My guest this week is Kim Haasarud “The Liquid Architect” and Redbook magazine’s “Mommy Mixologist” with her new book 101 Mojitos and other Muddled drinks. Since it’s still so hot, we’ll also talk about her last years book; 101 Blender Drinks.
In the last few years, the mojito has become a staple cocktail at summertime parties and bars across the country. This simple mix of rum, fresh muddled mint leaves, and lime juice served over ice with a splash of soda is the perfect drink for cooling down on a hot, sunny day.
101 Mojitos and Other Muddled Drinks provides expert guidance on mixing the perfect mojito, as well as 100 variations and other muddled drink recipes that focus on fresh ingredients and plenty of ripe fruit. In addition to mojitos, you’ll find caipirinhas, caipiroskas, crushes, and margaritas as well. In fact, if you’ve got fresh fruit of any kind on hand, you’ll probably find more than enough delicious and refreshing ways to use it.
- Includes 101 recipes illustrated with brilliant four-color photographs throughout
- Features recipes that emphasize fresh fruit and herbs and inventive tweaks on classic summer drinks
With such drinks and variations as Blood Orange Mojito, Pomegranate Mandarin Mojito, Concorde Grape Sage Caipirinha, Watermelon Basil Lemonade, Blackberry Grappa Smash, and the classic Old Fashioned. Whether you’re hanging out in the backyard, lounging by the pool, or eating at an outdoor restaurant, the mojito and its muddled cousins make the perfect summer drinks.
Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
2008 Stickeybeak Napa Syrah
On the nose, the Syrah offers aromatics of sweet blackberries, tarragon and plum. The balanced palate is elegant and generous, with concentrated dark fruits and silky tannins alongside flavors of boysenberry, dark chocolate and dusty hot rocks. Creamy French oak notes linger on the persistent finish.
Knowing the right people helps in this game, and Stickybeak was fortunate to work with an admired Napa Valley vineyard owned by Jan Krupp next to his Stagecoach holdings atop Atlas Peak. It’s a rugged, rocky vineyard that receives a lot of summer warmth, producing wildly concentrated fruit. A small parcel of cooler Edna Valley fruit imparted the spicy lift to balance the finished wine.
They certainly gave the fruit a nudge in the winery and threw out the budget when it came to French oak! A three day cold soak and ten day ferment with regular pump overs gave the juice plenty of skin contact to extract color and tannin. Following ferment, it was transferred to barrels, half of which were new, for 18 months of maturation with limited racking.
Pick up a bottle at Jacob Liquor Exchange and join us!