The Germfreak
- 1oz Ginger-infused vodka
- 1oz Lychee liqueur
- 1/4oz dry vermouth
- 3/4oz lime juice (roughly 1 whole lime)
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- 2 dashes Peychaud’s bitters
Hello, Compendium!
To my usual audience: Thank you very much for seeing this update, I thank you for stopping by. I have planned out several weeks ahead of what cocktails I’ll doing for Modern Alchemy which will abate some of my consistency issues.
Compendium Blogware,
Thank you very much for finding my website. I am so very excited to be considered for a position in the company. This space is where I serve up video mixology lessons. I greatly enjoy contributing to the cocktail blog community, and also that I’ve been fortunate to draw in friends and fans from outside that niche to get them thinking of drinking differently from the typical rum and coke or premixed margarita.
This blog has been under renovation for two months now, to the detriment of my posting frequency. Upon reboot, I definitely intend to better link my blog into the appropriate organic keywords I’ve learned about from the Compendium whitepapers.
Thank you so much for stopping by!
Ken Moorhead
Here are your Thursday and Friday cocktails. Sorry folks, but I won’t do videos with a sore throat, fading voice and wrecked palette. Should be good to go Monday, it ain’t swine flu!
Sidecar
- 1oz Brandy (Cognac in this case)
- 1oz Triple sec (Cointreau)
- 1oz Fresh lemon juice
Shake and strain into cocktail glass. Garnish with lemon peel.
Well, I’m two for two so far this week! Feeling a bit of a cold coming on but this drink still hit all the right notes for me. The “wine” elements of the cognac really came through for me in this drink in ways they haven’t in the past with other mixes. Selena Ricks of The Dizzy Fizz is predicting 2010 will be a big year for cognac and armagnac, something I agree with and feel is long overdue. Expect to be drinking more brown spirits this year folks!
Daiquiri
- 2oz White rum
- 1oz Lime juice
- 2 barspoons sugar (to taste)
Shake and strain into cocktail glass.
Oh look! A video that’s being posted in a timely fashion on the day it’s intended!
I love this drink. It’s simple, it tastes great, but it really does take a bit of finesse and panache to pull off well. This is definitely one for everyone at home to try - who doesn’t like rum?
Feels good getting back into the swing of things… see you all tomorrow!
Ken
Happy New Year! I hope you like the new design of the site. I couldn’t be happier with how things turned out. 2010 is going to be a great year for me, and I’m excited to be sharing that with you!
Post-beta Hiatus: Will be back 1/1/2010
Hey guys,
I really hate to be flaking like I have lately. I get such support from everyone that comes here, I can’t tell you all how thankful I am for the feedback you all give me.
It’s the holiday season which means get-togethers with family and friends. It’s also the gift-giving season; I work for FedEx Express and this past week and coming week are our busiest of the year, making sure your packages get from you to your loved ones safely and in time for the holidays. I’m working longer hours than usual (which is a good thing, believe me!) but am also in a position where I have to make some sacrifices in other areas of my life.
I have friends in the city currently who go to college out of town, and this time of year is too valuable an opportunity to miss spending time with them. All will be graduating this spring (if they didn’t this past weekend!) and most will be scattered throughout the country following graduation. As we are all unsure when we will be able to see one another next, opportunities to spend time together are becoming precious.
Due to my work schedule, Mondays are the best time for me to spend with these people - many of you know that Mondays are also when I shoot all my videos for the week. I simply can’t do both, much as it pains me to let the website go lacking for any period of time.
I thank you all for understanding that I need to take a break until the new year so I can spend time with friends. I encourage all of you to do the same - commit to make the time now, and throughout the coming year, to spend time with those you love.
I am 110% committed to being back regularly 1 January 2010. I’m also hoping to have the site redesigned to be a bit more visually friendly, and will have picked a name for the show - someone out there can expect to hear from me about a copy of Crush It! Why Now is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion by Gary Vaynerchuk.
Again, I apologize for the flakiness lately. But think of it this way - fall 2009 was the beta test for the website, we’ve all learned a bit about how things are working around here, and I’m ready to push this site to the next level. I REALLY want to put a ton of energy into this blog in 2010 and also connect with cocktail enthusiasts around the world - your endless support drives me each and every day. I cannot put into words how grateful I am to have the small community I enjoy here.
So, without further adieu… Enjoy these next two weeks, spend time with your loved ones, and mark your calendars to check back on 1 January 2010. I’m really excited for what the new year will bring, and look forward to sharing the experience with you.
Cheers!
Ken Moorhead
Chas
1 1/4 ounce bourbon whiskey
1/8 ounce amaretto
1/8 ounce Benedictine
1/4 ounce Cointreau
Stir all ingredients, strain into cocktail glass and garnish with an orange twist.
Great drink! I’m usually a bit skeptical for a recipe calling for such little input from so many bottles, but this one pulled it off well. If the Monte Carlo was a little too strong / bitter for you, this provides a more friendly take on the combination of whiskey and Benedictine.
Just one more week to name the show and win a copy of Gary Vaynerchuk’s Crush It! Why Now is the Time to Cash in on Your Passion. Comment below and you could start the New Year with a great book in your hands!
Monte Carlo
2oz Rye Whiskey
1/2oz Benedictine
2 dashes Angostura Bitters
Stir over ice, strain into cocktail glass.
First off, I had a blast on the DJ NewStyle show last night. You can check out the episode at http://www.djnewstyleshow.com/. Come back next Tuesday at 9PM Eastern for a live broadcast. We talked cocktails, Frank (a.k.a. Germfreak) tried to stump me and then I made a recommendation to get him out of his “girly drink” habits and into some libations more proper. Also, Frank agreed to give me full rights to the word “spiceness” on the condition that I create a drink called “The Germfreak.” I have a few ideas… I may borrow some tricks from “girly drink” world and try to mix them in with a more … ahem… respectable approach.
About today’s drink… It’s great! Try it! Every home bar should have whiskey of some variety and Angostura bitters… get yourself some Benedictine and you’re just a few stirs away from a saucy little minx!
Thanks for all the comments! Keep them coming… also: What questions do you have that you would like to see answered? Don’t forget to name the show to win a book!
Vieux Carré
1oz Rye Whiskey
1oz Cognac
1oz Sweet vermouth
1/2 teaspoon Benedictine (splash)
2 Dashes Angostura Bitters
2 Dashes Peychaud’s bitters
Well, today’s cocktail turned out to be an exercise in how things can go wrong even when you know exactly what you’re doing. I think this is the first drink I’ve been familiar with prior to creating the video, and I made the drink in exactly the same manner as I have every other time. In the end, something just tasted off. Perhaps my vermouth has spoiled. If that’s the case, I welcome the opportunity to buy new and better vermouth!
I do encourage EVERYONE watching this to try this drink when they have opportunity to. The flavors and complexity bring something for everyone and could challenge you in ways you didn’t expect.
Keep coming up with names for the show in the comment field below!
