Straight Uptag:blog.bourbonandbranch.com,2009://12009-12-31T00:40:09ZMovable Type 3.35Winter 2009tag:blog.bourbonandbranch.com,2009://1.612009-12-22T06:17:02Z2009-12-31T00:40:09Z 'Tis the season to warm your bones with some of our winter offerings at Bourbon and Branch. Whether it be with our featured bourbons, hand crafted seasonal cocktails, or your favorite old standby. Rest assured the room will be...Erick Castrohttp://www.bourbonandbranch.com Share ]]>
Essential Home Bar Tools...tag:blog.bourbonandbranch.com,2009://1.602009-09-16T19:52:10Z2009-09-18T21:45:34ZOften times, I have many of my regulars at the bar ask me what sort of tools they should purchase for making home cocktails. I know that, because, there are so many kits and bartending sets out there that it...Erick Castrohttp://www.bourbonandbranch.com
Mixing Glass: Any basic pint glass should be fine for use in stirring cocktails such as the Manhattan and the martini. Also, you will find that the mixing glass fits perfectly into the metal part of the cocktail shaker, which makes it a versatile tool for shaking drinks.
TIP: Be careful to make sure that the glass has been heat-tempered for safety and to avoid any breakage.Cocktail Shaker: Although, you will can find plenty of cocktail shakers on the market ranging from six dollars to well over a hundred. For casual home use, you should be fine with any quality shaker around fifteen dollars; however, if you find yourself shaking drinks more than once a week, you might want to look into picking up a nicer shaker designed for more frequent use.
TIP: Rosle, Alessi and Naranja all make incredible shaker tins ideal for happy shaking.Barspoon: A good barspoon is not only essential for properly stirring cocktails such as the Negroni or the Martinez, but it can also be used for other tasks, such as smashing sugar cubes in old-fashioneds and to lightly swizzle drinks served on crushed ice.
TIP: A good barspoon can be surprisingly difficult to find, but caskstore.com and barproducts.com both have great spoons at an affordable price.Hawthorne Strainer: A good hawthorne strainer is exactly what you need to pour out of the cocktail shaker when you are done shaking, plus it helps to keep from making a mess when you are pouring out the finished drink.
TIP: Stay away from many of the high-priced hawthorne strainers on the market. The low-priced ones available at under five-dollars work just as well, at just a fraction of the price.Julep Strainer: Even though, you could probably get by fine with just a hawthorne strainer, it is good to get into the habit of using the right tools for the right job. Besides, a decent julep strainer is very inexpensive, so it is a good idea to pick one up to use whenever straining stirred drinks from a mixing glass.
TIP: If given the option of picking up a larger or smaller julep strainer, I recommend picking up the smaller one, because I find that since smaller ones slide deeper into the glass, they make it a little bit easier to pour with.Jigger: The key to quality and consistency in all drinks is to make sure that they are measured properly. More often than not, the difference between an average drink and a phenomenal drink is just making sure that all of the ingredients have been measured.
TIP: Oxo makes a great 2oz measuring cup that is very easy to use and can save you from having to buy several different jiggers. You can find them at most housewares and cooking supply stores.Hand-Juicer: The key to vibrancy in any citrus-based cocktail is most reliant on fresh juice, and the best way to ensure the freshest juice delivered in the most convenient manner is in the form of a good hand-press. They are easy to use, easy to clean and can also be used for making various kitchen dishes, and thus, not just for cocktails.
TIP: Do not feel pressured to purchase various sized juicers at first. Feel confident in picking up just a lemon squeezer to start, as it works well for lemons, limes and even the average-sized orange.Peeler: Nothing beats a freshly cut lemon twist on top of a martini or a well-shaken cocktail, and the best way to achieve the desire effect is from using a basic vegetable peeler that you can pick up from your local grocery store.
TIP: Remember that you typically only want the essential oils and zest to provide flavor to the twist, so try to avoid pith by not peeling the twist too deep into the fruit.Muddler: The muddler is a great tool to use for extracting flavors out of everything from mint and basil to heartier fruits such as melon and cucumber. Luckily for us, with the popularity of the mojito, you can pick up a pretty decent mojito at just about any spirits store or produce market.
TIP: For muddling fruit such as strawberries, I recommend cutting them into little chunks in advance to help make it both easier and cleaner for home muddling.Fine-Strainer: While not necessarily as essential as the other tools, given that a fine-strainer is so inexpensive and easy to purchase, I heartily recommend them to all folks who want to go that extra-step when straining shaken drinks at home.
TIP: This tool is practically indispensable when making any drinks shaken with herbs, such as mint or basil.
That should be enough to keep most of you folks going for a while in terms of tools, but if you still wish to delve deeper and seek out more information and recipes, I recommend picking up Art of the Bar by Jeff Hollinger, or Artisanal Cocktails by Scott Beattie.
If you would like more information on the web smallscreennetwork.com and cocktaildb.com are also, great sites to check out.
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The Laphroaig Project...tag:blog.bourbonandbranch.com,2009://1.582009-06-29T17:26:27Z2009-06-29T17:44:17ZWe here at Bourbon and Branch like to think that every drink we send out is noteworthy in itself. We take great care in putting together balanced and delicious recipes that are guaranteed to sooth the lips of the thirsty....Erick Castrohttp://www.bourbonandbranch.com Share ]]>
The Rickhouse...tag:blog.bourbonandbranch.com,2009://1.572009-06-29T09:03:40Z2009-06-29T18:36:03ZFor those of you who still have not heard the news, everyone here at Bourbon and Branch has been hard at work these last few months on our latest project. Not only have we been as obsessive as ever, about...Erick Castrohttp://www.bourbonandbranch.com Share ]]>
Scott Beattie @ Bourbon & Branch This Week...tag:blog.bourbonandbranch.com,2009://1.562009-05-13T21:16:38Z2009-05-13T21:31:30ZAs many of you may have already heard, in celebration of San Francisco Cocktail Week, Bourbon & Branch is going to be hosting Scott Beattie for both Thursday 5/14 and Friday 5/15. For anybody who has been living in a...Erick Castrohttp://www.bourbonandbranch.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFyr4DPbio0 Share ]]>
Revolvers in Austin...tag:blog.bourbonandbranch.com,2009://1.552009-05-04T20:45:30Z2009-05-04T20:55:47ZFor all of our Bourbon & Branch fans who reside in the Lonestar state, and have been craving some west coast cocktails, you don't have to wait too much longer. I am going to be guest-bartending for a one-time engagement...Erick Castrohttp://www.bourbonandbranch.com Share ]]>
San Francisco Cocktail Week...tag:blog.bourbonandbranch.com,2009://1.542009-05-02T01:17:40Z2009-05-02T01:29:48ZIn case you haven't been fortunate enough to hear the news yet, May 11th - May18th, is San Francisco Cocktail Week. San Francisco Cocktail Week is a week-long celebration of the cocktail, and it will be taking place at bars...Erick Castrohttp://www.bourbonandbranch.com Share ]]>
Cocktails 102 Coming Soon...tag:blog.bourbonandbranch.com,2009://1.532009-05-02T01:05:58Z2009-05-02T06:28:51ZFor all of our loyal Beverage Academy graduates that finished Cocktails: 101 long ago, and are now faced with nowhere to go, please take heart in knowing that Cocktails: 102 is coming soon. The course curriculum is currently going through...Erick Castrohttp://www.bourbonandbranch.com Share ]]>
The Improved Sunrise...tag:blog.bourbonandbranch.com,2009://1.522009-05-02T00:31:37Z2009-05-02T00:58:26ZThis past week, we ran a market cocktail called the Improved Sunrise, and since than I have received several requests and emails asking for the recipe. For those of you that haven't tried it, it is important to note that...Erick Castrohttp://www.bourbonandbranch.com
The Improved Sunrise:
1.5oz Chinaco Blanco Tequila
.5oz Lecompte Calvados
.75oz Fresh Orange Juice
.5oz Fresh Lemon Juice
.5oz Turbinado Simple Syrup
.25oz Homemade Grenadine
For those of you looking for a little more froth and texture, please feel free to add a little egg white, if your heart so desires.
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A Little Bit of B&B in Seattle...tag:blog.bourbonandbranch.com,2009://1.512009-04-08T20:13:36Z2009-04-08T20:43:44ZIn case some of our loyal friends and cocktail enthusiasts in the Pacific Northwest are interested, I am going to be guest-bartending at the world-renowned cocktail bar, Vessel, in Seattle. Over the last few months, we have been lucky enough...Erick Castrohttp://www.bourbonandbranch.com
The Capricorn:
Pompero Anniversario, Batavia Arack, Falernum, Fresh Lime Juice and Small Hands Pineapple Gomme
The Kentucky Buck:
Four Roses Bourbon Infused with Organic Monterrey Bay Strawberries, Ginger Beer, Fresh Lemon Juice and Angostura Bitters
The Dutch Honey:
Bols Genever, Organic Wildflower Honey, Yellow Chartreuse, Fresh Lemon Juice and Bitters
The Agave Cocktail:
El Jimador Anejo, Agave Nectar, Water, Angostura Bitters, and Freshly Grated Indonesian Cinnamon
Blame It On Rio:
Cachaca, Rothman & Winter Apricot Brandy, Fresh Lemon Juice, Whiskey Barrel Aged Bitters and a Dash of Turbinado
Rye Maple Fizz:
Rittenhouse 100, Organic Maple Syrup, Free Range Egg White, Fresh Lemon Juice, Soda and Angostura Bitters
The Statesman:
Gin, Rothman & Winter Orchard Pear, Green Chartreuse and Orange Bitters
All Recipes Created and Developed by
Erick Castro of Bourbon and Branch, San Francisco Share ]]>
The Agave Cocktail...tag:blog.bourbonandbranch.com,2009://1.502009-04-07T19:59:20Z2009-04-07T20:25:31Z"Cocktail is a stimulating liquor composed of spirits of any kind, sugar, water, and bitters--it is vulgarly called a bittered sling and is supposed to be an excellent electioneering potion, inasmuch as it renders the heart stout and bold, at...Erick Castrohttp://www.bourbonandbranch.com
"Cocktail is a stimulating liquor composed of spirits of any kind, sugar, water, and bitters--it is vulgarly called a bittered sling and is supposed to be an excellent electioneering potion, inasmuch as it renders the heart stout and bold, at the same time that it fuddles the head."
Balance and Columbian Repository, May 13, 1806
In the modern-era, the term cocktail is pretty much an umbrella term used to classify just about any drink that is a mixture of any combination of juices, spirits, cordials, etc. However, at one time in history, the word cocktail referred to a specific type of drink in particular.
If you'll notice by the definition provided above, the original cocktail was a very bare-bones affair. There is no mention of any muddled fruit, nor any expensive imported liqueurs. It was no-frills and to the point, much as one would expect from a drink being consumed over 200 years ago.
This frame of mind is what brought me to come up with one of our latest market cocktails at Bourbon and Branch: The Agave Cocktail.
The Agave Cocktail is a throwback to a style of drink that is not as common as it once was, but is still every bit as delicious and vibrant as it was back in the 1800s.
The Agave Cocktail:
2oz El Jimador Anejo
.25oz Agave Syrup*
2 Dashes Angostura Bitters
Combine ingredients in mixing glass and stir well.
Strain over the rocks.
Garnish with freshly-grated organic Indonesian Cinnamon.
*To make Agave Syrup, mix one part Agave Nectar to one part warm water and mix well. Share ]]>
Tiki Night Cocktail Menu:tag:blog.bourbonandbranch.com,2009://1.492009-03-28T02:26:17Z2009-03-31T17:39:40ZAloha, Here is an sneak preview of just what exactly, world-renowned tiki authority, Martin Cate has in store for you this coming week on Monday March, 30th and Tuesday March, 31st. Martin is going to be whipping up some tiki...Erick Castrohttp://www.bourbonandbranch.com
CubaKula:
Created in 1935 by Ray Buhen, one of Don the Beachcomber's original bartenders and later founder of the legendary Tiki Ti bar in Los Angeles. Featuring fresh citrus, full bodied Jamaican & Demerara rums, and Donn Beach's signature combination of Pernod, bitters, and honey.
Pampanito:
An original inspired by the Jamaican tradition of making lemonade with "wet sugar"- first boil with full molasses content. Made in this case with Pampero rum, fresh citrus, and island spices.
Sunakora:
Created by Donn Beach for his wife Sunny Sund, a refreshing classic exotic cocktail with Barbados rum and a hint of spice
Port Light:
An old Trader Vic's drink featuring bourbon, passion fruit and honey served long and frothy.
Ponche de Tiki
A spiced tropical punch inspired by traditional Mexican Ponche with tejocote puree, cinnamon, cloves, minneolas, lime and cachaca. Share ]]>
Tiki Nights March 30th and 31st...tag:blog.bourbonandbranch.com,2009://1.482009-03-27T19:12:25Z2009-03-31T17:40:02ZCome see acclaimed Tiki Legend, Martin Cate, as he shakes it up at San Francisco's world-famous Bourbon & Branch for a two-night engagement on Monday, March 30th and Tuesday March 31st. He'll be prepping a very special menu of vintage...Erick Castrohttp://www.bourbonandbranch.com Share ]]>
New From the Lab...tag:blog.bourbonandbranch.com,2009://1.472009-03-27T18:30:00Z2009-03-27T18:58:12ZAs of late, there has been a whole slew of delicious homemade concoctions and potions coming out of Bourbon and Branch. Over these last few months our crew of talented bartenders, have been crafting homemade banana liqueur, falernum, apple-cinnamon bitters,...Erick Castrohttp://www.bourbonandbranch.com Share ]]>
Springtime is Here...tag:blog.bourbonandbranch.com,2009://1.462009-03-27T18:24:45Z2009-03-27T18:28:04ZIt wouldn't be springtime in San Francisco, without the Bourbon and Branch Spring Menu. The menu launches this week purely for your enjoyment, and features the absolute best spring cocktails available. We worked long hours in the laboratory, coming up...Erick Castrohttp://www.bourbonandbranch.com Share ]]>
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