This wine is bubbles. This wine is delicate and crisp. This wine is slate and mineral. This wine is chalk and citrus. This wine is acidic and bright. This wine is an offering of subtle sweetness. This wine is vanilla and spices with pear. This wine is champagne. This wine is Reims, France. This wine is Ruinart Blanc Singulier. This wine is.
This wine is a sweet, satisfying, lingering on the tongue finish, leaving me wanting more. This wine pairs well with pasta and parm, mushroom and pork, a crusty butter and jam-slathered baguette, French fries with Dijon mustard, oysters, and triple cream cheese doused in aged balsamic. Lemon meringues. In the early hours of New Year’s Day, I enjoyed it alongside a spaghetti noodles olive oil Parmigiana Reggiano and a Dom Perignon back.
This wine retails for $150 USD. Hold or drink now.
Best served chilled between 46-50 Fahrenheit.
Find out more about this wine on the Ruinart website.
Why mess with a great thing called champagne? There are exceptions, and the Kir Royal is one of them. It combines champagne and blackcurrant liqueur, with a lemon twist as an optional addition. Kir Royal is a classic French cocktail that is a variation of the Kir cocktail. The Kir is made with a dry white wine, usually white Burgundy, and was named after Félix Kir. The Kir Royal came about later, replacing the white wine with champagne. It is a superb and luxurious choice for any drinking occasion. Whether you need a reason to celebrate or simply want to enjoy a refreshing drink before with or after dinner, the Kir Royal is a perfect.
To make the Kir Royal cocktail, you will need the following ingredients:
Champagne (brand of choice)
Crème de cassis (blackcurrant liqueur or Chambord but traditionally it’s cassis but you can’t go wrong with either)
Cassis is a blackcurrant liqueur and is made by macerating blackcurrants in alcohol, typically brandy or neutral spirits, and then sweetening the mixture with sugar. The result a sweet rich viscous and slightly tart spirit.
Chambord is a premium raspberry liqueur that is made in Loire Valley of France. It is known for its deep red color and rich, sweet flavor. Chambord is made from a blend of raspberries, blackberries, and other fruits, which are infused in a base spirit along with vanilla, honey, and other botanicals. Chambord is thinner consistency than Crème se cassis.
Lemon twist (optional, for garnish)
Method
Chill your champagne flutes in the refrigerator beforehand to keep the cocktail cold. A polished glass is best as spots become visible as glass warms.
Pour about 1/2 to 3/4 ounce (15-22 ml) of crème de cassis into each chilled flute. Adjust the amount to your taste preferences – more for a sweeter cocktail, less for a drier one.
Slowly pour the champagne into a flute, filling it up two horizontal fingers from the top. The ratio of champagne to crème de cassis is typically 5 parts champagne to 1 part crème de cassis, but you can adjust it to your liking of course.
Gently stir the cocktail with a bar spoon (or not) to mix the crème de cassis and champagne together.
If desired, garnish the cocktail with a lemon twist. Simply twist a strip of lemon peel over the glass to release the oils, then drop it into the flute. Channel lemon peel looks prettiest of the twists.
Serve the Kir Royal immediately and enjoy! Duh!
Note: It’s important to pour the champagne slowly and carefully to avoid excessive fizzing and overflowing. Sometimes it helps to pour the champagne into the glass first, then the cassis. Also, make sure to use a good quality champagne for the best flavor. I have been known to use a rosé champagne on occasion, fyi. Whatever you got is sometimes the answer.
This wine is pink and sparkling. This wine has a floral, fruity nose. This wine is red berries. This wine is crisp with bright mineral character. This wine is delicate and vibrant. This wine is champagne. This wine is specifically Ruinart Rosé Champagne. This wine is.
This bottle is in a smaller format, measuring 375ml. This size bottle is equivalent to about two and a half glasses. Smaller format wines tend to age faster and are typically brighter and crisper. This wine is predominantly made from Pinot Noir grapes. It was gifted to me with the agreement that if I opened the bottle to pour a single glass, I would take the remainder home. This wine does not disappoint.
This wine pairs with shellfish, cheeses (cow and vegan), pork pâte, salads and chocolate mousse and ganache desserts.
This wine retails for about $50 USD retail. Drink now.
Ruinart is one of the oldest Champagne houses in the world, founded in 1729 in Reims, France.
Ruinart has a rich history and has been associated with art and culture throughout the years. The house has collaborated with renowned artists to create unique and artistic packaging for their Champagnes, reflecting their commitment to craftsmanship and creativity. Find out more from their website and social media accounts.
Where to buy stemware, champagne toppers, ice buckets and stuffs? Blonde Behind the Bucket Storefront of course. Please know I will receive commissions on all eligible purchases.
Tossing and turning is something I often do when it’s too warm to sleep. Unfortunately, I don’t have air conditioning. With it being midnight and warmer than usual in my part of the world, it doesn’t feel like Halloween is around the corner. What’s a girl to do? A refreshing, icy, bittersweet drink comes to mind. It’s like a pumpkin autumnal glow without the pumpkin flavor, served perfectly in a bucket glass. I know some of you don’t like pumpkin. I use a spoon to ensure I am able to savor every last drop. If I could, I would even lick the glass clean for this one.
Frozen Passion Fruit Pineapple Bucket
Ingredients:
1 cup frozen pineapple chunks
1 cup of frozen passion fruit chunks
1 ounce Campari
1 ounce Ketel One Vodka
Dash of Angostura bitters
1/4 ounce agave syrup (adjust to taste)
Method
In a blender, combine the frozen pineapple chunks, passion fruit chunks, Campari, Ketel One vodka, Angostura bitters, and agave syrup
Blend on medium to high speed until smooth and well combined. If the mixture is too thick, you can add a splash of water (or more Campari?) or pineapple juice (Campari the better choice) to help with blending
Taste the mixture and adjust the sweetness by adding more agave syrup, if desired
Once the mixture is smooth and well blended, pour it into a bucket glass.
Glass: bucket glass
Garnish: none
Please enjoy responsibly and be of the legal drinking age
Where to buy the goods? Bucket glasses, spoons, blender and stuffs?
What should I do when I want rice pudding, an acai smoothie, a magic bar and I want to use my coconut bowl made from an actual coconut? This.
The smoothie bowl has an earthy, tangy, and bright zingy flavor that is both light and filling. Worth the mention, sure is pretty. And most certainly satisfying.
The Earth Bowl
Ingredients you’re going to need:
Forbidden black rice
Plant milk (unsweetened vanilla almond and low-fat coconut milk, my choice)
Water
Fine pink Himalayan salt
Vanilla extract
Vanilla bean (optional usually ok almost always necessary if you ask me)
Turmeric (ground)
Cayenne pepper
Coconut palm sugar
Brown sugar
Mangos (frozen and fresh, if you can)
Original Açaí frozen packet by Sambazon
Walnuts (don’t forget to clean them)
Roasted toasty coconut flakes
Agave syrup
Goji berries (optional)
Cocoa Nibs (optional)
Earth Bowl Smoothie
Black Rice Pudding:
Rinse 1 cup of black rice at least twice. If desired, soak overnight at room temperature and strain with a fine sieve. (I use Lotus Foods brand)
In a rice cooker, combine the black rice, plant milk (unsweetened vanilla almond milk or low-fat coconut milk), vanilla extract, and water.
Set the rice cooker to the brown rice setting.
Once cooked, add coconut palm sugar, brown sugar, and fine ground Himalayan pink salt to taste. Stir well to combine. Add more milk if a more fluid consistency is desired.
Remove from the rice cooker and let the rice pudding cool. Refrigerate until ready to build the bowl.
Mango Açaí Freeze:
Ingredients:
1-2 frozen packet of açaí
1 cup of frozen mangoes
1 cup of unsweetened almond milk
2 tablespoons of agave syrup
1/4 teaspoon of ground turmeric powder + dash of black pepper
Dash to 1/4 teaspoon of ground cayenne pepper
Dash of Himalayan pink salt for good luck
In a blender, Magic Bullet, or Vitamix, combine the frozen packet of açaí, frozen mangoes, unsweetened almond milk, agave syrup, turmeric powder, dash of black pepper and a dash of cayenne pepper.
Blend all the ingredients until well combined and smooth
Pour into a bowl (coconut bowl pictured here)
Toppings:
Toast coconut flakes in the oven or toaster oven on the broil setting until golden brown. Alternatively, toast them on a stovetop or single burner in a pan if an oven is not available. They should be slightly brown.
Chop walnuts
Remove edible flowers from the refrigerator
(Optional) Add goji berries
Method:
In a bowl (I use a bowl made from an actual coconut) add the black rice pudding and the mango açaí smoothie mixture side by side.
Sprinkle roasted coconut flakes and chopped walnuts on top.
Garnish with edible flowers.
(Optional) Add goji berries if desired. Gojis become crunchy. Extra texture and crunch bonus.
Take a picture, or several and enjoy!
Note: Please adjust the quantities and ingredients according to your taste preferences. Black pepper helps with turmeric absorption/activation.
It’s a beauty and tasty..An afterthought..
Where to buy the goods? You know coconut bowl and Cuisinart, a spoon and maybe goji berries..
Rated the best water. Don’t tell the others? Did you know there are water sommeliers?Doesn’t it look refreshing?
With the weather being unpredictable these days, I am covering my bases. Yes, but who doesn’t want a refreshing, fancy water, especially if you struggle with meeting your daily recommended water consumption? Besides, I recently purchased a basil and mint plant, which are perched in my golden window box, basking in (seemingly) the only light in this apartment most days. The mint is growing out of control. This, a good thing. I can’t believe these little plants are still alive. I don’t have a green thumb. And now, please allow me to introduce, The Mint Basil Cucumber Drink.
The Mint Basil Cucumber Drink
Ingredients:
4-5 fresh basil leaves or 6
4-5 fresh mint leaves
1/2 lime, cut into wedges
1/4 peeled cucumber
1 small bottle of Topo Chico sparkling water
Method
In a glass or cocktail shaker, add the basil leaves, mint leaves, lime wedges and cucumber
Use a muddler or the back of a spoon to gently muddle the herbs, lime, and cucumber together. This will release their flavors.
Fill the glass with ice
Pour the Topo Chico sparkling water over the muddled herbs and ice
Stir gently to combine all the ingredients. Stirring release the bubbles
Garnish with additional basil leaves, mint leaves, lime wedges, or cucumber slices if desired, I skip the cucumbers.
Glass: Bucket glass
Garnish: herbs lime
Where to buy some of the goods from this post? Blonde Behind the Bucket Storefront of course! Please know I may earn commissions from qualifying purchases. Thank you so much.
Mead is an alcoholic beverage that is made by fermenting honey with water, and sometimes with the addition of fruits, spices, grains, or hops. It is one of the oldest known alcoholic beverages, with a history dating back thousands of years.
The process of making mead involves mixing honey with water and adding yeast to initiate fermentation. The yeast eats the sugars in the honey, converting them into alcohol and carbon dioxide. The fermentation process can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months, depending on the desired flavor and strength of the mead.
Mead can vary in taste and appearance, depending on the ingredients used and the fermentation process. It can range from dry to sweet, and can have flavors that range from floral and fruity to spicy and herbal. The alcohol content of mead can also vary, typically ranging from 8% to 20% ABV (alcohol by volume). These offerings featured around 12%.
I reached out via email to Sap House Meadery. Matt Trahan one of the owners and founders responded to my questions. Matt and his cousin, Ash Fischbein both own and founded Sap House Meadery.
Answers and more about mead below..
bbb: How much honey does it take to make a 375ml bottle?
MT: The honey amount ranges but around 1/2 lb per bottle.
bbb: How much honey does it take to make a barrel of mead?
MT: To make a 50 gallon barrel would be about 180 lbs of honey.
bbb: Where do you get your barrels and what kind of wood are they?
MT: We get barrels from either Cathedral Ledge Distilling in North Conway or a barrel broker for the more exotic stuff like mezcal/brandy barrels. Generally American oak.
bbb: Where do you source your honey?
MT: We have a couple hives but our honey for production comes from a variety of apiaries in New England and beyond when they are out.
bbb: Do you ship to California?
MT: We sure do ship to CA!
***They also ship to other states too per their website. I needed some in California. Photo shoot and more tastes, duh!
Mead can be enjoyed on its own, served chilled or at room temperature, or it can be used as an ingredient in cocktails or mixed with other beverages. It is often served in a glass similar to a wine glass or a goblet. We (my sister and I), on this day, chose shot glasses. You had to be there.
Mead is a unique and versatile alcoholic beverage that offers a wide range of flavors and styles, making it a popular choice for those looking to explore different types of drinks.
I was first introduced to mead attending and online class on the EdX platform during quarantine. HarvardX offers Food & Fermentation course and a Cooking & Science course. I highly recommend upgrading to the certification program as you gain access to more information and receive a certificate for your efforts in the end and I suppose some bragging rights. Links below.
This wine is pale pink. This wine is sparkling. This wine is light fruit forward with delicate bubbles. This wine is acidic and bright. This wine is from France. This wine is Pet Nat. This wine is.
What is Pet Nat? Pet Nat is a sparkling wine lower in sugar and alcohol content. It’s known for being unpredictable because it is bottled before first fermentation takes place and without additional yeast. This method is known as methode ancestrale. This method is completely different than that of champagne’s Méthode Champenoise despite both being sparkling wine and both originating in France. Friendly reminder, champagne isn’t Champagne if it’s not from Champagne, France.
Domaine Saint Cyr Pet Nat Gamay Rosé is a light sparkling wine made from 100% Gamay grapes. It is priced at an average of $28 USD per bottle. I purchased this particular wine from my local Erewhon Market. I decided to pair it with my sour cream buttercream-frosted sour cream vanilla cake due to its acidity, fruitiness, and texture. In addition to cake, this wine also pairs well with shellfish, sushi, and salads, and squash and cheese. It is a fun, bright light wine with a pop top that can be enjoyed on any occasion, whether it’s a regular everyday kind of day or a special event. I say everyday as life is the special occasion after all. Don’t you just love the label?
“Oh, and what is Gamay, you ask?”
Gamay is a red grape variety that is primarily grown in the Beaujolais region of France. It is known for producing light-bodied, fruity wines with flavors of red berries, cherries, and sometimes a hint of banana. Gamay wines are typically low in tannins and have a refreshing acidity, making them an easy to drink wine. Gamay rosé wines, which have a pale pink color and exhibit similar fruit-forward characteristics as the lighter red wines. Gamay rosé is often enjoyed as a refreshing summer wine. This, Domaine Saint Cyr Pet Nat Gamay Rosé, certainly fits the bill indeed.
Waiting for the light..
Where to buy the food? You know sparklers, glasses, bottle opener and such? I may earn commissions with eligible purchases, FYI.
This smoothie is earthy, bitter, slightly sweet, and packed with goodness. It’s fully loaded.
Where to buy the goods? Glasses, SAKARA and other ingredients, blender and stuffs? BlondeBehindtheBucket Storefront of course. Please know I may receive commissions from eligible purchases. Thank you.
fully loaded helps cherries smoothie
for the rim/garnish
Gather the necessary ingredients and materials: honey, hemp seeds, a small plate or shallow dish, and a glass.
Pour a small amount of honey onto the plate or shallow dish. The amount will depend on the size of the glass rim you want to coat.
Spread the honey evenly on the plate, making sure it covers an area slightly larger than the rim of the glass.
Take the glass and dip the rim into the honey, gently rotating it to ensure the honey coats the entire rim.
Lift the glass out of the honey and allow any excess to drip off.
Immediately after dipping the glass rim in honey, dip it into a separate plate or shallow dish filled with hemp seeds. Again, rotate the glass to ensure the hemp seeds stick to the honey-coated rim.
Gently tap the glass to remove any excess hemp seeds.
Place the glass upright and allow the honey and hemp seeds to dry and set for a few minutes.
Once the honey and hemp seeds have dried and set, your honey hemp seeds glass rim is ready to use.
Note: Make sure to handle the glass carefully to avoid dislodging the honey and hemp seeds. Additionally, be mindful of any allergies or dietary restrictions when serving drinks with a honey hemp seeds glass rim.
for the smoothie:
1 scoop Sakara metabolism protein (can be purchased in larger or smaller “travel” size packet)
1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1 scoop Holi (mane) Agent Nateur collagen powder
1 tablespoon 200+ manuka honey (plus extra for glass rim)
3 tablespoons hemp seeds (plus extra for glass rim)
1 cup frozen black cherries
1/2 cup frozen pineapple chunks
1 tablespoon ground cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon Ceylon cinnamon
1 sambazon original açaí frozen packet
1 tablespoon of avocado oil
1 tablespoon sea moss gel (prepared according to packet instructions) I use Erewhon dried sea moss.
Add all ingredients to a blender. I use Cuisant to-go. Blend until smooth.
Glass: bucket glass
Garnish: honey hemp seed rim and maybe a few hemp seeds for the top
bar chef notes: additional goodness and a tang, add a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar
This wine is clear. This wine is ruby crimson. This wine is casis with berries. This wine is medium body with mild notable tannins. This wine is earthy. This wine is Old World. This wine is a Bordeaux blend. This wine is Rothchild Prestige Bordeaux Rogue Selection. This wine is.
Domaines Rothschild Bordeaux wine refers specifically to wines produced by the Rothschild family, who are renowned for their winemaking heritage and expertise dating back to the 17th century. They have several prestigious wine estates in Bordeaux, France, including Château Lafite Rothschild, Château Mouton Rothschild, and Château Clarke. These wines are highly regarded and sought after by wine enthusiasts and collectors worldwide.
Bordeaux wines are typically made from a blend of different grape varieties, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec for red wines, and Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, and Muscadelle for white wines. The specific blend of grapes used can vary depending on the winemakers and the specific appellation (region) within Bordeaux.
The Prestige Collection is a reflection the of Les Domaines Barons de Rothschild to producing wines even if they don’t undergo the same long aging process. This wine is can be found on various wine websites. The price is around $16-$18USD per bottle. It can be paired with marinated tofu, mushroom dishes, cheese, and meats. Drink now.
Please enjoy responsibly and be of the legal drinking age
