Royal Mule and "Turn Me On"

Devil Woman
She glances across the room in a way that tells you she's interested but not enough to voice it. She looks like she's from the east, not where they make most of the worlds products but further north where vodka and the cold are embraced like a new born. You know for this catch you're going to have to step up to the plate. A journey lies ahead.  To the copper mine to gather and cast the finest mug not only to aesthetically please but to instantly chill the bewitching cocktail you will soon present. Your offering will need a strong contrast of flavor to coincide with the demeanor of the recipient.  Combining two large commodities of your surroundings will be perfect. To the hills you trek to gather honey then to the flats out west where the purest of salt can be found.  This will be a perfect introduction to the cocktail on the rim of the mug as it is the first thing that will touch her lips. To delve further into the history and personality of your catch you'll need to offer something bitter sweet, full of flavor, yet dry and with a kick at the end...















Royal Mule
The perfect expression of the Russian temperament... the dryness of vodka, the spicy absinthian kick of ginger, the bite of lime finished with refreshing, poignant effervescence. In Russia, they drink beer in the day and vodka at night. This cocktail embodies both in one refreshing slurp. Perfect for a rock show! Being that this week's post pays homage to our home land we decided to throw a warm twist into this classic cocktail known as a Moscow Mule. Just as the Salt Lake City summer sun so routinely beats down on the valley as temperatures soar into the 100's, a dash of something warmly sweet needed to be added. Normally dry and bitter yet with zest and zing that pulls you in wanting to know more about what this enigmatic specimen embodies, we added a touch of pineapple to exemplify the warmhearted nature of the people of SLC. To adorn the cocktail further, aspects of what the city holds had to be added to bring this cocktail home. The honey and salt upon the rim are two local commodities that Salt Lake City prides itself upon. The copper mug is a standard, plus Salt Lake City holds the second largest copper mine in the United States. Eureka!!

Ingredients:
1 1/2 oz vodka
1 oz Barrow's Intense Ginger Liqueur*
1 oz lime juice
1/4 oz pineapple juice
Top with alcoholic ginger beer About 2 oz

Method:
Rim the copper mug with honey and salt. First dip the rim into a plate of honey to evenly coat the outside edge, then dip the rim into a plate of coarse salt. Fill the copper mug with pellet ice (if you don't know where to get pellet ice, you can go to your local market or Sonic burgers)
Add all the ingredients. Give it a quick stir and garnish with a lime twist.

*Barrow's Intense Ginger Liqueur
This tasty golden liquid is made with fresh ginger. No extracts, no chemicals, just lots and lots of fresh ginger. This product is handmade in Brooklyn, NY and boasts 22% alc/vol. It's great just over ice or it can play well with many different cocktail ideas. Visit http://barrowsintense.com/ to find out more.

Five Wives Vodka
For this SLC themed cocktail, of course, we had to use a local Utah vodka. What better choice than from a company who so satirically chose to create their product through inspiration of the rich history of the American West. By Ogden's own distillery, Five Wives Vodka is distilled from 100% corn and bottled at 80 proof (40% alc/vol.)

Royal Bliss is an American rock band formed in 1997 in Salt Lake City, Utah. They were previously signed to Capitol Records and have released eight studio albums. Royal Bliss has been making their mark across the country for years now. Constant writing, recording and touring have helped build the success of the band. The wide variety of influences from Johnny Cash, Snoop Dogg, Led Zeppelin and the Toadies with everything in between has melded a sound that cannot be denied. Since their debut Royal Bliss' music is played across the country on the most popular Rock radio stations, and has been in heavy rotation ever since. From the on-stage antics of front man Neal Middleton, to the energetic live shows, Royal Bliss continues to win fans over... all over the globe. They recently opened a bar in Murray, Utah aptly named the Royal.

Spring has sprung in SLC and is still teasing us in NYC but where 'er you are, enjoy a frosty Royal Mule at a rock show at the Royal, a picnic or family home evening! Please drink and rock responsibly.

Cheers! 

Naz Darovie!

Henry & Jehiah

T'n'T

Cork & Kerry and "Whiskey in the Jar"

Molly's Chamber
Have you ever had something in your life that makes everything else just... fade away? A far away loved one that understands you. The foliate, rolling hills of Ireland. Fishing. Hunting. Falling in love with a new city. Maybe hearing a song that reminds you of someone? What about when you used to drive as fast as you could with the windows down while surfing the wind with your hand? Does counting your tips from a long, stressful but story-filled night make everything else fade away? How about nailing that solo you've been rehearsing? Cuddling in bed with someone you love more than anything in this world? The smell of gasoline? The moon appearing out of nowhere when you're out in the night. Hearing one of your favorite songs somewhere you'd least expect it. Laughing until it hurts. "The Lake"... be it Flathead, Spirit or Bear, hopefully not the Great Salt unless it's a gig at Saltair. Think of the moment you mounted the top of that expert-level climb you've been attempting for months... The rush of adrenaline from facing your biggest fears or enemies head on. Or spending Saturday night with your best friends and getting Blarney stoned. Maybe the crash of ocean waves reaching shore. Seeing your favorite band in concert. A New Year's Eve kiss. The perfect dessert that makes you close your eyes because it's so delicious... Or getting a genuine compliment from a stranger. For us, and maybe for some of you, one of the simple things in life that makes all else fade for even that slight sultry moment is sipping the viscous, robust flavor of your favorite whiskey from the threaded rim of a mason jar...

Cork & Kerry
We felt this song lends itself very well to a T'n'T post but we couldn't just throw some whiskey in a jar and call it good. (gluck gluck splash) "there ya go!" na na no, we of course had to turn it up a notch... up to 11. We smoothed out any rough edges of the whiskey with some T'n'T polish. Vermouth and whiskey go together like peas and carrots. The herbaceous depth of subtle sweetness enhances underlying flavors of the whiskey. The taste of this weeks cocktail is stiffer than past, it is close to that of a Manhattan but a stones throw across the pond. The idea for one of the ingredients comes from a classic cocktail called the Nutty Irishman. We thought we'd get (hazel)nutty for this weeks post! Noted in the above song, the Cork and Kerry mountains in Ireland seemed like the best label for this flavorful facet of standard mixology.

Talk about lucky charms... this guitar pick was used by Metallica's lead guitarist,
Kirk Hammett before he threw it to the crowd and was then
retrieved by Henry

Ingredients:
2 oz Tullamore Dew
1/2 oz Carpano Antica sweet vermouth
1/4 oz Frangelico
2 dashes Orinoco bitters

Method:
Place all ingredients in a mixing glass. Stir. Strain into your favorite mason jar. Garnish with 3 leaf clover (4 leaf clover if you find one!) otherwise throw in some micro greens to give it that mountainous Irish flare















Whiskey in the Jar

Whiskey Whitney went a little too deep into the Cork & Kerry

In adoration of Saint Patrick's Day we had to do a post about the age old tale of "Whiskey in the Jar."  A traditional Irish drinking song, it's set in the southern mountains of Ireland, with specific mention of the Cork and Kerry mountains. A number of the songs lines and the general plot resemble those of a contemporary broadside ballad "Patrick Fleming," about a Rapparee (Highwayman), who is betrayed by his wife or lover, and executed in 1650. The song's exact origins are unknown. Whiskey has been enjoyed by the Irish for centuries and St. Patrick's Day has long since been the holiday known for alcohol consumption. Green has been the go-to color for St. Patrick's Day since the 1600's when the green Harp flag was used by the Irish Catholic Confederation. So adorn your green wardrobe, paint your face, mix up a flagon o' Cork & Kerry and go join all yer mates and be merry!

'Faol saol agat, gob fliuch, agus bás in Éirinn.'
Long life to you, a wet mouth, and death in Ireland.

Jacob Rees in Ireland drinking whiskey
in the jar-o

Jacob Rees going over the Cork and Kerry
mountains with his whiskey in the jar-o

Saint Patrick's Day, or Feast of Saint Patrick (Irish: Lá Fhéile Pádraig, "the Day of the Festival of Patrick"), is a cultural and religious celebration held on 17 March, the traditional death date of Saint Patrick (c. AD 385–461), the foremost patron saint of Ireland.

Saint Patrick's Day was made an official Christian feast day in the early 17th century and is observed by the Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and Lutheran Church. The day commemorates Saint Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland, as well as celebrating the heritage and culture of the Irish in general. Christians also attend church services and the Lenten restrictions on eating and drinking alcohol are lifted for the day, which has encouraged and propagated the holiday's tradition of alcohol consumption.

Saint Patrick's Day is a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the British Overseas Territory of Montserrat. It is also widely celebrated by the Irish diaspora around the world, especially in , Canada, the United States, Argentina, Australia and New Zealand.

Dead Rabbit Orinoco Bitters 
Created by Dr. Adam Elmegirab, they are flavored by warm spices such as cardamom and cassia bark, floral notes from chamomile, dried fruit flavors from raisins, fragrant aromatic bark like sandalwood and angostura, citrus oils from orange peel, and a bittersweetness from molasses.

Tullamore Dew is a brand of blended Irish whiskey produced by William Grant & Sons. Although it was originally a single pot still whiskey, first distilled in 1829 in Tullamore, County Offaly, the modern product is a blended whiskey that is not produced in Tullamore town. The primary blend ingredients are from the New Midleton Distillery in county Cork. The name derives from the initials of an early manager of the concern, Mr. Daniel E. Williams (abbreviated "D. E. W." and merged to form "Dew"). 

Sláinte or slàinte (slahn-chə) is a word literally translating as "health" in several Gaelic languages and is commonly used as a drinking toast in Ireland and Scotland.

Irish whiskey was one of the earliest distilled drinks in Europe, arising around the 12th century (see Distilled beverage). It is believed that Irish monks brought the technique of distilling perfumes back to Ireland from their travels to the Mediterranean countries around 1000 A.D. The Irish then modified this technique to obtain a drinkable spirit. Whiskey was first recorded in Ireland in 1405.

Frangelico is a brand of noisette (hazelnut) and herb-flavored liqueur which is produced in Canale, Italy. It is 20% alcohol by volume, 40 proof.^[1] Formerly, it was 24% alcohol by volume, 48 proof. It was released in the 1980s, gaining attention largely because of its unusual packaging; its bottle was designed to look like a friar, complete with a knotted white cord around the waist. (Though our mini bottle was gipped of that adornment)

According to the manufacturer, the name of the liqueur is based on a legend of a hermit named Fra Angelico who "created unique recipes for liqueurs." However, the bottle itself most closely resembles the habit of a Franciscan friar, while the liqueur's likely namesake, the famous painter Fra Angelico (d.1455), was a Dominican, whose robe would have been white and without the cincture.

Frangelico is made in a similar manner to some other nut liqueurs: nuts are crumbled up and combined with cocoa, vanilla berries, and other natural flavors, and then left to soak in the base spirit. After the spirit has absorbed the flavor of the ingredients, the liqueur is filtered, sweetened, and bottled.

Antonio Benedetto Carpano (1764, Bioglio (Biella) - 1815, Turin) was an Italian distiller, famous for having invented Vermouth and consequently the apéritif.

In 1786, Antonio Benedetto Carpano invented modern Vermouth in Turin, made from white wine added to an infusion of herbs and spices, in more than 30 varieties. It was sweetened with spirit, which he believed would be a more suitable beverage for ladies than the local red wines. Vermouth proved so popular that soon his shop was open 24 hours a day.

No Leaf Clover

Metallica is an American heavy metal band formed in San Francisco, California. Metallica was formed in 1981 when vocalist/guitarist James Hetfield responded to an advertisement posted by drummer Lars Ulrich in a local newspaper. The band's current line-up comprises founding members Hetfield and Ulrich, longtime lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo. Lead guitarist Dave Mustaine and bassists Ron McGovney, Cliff Burton and Jason Newsted are former members of the band. 

Metallica was influenced by early heavy metal and hard rock bands and artists Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Kiss, Led Zeppelin, Queen, Ted Nugent, AC/DC, Rush, Aerosmith, Judas Priest, and Scorpions. New Wave of British Heavy Metal bands Venom,Motörhead, Saxon, Diamond Head, and Iron Maiden, and early punk rock bands Ramones, Sex Pistols, and the Misfits also influenced Metallica's style. The band's early releases contained fast tempos, harmonized leads, and nine-minute instrumental tracks. Metallica have released 9 studio albums and toured the globe. In 2014 they performed in all 7 continents including Antarctica. Metallica has become one of the most influential heavy metal bands of all time, and is credited as one of the "big four" of thrash metal, along with Slayer, Anthrax, and Megadeth.^[150]The band has sold more than 110 million records worldwide,^[151] including an RIAA-certified 66 million and Nielsen SoundScan-reported 53,642,000 in the U.S., making Metallica one of the most commercially successful bands of all time.

In 1998, Metallica compiled a double album of cover songs titled Garage Inc. The first disc contained newly recorded covers of songs by Diamond Head, Killing Joke, the Misfits, Thin Lizzy, Mercyful Fate, Black Sabbath, and others. The second disc featured the original version of The $5.98 E.P.: Garage Days Re-Revisited, which had become a scarce collectors' item. Metallica covers Thin Lizzy's version of "Whiskey In The Jar" on the 2nd disc of this compilation. 

*above info from Wikipedia

This cocktail is dedicated to our lovely, whiskey-drinking rocker babes: 

Shanlee Jeppsen, Brooke Borg, Rose Dehmir, Christine Barandy, Grace Bennett, Paulina Pyplacz

without you, this post wouldn't be half as Rock 'n Roll as it is!!

Have a blast on your trek into the Cork and Kerry, make sure you bring a drinking buddy, for the rolling hills can make you weary. Remember to party with guitars, microphones and lamps with caution. Please jam and drink (out of jars) responsibly!!

'Beannachtam na Feile Padraig!'

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Slainté!!

Henry & Jehiah

T'n'T

Barefoot Barista and "Stealing Happy Hours"

I'll Be Here a While

The wind flows through your hair... the dancing shadows of palm leaves create a radiant yet shaded canopy... the warm, giving sand cradles you like an oceanfront mattress... muffled steel drums filter through the trees and grace your ears... the sound of the ocean gently crashing nearby acts as a nautical alarm and you open your eyes to your real time paradise. Coffee is the first thing on your mind, and the coconuts on the ground nearby make you crave tropical fruit. But the last thing you want to do is get up from your sandy dwelling. Lucky for you, a Cabana Boy approaches. "I thought you were going to sleep all day!" he chuckles. The sun surrounds him, and you give your drink order to a silhouette. Squinting with one eye open, you collect yourself. "Will you bring me something with coffee and coconut in it?" you request. He smiles, "I have just the thing." Turning around while walking away, he shouts back at you, "don't forget your sandals. They're right over there." You glance back toward the sea. Your sandals sit askew just feet from the water. Two forgotten essentials you abandoned once you reached the sand. Your seaside steward returns shortly after you pick up your sun-warmed slippers and he greets you again, this time with a tasty looking beverage...

Barefoot Barista 

In celebration of 3/11 day (March 11th) we thought we'd resurrect a 90's classic from the band 311. For your day off when you're ready for your morning coffee, but you're also ready for a tasty cocktail to enjoy. Or maybe you're on a beach somewhere on vacation, or you're at home and it's your day off... at any rate, we believe this is the perfect cocktail designed with you and your sunglasses in mind. A beautiful blend of espresso, coconut milk and coconut rum. Who said Happy Hour has to be 4pm -6pm?? Stealing Happy Hours means having your own Happy Hour whenever you feel like it! Morning, noon or night!

Ingredients:

2 oz fresh brewed espresso

2 oz coconut rum

1 oz canned coconut milk

Method:

Walk up to your beach front bar and order a Barefoot Barista. Your bartender will then put all ingredients in a shaker, add ice, shake and strain.   He/She will charmingly add a cocktail umbrella 

The Barefoot Barista can be enjoyed anywhere... even on the East River in New York 

Monkey Coconut Rum

Zane Lamprey is the owner of Monkey Rum, a premium rum beverage company with both spice and coconut rum products. Though currently only available in New York, Monkey Rum has announced plans to expand to CA and Florida in early 2015.

Zane Lamprey has spent countless hours making sure his rum has all the best ingredients. However, the most important of these is not something you can easily find or identify. That ingredient is Personality. Through his travels, Zane has come to realize that no matter how many times you distill, or how much effort you put into the process, if a drink doesn’t come with some personality, the purpose is lost. Monkey Rum is about adventure, experience, and having a good time. This rum is about letting that inner monkey out and embracing your wild side.

“Let Monkey Rum inspire your sense of adventure.” -Zane Lamprey

 311 (pronounced "three-eleven") is an American rock band from Omaha, Nebraska. The band was formed in 1988 by vocalist/guitarist Nick Hexum, lead guitarist Jim Watson (who would later be replaced by Tim Mahoney), bassist Aaron "P-Nut" Wills and drummer Chad Sexton. In 1992, Doug "SA" Martinez joined to sing and provide turntables for 311's later albums, rounding out the current line-up. The band's name originates from the police code for indecent exposure in Omaha, Nebraska, after the original guitarist for the band was arrested for streaking.

Whether you're on the East River, New York or in Maya Bay, Thailand we urge you to relax and drink responsibly.

We thought we'd try to help mother nature ring in spring so come... Sit, sip, drink in the sun... "we're snatching bits of time that no one else can seem to find." 

Cheers!

Henry & Jehiah

T'n'T 

_______________

Doughty Hornet and "Cold Gin"

If You Can't Beat 'Em... Join 'Em
If you're in NYC, your March thus far has been wet, windy and wild, complete with trudging through the slushy driven snow.  So we thought we'd make a cocktail to fuel your fire.  Not something hot to warm your insides but something to get you in the ring.  This fight with cold is a punishing struggle.  To keep your will to strife it might be best to fight fire with fire, or in this case, cold with cold.  Imbibing something chilling is almost tantamount to transforming your humanoid blood to that of a reptile. Being able to take on the freeze with ease as if it were your natural habitat.  Additionally, the essence of this drink is in line with some of those home remedies like lemon and ginger that your mother might have prescribed in your adolescence.  As the chilled liquid served in ice bars around the globe seems to comfort the imbiber despite the below freezing temperature, this cocktail will give you winter boots to brave the cold.

Getting some fuel to build a fire

Doughty Hornet

You can pick any gin you'd like for this cocktail.  We chose New Amsterdam gin for a couple of reasons.  We enjoyed the smooth drinkability of this brand as well as the distinctive flavor, not to mention it won't burn a hole in your pocket (but Ace Frehley's guitar solo just might!).  This week we thought we'd introduce a new twist on a classic cocktail known as the "Bee's Knees".  Like KISS bringing rock 'n' roll to a new painted standard in the the late 1970's, we kicked it up a notch here by adding the zing of ginger, fuzziness of peach and caffeine of black tea into this "Rocktail"... MUAH!!  

  

Ingredients:
2 oz gin
1 oz ginger peach syrup*
1 oz lemon juice.

Method:
Put all ingredients in a shaker.  Add ice. Shake until the tin is frosted over. Strain into martini glass.  Garnish with a lemon twist

Ginger Peach Syrup:
3 tbsp ginger peach tea leaves
8 oz water
8 tbsp honey

Boil water.  Remove from heat, then add the loose leaf tea.  Steep for 6 min.  Strain.  Add honey.  Stir until honey is dissolved.

Tea Quality
When looking for the tea you're going to use, don't buy anything that comes in paper bags in a box.  Buy loose leaf tea from a legitimate tea store.  The tea will be much fresher.  When using fresh, quality loose leaf tea, all of the dried leaves are closer to a uniform size.  This will ensure a balanced, nicely flavored brew.  Fresh loose leaf tea also retains volumes of rich flavor where as most bag tea brands have a lot of dead particles that reside in the bag, putting off bad flavors into your tea.
Don't boil the leaves!  Boil the water, then wait for at least 15 seconds after taking the water off the heat to pour it over the leaves in a different container.  Just like coffee, tea has finicky temperatures that yield a better final product if followed correctly.
Black tea should be steeped for about 6 minutes.  Much more time than that and you'll start to get an excessive amount of bitterness.



"When you're down in the dumps and you need something to bring you up, there's only one thing that's going to do it the way you want it...  What's that?!  I can't hear you!!"

KISS is an American hard rock band formed in New York City in January 1973 by Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons. Well known for its members' face paint and stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s with their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting, smoking guitars, shooting rockets, levitating drum kits and pyrotechnics. Before arriving at their current lineup, the band went through some lineup changes, with Stanley and Simmons the last two members of the original lineup of the band. Counting the 1978 solo albums, Kiss has been awarded 28 gold albums to date, the most of any American rock band. The band has sold more than 40 million albums in the United States, of which 24 million have been certified by the RIAA and their worldwide sales exceeds 100 million records, making them one of the world’s best-selling bands of all time. The original 1973–80 lineup consisted of Stanley (vocals and rhythm guitar), Simmons (vocals and bass guitar), Ace Frehley (lead guitar and vocals) and Peter Criss (drums and vocals). With their makeup and costumes, they took on the personas of comic book-style characters: Starchild (Stanley), The Demon (Simmons), Spaceman or Space Ace (Frehley) and Catman (Criss). Stanley became the "Starchild" because of his tendency to be referred to as the "starry-eyed lover" and "hopeless romantic". The "Demon" makeup reflected Simmons' cynicism and dark sense of humor, as well as his affection for comic books. Frehley's "Spaceman" makeup was a reflection of his fondness for science fiction and his supposedly being from another planet. Criss' "Catman" makeup was in accordance with the belief that he had nine lives because of his rough childhood in Brooklyn. Due to creative differences, both Criss and Frehley left the group in 1982. 

KISS is often cited as one of the most influential bands within the hard rock and heavy metal genre, influencing artists such as Metallica, Mötley Crüe, Guns N' Roses, Pantera, Iron Maiden, Marilyn Manson, Slipknot, Megadeth, Anthrax, Poison, Alice in Chains, Slayer, Sepultura, Dream Theater, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters, Nirvana, White Zombie, Rob Zombie, Nine Inch Nails, Rage Against The Machine, Bon Jovi, W.A.S.P., Weezer, Melvins, Lenny Kravitz, Tool, as well as notable acts of other genres such as Garth Brooks and Lady Gaga citing the band and its various members as influences, both musically and visually.

New Amsterdam Gin was introduced in 2007 out of Modesto,CA. It is made with botanicals, citrus elements and juniper.



Tunes and Tonic Headquarters
New Amsterdam (Dutch: Nieuw-Amsterdam) was a 17th-century Dutch settlement established at the southern tip of Manhattan Island, which served as the seat of the colonial government in New Netherland territory. It was renamed New York on September 8, 1664, in honor of the then Duke of York (later James II of England) after English forces seized control of Manhattan Island, along with the rest of the Dutch colony. The 1625 date of the founding of New Amsterdam is now commemorated in the official Seal of New York City. 




*above information from Wikipedia
*make-up provided by Maria Kepinski

Not only is KISS from New York City, but we also noticed the shape of the New Amsterdam bottle resembles the One World Trade Center building in Lower Manhattan. Paint those faces and enjoy this "Rocktail" before the next KISS concert or anytime you want to "Rock 'N Roll all nite and party every day"!!

We would love to see photos of you making and/or enjoying any of the Tunes or Tonics featured on T'n'T!! (make-up optional) Feel free to post them in the comment section below, and thank you for your continued support.

                  Stay warm, and remember to always Rock 'n Roll and drink responsibly. 

                                                                      Cheers!!

                                                                Henry & Jehiah

                                                                        T'n'T