A Martini Tinytini This morning, I went down a rabbit hole instead of doing all the things that I need to do. It’s almost like the example given in “The War of Art” by Steven Pressfield. Can any of you relate? I’ll try to clothes or take a shower, or basically do anything and everything but what I had on my list to do or in my scheduled blocked time. My other excuse is, it is summer. Oh, and what about you ask? The martini. I know. Piggybacking on an earlier post; team stirred or shaken. Shaken, stirred, olive twist, dry rinse, classic, dirty, blue cheese olives, regular olives, a twist and onion, olives, a twist and onion olives, and no wait, three olives. One olive, two olives, caviar olives, and so on. Say that five times fast. For the record, onions and maybe onion juice and maybe a twist too make a Gibson. I’ll save that for another post and rabbit hole. According to Mr. Boston’s martini book, a martini is 1 1/2 gin and 3/4 vermouth with one olive. And an extra dry martini 2 ounces of gin and 1/4 ounce of dry vermouth. And then there is the vodka version. I have decided each week to make one drink from the Mr. Boston’s book and add a tab named Mr. Boston cocktails. The first of this series coming soon. This one and my soufflé martini series. Non related to this post, not the series coming. In case you’re wondering. I like the Tatum Barnes 2 oz alcohol split 1 oz gin 1 oz vodka a vermouth rinse blue cheese olives an onion and a pickle version with a side of caviar. Thats me. In case you’d like to try here it is: A Martini Tinytini 1 oz Bombay Sapphire Gin 1 oz Ketel One rinse of Dolin dry gin Cornichon pickle, cocktail onion, one house stuffed blue cheese olive. Petrossian caviar. Simple syrup (optional) Method Add ice to a mixing glass or tin. Rinse a chilled glass with vermouth. Add liquor to the mixing vessel and stir at least 10 times. Dash of simple syrup optional. Using a metal pick add onion blue cheese olive and pickle in no particular order. Pour into a glass. Glass: martini Garnish: cornichon pickle onion blue cheese stuffed olive and side of Petrossian caviar Bar Chef Notes: If you enjoy a Vesper martini, then you will like this. I know there isn’t any Lillet Blanc, so if you need a hint of sweetness, add a dash of simple syrup and a couple of dashes orange bitters. The blue cheese can be any type. Creamy crumbly, doesn’t matter. Where to buy the goods? Blonde Behind the Bucket Storefront of course. Please know I may receive commissions from eligible purchases. Thank you!
K-A-L-E Most of you will never drink this! It’s too healthy, bitter, and requires too much effort. Thanks for stopping by, though. Keep reading if you think you or your personal chef might make it. It’s cold-pressed kale with an Omega juicer. A tablespoon of honey syrup can be added if needed, like training wheels. A pinch of spicy ground cayenne is optional but adds a kick. Heart-smart, though! Oh, and for all the emails you received – apparently fifty-five in total – those were a mistake. Just like bar business, things can be sporadic and people and drinks can come all at once. Thank you for understanding. Cheers! To your health. K-A-L-E Ingredients 1 bag of kale (reserve one piece for the garnish) or bunch depending on your preference 1 tablespoons of honey syrup (1:1 ration honey to water) Pinch of cayenne pepper Method Open the bag. Wash the kale. Add the kale into the Omega juicer chute. Stir in honey and cayenne if you choose Glass: bucket glass Garnish: kale leaf Bar Chef Notes: Cold-pressed juice lasts about two to three days in the refrigerator. This method of juicing preserves more vitamins and minerals. Nutrients from the inside out. Where to buy an omega juicer and stuff? Blonde Behind the Bucket Storefront. I may receive commissions from eligible purchases. Thank you.
Stirred Not Shaken The elegance of a stirred martini or cocktail is its smooth and velvety texture. The methodical stirring process ensures a crystal-clear appearance (unless it’s dirty of course) and a harmonious integration of the spirits, generally speaking. Shaken drinks typically include citrus juices, jams, jellies, egg whites, and creams, making blending easier. Unlike stirring, which may cause ingredient separation with these types of ingredients, shaking awakens the drink, especially with citrus variations. Be careful not to over-shake, as citrus can turn bitter and creams may froth over. Negronis, old fashioneds, boulevardiers, and martinis are usually stirred; to name a few. Some prefer the shaken martini for the ice crystals on top and I imagine subconsciously the dilution and mouth feel. I have a regular guest at my bar who drinks a Negroni up instead of the classic on the rocks. Exceptions can always be made. However, excessive shaking can dilute a martini by about 5-10%. Stirring just enough opens up the spirits for a balanced cocktail. You can stir in a mixing glass or for a colder martini, use a mixing tin. There is less surface area by volume. Recently, some guests switched from shaken to stirred martinis, finding the stirred version perfect for them based on my suggestion. They have taken this up at home too. Yay! One for ‘team stirred’. The intention of this post post is that I wanted to highlight the difference between shaken and stirred cocktails and emphasizing the elegance of a stirred martini. Now, the only question is: dirty, olives or a twist? Bar Chef Notes: Although martinis traditionally combine gin and vermouth, the lots of vodka, no-vermouth versions are most popular these days. Global variations may serve vermouth on the rocks as a martini, deviating from the classic recipe most of us know today. Martinis used to be served in smaller glasses to keep cooler, as I like to call them “tiny tinis,” but we’ll save that for another post. Side Note: I had some fun with anchovies and capers garnish. If you haven’t seen that post yet, check it out here. Cheers! Where to buy the goods? You know martini glasses, shakers, stirring spoons anchovies capers garnish and stuffs? Blonde Behind the Bucket Storefront of course. Please know I may receive commissions from eligible purchases. Thank you!
Mocktail Monday: Kiwi Cooler Kiwi Cooler Kiwi Cooler Kiwi cooler Kiwi Cooler Kiwi Cooler Kiwi Cooler Kiwi Cooler Kiwi Cooler Kiwi Cooler I had a great time this morning outsmarting my Nikon app. I didn’t use a tripod, and some of these photos were taken with my iPhone. I made a kiwi cooler with a little lemon, a little honey syrup, sparkling water, and kiwi filtered water ice cubes. Taking photos from the Nikon app without being able to see through the viewfinder was certainly a fun challenge. How did I do? Oh, in case you missed the news, my Nikon app won’t let me download photos from my camera to my app. I had to try a different way as I don’t tether. Back to the drink! You’re going to love it! Sipping poolside, lakeside, oceanside, or inside – wherever you are – in no time. Did you know kiwi is a high vitamin C fruit too? Yes, more than oranges and grapefruits. And the color is beautiful, don’t ya think. This recipe is super easy and who can resist such sweet tart effervescent goodness? Cheers! Kiwi Cooler Ingredients – 2 kiwis: 2 for the filtered ice cubes and 1 for muddling and garnish – 1 oz honey – 1/2 oz fresh-squeezed lemon – Sparkling water: A small bottle of Pellegrino for drink refills on the side – Tall glass – Metal reusable straw (optional) Method 1. Muddle a clean, peeled kiwi for the best health benefits, I considered keeping the skin but the drink would not look as good. 2. Cut one kiwi into triangles shapes and place in a silicone mold with filtered water for freezing. Skin off is best here too. 3. Cut the ends off the other kiwi off and then cut a wheel from each end, leaving the skin on. These will be the garnish. Peel the rest for muddling. 4. Carefully muddle the remaining kiwi in a Collins glass. Cut into rough squares to make easier if necessary. Add the kiwi ice cubes, honey syrup, and fresh lemon juice. 5. Top with sparkling water and garnish with the kiwi wheels. Glass: tall Collins glass – this one from Crate & Barrel Garnish: two skin on sliced circle kiwi wheels Bar Chef Note: Honey syrup is made in a 1:1 ratio. To create the syrup, combine equal parts honey and warm water in the one ounce end of the jigger. Mix until the honey dissolves and forms a syrup. Add the ounce of honey syrup to the drink and then rinse the jigger with lemon juice for an added touch. Where to buy the goods? You know muddler, glasses, and stuffs? Blonde Behind the Bucket Storefront. Please know I may receive commissions from eligible purchases. Thank you so much. Kiwi Cooler Kiwi Cooler Kiwi Cooler Kiwi Cooler
From the Bartop to the CounterTop: The Paloma I can’t be accused of using too many ingredients here. This one is super easy. You’re gonna love it! A Mexican classic drink for cocktail enthusiasts, bartenders, or anyone wanting an easy go-to drink. It’s a refreshing, lip-puckering, effervescent drink that’s perfect for the end of any kind of day. The Paloma 2 oz tequila 1/2 oz fresh squeezed lime juice 1/2 oz agave or simple syrup Add a topper of grapefruit soda, such as Sanpellegrino Pompelmo or Fever Tree grapefruit soda. I prefer SanPellegrino for this one though. Salt. (It’s not technically a Paloma without salt, but…) Grapefruit wheels or half wheels Method Add all ingredients to a glass filled with ice. Top with grapefruit Pellegrino. Glass: bucket glass or highball glass Garnish: grapefruit whole wheels or half wheels Bar Chef Notes: Take a clean saucer and add kosher salt to the plate. Use a slice of grapefruit to rim the glass, then add salt to half or the whole rim. The finer the salt, the faster it will dissolve. Smoked salt, rosemary salt, or rosemary smoked salt are also great options. For additional presentation, add grapefruit halves to the glass wall before adding ice. Then build cocktail. Where to buy the goods? You know, the bucket glasses, sea salt, grapefruit Pellegrino, and stuff? Blonde Behind the Bucket Storefront, of course. Please note that I may receive commissions for eligible purchases. Thank you! 
From the Bar Top to the Counter Top: Moscow Mule There is much power in simplicity. This is it: the Moscow mule. Simply a vodka-based drink with fresh lime juice and ginger beer. Fever-Tree gets my vote as it has larger bubbles, a bolder than most flavor, and complements the strength of vodka well. Any of your favorite ginger beers will do as they are your favorites. This happens to be mine. Keep in mind texture and flavor may vary recipe to recipe. If you are new to this party, ginger beer doesn’t contain alcohol. As for the copper mugs? They are for aesthetic and insulation. Cheers! Moscow Mule 2 oz vodka if your choosing Hey Ketel One Hey! 3/4 oz fresh lime juice 4 oz Fever Tree ginger beer Place pebble ice or chipped ice in a Moscow Mule mug. Add vodka, lime, and top it off with ginger beer. Garnish with a lime wheel and a trimmed lime wedge. Glass: mule mug Garnish: lime wheel and wedge Bar Chef Notes: Fill your mug to the top. Additional ice may be required after preparation before adding the garnish. The choice of ice depends on its melting rate. Photo Note: My camera will not allow me to download photos onto the Nikon app on my iPhone. I took pictures of the photos displayed on my camera monitor and a couple with my iPhone. Nikon photos are better. Welcome to my creativity! Where can you buy the goods? Copper mugs and other items? The Blonde Behind the Bucket Storefront, of course. Please note that I may receive commissions from eligible purchases.
Gold Hibiscus Flower Garnish I have done this before and it still took me a couple of times. Testing garnish floating questioning placement Gold Hibiscus Flower Garnish Ingredients 1 jar of hibiscus syrup with edible flowers 1 package of edible gold leaf sheet 1 bowl of room temperature water 1 bamboo skewer or toothpicks Method Fill a bowl with room temperature water. Separate one tissue paper gold sheet from the other tissue papered gold sheets, handling with care as these gold sheets stick to almost everything. Face the single sheet of gold still attached to the tissue paper gold side down towards the room temperature water. Bend the tissue paper away from the gold sheet to release it. Carefully remove it until the gold floats. I was able to use my finger with one sheet, but the other needed the help of a bamboo skewer. Once the gold is floating in the water, remove a hibiscus flower from the jar and secure it on the tip of the skewer by poking it. After securing the flower, slowly lower it onto the gold leaf resting on top of the water. As soon as the flower touches the gold, it will stick. Scoop the gilded flower out of the water and set it aside. Repeat the process for each flower needed. It is best to use the gilded flowers immediately, but they will keep in the refrigerator for a couple of days. I placed each one separately into small spice silicone pinch bowls, wrapped them loosely, and placed them on the refrigerator shelf to test their shelf life. Where to buy the goods? Blonde Behind the Bucket Storefront * I may receive commissions from qualifying purchases. Thank you.
The Flower Star The day I received the email was the last day to enter the contest. The Bombay Sapphire Creativity contest. I didn’t read the fine print? I worked on the cocktail for a week, maybe two. Gin and non-gin drinkers tested all the drinks. This recipe a winner. Working title: The Flower Star Ingredients 2 oz of Bombay Sapphire1/2 oz Hibiscus Syrup1/2 oz of Green Chartreuse1/2 oz of Fresh Lemon Juice2 Bar Spoons of Agave Method Add all ingredients to a mixing tin. Add ice. Shake and fine strain. Glass: chilled Coupe glass Garnish: Gold dipped hibiscus flower or edible gold glitter hibiscus flower (gold leaf is best) *the how-to for this garnish here **agave should be fluid dilute with little water if needed sparkling hibiscus Please drink responsibly Where to buy? Blonde Behind hthe Bucket Storefront ***I may receive commissions from eligible purchases I originally posted this October 2022. An evergreen flashback Friday! Cheers! Cheers!
Rosey Berry The Rosey Berry This egg white berry mocktail might just be the mocktail of your dreams. If you’re here, you probably want to find out. And yes, you can enhance it with vodka, rum, tequila, mezcal, scotch, amaretto, or any base spirit of your choosing. Alternatively, you can enjoy it with Crémant sparkling wine instead of club soda. This recipe post focuses on the mocktail version, so stay focused. Rosey Berry First things first. Clean your strawberries. How do you do this? Add salt to water and let them babies soak for about ten minutes. Make sure the berries are completely covered with water. Rinse them well. Remove the green and proceed with making this drink. You could remove the greens before soaking. I thought it a better photo (or 8) to leave the stems. Ingredients 4-5 strawberries taste them for sweetness and size matters here so use your best judgement I say 5 and an extra one for the garnish so 6 strawberries 1/4 oz of rose water 1/4 oz agave 1/2 oz fresh squeezed lemon juice 1 egg whites from chicken egg save the yolk for baking or extra in omelette *Optional pinch of flakey sea salt think Maldon Sparkling water for the final splashes to the top Method Place a few fresh strawberries in a mixing glass or cocktail shaker. Use a muddler (muddle tool with the teeth works best here) or the back of a spoon to gently crush and release the juices of the strawberries. Continue muddling until the strawberries are broken down, but not completely pulverized. Set aside For the egg whites and the cocktail In a small mixing tin, add your egg whites. I recommend using chicken egg whites from an actual egg rather than the carton. If you are vegan, you can use aquafaba. I haven’t tried it with these ingredients, so that’s on you. Premade egg white foam is also available, but I recommend using egg whites from an actual egg. Add the coil from the strainer and shake your egg whites until they reach almost a soft peak. Then, add and muddle strawberries and incorporate all other ingredients. Dry shake all ingredients in two mixing tins without ice. You may need a kitchen towel, as the mixing tins don’t stick together as well when warm. Add ice and shake again. Double strain if you like. The lemon curdles the egg, but I still single strain. Pour over an ice-filled glass, preferably a chilled glass. Top with sparkling water and garnish with mandoline-sliced strawberries. Garnish: two strawberries slices Glass: bucket glass Where to buy glasses muddling tools tins salt mandoline and glasses? Blonde Behind the Bucket Storefront of course.
Bacon Fat Washed Tequila for the The Quick Test Drink Let’s talk fat washing. It’s a surprisingly simple process that packs a flavor punch, uh-huh. Picture this: a few sizzling slices of bacon in a pan, the aroma filling the kitchen as I whip up a delicious sandwich to pass the time faster than you can say… Once the bacon grease has cooled just a bit, not too much, a bit, I mix it with tequila and let the magic happen. After a few hours of infusing on the counter in a sealed container, I label it and pop it in the freezer for a dayish. Voilà! An exciting bacon-infused tequila ready to elevate your cocktail game, almost immediately. Why fat wash at all? What is fat washing?There are several reasons. Fat washing alcohol is a versatile technique that allows you to experiment with different flavors and create customized spirits for cocktails. Specifically, fat washing not only removes some color but also creates a softer,less potent, flavorful spirit and changes the mouthfeel of your drink. Various techniques exist for fat washing, including using agar agar (a vegetarian gel version), freeze-thaw methods with egg or meat fats, or clarifying with milks and acids. Or clarifying with milks and meat fats and so forth. I know! At the end of the day, you combine the fat with the alcohol and let them infuse. The fat is then separated from the alcohol, leaving behind the desired flavors. In fairness to my “it’s easy,” some are a little more complicated than others but that’s the gist and THIS particular version, making it easy. Bacon-infused tequila. I chose Reposado tequila for its age and translation. Reposado tequila is older than silver or blanco (aged for only two months) and younger than Anejo (aged for one to three years). Reposado tequila is aged in oak barrels for a period ranging from two to twelve months. The term “Reposado” translates to “rested.” Used a couple of different types of bacon. All worked the same slight subtle flavors difference This is a 4 oz bacon fat wash. Cook bacon: Start by cooking a few (or eight) strips of bacon until they are crispy. Who’s counting? I don’t often eat bacon so when I do, I do. Remove the bacon from the pan and set it aside to cool on a cooling rack over a parchment or aluminum foil lined sheet pan is best to collect any drippings and for easy clean-up. Collect bacon fat: Pour the bacon fat from the pan into a clean heat safe container that contains the tequila. Make sure to strain out any bacon bits or solids, as they can affect the final flavor and texture of the tequila. Some say fresh hot bacon grease and some say slightly cool. Warmer is better. Just make sure it’s still liquid. Best for infusing the flavors. After you eat your sandwich half let’s say that’s a good time to combine the tequila and bacon fat. I use a quart deli container with a lid for storage. Little large but whatever. Infuse the tequila: Let the tequila and bacon fat mixture sit for at least 2-4 hours, or overnight if possible on the counter. This will allow the flavors to wed together and infuse the tequila with the sweet yet smoky, savory taste of bacon. Separate the fat: After the infusion period, place the container in the freezer for a few hours or overnight. I like a 24 hours day. The bacon fat will solidify and rise to the top, making it easier to remove. Check periodically. I did the first time I made it to make sure it was working. Strain the tequila: One hunk of fat is removed from the top, then the liquid needs a strain. Using a fine-mesh strainer or cheesecloth, strain the tequila to remove any remaining bacon fat. This will result in a smooth and pale yellow bacon-infused tequila. The filtering process can sometimes be a repeat two to three times situation but after magnifique. Worth the extra effort. Your bacon fat-washed Reposado tequila is now ready to be used in this cocktail or enjoyed neat or on a rock(s). For the cocktail I don’t have a name for this one. I’ll call it “The Quick Test.” You will either love it or hate it. If you have reached this far in the post, I’m guessing you’re going to try it and I’d say, love it! Ingredients 3 oz of fat washed tequila 1 bar spoon of fresh squeezed lemon juice 1/4 oz maple syrup 1 bar spoon (teaspoon) of agave Squeeze of orange to finish 1 stick of bacon 1 brûlée dehydrated orange Method Add a large ice cube to a bucket glass and set it aside. In a tin shaker, add all the other ingredients except the bacon strip and dehydrated orange. Give it a wake-up shake (or two) and pour it into the bucket glass. Squeeze a wedge of orange over the top, then add the bacon strip and dehydrated orange wheel. Glass: bucket glass Garnish: bacon dehydrated orange wheel Bar Chef Notes: maple agave candied oranges are also a great garnish if having the fat washed tequila on ice only. The fat clump that formed from the freezer can be removed by hand or using tongs. Where to buy the goods? Strainers, tins, cheese cloth, bar books, and stuff? Blonde Behind the Bucket Storefront of course. *please know I may receive commissions from eligible purchases Last look. Isn’t it a beauty! Please be of the legal drinking age and please drink responsibly.