Summertime, and the Drinkin’ is Easy

I needed a local hook to talk about delicious drinks, and the fine people at Taste at SAM have come through for me. As a tie-in with the Andy Warhol and Kurt Cobain exhibits running (through September 6), they’ve developed two specialty cocktails, a Kurt’s Collins and Warhol’s Black & White. (See recipes below.)

Drop in over Happy Hour (3-6 p.m.) and there’s also a raft of $5 food items: kusshi oysters, rosemary frites and remoulade, rhubarb panna cotta trifle. Not $5 is pastry chef Lucy Damkoehler’s new concoction, “The Munchies,” which includes lime cilantro slushy, doughnut holes, and chocolate marshmallow cake. Wash that down with $3 draft beer, $5 Hammering Man cocktail, or $7 glasses of wine (select wines, obviously). Speaking of wines, their next wine tasting is June 25th, 5-6:30 p.m.

Then the fine people at 1800 Tequila (*coughCasaCuervo*) and Three Olives vodka sent over some summer drink ideas. Some of these look better than others, so caveat drinker. Tropical Tequila Punch, on the other hand, I will happily stop by to try out if you mix some up. For the tequila fans out there, don’t forget you’re blessed with Barrio and The Saint. Barrio I believe is still doing their half-off tequila shots offer on Monday nights, which is a wallet-friendly way to work your way through their list.

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Kurt’s Collins

• 1 ½ ounce Cascade Gin
• ¾ ounce Douglas Fir Simple Syrup (recipe below)
• ¾ ounce fresh squeezed lemon juice
• Soda water
• Lemon slice to garnish 

Fill mixing tin ¾ full of ice. Combine Cascade Gin, lemon juice and Douglas Fir simple syrup together in mixing tin. Shake & strain ingredients into Collins glass filled with cubed ice. Top with soda water. Garnish with lemon slice. 

Douglas Fir Syrup

• 2 cups organic sugar
• 2 cups water
• 1 cup Douglas Fir Pine needles, washed 

Place sugar and water in 2 quart saucepan. Bring mixture to a boil. Turn heat on low. Add Douglas Fir clippings. Let steep for one hour. Strain through fine filter. 

Warhol’s Black & White                        

• 1 ½ ounce Myer’s Rum
• 1 ½ ounce Cointreau Noir
• 1 ounce house whipped cream 

Fill mixing tin ¾ full of ice. Combine Myer’s Rum and Cointreau Noir together in mixing tin. Shake & strain ingredients into chilled martini glass. Gently layer 1 ounce house whipped cream over top. 

House Whipped Cream

• 8 ounces heavy whipping cream
• 12 dashes Fee Brothers Whiskey Barrel Bitters
• 1 ounce Cointreau            

Place ingredients in chilled metal bowl. Whisk strongly for several minutes until cream stiffens but is still liquid. Store in refrigerator in closed container until needed.

1800 Sunrise Sangria

• 1 orange
• 1 lime
• 1 750ml bottle pink Prosecco (or cava, or other sparkling wine)
• 1 cup 1800 Tequila
• 2 cups lemon lime soda (or ginger ale)
• 1 Bosc pear, cored and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1/2 pint raspberries

Slice half the orange into circles then slice in half to form half moons.  Squeeze the second half into a large pitcher filled with ice.  Do the same with the lime. Add the Prosecco, soda, and the 1800 to the pitcher and gently combine. Add fruit and serve. 

Mango Sweet Tea 

• 2 ounces Three Olives Mango, chilled
• 6 ounces Sweet Tea, chilled           

Add the Three-O Mango and tea to a tall glass filled with ice; stir well. Garnish, if desired, with a slice of mango. 

Minted Pomegranate Lemonade 

• 1 cup (packed) mint leaves, chopped
• ⅔ cup sugar
• 1 cup fresh lemon slices
• 1 ½ cups Three Olives Pomegranate

Combine chopped mint and sugar in large bowl. Stir in lemon slices and Three-O Pomegranate. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and up to 2 hours. Strain mixture into pitcher. Fill six 6- to 8-ounce glasses with crushed ice. Pour mixture over. Garnish with mint sprigs. 

Tropical Tequila Punch 

• ¼ cup pineapple juice
• ¼ cup 1800 Tequila
• 1 ½ tablespoons thawed frozen passion fruit juice concentrate
• ½ teaspoon fresh lime juice

In a highball glass, mix all ingredients. Fill the glass with ice cubes; stir to blend. Garnish with a fresh pineapple spear.