Ice Wine Martini

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas, and my dreams of a white Christmas will be realized. I have plans to shred the slopes, with my family and my friends. I worked at this Mexican restaurant in Banff, The Magpie And Stump, for a few years when I was home for holidays. The Magpie has a great atmosphere and was an amazing place to work. Going to work, was awesome, I would get to hangout with my friends all day.

Two Christmas ago, on the office door of the Magpie was a cartoon of two ladies chilling and drinking wine. The caption said, "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas, but I will settle for Red." I thought it was cute.

At my favorite restaurant in Spokane, Mizuna's, the drink menu has some pretty fancy and unique cocktails. My favorite is: "The Ice Wine Martini."

In a shaker with ice combine:

Two ounces Ice Wine

One ounce vodka

Pour into a chilled martini glass, and garnish with a frozen grape.

Ice Wine, is a sweet dessert wine that is hard to drink on its own, however cutting it with vodka makes for a very tasty and seasonally appropriate holiday martini.

Enjoy!

An Old Fashioned Fetish

I have a tendency to throw myself into whatever my momentary infatuation may be. With Halloween around the corner, and my Halloween concept confirmed I am on a method actors high.

My TV has been locked on time period dramas. I'm on a Mad Men, Playboy Club, and Pan Am binge. The glamour of the mid 20th century is intoxicating. I'm going as a character from that genre, and in preparation I've been quenching my thirst with a modernized sugar free Old Fashioned (Old Fashions are believed to be the first cocktail ever served).  

An Old Fashioned is a cocktail that is made by muddling sugar with bitters, and then adding alcohol, and a citrus rind (or cherry). An Old Fashioned has been in fashion since the late 1880s. It's a potent beverage that is due for a come back. 

2 ounces Vodka

a dash of liquid stevia

a dash Peychaud's Bitters

a dash of orange bitters

and a cherry, or orange rind.

In a chilled old fashioned glass combine the stevia and the bitters. Add a couple ice cubes and the vodka. Give the beverage a quick stir, and serve with the maraschino cherry and or the citrus rind. 

Enjoy.