Thursday, February 7, 2013

Smoke 'em if you got 'em

Valentine's Day...that typical time of year when flowers abound, chocolates are gifted, and other gifts of questionable significance are gobbled up by the masses in celebration of unity.  What a waste.  Why not do something unique and non-traditional to distinguish one year from the next?  For sure, it is a challenge, but one well worth taking on in my opinion.  And yes, the same goes for the cocktail.

Perhaps one of my favorite uses of grenadine in a cocktail is reflected by the Jack Rose, essentially an apple brandy sour with lemon juice and grenadine, first published in William Boothby's The World's Drinks and How to Mix Them (1908).  It is a fantastic combination of boozy apple with a crisp citrus finish, the grenadine adding a distinct fruity sweetness.