Ursa Glassware

Drink from a beautiful virus-shaped glass.

From West Elm.

Now Playing: I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm

A really great remix of an old classic.

Click below...

And click here for the song on youtube.

Bloodshot

Image by The Nuge.

Cocktail: Autumn In Manhattan

Invented a cocktail for the season (and for to-go cups).  Should be good warmed up, but we've only done a chilled version.  

The Autumn in Manhattan:

4 ounces apple cider

2 ounces bourbon

1 ounce Sherry

1 ounce Ploughman's The Plenum (apple & cherry vermouth)

Silver Shamrock Shake

To us, it was a way of controlling our environment. It's not so different now... it's time again. In the end, we don't decide these things, you know; the planets do. They're in alignment, and it's time again.

- Conal Cochran, Halloween III

Click below...

April 20th: Fog Day's Eve

Fitting that we spent 4/20 charring rosemary and filling the house with an earthy herbal smoke.  

We wanted to do something fun for the upcoming anniversary of the sinking of the Elizabeth Dane (and Antonio Bay's birthday).  As the new owner of a cocktail smoker, I wanted to come up with something that was appropriate for Fog Day and I think I did it.  Behold Blake's Revenge.  A smoking rum-based cocktail that even has its own piece of seaweed.

Blake's Revenge:

2 oz aged rum (we used an 8 year Barbancourt)

1/2 oz sweet red vermouth

1 Teaspoon lemon & charred rosemary simple syrup

Garnish with a sprig of charred rosemary

After you combine the ingredients above, smoke the cocktail excessively to obtain a miniature fog bank.

Our Fog Day's Eve happy hour needed a dip.  

Mrs. Kobritz' Famous Smoky Clam Dip:

1 Tin smoked clams, oil drained

4 oz cream cheese

4 oz sour cream

1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 Tablespoon lemon juice

1 Teaspoon paprika 

1 Teaspoon minced onion 

Salt and pepper 

Mix by hand or blitz in a food processor for a smoother texture. Enjoy with Blake’s Revenge on the 21st of April.

Happy hour came to a perfect close with a viewing of The Fog - perhaps the finest horror film ghost story of all time (definitely up there with The Legend of Hell House and The Haunting [in its own way]).

Long live Blake and his ghostly comrades.  And Happy Fog Day, everyone - the twenty-first of April.

The Devil's Negroni

Lately, the Negroni is my favorite cocktail.  Been making a smoky version with Mezcal since trying one at a local restaurant.

The below is the more traditional version... spruced up for Halloween with some hilarious, and effective, accents.

HOW TO MAKE THE DEVIL’S NEGRONI

• Add ice to a rocks glass.
• Add the ingredients. Pour the gin, Campari, sweet vermouth and pomegranate juice over the ice.
• Stir until very cold. Garnish with an orange peel and dying rose for added drama. Serve and have a Happy Halloween!

Click below...

Had one last night called The Philly Negroni.  Have no clue what was in there, but it was superb.

Smoky Harvest Apple Cider Margarita

Cinnamon sugar and flaky sea salt, for the rim

2 ounces mezcal or silver tequila

1/2 ounce orange liquor

4 ounces (1/2 cup) apple cider

juice from 1/2 a lime

1-2 teaspoons maple syrup use more or less to your taste

apple slices and cinnamon sticks, for serving

Click below to see it in action...

Thanks, Wren!

Rot's Blood Moon Over Manhattan

Had to take my new Blood Moon cocktail for a test spin before tomorrow's eclipse (most likely hidden by clouds).  I think it's a success:

2 ounces (4 tablespoons) rye whiskey

1 ounce (2 tablespoons) Averna

1 dash plum bitters

1 giant pulpy orange juice and Angostura bitters ice ball