2008 was definitely the year of pear and lots of bubbly as well. So what flavor will we be sippin' in '09? Mango perhaps? It's too soon to tell, but you can be sure Martini Talk will bring you the latest, tastiest cocktails in the new year. Here are my faves from 2008.
Looking for a last-minute holiday signature cocktail? How about mixin' up a batch of coquitos. Also know as Puerto Rican egg nog, this creamy, coconut sip is insanely delicious and packs a big punch, which we all know is very much needed when a lot of time with the fam is on tap. One sip, and you'll be singing Mele Kalikimaka in no time (even though that's Hawaiian...).
Right not I'm in Kansas City on business, waiting to hop a plane to Chicago. There's a good chance I'll get stuck there since one of my flights today has already been canceled, and its major snowin' in NY. But if that happens, I'm not worried. It'll give be an excuse to finally go tiki!
To good health, good fortune, and infinite happiness!
So I'm in LA for the weekend. Everyone who knows me knows I'm not a big fan, but maybe it's because I just haven't found the right cocktail bar -- until last night. We went downtown to The Edison, a renovated power plant that looks like you've just stepped into Baz Lurhmann's Moulin Rouge. I was waiting for Nicole Kidman to come down from the ceiling, but instead, we saw girls dressed up as green fairies wheeling around absinthe carts. I still haven't tried Absinthe, the drink with the kryptonite glow. After writing about it's hallucinegenic effects in Wine Spirits Quarterly, I'm a little bit of a scared-y cat, even though the new recipe has been tweaked to be less harmful. Still, I settled for the bar's signature sip:
Just got back from voting and thankfully I did not have to wait in line. Unfortunately, it sounds like millions of people are not so lucky, which means many voters will need a drink once they finally get their turn at the polls. After months of swimming through a see of red and blue, I thought a green cocktail, courtesy of Stirrings, would be a nice change of pace:
It's the day before Election Day and I still have no idea who to vote for. It's all my fault too, since I don't go out of my way to research who stands for what. That's mainly because I don't think there is a source out there that gives unbiased information. So call me what you will, but I plan on making my decision about who the next president should be the same way I choose my cocktails: I got it narrowed down to two options, whichever one I say when the bartender takes my order is the one I'm stuck with. Usually, I have no regrets. 
Muddled Rebuttal
Sorry this is so short -- between the Phillies winning the World Series and having to find a last-minute Halloween costume, there is little time left for a sip! Luckily, my favorite mixer friends at Stirrings came to the rescue:
In 1492, Christopher Columbus not only discovered America, he discovered Cuba too -- 516 years ago today to be exact. To celebrate, Matusalem rum suggests raising a glass of Cuba's namesake sip. 
Liquid Courage
Eagles are coming off a bye week and it's a must-win this Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons. If the past month is any indication, we'll need a few shots come halftime -- let's hope its for touchdowns, not turnovers. Bartender/president of the Philadelphia Eagles Club of Hoboken, Furey, suggests Dr. Bombs, a shot of Jekyll & Hyde dropped into a pint of Monster or Red Bull.
True Blue PSU Fan
If you know me, you know I have a sweet tooth. I can't resist any type of cake, cookie, ice cream, you name it. So when Grand Marnier Cocktail Macaroons arrived on my desk I couldn't resist trying them out, even though it was before noon. In the words of Gossip Girl's Blair Waldorf: OMFG! Of course, it comes as no surprise. The macaroons are made by award-winning pastry chefs Francois Payard and Nicolas Boussin. What's inside is a creamy cocktail gelee with just the slightest hint of Grand Marnier. Inspired by four different cocktails, the macaroons come in four distinct flavors: Grand Cosmo, Grand Margarita, Grand Mojito and my favorite, Orange Crush.
So I'm still completely baffled by the sticker shock I encountered in -- of all places -- my hometown of Philadelphia this weekend. Maybe it was the astronomical cab fares that helped me justify shelling out $14 for a Jack Daniels-based cocktail. Then again, maybe it was the fact that said cocktail was wonderfully delicious and infused with local ingredients. Either way, James: I know you got one of Food & Wine's best chefs of 2008 in the kitchen, but seriously, $14 in Philly?! My family and friends can no longer claim that NYC is too expensive to visit. Here's what we were sippin':
Isn't the weather just amazing lately? I'm so ready for the gorgeous weekend that it's store for the Northeast. So tonight, I'm kickin' the weekend off a little early with a few more fall cocktails, courtesy of mixologist Jim Meehan from PDT.
Jim’s Diablo
It’s a Grey Goose kinda week. Just in time for fall, last night’s cocktail tasting at the brand new Chelsea hotspot Mr. West was complete with seasonal sips, mushroom simosas, a little Starship, and a special appearance by a few cuties from the FDNY. All in all, an awesome girls night out. Here’s one recipe that’s sure to be an autumn favorite: 
Last night I had the pleasure of being invited to a cocktail party at Kiss & Fly to celebrate the fourth season of the critically-acclaimed series Iconoclasts. If you are not familiar, Iconoclasts is an original program presented by Grey Goose Entertainment and the Sundance Channel that teams up today’s leading innovators to share ideas and discuss their creative processes. This season, pairings include architect Cameron Sinclair and Cameron Diaz, along with Venus Williams and Wyclef Jean, who gave an amazing performance at last night’s event. Also in attendance: Clive Davis, Sir Richard Branson, and Tony Hawke -- all featured in the fourth season – and hottie du jour, Penn Badgley (swoon).GGE main goal is to produce original content for TV, music, and film. Each innovative project reflects the spirit of Grey Goose vodka and celebrates the interests of the consumer.Iconoclasts was GGE’s first production, and you may be surprised to learn that part of their strategy is to exclude all references to Grey Goose vodka in the episodes. You won’t find any obvious product integration here, but you did see those gorgeous frosted bottles all over the club last night. The event even had its very own Grey Goose signature cocktail, which I’ve left out because this blog has seen one too many L’Poire cocktails.
What did I do today? Toasted the gorgeous fall weather with Kira and Jeff Koons' Balloon Dog on the Rooftop Garden at The Met.
Time seriously flies. This past week marked the one-year anniversary since I started publishing Martini Talk. It's been so much fun, and I just want to thank everyone for their support. Please keep reading it and pass it on to your friends! I got big plans for this little blog that could, so stay tuned. In honor of this milestone, I'm toasting my blog with the Clementine Blush Gimlet from The Stanton Social. I originally intended to celebrated my 32nd birthday at this Lower East Side hotspot in December, but since I made it there a little early, there's no time like the present. Slainte!
I'm generally not a scotch drinker, but when invited to a tasting for The Macallan I couldn't resist. If there is one scotch I would not mind sipping it is The Macallan (18-year over ice, please). So last night, I enlisted a couple friends/virgin scotch drinkers to join me at Studio 450 in Manhattan where we were treated to a few slices of manly deliciousness (read: hot waiters) and a quick lesson about this so-called "water of life." The Macallan brand ambassador, Graeme Russell, gave an informative, yet still very fun, presentation on the history of this Speyside single malt and also led us through a tasting of The Macallan 12-, 15-, 17-, and 18-year. But perhaps the best part of the night was learning how to toast in Scottish. I've often seen the word Slainte but never knew how to pronounce. You raise your glass and you go "Slanzh!" or "Slanj!" So much fun. I think I even like it better than salut (just don't tell my Italian fam that). Oh yeah, the cocktail: if you are new to scotch, try adding a splash of ginger ale to The Macallan 10-year, or try this:
Over the past three months I have been privileged to be a part of the benefit committee that helped to plan the Gilda's Club Worldwide 4th Annual Red Ball, which was hosted by the Young Leadership Council this past Friday night. Close to 400 people came together at the Westside Loft in Manhattan to celebrate and raise money for Gilda's Club Worldwide, an amazing organization named in honor of SNL alum Gilda Radner who's mission is to provide free cancer support for the whole family the whole time. Our hard work and efforts truly paid off (unfortunately though, I forgot my camera!). It was an incredible evening filled with great people, awesome music, delicious sustainable hors d'oeuvres courtesy of Fancy Girl Catering, and tasty cocktails courtesy of Bacardi. 
The Ultimate Ketel One Endless Summer Punch
The Ultimate Kiwi Martini
Summer may be over but things are not slowing down. Friday night, Kira and I gathered 100 of our closest friends at Home for a Corzo tasting, courtesy of Bacardi. Corzo is a hot new tequila that is so smooth you can sip it neat. Did I mention its also made with twice the blue agave than other super-premium tequilas? And aging in small America white oak barrels guarantees an ultra-luxe sip. To keep things respectable, we whet our palates with a few cocktails made with Corzo Silver, infused with notes of citrus and vanilla:
Last Thursday, I was invited to a high-end spirits tasting courtesy of Bacardi at the brand new, "secret" Chinatown bar, Apotheke. In addition to the intriguing decor (think opium den meets apothecary) the cocktails were just as interesting: Grey Goose and Grand Marnier combine with muddled strawberries; some type of cilantro concoction which I stayed away from because I detest the herb; and my favorite: Grey Goose will muddled red peppers and dill. I'll have to hit this place up on a regular night to try some apothecary-themed cocktails, such as Aphrodisiacs (champagne and cognacs), Pain Killers (tequilas and spices), and Stress Relievers (incorporating lavender, sage, etc). Apotheke, 9 Doyers St., New York, NY 10013 (212) 406-0400
Hola! I'm back from Spain and though it was an AMAZING trip, I couldn't wait to get back to do some Martini Talkin'. There were not too many cocktails consumed, but in between bottles of Cordineu cava I did get a chance to sip a few. The first night in Madrid, my friend Cristina took me to Les Botelles where our vodka tonics were poured from 50 ml bottles -- so cute! 
I don't even like mojitos, but the following day I couldn't resist the Black Mojito at the rooftop bar at the ME by Melia hotel: Stoli vodka, creme de cassis, mint leaves, lime, sugar, and a splash of champagne.
Finally, to cap off my week abroad, we paid a visit to Del Diego, a highly recommended "cocteleria" off Gran Via, where I was wowed by the sleek decor, vintage martini shaker collection, and the delicious Diego martini: vodka, advocaat, apricot brandy, and lime juice.
Lately, I'm definitely a ginger kinda girl. And now I know why they gave The Movie Star her name: Ginger is such a spicy, sexy flavor, and I am loving it in cocktails, whether they are made with ginger beer or the trendy Domain de Canton. It all started with the Jamaican Firefly at Pegu Club. Then there were the Gold Medal Martinis at Kira's house. Last night, I continued the trend at One with this ginger-infused sip:
My friend Kira recently moved into a fabulous new apartment and decided to get a few friends together for a little housewarming party and watch the Olympics at the same time. So in honor of Beijing and the unstoppable record-breaking U.S. Olympic team, I created a signature cocktail just for the occasion using my new favorite liqueur: Domain de Canton, a ginger-infused white cognac.
Gold Medal Martini
Wow, lots of cocktails that need to be blogged about so I will keep this brief. The week started out at the new barbecue joint Hill Country, which was so good it made me feel a little homesick. See, I'm from Philly, but my Granny is from the South (Stanardsville, VA to be exact) and holiday meals where filled with green bean casserole, cornbread, sweet potato mash, mac-n-cheese and deviled eggs. All very fattening and all very good. And that is just what you'll find at Hill Country. But my favorite was what I washed it all down with. This was SO good:
This past week I was in Washington D.C. filming a WeddingChannel.com segment for FOX. I was super-excited when my car pulled up to my hotel, which was located right in the heart of Georgetown! I have loved this posh town ever since college. As I was walking along M Street I got even more excited when I saw Mie N Yu. I had met the marketing and events coordinator, Mike Cherner, at a market party for The Knot a few months back, and he told me to stop in if I was ever in town...and so we did. When I walked through the door, I was sold. With a passion for travel and all things exotic, I immediately fell in love with the Moroccan-inspired decor. It was like we were transported to a far-off land. The menu was just as exciting: banana pesto hummus, panko-crusted Japanese eggplant, wasabi mash potatoes, and one heck of a spicy Mie N Yu roll made with tempura shrimp, spicy tuna, avocado, cucumber, sesame seeds. And then there were the cocktails....I absolutely LOVE martinis made with blood orange juice, so I just had to try the Emperor’s Nectar: Absolut Apeach, Mathilde Peach, white cranberry, blood orange juice. 
The next stop on my old-school cocktail tour of NYC came unexpectedly last weekend when a friend suggested we go to the Pegu Club. I was super-excited because this place was on my list and, thankfully, the cocktails did not disappoint. Though, I have to say, the atmosphere sort of did. It just seemed like everyone knew about it already, unlike PDT (even though everyone pretty much does). Needless to say, the bar was really crowded with a well-dressed crowd, but despite this, the bartenders still managed to concoct a mean cocktail. We sipped a Jamaican Firefly (dark rum, ginger beer, fresh lime juice) and an Ode to Ankarah (St. Germain, gin, grapefruit juice, orange bitters, lemon juice).
Switchin' up the layout of my blog and didn't want to forget about this lovely lady,the Peach Blossom Martini, a favorite of mine that I sipped while celebrating my 31st birthday with my amazing brother, Justin, and his fabulous wife, Jenn.
If you are a bride (or groom)-to-be who wants to introduce their wedding party to one another over a few cocktails, check out the Fall/Winter 2008 issue of The Knot Magazine (yes, I'm an editor there). Courtesy of Slurp! Drinks and Light Fare, All Day, All Night, you'll find classic sips, from the chic Bellini to the kitschy Singapore Sling. Here's a preview:
While I don't like my martinis with milk, a drink on the rocks is just fine. My all time favorite cocktail is a good white russian (skim milk, please, and Starbucks Coffee liqueur). So for my first Mixology Monday I chose to make Milk Punch -- New Orleans' requisite pre-noon sip. Inspired by a recipe found in Cocktail: The Drinks Bible for the 21st Century (Viking, 1998), I made my Milk Punch with vanilla rum and skim milk, of course. Disclaimer: Instead of bourbon, I also used Jack Daniel's -- it was all that was available in mini bottles at my corner liquor store, and it was too hot to walk to the other one to find Maker's Mark. Despite this, I still think it turned out pretty good.
...that I've been to PDT. Even though PDT's cover has been blown, it's still super cool. While the cocktail world was in New Orleans this week, my friends and I got a reservation at one of New York's most-talked-about speakeasy-style bars, and let me tell ya -- it definitely lived up to the hype. Once we got in (yes, it was tough, even though we did have a reservation) we poured over the cocktail menu as various taxidermy gave us the evil eye. Here's a look at what we sipped:
This Wednesday, the country's hottest chefs, authors, mixologists, bloggers, and more will descend upon the French Quarter for the annual Tales of the Cocktail, a four-day event in honor of the spirit -- and spirits -- of New Orleans. Why New Orleans? Well believe it or not, that is where the cocktail originated. Though I've never been, I can't think of a better reason to visit. Unfortunately though, I'm unable to attend this year. But that doesn't mean I won't be celebrating this annual tradition. Instead, my friends and I will be hopping around New York City this Friday night, imbibing at classic cocktail establishments known for mixing up tasty old-school sips. Stay tuned for cocktails and happenings from the 1st Annual NYC Cocktail Bar Tour. In the meantime, check out the winner of 2007's Tales of the Cocktail competition:
My new favorite spirit: St. Germain. This French liqueur made with elderflower picked from the Alps popped up my radar last fall, when I used its elegant pale blue and gold patterned ad campaign to inspire a Wedding Style story for The Knot (see above, and yes, I find inspiration for my day job in alcoholic beverages, go figure). Since then, St. Germain seems to be everywhere, including at-home liquor cabinets (mine included) and behind the bar all over NYC. Last night, at Barmarché in NoLiTa I sipped The Take Off: a martini made of Plymouth Gin, St. Germain, Luxardo maraschino liqueur (another up-and-coming spirit), lemon juice, grapefruit, and an orange twist. For a refreshing summer sipper, try mixing up this concoction at home, courtesy of the brothers von Tobel:
Um, you can tell its summer because I seem to be going out more and sipping lots of cool cocktails, which means I'm blogging a whole lot more too. If you're also looking for ways to beat the heat, try sticking a bottle of limoncello in your freezer. You can make limoncello yourself or pickup a bottle at the liquor store (I prefer Caravella). It's the perfect sip for balmy summer nights. At Bar Stuzzichini in the Flat Iron District, the bartenders are using it to make the Sgroppino, a fizzy martini made with prosecco, limoncello and sorbetto limone (lemon ice cream). Or, try this one:
If you haven't already heard about the benefits of drinking acai berry juice, just wait, you will soon. In New York, acai is gaining momentum as the new pomegranate, which means it won't be too long before this superjuice makes its way to a grocery store near you. What makes acai so special? It's a Brazilian (read: sexy) berry loaded with antioxidants, vitamins, and lots of other beneficial nutrients (read: healthy). Like pomegranate juice, it was only a matter of time before this trendy fruit juice started showing up in martinis. I had my first acai berry martini last fall at an event promoting a Brazilian hairstylist's new product line, HC Color. More recently, a friend introduced me to Mona Vie, an acai drink blended with 19 fruits including white grape, apricot, blueberry and more. And then, I found a sample of acai-blueberry Vincent Van Gogh Vodka in my liquor cabinet! Here are two superjuice martinis to try:
