Wedding Fever

As promised, we are bringing you the cocktail recipes from our recent nuptials. We would like to extend a huge thank you to Nick and Marco from Bittercube for creating these recipes and for being on site to craft these cocktails for our guests. Much to the surprise of regular readers of this blog, we are kicking the drink recipes off with a vodka based cocktail. It is not often that you will find us drinking vodka. Much of this has to do with the inherent lack of flavor and aroma of a quality vodka. This cocktail packs a ton of flavor and aroma. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

Wedding Fever

1.5 oz. 45th Parallel Vodka

.5 oz. Bittercube Creme de Flora*

.75 oz. fresh lemon juice

.25 oz. simple syrup

Pinch of bee pollen**

Combine ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until well chilled. Double strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with a pinch of bee pollen. 

*If you cannot obtain Bittercube Creme de Flora, St. Germain could be substituted

**Bee pollen is available from many farmers markets, bee keepers, or organic markets

Potent Potables

No we are not talking Celebrity Jeopardy here, we are referring to the first legal spirits distillery in Minnesota since prohibition. It was announced this week that 11 Wells Spirits is setting up shop in Saint Paul. Located at the Old Hamm's brewery complex, they hope to begin distilling spirits this coming January. It seems a very fitting location for a distillery. Named after the 11 wells on site, 11 Wells Spirits will be utilizing the water from its namesake well number 11.

Saint Paul is a very logical location for a craft distillery. With the current popularity of classic and craft cocktails, high end and craft spirits are gaining popularity, and Minnesota has all the right ingredients needed for making spirits. Minnesota has pure water, plentiful grains, and is home to two cooperages to supply the barrels needed to age the spirits.

At this time, the distillery plans to produce Gin, Rum, Bourbon, Rye, Malt Whiskey, and a corn based liquor called Minnesota 13. Minnesota 13 is named after a strain of corn developed by the University of Minnesota to thrive in the short Minnesota growing season. This unique corn liquor gained acclaim during prohibition as a premium quality moonshine.

We look forward to tasting some of the distillate in the coming year. We will keep our fellow hedonists updated as we hear of news regarding 11 Wells Spirits.

Photo Courtesy 11 Wells Spirits

Just Married

If you have been following this blog for awhile, you probably have noticed that our posting has been pretty sporadic over the past several months. While we do feel lax in our duties of bringing our fellow hedonists news and information about imbibing, there is a good reason.

The writers of this blog spent their summer preparing for their union together as husband and wife. We are happy to report that documents have been filed, the beneficiaries changed, and it is all legal. Now that we have settled in to domestic tranquility, we are back to deliver to you our passion, great tasting libations.

In the coming weeks we will be sharing with you some of our very spirited celebration. We were fortunate enough to have Nick and Marco of Bittercube Bitters craft a specialty cocktail menu just for our wedding. We will be sharing with you the recipes and techniques so that you too can enjoy these cocktails as much as we did.