Vinaigrette
John Berens John Berens

Vinaigrette

I am excited to participate in this year’s #secretsanté that is so kindly hosted by the one and only @servedbysoberon. My Santé is @saifbarman. This was a new account to me, but one that was easy to enjoy and to find common ground with my own cocktails: frequent use of fresh ingredients and herbs, and unafraid to lean toward the savory now and then.

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Swan Song
Theresa Berens Theresa Berens

Swan Song

I’m not typically one to gift birds, even to my true love. A new cocktail is more my style, and my love does enjoy tequila. Thankfully, I have the chance to join some drinkstagram friends in celebrating the #12daysofelbandido (#ad), so a tequila drink it is.

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PPP (purple / pea / plum)
Theresa Berens Theresa Berens

PPP (purple / pea / plum)

Happy Monday y’all! After acorns and spruce trees I felt like something more… indoor? Less woodsy ? It’s a little simpler too, but don’t let that fool you; it’s a darn good gin sour. And it’s really purple so it has that going for it.

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Southside of the Forest
Theresa Berens Theresa Berens

Southside of the Forest

Another day, another southside riff because they’re awesome. This one came together because: 1) I received a lovely gin from @spring44distilling (with a cool victory engraving by @rec_etch) that definitely gives “mountain forest” vibes; 2) I attempted to make spruce syrup. I say attempted because spruce tips are really necessary to make a proper syrup and I only had branches. The result still tastes spruce-y but was not near the tree branch mouth slap that I was going for.

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Joy To the Squirrel
Theresa Berens Theresa Berens

Joy To the Squirrel

Today we are going full Christmas mode with a really special cocktail that is both human and, I assume, squirrel-approved. It is a rum-based, stirred drink that was created to showcase the incredible @chairmansreserveofficial spiced rum. It’s different than any spiced rum I’ve ever had. First, it’s 40% abv, and not overly sweet. The spice profile is deep, with the expected flavors (cinnamon, clove, all spice) supplemented by hints of citrus and a note of cola-like bitterness that reminds me of some of my favorite amari. It’s lovely.

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Flippin’ Nuts
Recipe Theresa Berens Recipe Theresa Berens

Flippin’ Nuts

December is here, the Christmas tree is up, and I can wear a jacket in Texas most days without feeling hot. Sounds like as good of time as any to begin Flip Season. Believe it or not, this is actually My First Flip post. If you are like I was and have…reservations about a full egg in your cocktail, well, let’s just say that waiting this long is on my list of regrets. Do yourself a solid and try one!

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Lost Key
Wellness Theresa Berens Wellness Theresa Berens

Lost Key

In all honesty, absinthe is pretty new to me. Anise has been a flavor that has taken me some time to grow on me, but I am finally at a place where I enjoy the flavor in the right context. Needless to say, I was really excited when @absinthe_absente offered to send me a bottle!! After I enjoyed it on ice (I need to get an absinthe spoon…), I was determined to make a cocktail using more than just a rinse.

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Amarigarita
Recipe Theresa Berens Recipe Theresa Berens

Amarigarita

Yes, adding amaro is almost always the answer to the question. I love riffing on sidecar/margarita template, and it turns out amari fit in really nicely to the liqueur “slot”— so here, instead of triple sec, I bring in two citrus-forward amari.

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Texas BBQ Old Fashioned
Theresa Berens Theresa Berens

Texas BBQ Old Fashioned

Today I’m excited to share with y’all the second of two cocktails celebrating the arrival of Penelope Bourbon in Texas. This drink features their barrel strength bourbon. It’s the ideal style of whiskey for an Old Fashioned— higher proof (~115), and a ton of delicious character that doesn’t need to be buried in a cocktail. There are definite notes of maple, vanilla, and caramel with a distinct oak presence. It’s assertive, but approachable, especially for its strength.

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La Royale
Recipe Theresa Berens Recipe Theresa Berens

La Royale

I interrupt your Fall/brown cocktails for a Very Pink Drink. No fear— in case you still need a reminder of the falling leaves, I have some dried roses in the shot (though they look a bit sadder in the picture than in real life, haha).

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