, too!
 
Prep time:  5 minutes
Yield:  1 cocktail
 
Ingredients 
2 ounces American Bourbon
3 ounces apple cider
1/2 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon honey
1 cinnamon stick  for garnish
1 apple slice for garnish
 
Directions

1. Read the recipe all the way through before starting. Measure all ingredients and have at your side.
2. Fill a shaker with ice cubes.

1. Add the bourbon, apple cider, lemon juice and honey.
2. Shake gently to combine all flavors.
3. Strain into a glass filled with fresh ice.
4. Garnish with a cinnamon stick and an apple slice.

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ChefSecret:  This is a great combination of flavors to enjoy warm in a mug in front of a roaring fireplace. Just heat the mixture slightly in the microwave or on the stove top and eliminate the ice cubes.
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Quip of the Day:  Q. Why was the cocktail sad at the party?  A. It didn’t have a shot of confidence!
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Do you have a question or comment? Send your thoughts to [email protected]. All recipes and cooking tips are posted on our website https://www.perspectives-la.com/perspectives-on-food.
-------------------------------------------
To you and everyone dear to you, be strong, positive, kind, thankful, and stay well and safe. Take a breath and count your blessings, and if you have a little extra to share with others, including those still suffering the effects of the recent hurricanes. Please consider donating to Feeding America, Tunnel to Towers, Union Rescue Mission, Samaritan’s Purse and/or American Red Cross.

#Cocktail #HappyHour2026 #HappyHourFriday #SpicedAppleBourbonCocktail #Bourbon #AppleCider #Honey #Apple #Cheers2026 #Cheers #Recipes2026 #URM #T2T #FeedingAmerica #RedCross #SamaritansPurse #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup 

                                                 ©PERSPECTIVES/The Consulting Group, LLC, 2026

How you doin’? Here’s a popular rum and amaretto cocktail perfect for the second Happy Hour Friday of the New Year. 
 
My Rum-Amaretto cocktail combines dark spiced rum, amaretto, fresh lime juice, pineapple juice, and simple syrup. This cocktail offers a sweet and tropical flavor profile that's perfect for cold winter weather.
 
Amaretto (Italian for 'a little bitter') is a sweet Italian liqueur originating from the comune (municipality) of Saronno. Depending on the brand, it may be made from apricot kernels, bitter almonds, peach stones, or almonds, all of which are natural sources of the benzaldehyde that provides the almond-like flavor of the liqueur. It generally contains 21 to 28 percent alcohol by volume.

When served as a beverage, amaretto can be drunk by itself, used as an ingredient to create several popular mixed drinks, or added to coffee. Amaretto is also commonly used in Italian and other cuisines, especially in recipes for confectionery and sweet baked goods.
 
Prep time:  5 minutes
Yield: 1 cocktail
 
Ingredients 
1/2 ounce dark spiced rum (I prefer Captain Morgan Rum)
1-1/2 ounces amaretto liqueur
1 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 teaspoon simple syrup (equal parts sugar and water)
1/2 ounce egg white
1 skewered Amarena cherry, garnish
1 orange peel, garnish
 
Directions

1. Read the recipe all the way through before starting. Measure all ingredients and have at your side.
2. Add the rum, amaretto, lemon juice, simple syrup and egg white to a shaker; dry shake (no ice).
3. Add ice and shake again until chilled.
4. Strain over ice in an old fashioned glass.
5. Garnish with a skewered Amarena cherry and an orange peel.

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ChefSecret: When making Simple Syrup, simmer the two ingredients until the sugar is dissolved. I sometimes serve this cocktail chilled in a coupe glass without ice.
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Quip of the Day:  Q. How do you get a computer drunk?  A. A screenshot of Captain Morgan.
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Do you have a question or comment? Send your thoughts to [email protected]. All recipes and cooking tips are posted on our website https://www.perspectives-la.com/perspectives-on-food.
-------------------------------------------
To you and everyone dear to you, be strong, positive, kind, thankful, and stay well and safe. Take a breath and count your blessings, and if you have a little extra to share with others, including those still suffering the effects of the recent hurricanes. Please consider donating to Feeding America, Tunnel to Towers, Union Rescue Mission, Samaritan’s Purse and/or American Red Cross.

#Cocktail #HappyHour2026 #HappyHourFriday #RumAmarettoSour #Rum #Amaretto #Cheers2026 #HolidayHappyHour #Cheers #HolidayRecipes #Recipes2026 #URM #T2T #FeedingAmerica #RedCross #SamaritansPurse #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup  

                                                                                 ©PERSPECTIVES/The Consulting Group, LLC, 2026

How you doin’? To give you an excellent New Year's cocktail we're breaking with Happy Hour Friday tradition and releasing this one early. 

The Champagne Cocktail is a classic and elegant way to enjoy this effervescent drink to start the New Year. It combines Champagne and other ingredients such as liqueurs, syrups, and fruits.
 
While Champagne has been enjoyed for a long, long time (dating back to the 17th century), cocktails, on the other hand, have a more recent history. The first recorded use of the word "cocktail" was in 1806, in a Hudson, New York newspaper. During the 1800s, the cocktail began to gain popularity with the invention of new, innovative drinks and the rise of the culture surrounding them.
 
Champagne cocktails, such as the French 75 and the original Classic Champagne Cocktail, have been popular since the 1800s and are especially well-liked for celebrations and special occasions. Over the years, both Champagne and cocktails have evolved and adapted to changing tastes and trends. Today, there are many different styles and variations, allowing for endless experimentation and creativity in mixing and pairing them. That’s the best part of my job.
 
My Classic Champagne Cocktail is a tried and tested recipe to have in any serious mixologist's arsenal. Many of them use readily available ingredients with delicious twists to celebrate any occasion.
 
This Classic Champagne Cocktail is a simple but elegant cocktail made by adding a sugar cube, Angostura bitters, and cognac or brandy to a Champagne flute and then filling it with Champagne. It's a perfect way to add a little bit of sweetness and complexity to the taste of the Champagne and start your New Year’s celebration off with a POP—of the champagne cork. Cheers to 2026!
 
Prep time:  5 minutes
 
Ingredients
1 sugar cube
2 dashes of Angostura bitters
1/2 ounce cognac or brandy
Champagne
3 raspberries or a lemon wheel for garnish
 
Directions

1. Put a sugar cube in the bottom of a Champagne flute.
2. Add the Angostura bitters to the glass, on top of the sugar cube.
3. Add the cognac or brandy.
4. Slowly pour in chilled Champagne, careful not to disturb the sugar cube.
5. Garnish with a twist of lemon or berries of your choice.

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ChefSecret:  You can use most any sparkling white or rose wine at most any price point.
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Quip of the Day:  At a winery, the regular taster died and the director started looking for a new one to hire.
A drunkard with a ragged, dirty look came in to apply for the position. The director of the winery wondered how to send him away. He gave him a glass to drink.
The drunk tried it and said, “It's a Muscat, three years old, grown on a north slope, matured in steel containers. Low grade, but acceptable.”
"That's correct", said the boss. Another glass...
“This is a Cabernet, eight years old, a south-western slope, oak barrels, matured at 8 degrees. Requires three more years for finest results.”
"Correct." A third glass... "It's a Pinot Blanc Champagne, high grade and exclusive,'' the drunk said calmly.
The director was astonished. He winked at his secretary, secretly suggesting something. She left the room and came back in with a glass of urine.
The alcoholic tried it. "It's a blonde, 26 years old, three months pregnant and if I don't get the job I'll name the father."
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Do you have a question or comment? Send your thoughts to [email protected]. All recipes and cooking tips are posted on our website https://www.perspectives-la.com/perspectives-on-food.
-------------------------------------------
To you and everyone dear to you, be strong, 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, Tunnel to Towers, Union Rescue Mission and/or American Red Cross.

​#Cocktail #HappyHour2026 #HappyHourFriday #ChampagneCocktail #Cheers2026 #HolidayHappyHour #Cheers #HolidayRecipes #Recipes2026 #URM #T2T #FeedingAmerica #RedCross #SamaritansPurse #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup 

                                                                         ©PERSPECTIVES/The Consulting Group, LLC, 2025

How you doin’? Before we opened Choclatique, our premium chocolate company, my go to chocolate was See’s for truffles and Hershey’s for cocoa.
 
During the cold weather of winter, hot cocoa requires no introduction. Here is my recipe for Perfect Hot Chocolate that will take the deep chill out of your bones. Try this quick and easy recipe using HERSHEY’S Cocoa to serve up to six friends or family members a cup of this comforting Perfect Hot Chocolate.
 
You can have the ultimate adult ski chalet treat in no time when you make a cup of this creamy and chocolaty delight with a shot or two of whisky. Hot chocolate is so good and with a shot of whiskey, it is so much better.
 
Prep time:  10 minutes
Yields:  6-6 oz. servings
 
Ingredients 
1⁄2 cup granulated sugar
1⁄4 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa Powder
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1⁄3 cup hot water
4 cups milk (1 quart)
3⁄4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
6 large marshmallows
Whiskey of your choice
 
Directions

1. Mix the sugar,  Cocoa and salt in a medium saucepan; stir in the water.
2. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly for 2 minutes;
3. Add the milk; stir and heat until hot. Do not boil.
4. Remove from heat and add the vanilla.
5. Beat with whisk until foamy.
6. Portion out; add a shot of whiskey if using.
7. Top with a marshmallow.

Try one of the following variations with the vanilla extract:

•  1⁄4 to 1⁄2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon.
• 1⁄2 teaspoon of mint extract or 3 tablespoons of crushed hard peppermint candy.
• 1 to 2 tablespoons of powdered instant coffee.
• Or best of all, make it hard with a shot or two of whiskey.

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ChefSecret:  This is also a Perfect Hot Chocolate for teetotalers and kids under 21… just leave out the whiskey.
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Quip of the Day:  Q. Why did the hot chocolate go to school? A. To become a smart cookie!
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Do you have a question or comment? Send your thoughts to [email protected]. All recipes and cooking tips are posted on our website https://www.perspectives-la.com/perspectives-on-food.
-------------------------------------------
To you and everyone dear to you, be strong, 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, Tunnel to Towers, Union Rescue Mission and/or American Red Cross.

#Cocktail #HappyHour2025 #MerryChristmas #HotChocolate #HardHotChocolate #Hersheys #Marshmallow #CocoaPowder #Whiskey #HolidayHappyHour #Cheers #HolidayRecipes #Recipes2025 #URM #T2T #FeedingAmerica #RedCross #SamaritansPurse #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup  
                                                                                         ©PERSPECTIVES/The Consulting Group, LLC, 2025

How you doin’? I found this cocktail on Difford’s Bar Guide and thought it was perfect for the Christmas season. It’s just so cute—you can’t help but smile. 
 
The EOS cocktail is Elderflower liqueur), Orange liqueur, The (tequila), Sherry is for naughty elves to share while planning mischievous Christmas enactments.
 
Judicious elves take delicate sips so as not to disturb this cocktail's rich, fruity red base, while naughty elves sip, swirl and even stir their cocktail to turn it sweet and pink. However, very naughty elves enrich their Elf On The Shelf cocktail with red crème liqueurs such as cassis, framboise or fraise in place of non-alcoholic grenadine. They're so naughty---naughty as the elves themselves!
 
Actually, this is not a product of Santa's workshop but was created in November 2023. What started as a children's picture book in 2005 has become a nightly drama enacted by parents worldwide from Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve. The book The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition was written by Carol Aebersold and her daughter Chanda Bell and illustrated by Coë Steinwart. Their Christmas-themed story revolves around elves who report to Santa which children are naughty and those who are nice during the lead-up to Christmas. Each night, parents dream up an elf-like act of mischief and then position an elf at the crime scene for their children to discover in the morning. However, children can't touch the elf, or it will lose its magic. The Elf On The Shelf cocktail will never lose its magic.
 
Ingredients 
1-1⁄3 ounce Patrón Silver blanco tequila
1⁄2 ounce Lustau Jarana Fino Sherry
1⁄2 ounce Elderflower liqueur
1⁄4 ounce Cointreau triple sec liqueur
1⁄2 ounce Monin Grenadine Syrup
1 mint leaf garnish
 
Prep time:  5 minutes
Yield:  1 cocktail
 
Directions

1. Read the recipe all the way through before starting. Measure all ingredients and have at your side. Pre-chill a Nick & Nora Glass.
2. Prepare the garnish of small mint leaf from the tip of a sprig.
3. Stir the tequila, sherry, Elderflower liqueur and the Cointreau with ice.
4. Strain the cocktail into the chilled glass.
5. Pour half-a-bar spoon of grenadine into center of cocktail which should sink to the bottom of the glass to form a suitably red Christmassy base.
6. Garnish the tip of a mint sprig.

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ChefSecret:  A Nick & Nora glass is a stemmed glass with an inverted bowl, mainly used to serve straight-up cocktails. The glass is similar to a cocktail glass or martini glass. Use of the glass became widespread beginning in the late 1980s.
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Quip of the Day:  Q. Why did the elf sit on the shelf? A. He wanted a higher position.
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Do you have a question or comment? Send your thoughts to [email protected]. All recipes and cooking tips are posted on our website https://www.perspectives-la.com/perspectives-on-food.
-------------------------------------------
To you and everyone dear to you, be strong, 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, Tunnel to Towers, Union Rescue Mission and/or American Red Cross.

#Cocktail #HappyHour2025 #MerryChristmas #ElfOnTheShelfCocktail #Tequila #Sherry #ElderflowerLiqueur #Cointreau #TripleSec #Nick-NoraGlass #HolidayHappyHour #Cheers #HolidayRecipes #Recipes2025 #URM #T2T #FeedingAmerica #RedCross #SamaritansPurse #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup  

​                                                                                      ©PERSPECTIVES/The Consulting Group, LLC, 2025

How you doin’? It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas—my favorite time of year. Great meals, wonderful baked goods and a fantastic winter wonderland cocktail.
 
Meet my Gingerbread Martini. This cocktail emerged as a creative twist on classic holiday flavors, capturing the essence of gingerbread in a smooth, festive cocktail at my Palm Grill Restaurant.
 
I was inspired by the nostalgic tastes of gingerbread cookies—packed with spices such as ginger, cinnamon, and molasses. My Gingerbread Martini will quickly become a popular choice for your holiday celebrations.  It is a festive cocktail that combines flavors reminiscent of gingerbread cookies, often made with ingredients like vodka, Baileys Irish Cream, and gingerbread syrup. It’s a cocktail that feels festive from the first sip. It is perfect for cozy gatherings or special celebrations; this cocktail is a quick way to add a little holiday magic to any occasion.
 
Here’s how to easily make this delicious cocktail at home.
 
Prep time:  5 minutes (when the gingerbread syrup is made ahead of time)
Yield:  1 serving

Ingredients 
2 ounces vanilla vodka (from freezer)
1 ounce dry vermouth (chilled)
1 teaspoon amaretto
1⁄2 teaspoon gingerbread syrup (I prefer Monin) or see my recipe below
2 ounces cream or half n’ half
6 drops Bob's Ginger Bitters
Add a swirl of whipped cream on top for a creamy finish.
Gingerbread cookie for garnish
Consider a sprinkle of colorful holiday sprinkles over the whipped cream for a fun, festive look.
 
Directions

1. Read the recipe all the way through before starting. Measure all ingredients and have at your side.
2. Freeze a coupe or martini glass .
3. Prepare the garnish of gingerbread or ginger cookie.
4. In a cocktail shaker and shake all the ingredients with ice.
5. Strain into a frosty glass.
6. Garnish with gingerbread or ginger cookie rested on the rim or add a swirl of whipped cream on top for a creamy finish.

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ChefSecret:  For a special touch, dip the rim of your martini glass into a bit of gingerbread syrup. Then, press the rim into a plate of crushed gingerbread cookies or graham crackers for a sweet, spiced coating that complements the cocktail’s flavors.
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                                                       Gingerbread Syrup
Making homemade gingerbread syrup is quick and simple, adding authentic flavor to your Gingerbread Martini.

Ingredients 
For the homemade gingerbread syrup
1 cup sugar – to sweeten and thicken the syrup.
1/2 cup water – to dissolve the sugar and carry the flavors.
2 teaspoons ground ginger – for that classic gingerbread spice.
1 teaspoon molasses – adds a rich, deep flavor.
1 cinnamon stick or 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon – for a warm, spiced aroma.
 
Directions
To make the homemade gingerbread syrup

1. In a small saucepan, add the sugar, water, ginger, molasses and  cinnamon stick (or 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, if preferred).
2. Place the saucepan over medium-high heat and bring the mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally to ensure the sugar dissolves fully.
3. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and let the syrup simmer for about 5 minutes. This allows the flavors to blend and the syrup to thicken slightly.
4. Remove the saucepan from the heat and let the syrup cool completely. Allowing it to cool helps the flavors deepen.
5. Pour the cooled syrup through a fine mesh strainer into an airtight container to remove any cinnamon stick pieces or ginger particles.
6. Store the syrup in an airtight container, like a mason jar, in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

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Quip of the Day:  Why did the gingerbread man go to school? Because he wanted to be a smart cookie!
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Do you have a question or comment? Send your thoughts to [email protected]. All recipes and cooking tips are posted on our website https://www.perspectives-la.com/perspectives-on-food.
-------------------------------------------
To you and everyone dear to you, be strong, 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, Tunnel to Towers, Union Rescue Mission and/or American Red Cross.

#Cocktail #HappyHour2025 #MerryChristmas #GingerbreadMartini #Gingerbread #Martini #Vodka #Vermouth #Amaretto #GingerBitters #HolidayHappyHour #Cheers #HolidayRecipes #Recipes2025 #URM #T2T #FeedingAmerica #RedCross #SamaritansPurse #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup 
 
                                                         ©PERSPECTIVES/The Consulting Group, LLC, 2025

How you doin’? It’s time for some holiday cocktails. As the weather turns to winter and plenty of snow, we need to warm things up a bit. I hate cold weather. So, I move on to my Hot Butter Rum or Fun.
 
Hot buttered rum is a mixed drink containing rum, butter, hot water or cider, a sweetener and various spices (usually cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves). My Hot Butter Rum is especially popular in the fall and winter and is traditionally associated with the holiday season. In the United States, hot buttered rum dates back to colonial days. During that time many families had their own recipes, and early Americans believed rum to be nutritious, healthful and a strengthener of the body.
 
Many people often ask, “What does a Hot Buttered Rum taste like?” And what most of them really want to know is, “Does it taste like butter?”
 
Don’t worry, though. Hot Buttered Rum doesn’t taste like you’re drinking butter. Instead, it has a super-rich, sweetly spiced flavor with hints of vanilla. The butter also gives the drink a phenomenal texture. It’s smooth and velvety, a genuine delight to the senses. It’s a complex drink with hidden depths. You’ll love its aromatic spices and gently sweet flavor. And the pleasant, boozy feeling it leaves you with is nothing but the best.
 
Rum is the OG pirate drink, more than just booze—it’s like a symbol of wild adventures and rebellion. It started in the Caribbean, made from sugarcane leftovers, and gets its epic flavor from chilling in oak barrels. Back in the day, rum was the liquid courage for many pirate antics on the high seas. With a history full of mutinies, treasure hunts, and drunken fun, it’s full of surprises.
 
Prep time: 10 minutes
Yield: 12 cocktails
 
For the batter
1 pound dark brown sugar
1/2 pound softened unsalted butter
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
 
For the cocktail
Boiling water
Dark rum
 
Directions
To make the batter

1. Using an electric mixer, cream the sugar and butter together.
2. Add the spices and continue to mix. 
3. Refrigerate the batter until ready to use. 
4. It will keep refrigerated for the entire holiday season.

 
To make a Hot Butter Run Drink

1. Place about 1 tablespoon of the butter batter in an 8-ounce mug.
2. Add 6 ounces of boiling water and 1 ounce of dark rum.
3. Mix well and garnish.

 
ChefSecret:  I like to top My Hot Buttered Rum with a little whipped cream or some mini-marshmallows. A cinnamon stick is nice, too.
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Quip of the Day:  Derrick rode to the liquor store yesterday on his bicycle. He bought a bottle of Rum and put it in the bicycle basket. As he was about to leave, he thought for a moment. “If I fall off the bicycle, the bottle might break.” To avoid that, he drank all of the rum before he left the store. It turned out to be a very good decision because he fell off the bike seven times on his way home.
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Do you have a question or comment? Send your thoughts to [email protected]. All recipes and cooking tips are posted on our website https://www.perspectives-la.com/perspectives-on-food.
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To you and everyone dear to you, be strong, 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, Tunnel to Towers, Union Rescue Mission and/or American Red Cross.

#Cocktail #HappyHour2025 #MerryChristmas #HotButteredRum #HolidayHappyHour #Cheers #HolidayRecipes #Recipes2025 #URM #T2T #FeedingAmerica #RedCross #SamaritansPurse #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup 
 
                                                                              ©PERSPECTIVES/The Consulting Group, LLC, 2025

How you doin’? We hope you and your family had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
 
Spicy foods are the rage today and so are “hot” cocktails. In this twist on a classic, a bartender at Clover Club in New York City reinvented a traditional Negroni cocktail by adding some mezcal, chili liqueur and spicy bitters to give the Negroni a smoky and piquant finish.
 
The most common misconception around spicy cocktails is that they’re just heat and no nuance or flavor—but when you tap into spice with actual flavor by using the right ingredients, you can create an enticing, savory drink with some serious heat. Combining different spicy ingredients—such as Ancho Reyes red chili liqueur and Bitterman’s’ Hellfire Habanero Shrub bitters, in this case—can help to reach those levels of complex spice that makes this cocktail a winner.
 
With your newfound spice level skills, there’s a whole world of possibility ahead. Playing with fire won’t necessarily get you burned.
 
Ingredients 
1 ounce mezcal
3/4 ounce Campari
3/4 ounce sweet vermouth
1/4 ounce Ancho Reyes red chili liqueur
2 drops Bitterman’s Hellfire Habanero Shrub bitters
Garnish: lemon or orange peel or a skewed fresh pepper
 
Directions

1. Read the recipe all the way through before starting. Measure all ingredients and have at your side.
2. Add the mezcal, Campari, sweet vermouth, chili liqueur and bitters into a mixing glass with ice and stir until well-chilled.
3. Strain into an Old Fashioned or rocks glass over fresh ice.
4. Garnish with a lemon or orange peel or a skewed fresh pepper.

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ChefSecret:  I like spicy base liquors.  As the mixologist in your own home if my heat level is still not sufficient for the heat seeker in you, there are other methods to raise your drink’s rating on the Scoville scale.

For some extra kick, you can infuse mezcal or any other base spirit with your own custom pepper combination. This could be as simple as adding some sliced jalapeños into a bottle of spirits, or a curated mélange of hot peppers, depending on the flavors and level of heat you’re hoping to achieve.

Either way, check on the mixture after one hour, and then taste every hour after that until you deem it ready. If you want it to be extremely spicy, you can leave the infusion overnight and see what it tastes like the next day.
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Quip of the Day:  A day without cocktails is like… just kidding, I have no idea.
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Do you have a question or comment? Send your thoughts to [email protected]. All recipes and cooking tips are posted on our website https://www.perspectives-la.com/perspectives-on-food.
-------------------------------------------
To you and everyone dear to you, be strong, 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, Tunnel to Towers, Union Rescue Mission and/or American Red Cross.
 
#Cocktail #SpicyNegroniCocktail #Mezcal #Campari #Vermouth #AnchoReyesRedChiliLiqueur #BittermansHellfireShrubBitters #HappyHour2025 #Cheers #HolidayRecipes #Thanksgiving Recipes #Recipes2025 #URM #T2T #FeedingAmerica #RedCross #SamaritansPurse #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup 

                                                                                    ©PERSPECTIVES/The Consulting Group, LLC, 2025