Cooking Lesson #1213: The MKW Birthday Cocktail

…from the Perspectives’ Happy Hour Bar

How you doin’? I really enjoy getting mail from subscribers… sometimes it’s compliments, sometimes it's complaints and sometimes it’s a surprise recipe. This summertime cocktail recipe is from a former colleague who worked with Perspectives on an exciting project based in Hawaii. Unfortunately, Mary, Joan or did not have the opportunity to travel to the beautiful island of Lanai during the project but it was fun for all of us to work together anyway.
 
We all have recipes that bring back happy memories, and this recipe celebrates Mary’s birthday—that’s why it was named The MKW Birthday Cocktail. I love her option for choice of spirits, choosing your favorite for the occasion… but only one.

Ingredients 
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
2 ounces of the spirit of your choice—vodka, gin, tequila or bourbon
3 ounces Fever Tree Blood Orange Ginger Beer (Mary’s favorite)
Garnish with 1 piece candied ginger
Garnish with 1 slice of blood orange
 
Directions

1. Read the recipe all the way through before starting. Measure all ingredients and have at your side.
2. Fill a chilled rocks glass with ice halfway.
3. Add the fresh lime juice.
4. Stir in only one portion—vodka, gin, tequila or bourbon—not all four at the same time.
5. Top off the glass with Fever Tree Blood Orange Ginger Beer.
6. Garnish with a piece of candied ginger and slice of blood orange.
7. Stir to chill and enjoy.

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ChefSecret:  Fever Tree Blood Orange Ginger Beer has the fiery, full-bodied taste of Premium Ginger Beer, balanced with the subtle citrus flavor of Italian Blood Oranges. Not too sweet on the palate and specifically made to be mixed, but equally delicious on its own. 
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Quip of the Day: I just read an article about the dangers of drinking that scared the crap out of me. That’s it. No more reading!
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