Advent Calendar - Eggnog with Rum

Egg nog can go so many ways, but tonight the Captain made it happen.  For each eggnog we took 2 oz Captain Morgan Spiced Rum and 3 oz Oberweiss Eggnog.  Shook the heck out of it and strained into a pretty glass with freshly grated nutmeg and a cinnamon stick.  

First thing you need to know, I have every intention of a homemade eggnog before this is over, but with my cousin visiting I had to get the Oberweiss.  It simply is the best eggnog I've ever had and I don't even love eggnog.  It's so good, that when I visit my family in Michigan (where they don't have Oberweiss) I fill a cooler with glass bottles for my brother.  Sure, anyone in Illinois knows that we shouldn't give Oberweiss our money - bad politics and whatnot.  But the dairy is SO GOOD.  I try to vote with my dollars so I only splurge on this guilty pleasure in the month of December.  

Next thing you need to know is that grated nutmeg is greater than ground nutmeg.  Get yourself a nutmeg grinder and buy whole nutmeg.  It makes your cookies and oatmeal and eggnog all so much better.  

Advent Calendar - Cranberry Gin Crush

Cocktail Secret Unlocked: Any drink can be made "Christmas" by adding cranberry and rosemary.  Tonight I made a Cranberry Gin Smash, based on a recipe from 117 Milk Street.  The recipe calls for sugar but I figured that since I'm using candied cranberry and rosemary, I could leave the extra sugar out.

So, chilled the martini glasses because it just looks so pretty!

I put 4 oz Bluecoat Gin and 3 oz cranberry juice in a shaker filled with ice.  Shake the heck out of it and poured it into the chilled martini glasses with 5 candied cranberries and a small sprig of candied rosemary.

This one is delightful, folks!

Advent Calendar - Old Fashioned Christmas

Today, I mailed out my first batch of Christmas cards.  Mixed and froze my first two batches of cookie dough.  And found time to invent this variation on an Old Fashioned.

Last night I candied a bunch of cranberries and rosemary for inclusion in advent cocktails.  It's pretty simple - heat up some simple syrup (not boil) coat the berries and rosemary in warm simple syrup, then a layer of cane sugar, and let them dry out on a cookie rack.  I found several recipes on the internet and didn't follow a single one,  but sort of followed all of them. So if you want specifics get to googling!

Anyway, they look really pretty and taste good!

Ok, the old fashioned:

I took a clementine orange and cut two thick slices from the edge, placed  each in the bottom of a rocks glass with 3 candied cranberries and about 2 dashes aromatic bitters.   Muddle* the heck out of that. Then I added a big, square ice cube, about 2 oz Bourbon, and a splash of lime seltzer (it's what I had).  I made pretty skewers out of two of the  candied rosemary and a couple more candied cranberries.  

I did not add any extra sugar, assuming that the sugar from the cranberries and rosemary, in addition to the juice from the orange would be enough.  I was right.  

* an actual bar muddle is a great thing, but when in need, improvise.  

A wooden spoon does a nice job.

Cocktail Advent Calendar - Introduction

Hello Friends and Readers!

I am a very infrequent blogger but I have a project that I am challenging myself to complete over the weeks of Advent.

At this time of year, I traditionally look for some sort of thing to cause myself to take a break for at least a few minutes every night.  Between work, school, family, and personal obligations, it gives me a minute to stop, think about the joys and challenges in my life, and consider what this season means to me.  I encourage you to do the same.  And I find that a little tool, like an advent calendar, helps.

This year I really wanted that Aldi Wine Advent Calendar, but anyone who likes Aldi knows they sold out within minutes of stores opening.  Oh well.  Joel and I keep a well stocked bar and lately it's gotten too well stocked.  We have a habit of saying "I want to try..." buying a bottle, trying it, and letting it sit.  So, I am going to create my own cocktail advent calendar.  Each night I will make a cocktail - classic, modern, or made up on the spot - and document it for you all.

Any publishers who want to pay me to write this book - my email is rene paquin at gmail - with no spaces.  :)

Please enjoy!  I know I will!

This is a tea towel, available on Etsy.