Page 27 - Valley Table - Summer 2023

] Gallagher Spritz Goodnight Kenny
Poughkeepsie
goodnightkenny.com
Serves 1
INGREDIENTS
1 oz. Aperol
3 oz. fresh watermelon juice 1 oz. dry sparkling wine Cracked black pepper and
fresh mint, for garnish
PREPARATION
Add watermelon juice, Aperol, and ice to your favorite
wine glass and stir. Top with sparkling wine, cracked black pepper, and mint leaves.
Spritzes are here to stay, and this one is super easy for home bartenders to make!
—Davina Thomasula, co- owner of Goodnight Kenny
] The Courkat Orange County Distillery
New Hampton
orangecountydistillery.com
Serves 1
INGREDIENTS
1.5 oz. vodka (we use Orange County Distillery Sugar Beet)
Fresh jalapeño slices, to taste
A splash of lime juice Sparkling lemonade (like
San Pellegrino) Lime slice, for garnish
PREPARATION
In a shaker, muddle a couple of slices of jalapeño (adjust to taste). Add a large scoop of ice, vodka, and lime juice and shake vigorously. Pour over ice into a 10-ounce glass. Top with sparkling lemonade, stir, and garnish with lime and jalapeño slices.
] Shower Spritz Que lo Que
Woodstock
woodstockqueloque.com
Serves 1
INGREDIENTS
1 can (12 oz.) pamplemousse LaCroix (or similar grapefruit-flavored seltzer)
2 oz. Aperol
1⁄2 oz. elderflower liqueur
(preferably St. Germain) 1 pinch kosher salt
PREPARATION
1. Pour out 2 1⁄2 ounces of the seltzer from the can.
2. Add Aperol, elderflower liqueur, and kosher salt directly into the can and stir. Enjoy straight from the can.
] Basil Cosmo Boro6 Wine Bar
Hastings-on-Hudson
boro6winebar.com
Serves 1
INGREDIENTS
3 oz. vodka (like LiV) 1 oz. triple sec
1⁄2 oz. lime juice
1⁄2 oz. simple syrup Basil oil, to taste
4 basil leaves
PREPARATION
1. Make the basil oil. Purée 1 cup of basil and 1 cup of olive oil, then pour through a mesh sieve into a squeeze bottle. It’s best to strain in batches and dump the basil as you
go. Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
2. Muddle three large basil leaves in a shaker and add simple syrup, triple sec, and vodka. Shake vigorously for 20 seconds. Pour into martini glass through a mesh sieve. Drop in 4 or 5 drops of basil oil and add basil leaf for garnish.
This drink goes down so smoothly and
is very refreshing. The addition of the basil oil also makes it soothing and cooling to sip.
—Paul Molakides, owner of Boro6 Wine Bar
June—August2023 | valleytable.com 33
Pro Tips
Lukus Estok, partner and mixologist at Que lo Que in Woodstock, and frequent collaborator Dylan Figlo share pointers every home bartender should know.
It’s easy to set up a home bar. Start by storing the ingredients to make three of your favorite cocktails. A home bar can build quite naturally from there. Once you have those, you’ll find you’re just one ingredient short of a new cocktail you want to make, or just two short of something delicious you had at a restaurant.
Shaken or stirred? Vigorously shaking your drink for 10–15 seconds is typically used for cocktails that contain citrus juice, cream, or egg whites. The shaking motion helps to aerate the mixture, creating a frothy texture. Additionally, the ice in the shaker chills the drink quickly. Stirring a mixture for around 30 seconds is for cocktails that are all alcohol, like martinis or Manhattans. This allows ingredients to blend smoothly and tends to create a clearer, more translucent drink.
Squeeze your own juice. Fresh citrus, when shaken, gets foamy, which gives a cocktail a better “body” when sipping vs store-bought juice.
Plan ahead. Cocktails can generally be prepared a day or two in advance and can be kept for even longer if they don’t include fizzy, citrus, or other perishable elements. Most alcohol, vermouths aside, are shelf stable at room temp, so it’s perfectly fine to mix the liquors if you’re trying to pre-batch before hosting guests; just add your citrus and give your cocktail a quick shake once they arrive. This is a nice hack to limit the time guests are waiting for drinks, while also maintaining a bit of showmanship.
PHOTO BY PAUL MOLAKIDES