Jack Rose

Hello Hello! I am very sorry I didn't post last week but I was busy being the worst person ever. I've decided to make it up to you all by posting a delicious, classic, boozy drink; the Jack Rose. A simple drink consisting of three, at the most four, ingredients, its from that wondrous pre-Sex in the City era where a man could drink a neon pink drink out of a martini glass and not get shit for it. 

2 oz Laird's Apple Jack 

1 oz home made grenadine (requires 2 large pomegranates, 2 cups sugar, 1/2 oz wine, citrus bitters)

1/2 oz lemon juice

1 dash Peychaud's Bitters

Lets start with the grenadine, which is a nightmare. After many hours of research and experimentation, I have determined pomegranates are just miserable. 

I tried paddling it, I tried picking the seeds out underwater, none of it is fun, all of it is terrible. The only advice I can give is wear and apron and don't drop it because then it looks like you murdered someone. 

Right, moving on. Seed both the pomegranates  add a half cup of water, put on the stove in a covered pot. Apply medium heat for 10 minutes, until the seeds are limp and give up their juices. 

These pomegranates are from the Davis Farmer's Market. One of them was filled with seeds so ripe they were almost black; the other had a much lighter color. The lighter seeds had a more tart taste, the darker much sweeter. I actually recommend getting a combination, if at all possible. Next pour the entire mixture into a blender and pulse in five second bursts until all the seeds appear popped. 

Now strain them back into the pot, being careful not to force the pits through the mesh. 

Add the sugar to form a simple syrup. Let cool, then add the vodka and bitters. Citrus is recommended, but I prefer dandelion bitters because citrus is boring some days. The vodka will help keep it fresh in the fridge for a few weeks. 

Now for the fun part! Combine all ingredients in a shaker over cubed ice, shake the dickens out of it for a solid thirty seconds, strain and serve in a martini glass. Enjoy with totally disregard to any prat who thinks Jack Roses aren't for men. Hemingway drank them, for God's sake. 

       

Scofflaw

Hello Hello! I am feeling PARTICULARLY lazy tonight, so strap in kiddos, I've got a fun one. It's called a Scofflaw, after the Frenchmen who would drink it during the American Prohibition (I spit on its name), and its delicious.

(I'm posting without photos, i'll get them from Joe tomorrow. I'M SORRY!)

1 1/2 ounces rye whiskey
1 ounce white vermouth (French, not dry. There is a difference)
3/4 ounce grenadine (make it yourself, its super easy)
3/4 ounce lemon juice (if you aren't squeezing it yourself you aren't the person I thought you were and we can't be friends anymore)
Right lets start at the top. If you are new to whiskey, just get Crown Royal for this recipe. If you like whiskey but aren't too keen on the specifics, I'd highly recommend Redemption Rye or Bulleit Rye.  If you are into Whiskey and up on specifics, do as you damn well please. As for vermouth, I like Dolin Vermouth Blanc. In the States mostly what you will find is sweet or dry vermouth. Both have their places (negroni's and martini's, respectively), but are to be keenly disassociated from white vermouth. Its worth tracking down, try BevMo. Next up is grenadine. Do us a favor, go to your cupboard, grab that neon red bottle of Roses and just throw it away. We do this shit LIVE! Surprise double recipe WHAAAT?
2 cups pomegranate juice (I use plain Pom because its available, use the best available)
2 cups sugar
Go ahead and put those two in a small sauce pan on the stove, bring to a slow simmer, let that work for ten minutes. Let cool, bottle with a jigger of vodka or gin and you've got yourself a grenadine.
Next grab your favorite cocktail shaker, add ice and all the ingredients, then shake for a good 30 seconds. Strain and serve over ice in a cocktail glass.

Just an FYI, this post has not been proof red. DEAL WITH IT.