Paper Plane @ Rickhouse

In between board meetings in San Francisco this weekend I was able to stop into Rickhouse (246 Kearny, 415-398-2827, www.rickhousebar.com), one of my favorite places to enjoy a cocktail in the City.  Rickhouse is a a venerable temple to the cocktail revival movement, with plenty of thirsty parishioners.   I arrived a few minutes before the bar opened at 6 pm Saturday and there was already a short line.  This isn't surprising during the week given the bar's location in the financial district,  but on a drizzly Saturday this is a testament to Rickhouse's popularity .

My first cocktail was The Paper Plane (Bourbon, Aperol, Amaro Nonino and Fresh Lemon Juice )

Amaro Nonino is one of many different varieties of Amaro ("Bitter" in Italian) liqueurs.  The base alcohol for Amaro Nonino is grappa, it is infused with  herbs, grain alcohol, caramelized sugar, rhubarb, saffron, sweet orange and tamarind and aged for 5 years in an oak cask.

 Burbon and Aperol always mix well together.  The Amaro Nonino added a layer of bitter orange that mixed well with the sweet orange and fresh lemon. This has inspired me learn a bit more about the wide vairiety of Amaros out there and see what they bring to classic cocktail combinations.

Thirsty Lawyer to Speak @ Wine Law Program

This Thirsty Lawyer will be speaking on trademarks and wine labels at a wine law seminar for Northern California Wineries and Vineyards.  The programs take place on November 9, 2011 at the facilities of Oak Ridge Winery (one of my clients), and on November 17, 2011 at the Amador County Fairgrounds.  For more information go to http://www.motherlodewinelaw.com/.

A copy of my presentation is below

Wine law

View more presentations from shervey

Halloween Manhattan?

Not really; its an Aperol Manhattan with a halloween appropriate garnish (a gummy eyeball). It is a great cocktail and good to serve any time of the year..

I am really enjoying experimenting with Aperol; it is a nice mix of sweet and bitter orange (like Campari but not as bitter). I am playing around with it and am certain I will have a few more great cocktail recipes to share

1 ¾ oz Bourbon
1 ¼ oz Sweet Vermouth
1 ¼ oz Aperol
juice from ½ fresh lime & ½ fresh orange.
4 dashes Peychaud’s Bitters

Baby Shower Cocktail Results & Hellfire Bitters

It was lots of fun playing bartender for a few hours at my friend's baby shower; it took me back to my college days. The most favorite drink by far was the Hot Apple Pie. The contrast between the sweetness of the clove and cinnamon simple syrup and the heat of the Hellfire bitters seemed to be what made this drink the crowd favorite.

The recipe for the Hellfire bitters is easy:



16 Habanero Chiles, halved
3 Limes, quartered
2 Tbsp Molasses
16 Allspice Berries, crushed
2 Cups high proof spirit (I used an inexpensive 100 proof Vodka)
Combine all ingredients in a mason jar and let it sit for about 2 weeks. Strain and then bottle.

This is some seriously hot stuff, so use it sparingly.

Happy Birthday Jeff

Wine tasting in Amador county. First stop is Renwood. 2007 Barbera is tasty.

Peachy

My third and final cocktail creation for my friend's baby shower - Kentucky Peach.  Its apropos here on the west coast as we kiss summer good by and head into the fall.

2 oz Bulleit Bourbon

.5 oz Sweet Vermouth

Dash Angostura Bitters

.25 oz Orange Juice

1 Tbs Peach Baby Food

Vesper

James Bond's choice of martini in Casino Royal. I prefer mine with Cocchi Americano than with Lillet, but like Bond I like a Vesper shaken, not stirred.