Domaine de Canton Cocktail Advances to 42 Below Cocktail World Cup D.C. Regionals!

Meet the Cook Strait Sling

Almost 100 years ago, a bartender named Ngiam Tong Boon created a drink that would become world famous, the Singapore Sling.  Also known as the Straits Sling, it was named for the Straits of Singapore, the connecting body of water between Singapore and Malaysia to the north, and Indonesia to the south.

The featured drink of this blog posting was inspired by an early version of the Straits Sling, which contained only gin, lemon juice, two types of bitters, Benedictine, and seltzer water.  We're proud to say that the Cook Strait Sling has advanced to the Capitol Region Finals of the 42 Below Cocktail World Cup Competition. 

Since this competition is sponsored by 42 Below Vodka, a fine product of New Zealand, this drink was named for Cook Strait, the water passage separating the two main islands of New Zealand, the North Island and the South Island. 

It's easy to make, here's how:

The Cook Strait Sling

1.5 oz 42 Below Vodka

1/2 oz fresh lemon juice

1/2 oz Cherry Heering Cherry Liqueur

3/4 oz Domaine de Canton French Ginger Liqueur

2 dashes Angostura Bitters

2 dashes Orange Bitters 

Shake well with ice, strain into highball glass filled with ice, then add 2 oz seltzer water back into shaker, swirl it around in ice, then top off the drink with it. Stir, serve, enjoy.

Professionals in the City - Pre-Valentine's Day Mixer

Tuesday, February 9, 2010 from 7pm to 10pm
At Farmers & Fishers / Co-sponsored by Domaine de Canton

Join Professionals in the City for a Pre-Valentine's Day cocktail party at Farmers & Fishers at the Washington Harbour in Georgetown. Meet fellow professionals, sip on a great new cocktail and sample hors d’oeuvres in a private event space with beautiful surroundings. Cozy up with a new friend next to the fireplace in the elegant lounge, or mingle in the main room. Special Domaine de Canton “A Streetcar Named de Canton” cocktails will be mixed by Jon Arroyo, Chief Mixologist of Farmers & Fishers and the Alembic Cocktail Catering Co. with delicious appetizers prepared by Chef Stephen Bieker.

Admission Includes: 

Two “Streetcar Named de Canton” signature cocktails (recipe below) or a choice of wine, beer or other cocktails
Hummus and Tapenade Dips With Grilled Bread
Assorted Farmhouse Pizza Bites
Chocolate Covered Bacon Lollis
Crudités Platter With Dips Fresh Made Guacamole, Chips & Salsa

Come alone or invite a friend - you won’t want to miss this exclusive event! Admission is $40.00 if purchased by 5 p.m. Friday, February 5, 2010.  Reservations must be made through Professionals in the City [ event registration link: http://bit.ly/c1HgxT ]

Streetcar Named De Canton


¾ oz Domaine de Canton

1 oz Kubler Absinthe

¾ oz Lime juice

¾ oz Mint syrup

8 mint leaves

4 chunks of ginger

In a mixing glass muddle mint leaves, ginger, and lime juice. Add mint syrup, Domaine de Canton, and Kubler, add ice cover and shake vigorously. Fine strain into a single old fashioned glass filled with ice. Garnish with a fresh mint sprig.

The Basil Faultless Cocktail

This recent invention pairs nicely with Asian cuisine, or spicy appetizers, and it's incredibly easy to make. It debuted last night at a kickoff event for Taste of the Nation D.C., held at The Passenger (1021 7th Street, NW, Washington, D.C.), and I must have made 100 of them, it was that popular.

The Basil Faultless Cocktail

1.5 oz Gin (such as Plymouth or Hendrick's)

1 oz Domaine de Canton French Ginger Liqueur

1/2 oz fresh-squeezed lemon juice

4-5 basil leaves

Shake well with ice, add 1-2 oz seltzer water to shaker, strain into a chilled cocktail glass, garnish with basil sprig. Enjoy!

Share Our Strength's Taste of the Nation D.C. event will be held Monday, April 12th at the National Building Museum here in Washington, D.C., and will feature some of the area's best chefs and mixologists. The event raises money to wipe out child poverty. For more information on this amazing event, please see: http://strength.org/washington. Hope to see you there!

Meet the Carioca en Manhattan

This is a nice variation on the Manhattan, and drink I created for Cuca Fresca Cachaca (not much of a stretch, as Domaine de Canton works beautifully with cachaca, and all cane spirits, for that matter):

Carioca en Manhattan

1.5 oz Cuca Fresca Pura Gold Cachaca

.75 oz Domaine de Canton French Ginger Liqueur

.25 to .50 oz Italian Vermouth (depending on desired sweetness)

2 dashes each Peychaud's and Angostura Bitters

Shake well with ice, strain into a chilled cocktail glass, garnish with a lemon twist. Enjoy!

The name derives from the local name for residents of Rio de Janiero, who are referred to as Cariocas. Cheers!

Sugar and Champagne Benefit

On Wednesday, January 27th, Domaine de Canton was featured in the signature cocktail presented at Sugar and Champagne, a fundraising event for the Washington Humane Society. The cocktail was created by acclaimed D.C. mixologist Simo Ahmadi, of Equinox (which hopes to reopen in February after their fire), and was dubbed the Bloody Sour:

Bloody Sour

1.5 oz Cirrus Vodka

1 oz Domaine de Canton

1 oz fresh sour mix

1/4 oz fresh lime juice

Shake all ingredients, serve on the rocks, then garnish with about a 1/4 oz of dry red wine.

Shown below, Simo prepares the Bloody Sour.

Patrons of the event were invited to bring their dogs. The pooch shown here fit right in.

Domaine de Canton at Upcoming and Recent D.C. Events

Domaine de Canton French Ginger Liqueur continues to be embraced by mixologists at events all across the D.C. area. Some recent examples:

9th Annual Sugar and Champagne Affair

On Wednesday, January 27th, Domaine de Canton will be paired with Cirrus Vodka in the featured cocktail being served at the 9th annual Sugar and Champagne Affair, a wonderful event benefiting the Humane Society. The event is hosted by Todd and Ellen Gray of Equinox Restaurant and Salamander Hospitality, and will be held at the RItz Carlton, 1150 22d Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20037, from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm, with a VIP reception starting at 6:00 pm. For more info, and to purchase tickets, please see:

http://www.washhumane.org/sugar/sugar.asp

Guests (and their dogs!) will be greeted by the world's finest sparkling wines, Champagne, and delicious desserts from the area's top Pastry Chefs. This annual event is in honor of the Washington Humane Society Officiers, who work 24 hours a day, saving the homeless, lost, neglected, and abused animals in our area, and offer a Humane Education program that teaches elementary school children compassion and respect for animals.

As noted above, Domaine de Canton will be paired with Cirrus Vodka in the featured cocktail at the Sugar and Champagne Affair, The Bloody Sour, to be served by Equinox Restaurant's acclaimed mixologist, Simo Ahmadi. To make the drink at home, here's how:

The Bloody Sour

created by Simo Ahmadi, Mixologist at Equinox Restaurant

1.5 oz Cirrus Vodka

1 oz Domaine de Canton

1 oz Fresh Made Sour Mix

1/4 oz fresh squeezed lime juice

Shake all ingredients and strain into a chilled martini glass. For the garnish, pour 1/2 oz of red wine (preferably a light Pinot Noir) into a jigger, and pour it around the rim of the glass. It will float to the top and serve as a lovely garnish.

As an added treat, Simo was joined by Gina Chersevani (PS7's) on the Dishing it Out Radio program, on WTOP 1o3.5 FM, making the drink for show hosts Nycci and David Nellis. To listen to the show, please click here:

http://www.wtopnews.com/?sid+1648569&nid=410

For more info on Gina and Simo's contributions to this event, please see:

http://www.washhumane.org/mixologist2010_email/html

As a side note, Equinox is hopeful of reopening in late February after suffering their devastating pre-Christmas fire. With the renovations that are planned, look for Equinox, like the Phoenix, to rise from the ashes to be better than ever.

Haiti Disaster Relief: A Fundraiser to Benefit the International Red Cross

Monday, January 18, The Passenger and Warehouse Theater, 1021 7th Street, NW

On Monday, January 18, the Passenger was the venue for a fundraising effort to benefit Haitian earthquake relief efforts. Domaine de Canton Brand Ambassador Phil Greene, also of the Museum of the American Cocktail, was a guest bartender, and served drinks along with Tom and Derek Brown of the Passenger. Participants were also able to view a special screening of The Agronomist - a story of strength and hope in the improverished nation of Haiti.

The event was very well attended, ad raised money for Haitian disaster relief; 25% of the happy hour sales and 100% of the gratituities intended for bartenders and waitstaff were donated to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The event was co-sponsored by the Warehouse Theatre, Washington Film Institute, The Passenger, The Civilian Arts Project, and by generous product donations from Domaine de Canton French Ginger Liqueur, Chairman's Reserve Rum, and Hop & Wine.

Domaine de Canton and Chairman's Reserve Rum (from St. Lucia) were both featured in an amazing Ginger Daiquiri:

Ginger Daiquiri

2 oz Chairman's Reserve Rum

1.5 oz Domaine de Canton

1 oz fresh lime juice

Fill shaker with ingredients and crushed ice, and shake well. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass, or pour contents of shaker into a highball glass.

For more info on Domaine de Canton, please see http://www.domainedecanton.com/. For more info on Chairman's Reserve, please see http://www.saintluciarums.com/

Cheers!

Domaine de Canton Stars in Holiday Cocktails

Once again, the upstairs bar at Bourbon Adams Morgan in Washington, D.C. served as the perfect setting for the Museum of the American Cocktail’s Second Annual Holiday Cocktail Seminar. And Domaine de Canton French Ginger Liqueur was well represented, featured in no less than three of the delicious Holiday cocktails presented. The event was emceed by Phil Greene, who did his best to stay out of the way and not impede the talents of renown D.C. bartenders Gina Chersevani (of PS7’s at Gallery Place) and Owen Thomson (bartender at Bourbon, and don’t call him a mixologist). Joining Gina and Owen was home bar and entertainment guru Jerry Lenoir, the creative force behind the popular Web site Mr-Booze.com (http://www.mr-booze.com/).

Arriving guests were greeted with an elegant cocktail, the Yes We Canton!, which was the star cocktail served at the Peace Ball on Inauguration Day last January. The Yes We Canton! was created by Gina Chersevani, and is made with pineapple juice, Domaine de Canton French Ginger Liqueur, and Jacob’s Creek Sparkling Wine. It’s a perfect Holiday drink (recipe below), especially for the busy host or hostess, and can even be served as a punch.

Gina then held court for the next two drinks, offering two amazing hot drinks, Apples and Ale and the Coquito, which she referred to as Puerto Rican Eggnog. The Apples and Ale featured fresh apples simmered in spices and pale ale, with a hearty dollop of Maker’s Mark Bourbon Whisky and Domaine de Canton, and was served in a coffee mug. The Coquito was a rich and warming mixture of condensed milk, evaporated milk, coconut milk, egg, spices, Flor de Cana dark rum, and Domaine de Canton.

At this point, the guests and presenters alike took a break, for conversation and a chance to admire some of Jerry Lenoir’s holiday music collection, as well as ornamental pieces from his amazing home bar, which is featured on http://www.mr-booze.com/.

Owen then took the stage to offer the classic Irish Coffee, a drink he accurately described as one of the most maligned and incorrectly made drinks of all time, in spite of its simplicity. Phil offered a bit of history on the origins of and folklore surrounding the drink, tracing it back to the old trans-atlantic flying boat service and the airport near Shannon, Ireland, where in the early 1940s Joe Sheridan took to greeting chilled passengers with a mug of coffee, whiskey and cream. “Is this Columbian coffee?,” one passenger asked, to which he replied, “No, it’s Irish Coffee,” and a tradition was born. The drink later migrated to the Buena Vista in San Francisco, where it became a fixture, just perfect on those cold winter days during a summer in San Francisco (apologies to Sam Clemens). While serving it, he told of a tour he took of the Jameson’s Irish Whiskey distillery in Dublin, and how it inspired him to make the Irish Coffee in the proper manner.

Owen also demonstrated another misunderstood and mismanaged drink, the Hot Buttered Rum. He explained how to make a batter, basically taking a hunk of butter and folding into it whatever seasonal spices you had on hand, then keeping the mixture on hand to use each time you wanted to serve one. Owen offered guests a perfect blend of butter, spices, and Mount Gay Extra Old Rum.

Jerry Lenoir then presented two amazing drinks, the Winter Mojito and the Northern Spy. The Winter Mojito calls for fresh cranberries and mint, muddled with maple syrup, then blended with fresh lime juice, Falernum, and Mount Gay Eclipse Silver Rum. The Northern Spy was next, giving Jerry and Phil the opportunity to extol the virtues of Laird’s Applejack, and recount its rich history, going back to the Founding Fathers.
Jerry then devoted a good amount of time in discussing Holiday music, mainly jazz and standards from the 40s, 50s and 60s, featuring classics from Herb Alpert, Frank Sinatra, Jack Jones, and Oscar Peterson. Jerry even offered a trivia contest, with winners receiving either a Mr. Booze T-shirt, or a compilation Holiday music CD from his collection. The trivia questions centered around the bar scenes from “It’s A Wonderful Night,” prompting guests and presenters alike to trot out their George Bailey, Nick the Bartender, and Clarence the Angel impressions. We had nearly 30 attendees on hand, and everyone had a great evening, and leaving with a goodly dose of Holiday cheer.

The Recipes:

Yes We Canton!

½ oz pineapple juice
½ oz Domaine de Canton
2-3 oz Jacob’s Creek Brut Sparkling Wine

Serve in flute. Can also be made as a punch.

Apples and Ale

8 apples
2 quarts of Dales Pale Ale
2 cups of Raw Honey
2 cinnamon sticks
5 cardamon pods
1 star anise
10-12 oz of Maker’s Mark Bourbon Whisky
10-12 oz of Domaine de Canton

Peel and quarter the apples. Take some cheese cloth (or a tea infuser works just as well) and place all the spices in there, tie up the cloth. Then in a pot, pour the beer, spice ball, sugar, apples. Let simmer for about 20 minutes just before it boils. Low and slow! Take the ale mixture off the heat.

In a glass mug pour 1/2 oz of Maker's Mark, 1/2 oz of Domaine de Canton and fill with the ale mixture. Enjoy! Serves about 10-12 (20-24 half sized drinks)

Coquito (Puerto Rican Eggnog)

1 (12-ounce) can evaporated milk
1 (14-ounce) can condensed milk
2 egg yolks
2 cups fresh coconut milk or 1 (15-ounce) can coconut milk
Pinch fleur de sel
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
3/4 cup Flor de Cana Dark Rum
1/4 cup Domaine de Canton
Ground cinnamon

Place all ingredients in a blender and process for 3 minutes at high speed until frothy. Store in a glass container in the refrigerator and serve chilled, dusted with a little cinnamon.

Hot Buttered Rum

1.5 oz Mount Gay Extra Old Rum
2 heaping barspoons buttered rum batter

fill with hot water and stir until combined

Irish Coffee

1.5 oz Jameson’s Irish Whiskey
3/4 oz Brown Sugar Simple Syrup
Fill with black coffee and top with fresh whipped cream

Northern Spy

2 oz Laird’s Applejack
1 oz Apple Cider
½ oz Lemon Juice
½ oz Apricot Brandy
Rim a cocktail glass with lemon juice then cinnamon sugar. Shake well, strain into glass, garnish with a few fresh cranberries.

Winter Mojito

8-10 mint leaves
6-8 cranberries
2 oz Mount Gay Eclipse Silver Rum
¾ oz Falernum
¾ oz lime juice
¼ oz simple or maple syrup
Splash of club soda
In a mixing glass, muddle mint & cranberries, add rest of ingredients. Shake and strain over ice in a glass and garnish with fresh mint.

For more information on Domaine de Canton, please see www.domainedecanton.com.

For more information on Museum of the American Cocktail events, please see www.museumoftheamericancocktail.org/events