It's not always so red and white: a lean stripper and naughty honeybear for the wintry season (they are cocktails).

I've been venturing into the realm of mixology lately since my boyfriend's apartment became stocked with an abundance of variety of liquors. Better use em than let em go to waste ;) 

Here are two fruits of my experiments:

The Lean Stripper

 Gin, ginger, elderflower, and lime meld together beautifully to make a refreshing drink with a kick! Of note, I used Barr Hill Gin by Caledonia Spirits, which is distilled from honey and is super smooth and warm!
1+1/2 part Barr Hill Gin
1 part FruitLab ginger liquor
3/4 part St. Germain
1/4 part lime juice
Twist of lime for garnish


Mix the gin, ginger liquor, St. Germain, and lime juice over ice in a shaker and give it some shaking action. Rim a coupe glass with a piece of lime. Flame the lime twist, give it a squeeze, and drop it into the drink for garnish. Sip and daydream.

Naughty Honeybear

The cider, spices, and honey flavors of the drink makes this 'warm' cocktail perfect for those dreary wintry days. I finished the drink with a dash of Basement Bitters, which gives a complex edge to an overall saccharine drink. Also makes for a wonderful nightcap.

1 part Wemyss Malts 'The Hive' honey Whisky
1 part Drambuie
1 & 1/2 part spiced apple cider
1/2 fresh orange juice
dash of Basement Bitters 'Bitter Frost' bitters
orange twist
ground cinnamon

Mix the whiskey, Drambuie, cider, and orange juice, over ice in a shaker and shake to perfection. Strain into an old-fashioned glass. Flame the orange twist and drop into drink. Garnish with a dash of the Basement Bitters and a sprinkle of cinnamon. Feel the warmth in your tummy. Sweet dreams! 

Wines to splurge on for the holidays: GROTH 2010 CABERNET SAUVIGNON & Circle of Life White 2011

This wine is a huge splurge (by my standards) at $45, but your finessed palate will thank you for the sacrifice. I had my first sip of this wine completely ignorant of the fact that it was a $45 cab and it blew me away - the hallmark difference between a truly amazing wine and an expensive wine.

Nose:  spicy and warm, with full notes of hickory and wet earth. powerful.

Tongue: complex, deep, full-bodied and lush. Fills your mouth with flavors bursting of dark-chocolate, seaweed, and spiciness. Bold & lasting tannins. Yes it's very sexy

Price: $44.99 

Rating: 4.5/5

The Circle of Life white is a biodynamic wine produced by a stunning vineyard in South Africa. At $15, it is not really a splurge, and it is so delicious that you can stock up and have it with all your holiday festivities. Or year-round, for that matter. The next best thing would be to visit the breathtaking biodynamic farm in South Africa.

Nose: layered with notes of pear, white peppercorns, honey, apples, lemons, juxtaposed on a background of wet hay, corn, asparagus. Finished with flavors of vanilla cake..yum

Tongue: sweet & fruit-forward, notes of cantalope, honeydew, honey, pears, and tangerine

Price: $14.99

Rating: 4/5

Beating the snowy weather with vino

Allegrini Palazzo Della Torre 2010 Veronese

This wine was supposedly made in the special "Repasso" method. Whatever that is, it's surely doing a great job. I haven't had a red this delicious in too too long 

NOSE: deliciously layered and aromatic; notes of roasted chestnuts, dried porcini mushrooms, and aged oak; briny, reminiscent of the ocean floor. 

TONGUE: flavors of sea salt, cured meats, & peppercorns. light and mellow on the palate; fine leathery tannins with an elegant dry finish; would pair perfectly with hard cheeses. LOVE LOVE LOVE"

Price: $12 (taste more like a $20 wine!)

Rating: 4.5/5 

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Reinhard Schafer ZUM Mosel Riesling 2012

Riesling is very hit of miss for me, especially with the recent on-slew of commercial soda-like bottles made for suburban party girls. Fortunately, the ZUM Riesling is a hit. It even rhymes with 'yum'!

NOSE: pineapple,  honey, muscat gummies, apple. 

TONGUE: spritzy, bright, with lively acidity,  just the right amount of sweetness,  peachy. Lighthearted and fun to drink

Price: $10.99

Rating: 4/5 

Once again: the Good, the Okay, the Ugly

ZD Chadonnay 2012

Hallelujah! Finally a Cali chardonnay that I like :D

Nose: sweetness - pineapple, honeysuckle, daisies, mead

Tongue: sweet, notes of honey, papaya, pineapple (think tropical fruits!); toasted coconut and grapefruit rind lingers like bittersweet memories on the tongue

Price: ~$25

Rating: 4.25/5
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Johansing Vineyards 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon

Perhaps I should change the title to "the Best, the Great, and the Ugly", 'cause this bottle is a mighty fine thing too

Nose: spicy, heady, musky like dark, damp wood; feel yourself romping through muddy, wet rainforest; as you let the wine aerate, the aroma turns into smores and campfire

Tongue: smooth, velvety, with balanced acidity. Begins with warm flavors of hazelnut, caramel, burnt sugar, molasses, and cinnamon, giving into orange and citrus flavors

Price: ~$28

Rating: 4/5 

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Frey Organic Red Wine

Granted, this wine was $9.99, but I've definitely had a lot better luck with this price range. I should probably stop buying random wines just because it's organic.

Nose: at first promising notes of smoke, embers, and tiramisu soon gives into lingering aromas of sawdust and musky alcohol

Tongue: first impression was "ugh did I just drink my cough medicine?" Then comes flavors of pickles, rotten tomatoes, licorice, and shoe varnish

Price: $9.99

Rating: 2/5