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Mon-Sat 10am-10pm
Sun 11am-8pm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Bloody Maria

 

2 oz. Cimarron Silver Tequila $16                 Dash of sea salt

4 oz. Real Dill Bloody Mary Mix $10             2 twists of cracked black pepper

½ oz. wasabi or horseradish                             Pinch celery seed

1 Real Dill Habanero Horsradish Pickle $12  Squirt of Siracha

2 Santa Barbara Bleu Cheese Olives $7      1tsp Real Dill Pickle brine

¼ oz. Dijon mustard                                           Lime wedge for garnish         

 

Are you ready for this? You better like it spicy! I use silver tequila for mixed drinks and aged tequila for sipping. The silver allows the true essence of the spirit to expose itself in the beverage. (If you know what I mean ;0) ). Real Dill Bloody Mary’s base is cucumber water, which converts to a lighter base for the spices and pairs well with the early morning palate. It awakens the taste buds. Your third-trimester pregnant wife who is ready to deliver can join you for a pickle. It would only take one of these to do the trick. They are aged with habanero pepper and horseradish, giving them a kick.

The Cimarron Silver Tequila is made from blue agave grown in the hillsides of Jalisco at an elevation of 4,620’. In multiple blinds it has scored above some of the major brands. A definite must have for blending.

If you haven’t had any of the Real Dill products YOU NEED TO CHECK THEM OUT NOW! This stuff will amaze you. My wife won’t stop eating the Habanero Horseradish Dills. I have to admit it’s hard for me not to grab one from time to time either. I can drink this stuff on its own, no need for the booze, but that’s the best part, right? In this case, though, the mix might be as good as the booze.

 

Abita Strawberry

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With the weather being so generous, why not enjoy some refreshing beer? Abita Strawberry has been great for all these wonderful afternoons we are having. Nicely paired with Colorado Sunshine. The great thing about this beer is the fruit is soft and not overwhelming. It is a limited release, so come get some before they’re gone!

 

Manhattan

 

1oz Michter’s Rye                         

1/2oz Carpano Antica Vermouth 

3 dashes of Fee’s Orange Bitters                   1 sugar cube

2 Luxardo Maraschino Cherries $18.49       Splash of Soda

 

I like to use rye in this cocktail, because I like the spiciness of it instead of using bourbon, which is a touch sweeter. It is the pre-prohibition style. Michter’s uses a unique “Heat Cycling” system; wherein, they cycle the barrels from warmer to cooler temperatures, allowing the whiskey to soak in and out of the barrel while absorbing caramelized sugars from the charred wood. Michter’s whiskies are one of the best buys I’ve found. Very hard to beat!

Carpano Antica Vermouth has to be the best vermouth out there. Always in stock at the Schmidt Tavern. Made from Piedmont’s muscatel and other wines from southern Italy as well as Italian herbs from the local mountains. Created by Benedetto Carpano in 1786 and still kickin’ it. It may be something to try on its own to get the full profile but has a vanilla raisin nose with dates, anise, clementine, and dried apricot palate.

Something else to try is real maraschino cherries, Luxardo, these things are addicting. Once you try them you’ll never go back to those bleached and colored bar types. Originally produced in 1905 in Zara Austria, soaking in Marasca cherry syrup (the same cherries cultivated for Luxardo Maraschino liqueur), these are a must have in anyone’s home bar.

 

Americano

 

1 1/2oz Cappelletti Vino Aperitivo $18     Blood Orange garish

1 1/2oz Carpano Antica Vermouth $32    1 1/2oz Col Solivo Extra Dry $14             

 

When you want it, Campari is not always available and sometimes you have to try something else. Think of Cappelletti when in need! You may just switch once you do. A little more refreshing, less bitter, and less herbaceous than Campari. That’s probably why I like it better. In this cocktail Carpano is bitter enough. Produced outside of Trento, Italy, and historically used in a spritz, Cappelletti is very affordable and can find a home in every household.

 

Classic Margarita

 

2oz Cimarron Silver Tequila $16    1oz Marie Brizard orange Curacao $23

2oz Fresh Lime Juice

 

Another great drink for all these sunny Colorado afternoons. The one thing I do preach about margaritas is to use fresh lime juice. I know it is more expensive, but well worth it and adds a nice fresh, coconut tone to the cocktail. As previously mentioned in the Bloody Maria post, I use silver tequilas in most mixed drinks, because I feel it lends itself to cocktails better than the aged tequilas. Aged tequilas are nice for sipping, a couple of ice cubes and a lime, done!

 

Italian Margarita

 

2oz Cimarron Silver Tequila $16                        2oz Lazzaroni Amaretto $27

1oz  Marie Brizard orange Curacao $23           4oz Fresh Lime Juice

 

Can you say yum yum?! I had to cut my wife off on this one. First, because I wanted some and second because I didn’t want to keep making them for her. What a refresher, though! Lazzaroni Amaretto has been in production since 1851 in Saronno, Italy. With a lower alcohol percentage than most amarettos, Lazzaroni is a true amaretto made from macaroons, embarking a wonderful dried tree fruit and almond palate. The amaretto adds a nice nutty tone to the cocktail. The sweetness of the amaretto lends itself nicely to the acidity of the cocktail. A great alternative for those of you who use agave nectar in your margaritas.

 

Jasmine

 

1 1/2oz Hayman's Old Tom Gin $27           1/2oz Fresh Liem Juice

1oz Marie Brizard orange Curacao $23     Lemon Twist garnish

3/4oz Cappelletti Vino Aperitivo $18    

 

 

What a fun cocktail! I have started to really like Old Tom Gin, even though gin was my drink of choice for much of my 20’s. Old Tom Gin tends to be lighter and sweeter than London Dry. It’s nice to not taste a bunch of juniper berries in your glass. With this cocktail Old Tom Gin allows for the beverage to show the light bitterness of the Cappelletti and brings out some citrus notes embedded within the phenols of the drink. Hayman’s Old Tom has been distilled from a family recipe since the 1870’s. Unlike most other Old Tom Gins, Hayman’s is not aged in oak, giving it a more rounded and aromatic profile. A crowd favorite that I think most of us have forgotten about. Might be time to mix a batch for the Friday Afternoon Club.

 

Plantation 20th Anniversary XO Rum

Barbados, Caribbean

 

The sun's finally coming out and that means sunny fun. What better to pair with fun in the sun than rum.

 

Plantation 20th Anniversary is one of my new favorites. Awesome tropical tones of toasted coconuts, pineapple, banana, and liquid awesomeness come cresting into your beaktorial senses. Down the hatch is another bodacious experience of caramelized vanilla, phat (yup with a ph) coconut, and tranquility. An all-out observation of sophistication and worldliness.

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Diplomatico Anejo Rum

Venezuela

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Summer is rum time! Diplomatico is a good one for all of rums uses, sippin, mixin, shootin, or what ever the night might bring. I have been on a summer fun run and this just hits the spot. Even over ice tailgating for a concert. Nothing better to get the party started. Right!

 

I can't stop thinking of Pina Coladas now, great thanks! I know what I'm having tonight on the proch watching the sun go down (wishing I was on a beach though). 

 

Distilled in a Column still and aged 4 years in barrel, Diplomatico shows wonderful expressions of dark cocao, toffee, caramel, and a hint of oak. 

 

 

 

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Clement VSOP Rhum Agricole

Martinique, Caribbean

 

So you say you’d like a little more attitude with your rum. Well spell it with an rh, that’ll give it some attitude.

 

Clement VSOP is aged a minimum of four years in virgin Limousin barriques and re-charded bourbon barrels giving it a roasted cocoa and vanilla bean character. Out of the glass warm tones of caramel, exotic cooking spices, roasted nuts, and dried orange peel waft into your sniffer. Consumed through the kisser with warm crème brulee, coconut custard, slight black pepper, and finished with a touch of wet river rock.

 

This rhum screams sophistication, one for an ice cube and an orange peel.

 

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Gran Classico Bitter

Turin Bitter

Bern, Switzerland

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This s*** is amazing! I want to bath in it, make love to it, and then cuddle with it. It's an original Turin Bitter recipe dating back to the 1860's. 25 different herbs including wormwood, gentian, orange peel, rhubarb, and hyssop. No color added, the golden-amber color is from the maceration. A lot of orange peel, some rhubarb, followed by a touch of vanilla, then kissed with some sweetness. You name it Negroni, Sparkling Wine Spritzer, Seltzer, or on ice. Try some with cola or a light beer! You won't buy another bitter after this. Trust me!