How The Peppermint Bark Became The Jaclyn

Happy New Year 2013 gals and guys!!!!! I have to tell ya, the last three weeks of bar shifts for me at the bar have been super crazy. From the Dos Caminos holiday party, to the wild and woolly Christmas Eve to the super slammed New Years Eve party, I have been run ragged. Now mind you, I'm not complaining. In between the busy times, I found a way to have a simple shot morph into what might become something of a signature cocktail for me. Allow me to elaborate.

On Christmas Eve, I asked one of our lovely waitresses Jaclyn if she wanted a shot. Since I know that she is not a hard liquor shot taker, I decided to make her something sweet. Since I also know that she has a chocolate covered sweet tooth, I decided to make her something within the world of Le Chocolate. Also, since we were in the Holiday season, I figured something Peppermint flavored would also be apropos. So I decided to combine the two. Here is what I came up with:

The Peppermint Bark Shot
1oz Bailey's Irish Cream
1oz Dark Creme de Cacao
1/8oz Peppermint Schnapps (or a splash to be imprecise)

Build over ice, shake vigorously and strain into a shot glass.

The shot was creamy, chocolaty with a hint of peppermint. It was quite tasty actually. A couple of hours later Dana and Caridad came in and I decided to make Caridad a similar cocktail to the Peppermint Bark with a slight alteration. To the creamy blend, I decided to add a splash of Kahlua to the mix. Let's just say that ever since then, every cocktail that I've made for Caridad has been the second version. Let's fast forward to New Years Eve/Day.

After Marta and Jaclyn were done with their shifts on New Years Eve, they decided to sit down and have a cocktail to unwind. Marta ordered a Dry Ketel Martini with a lemon twist and olives. Jaclyn asked for something she might like. What better opportunity to make the cocktail that evolved from the Peppermint Bark. Here is the recipe named for the lady who it was originally made for:

The Jaclyn
2oz Bailey's Irish Cream
2oz Dark Creme de Cacao
1/8oz Kahlua Coffee Liqueur (or a splash to be imprecise)
1/8oz Peppermint Schnapps (or a splash to be imprecise)

Build over ice in a shaker. Shake vigorously and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

As you can see from the smile in the picture, Jaclyn loved it. As a matter of fact, both ladies loved their respective cocktails. Hey, I aim to please.

Now THAT's a nice way to start off the New Year in cocktail making. Off we go with a blast into 2013. I have a bunch of new cocktail recipes that I am eager to make for you and for me to taste. =) Keep tuned true believers.

Until Then Happy Drinking,
Sisco Vanilla

The Five Dollar Shake

First off thanks to the Kahuna for the naming of this cocktail. I wish I had come up with it originally. This is a case of putting the wagon before the horse. How so? Allow me to elaborate.

The Kahuna was celebrating his centennial at the Bleecker Street Bar (his 100th consecutive check-in to the bar on Foursquare) and he wanted something "chocolatety". So I look at the bottles that we have and decided to make him something containing chocolate and milk. Something of a milkshake of sorts. Here is what I came up with:

The Five Dollar Shake
1.5oz Jim Beam Bourbon
1oz Dark Creme de Cacao
.5oz Cinnamon Schnapps
.5oz Milk

Build Over Ice, shake and pour over ice

I decided to use Jim Beam bourbon since I've decided to forgo the Vanilla vodka for a while. I also added the Cinnamon schnapps to add a little spice to the cocktail. As you can see, it isn't very thick. I would probably use half and half or heavy cream in order to thicken it up a bit. Ideally, ice cream and a blender would do the job in that regard but we don't have either one so this would have to do.

The Kahuna at first couldn't quite tell what was in the cocktail. It wasn't until I told him that there was Cinnamon schnapps that he started to taste it. The more he drank it, the more he said he could taste the cinnamon. I guess the schnapps settled to the bottom. The cocktail was actually quite tasty. Now for the name.

Pete came up with the name when he made the connection to the cocktail with the movie Pulp Fiction. Think back to the scene where Vincent Vega (John Travolta) and Mia Wallace (Uma Thurman) are at "Jack Rabbit Slims". Here is the dialogue:

Vincent Vega: Did you just order a five dollar shake?
Mrs. Mia Wallace: Ummhh.
Vincent Vega: That's a shake . . . that's milk and ice cream.
Mrs. Mia Wallace: Last I heard.
Vincent Vega: That's five dollars? You don't put bourbon in it or nothin'?
Buddy Holly: No.
Vincent Vega: Just checking.

Well Mr. Vega, my "shake" has bourbon in it and I hate to break it to you it doesn't cost five dollars. Seven to Eight dollars perhaps. ;) Some come on down daddy-o and have yourself one.

Until Then, Happy Drinking,
Sisco Vanilla

The Berry White...Show You're Right

A few weeks ago I was flipping through the iBartender App and came across and interesting sounding cocktail: The Berry White. Now when you see the recipe you'll get an idea where the name comes from, but I'm going to go out a limb here and say that it was inspired by the big man himself, composer and singer-songwriter Mr. Barry White.

Whether or not the drink is actually inspired by Mr. White is unknown. As a fan of his for many years (I mean, who doesn't like Barry White, Right?) I find it cool to associate this cocktail with him. Speaking of the cocktail, here is the recipe:

The Berry White
1 oz. Raspberry Vodka
1 oz. Triple Sec
1 oz. White Creme de Cacao
1 oz. Lime Juice

Combine ingredients with ice in a shaker. Shake well and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

I altered the original recipe by adding a cherry as garnish. The drink is crystal clear and the cherry at the bottom gives it a nice touch of color. The drink was described to me by Dawn and Ms M as tasting as if you were "Drinking candy". The key to the drink is to make it as cold as possible. I shook it vigorously so that it could get nice and cold. Upon tasting I have to admit, it does taste like drinking candy. The Raspberry, Chocolate and Lime notes play in perfect harmony together, often taking turns letting themselves be known on the tongue, Pardon the musical pun but i believe that it is a Barry White inspired drink after all. Perhaps if I use fresh lime instead of Rose's Lime Juice the drink might not be as sweet. I'll have to remix it somewhat. And since I'm mentioning remixing.

Something seemed a little off to me concerning the Berry White. One of his famous lyrics from The Longer We Make Love (With Chaka Khan) is The blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice and here lies the rub. The drink is clear. Barry was dark chocolate personified. Here is my remix of the drink:

The Blacker the Berry the Sweeter the Juice (aka Berry White on the dark side)
1 oz. Raspberry Vodka
1 oz. Cointreau (or Triple Sec)
1 oz. Dark Creme de Cacao
1 oz. Fresh Lime
.5 oz. Chambord

Combine ingredients with ice in a shaker. Shake well and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

Upon tasting the drink is not as sweet as the original Berry White. It has a darker color and a slightly thicker consistency to it than the Berry White. My friends Johnny and Jennifer referred to the drink as tasting similar to a Raspberry Chocolate cheesecake. Though i am satisfied with the drink, a lessening of either the Raspberry Vodka or the Chambord would probably help bring out the chocolate flavor of the Dark Creme de Cacao to the surface.

I rather prefer the darker version to the lighter one. The lighter one might be a little too sweet for my taste buds. But I'll make sure to make either one for someone who asks for a sweet cocktail.

Until The, Happy Drinking
Sisco Vanilla