Cocktail Friday: The Nog (+ a Gift Idea)

I started writing cocktail Friday posts almost 6 years ago over on Tokyo Terrace. It tapered off for a while when I was pregnant with my son, but when I started Set the Table I knew I had to bring it back. One aspect of cocktail crafting I've fallen in love with is using seasonal ingredients to make a flavorful and beautiful drink. From fresh herbs like piney rosemary and citrusy thyme, to fresh fruits like tart cranberries and sweet grapes, the combinations are endless.

To learn more about cocktails and how to build the perfect drink, it's important to read and try different recipes. I have a few great cocktail books that have taught me a lot, but the newest addition to my collection is called Shake. Filled with beautiful photos, easy and unique recipes, and with a seasonal focus, this book is a great gift idea for your cocktail-inclined family and friends.

I chose to feature their recipe for a drink called The Nog. Rather than making your own eggnog, the recipe calls for vanilla ice cream flavored with cinnamon and nutmeg. And of course, the drink is spiked with some bourbon and rum. Shake it up and you've got a delicious holiday cocktail that is sure to impress.

Because I had some eggnog on hand I altered the recipe slightly and added a bit to the cocktail. I felt the texture of the ice cream was important in the end, so I did half ice cream and half nog. I also only used bourbon since I didn't have any rum around. That's another great thing about cocktails- you can always change them up based on what you have. As long as the ratios remain consistent so that the flavors are balanced, you are good to go!

So, if you're looking for a last minute gift idea, Shake is a great one. You could also pair it with the mason jar shaker, which the authors of the book created. Perfect stocking stuffer!

The Nog

Ingredients

• 1 scoop vanilla ice cream
• 1/3 cup eggnog (or, if you don't have eggnog, another scoop of ice cream)
• 2 ounces bourbon (or 1 ounce bourbon and 1 ounce spiced rum)
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg plus extra for garnish

Instructions

1. Put the bourbon (and rum, if using), ice cream and spices in a cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously for about 10 seconds. Strain the cocktail into chilled glasses and garnish with additional ground nutmeg.

Notes

This recipe is slightly adapted from the book Shake by Eric Prum & Josh Williams

Cocktail Friday: Spiced Rum & Cranberry Old Fashioned

It snowed here yesterday. It wasn't the big wet flakes I expected; instead, we experienced a pretty, delicate snowfall thanks to chilly temperatures that made me feel like I was home in Minnesota. My heart was happy watching the flakes float slowly through the air, turning the ground a soft white. Finally, after feeling like I would never get into the spirit of the season, the snow brought what my soul needed. Riley

Also, it made me realize that some people just shouldn't drive when it's snowing because they forget how. That's all I'll say on that subject except for BE CAREFUL OUT THERE!

With the white snow and cloudy skies, it seems like the perfect excuse to make a brilliantly colored and flavorful cocktail. This Spiced Rum & Cranberry Old Fashioned uses a little bit of the syrup from my homemade cranberry sauce. The spicy ginger, warm cloves, bright citrus and tangy cranberries are the perfect mate for spiced rum. You may be wondering what on EARTH rum is doing in an Old Fashioned. You're right- it isn't traditional. But the formula for an Old Fashioned is this: spirit + bitters + sugar + water. That's it. Makes you want to play around a little, doesn't it?

When I make an Old Fashioned, I let the ice act as the water. It melts a little as you stir it with the spirit, bitters and sugar, which is really all you need. If you want more water, go ahead and add it.

This is a great cocktail for Thanksgiving because it incorporates a lot of the flavors from other dishes; using aromatics like rosemary, cloves or cinnamon with your turkey? Serving my homemade cranberry sauce? Putting a cinnamon and brown sugar topping over your sweet potatoes? This cocktail is the perfect precursor to all of that and more. It's equally as delicious on any old day when you are feeling thankful for a quiet evening at home with family and friends.

This cocktail recipe concludes my week of cranberries! Stay tuned next week for a fantastically easy apple dessert and a delicious leftover turkey recipe!

Spiced Rum & Cranberry Old Fashioned

Ingredients

• 1 ounce cranberry syrup from [this recipe: http://rachaelwhite.me/homemade-cranberry-sauce/]
• 1 1/2 ounces spiced rum
• 1 teaspoon brown sugar
• 5 dashes bitters
• 1 strip of orange zest for garnish
• 1 rosemary sprig for garnish
• 2 or 3 fresh (or frozen) cranberries for garnish.

Instructions

1. Combine the cranberry syrup, spiced rum, brown sugar and bitters in a cocktail shaker. Stir until the sugar has dissolved. Add ice and stir for about 30 seconds. Pour the cocktail through a strainer into a cocktail glass filled with ice. Serve garnished with the orange zest, cranberries and rosemary sprig.

Cocktail Friday: Whiskey Flip

This week has been crazy. I've only been in Minnesota since Saturday but so much has happened that I feel like it's been a month. Without going into too much detail, I'll just say that I'm getting involved in some REALLY amazing projects that are connecting me with talented food bloggers and other foodie friends. It's a dream come true, really. It also means that I am really ready for a cocktail.

My parents have a cocktail recipe book called the Mr. Boston Deluxe Official Bartender's Guide: New World Edition. It has a plethora of cocktails garnished with bright red maraschino cherries and other slightly dated decorations. Overall, it is quite informative and contains some gems that are worth trying. This Whiskey Flip, for example, is a little bit like eggnog but less sweet and more boozy.

I adapted the recipe slightly because I wanted the drink to be a little sweeter (I know- pretty unusual for me) and a little less astringent, so I added more powdered sugar and less whiskey. This would be a fun addition to your Thanksgiving menu and is perfectly seasonal with a sprinkling of nutmeg over the top.

The best part about this post is that my sister and I worked together to take the photos. She chose the props from my mom's fabulous selection of antiques and I mostly just took the pictures. One thing I've realized on this trip is that working with people instead of on your own is a bazillion times easier and a trazillion times more fun. Yep. Trazillion.

Whiskey Flip

Ingredients

• 1 ounce whiskey
• 2 teaspoons powdered sugar
• 2 teaspoons heavy cream
• 1 whole egg
• freshly grated nutmeg for garnish

Instructions

1. Combine all the ingredients except the nutmeg in a shaker with ice.
2. Shake vigorously until the cocktail is creamy and frothy on the top.
3. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with the nutmeg.

Cocktail Friday: Spiced Apple + Cranberry Martini

Fall officially arrived yesterday. Apparently winter will be here this weekend, at least briefly, so Riley and I enjoyed the afternoon by playing in the sandbox. It was lovely feeling the slight chill in the air and watching my almost 2 year old examine bugs, worms and the difference between wet and dry sand. Sometimes I have to remind myself how great precious these moments are and before I know it he'll be less interested in spending time with me and tossing sand out of the sandbox.

Spiced Apple & Cranberry Cocktail :: Set the Table

This weekend, I'm hoping we can enjoy at least a few minutes outside, perhaps hanging out at an apple orchard or enjoying lunch at the park. If we're really lucky, Brad and I will get a movie night where we can sit down with one of these tasty spiced apple and cranberry martinis, a big bowl of popcorn, and a warm blanket. Sounds perfect to me.

Spiced Apple & Cranberry Martini :: Set the Table

I love the color of this cocktail alongside the delicate green apple garnish. It's festive and fun for the upcoming holidays but simple enough to make any time you want to enjoy the flavors of fall. A simple spiced apple simple syrup made with rich apple cider and mulling spices makes this so much more sophisticated than an appletini.

What are your plans for enjoying this October weekend? I'm always looking for new ideas to help us enjoy the season even more!

Spiced Apple + Cranberry Martini 

Ingredients

• 2 oz unsweetened cranberry juice
• 1 1/2 oz vodka
• 1/2 oz cointreau
• 1/2 oz spiced apple syrup (recipe follows)
• fresh lime juice

Instructions

1. Place all the ingredients (except the lime juice) in a shaker filled with ice. Shake until thoroughly chilled, 20-30 seconds. Pour into a cocktail glass and serve with a squeeze of lime juice and a slice of green apple on the rim.

Spiced apple syrup

Ingredients

• 1 cup apple cider
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon mulling spices

Instructions

1. Combine the cider and sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat.
2. Put the mulling spices in a sachet (use cheese cloth and tie with cooking twine). You can also put the spices in the cider mixture loose and then strain them out when it is done cooking.
3. Bring the cider mixture to a low simmer and cook about 5 minutes until the sugar dissolves and the liquid begins to thicken just slightly.
4. Remove from the heat and let steep with the spices for another 5-10 minutes.
5. Transfer to a jar. Cool completely before using.