Quarantine Cocktails

I do not know about you, but this quarantine has brought out the drinking bug in me! 🙂  And when the drinking bug hits, Josh Madrid is a good person to know! 😉

Josh and I met while working together as Art Literacy Coordinators at Bonny Slope Elementary School.  We had the best time playing off each other.  Well…he NEEDED me in the mornings ‘cuz he was soooo tired, I kept him on track.  He should be after going to bed at 2, sometimes 3am.  See, Josh’s “paying gig” was as a bartender.  He has been at maybe 3 places since we met.  This last one, was the Multnomah Whiskey Library, where I have yet to visit. (Soon!  It’s my “when I get out of quarantine, what’s the first thing I want to do?”  Yep! Visit Josh at MWL right after having dinner at some lovely NW restaurant).

Unfortunately, like all bartenders right now during the Coronavirus epidemic, Josh is unemployed.  Fortunately for us, during his unemployment, he has started doing “Facebook LIVEs” on Saturday nights.  Thank you, JESUS!  (or Josh 😉 )  It’s a win win! Josh is keeping up his fabulous skills and we get to watch and learn along with him.

I haven’t tried ALL his recipes but a couple of weeks ago, I had ALMOST all the ingredients for all 3+ cocktails in my pantry, so we tried them!  They are classic, not too complicated and super delish–take a look!

The Moscow Mule

Truly tasty and always a classic.  This is just a “pour over ice” drink.  No stirring.  No shaking.  Simply fill your glass with ice, pour the fresh lime juice and vodka then top with ginger beer.  Simple. Easy.  Do you have to have a copper mug?  Josh says no.  I don’t have the fancy copper glassware that keeps it cold longer either…so…my solution?  Drink it FASTER!  Ha! 🙂

The Negroni

Oh, how I LOOOOOOOVE a good Negroni!  And they are not that hard to make (now that I have a cocktail stirring glass: thank you Camellia!  And, since I learned how to properly stir my drink via the LIVE with JOSH!).  Josh introduced his audience to two variations on the Negroni and I have included both on the recipe card.  The night of his FB LIVE show, I made both varieties and funny enough, I liked the gin one best and my husband liked the bourbon one best.  The gin variation has a fantastic forward flavor, but he didn’t like how it “sat on your tongue” after.  Try both and tell me which you like best!

The Clover Club

Finally, the Clover Club.  I had actually requested a 20’s inspired drink in honor of that Saturday night was supposed to be our 20’s Themed BSE Auction Party.  The event was cancelled due to the Covid-19 epidemic.  Thank goodness I had not bought a dress yet!

I was unfamiliar with the Clover Club cocktail, but it has now moved to the TOP of my shaken delights.  Not only is it the BEST color of all time, but it also is so refreshing and complex at the same time.  The one “complicated” ingredient is Raspberry Syrup which Josh and Chelsae so kindly brought a sample to me! Thank you, friends!!! Here is how you can make it on your own:

Raspberry Syrup:

Bring 2/3 c. water to a boil.  Add 2/3 c. sugar and stir till the sugar is melted.  Add 1 cup of raspberries and mash with a potato masher or the back of a fork.  Let steep for at LEAST 1 hour.  Strain and discard the solids. Keep in refrigerator for approximately 3 weeks.

There you have it! 3 new QUARANTINE COCKTAILS to try!  AAAAND!  If you happen to be on Facebook on Saturday nights at 5pm, tune in to Josh Madrid’s LIVE with Josh Happy Hour!  Bring a pen and paper and napkin for DROOLING over is scrumptious creations.

Happy happy hour to y’all!

xo, Melis

#quarantinecocktail #mixology #drinkingwithfriends #mmgood