Daily Dish the Sonoma Market blog
Raise the Bar
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Set the stage for a good time this holiday season by stocking your bar with a few new liqueurs, smoky spirits and some obligatory bubbles. Our adult beverage experts hand-picked four fantastic options, each with a corresponding cocktail to get the evening going. Cheers!
Set the stage for a good time this holiday season by stocking your bar with a few new liqueurs, smoky spirits and some obligatory bubbles. Our adult beverage experts hand-picked four fantastic options, each with a corresponding cocktail to get the evening going. Cheers!
St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur: Each bottle of this artisanal French liqueur is made with up to 1,000 wild elderflower blossoms from the foothills of the French Alps— handpicked with care, macerated and expertly distilled using a centuries-old process. The resulting liqueur is subtle and delicate, with a sweetly floral and botanical note and sublime hints of stone fruits like peach and apricot. Add a dash to your next cocktail to introduce a uniquely delicate and sweet floral flavor.
Try it in… St-Germain Cranberry Elixir: Elegant and festive, this vibrant cocktail is the perfect pick for a holiday celebration.
St. George Spirits Absinthe: This anise-flavored liqueur was very popular in Europe around the turn of the 20th century until it fell out of fashion in the 1920s. Nowadays, one local producer, St. George Spirits in Alameda, is reviving its popularity. Along with cocktails, absinthe is also excellent in cooking and can be used as a substitute for Pernod or dry vermouth.
Try it in… Corpse Reviver #2: This pre-prohibition pick-me-up was popularized by American Harry Craddock. Coating the glass with absinthe first is key to proper execution.
Elisabetta Prosecco: It’s simply not a celebration without the bubbles! This lively prosecco boasts classic flavors of pear, honeysuckle and banana cream, ideal for enjoying by the glass or in crafty cocktails like this.
Try it in… Death in The Afternoon: Originally invented by writer Ernest Hemingway, this sparkling absinthe cocktail gets a mini makeover with a touch of simple syrup and lemon. Chill your Champagne flute first for best results.
Ilegal Mezcal: This balanced, small-batch mezcal features agave-forward flavors and smoky notes. It’s handcrafted sustainably with Espadín agave and double-distilled in Oaxaca, Mexico by fourth-generation mazcaleros.
Try it in… Mezcal Old Fashioned: Give your Old Fashioned a modern twist with a dash of this smoky, agave-based spirit.