Writing by Dr. Elixir Photography by Justin Negard As the summer wanes and you want just a few more miles out of your summer fruit, here’s a refreshing cocktail that incorporates end-of-season peaches and basil. Ingredients Serves Two 4 oz. fresh peach juice 8 basil leaves 2 Tbsp. of maple syrup 8 oz. whiskey or bourbon 2 egg whites 6 ...

Writing by Dr. Elixir Photography by Justin Negard This drink is in memory of my father.  When I was a teenager, my father made pitchers of his high-octane piña coladas, serving them to friends and family during summer dinners and parties at our house.  Back then, piña coladas were overly boozy and sweet, so I’ve created an elevated version that ...

Writing by Dr. Elixir Photography by Justin Negard Two of the things I enjoy about fat-washing alcohol are the layered flavor profiles and the subtle hint of the spirit. This delicate flavor allows the drinker to enjoy a spirit they wouldn’t otherwise try. For this drink, I used a fat-washed whiskey to create a beverage that combines the flavors of ...

Writing by Dr. Elixir Photography by Justin Negard It’s pretty easy to elevate your drinks to be on par with the pros—all it takes is a willingness to DIY. One way to create exceptional cocktails is to “fat wash” your favorite alcohols by infusing them with something oily (for instructions, click here).  For my first fat washing experiment, I infused ...

By Dr. Elixir Mixing cocktails at home can easily result in your cocktails matching or exceeding cocktails served in most restaurants.  A technique that has been around for a long time that is now coming back in fashion is “fat washing” the alcohol.  This is an easy to do technique that has the unique benefits of softening the harshness of ...

In 2015, at the Burlington, VT, farmer’s market, I was introduced to the best vodka I ever tasted. It was called Literary Dog, and it was created and produced by David Howe at his farm, which later became known as Elm Brook Farm. Their vodka was derived from maple syrup and distilled 23 times. I was so impressed by their ...

It’s that time of year when some of us take a vacation to a warm and sunny destination, some of us travel to even colder places to participate in outdoor sports, and some of us simply stay put. With that in mind, I created a cocktail that can work in any climate or location. Whatever your plans are this holiday ...

This is one of the most popular drinks on Jay Street Café’s spring and summer menu. Serves two. 2 oz. orange blossom pomegranate syrup 2 oz. elderflower liqueur, such as St. Germaine Prosecco Club soda Edible flowers for garnish Pour the first two ingredients evenly into two wine glasses. Add Prosecco, almost to the top. Top off with club soda, ...

Writing by Cathy Deutsch Photography by Justin Negard Dust off your martini shaker, fire up your ice maker and join the latest trend in libations: cocktails. But please don’t settle for just any cocktail, try the ones featuring tequila and Bourbon – they’re the leaders of the pack in our neck of the woods, according to local liquor stores and ...

The Inn at Pound Ridge’s Millwood says he created this drink based on his girlfriend’s request for “something strawberry.” Serves two. 2 strawberries 1 oz. simple syrup 1 ½ oz. lemon juice 1 oz. aloe liquor ½ oz. blood orange liqueur 3 oz. white rum Place the strawberries and simple syrup in a shaker, then muddle the strawberries to a ...

Another popular drink during the spring/summer at Jay Street Café, this one focuses on one of the trendiest cocktail ingredients, mezcal. Serves two. 4 oz. mezcal 4 oz. grapefruit-flavored syrup 1 ½ oz. lime juice 4 whole sage leaves Tajín Clasico chili salt Club soda 2 lime wedges Add all ingredients to the shaker and fill with ice. Shake well ...

Hewins developed this cocktail for his wife Maria Elena, using her favorite flavors. Serves two. 3 oz. white agave syrup 3 oz. mixture of fresh lemon and lime juice 6 oz. vodka 2 two-inch pieces of cucumber, peeled and chopped 15-20 fresh mint leaves 2 slender spears of peeled cucumber 2 mint sprigs In a shaker, muddle the chopped cucumber ...