National Kahlua Day

Posted on February 27, 2013 by Hilary Jurinak

I bet you’re getting a little tired of all these holidays… but we’re just getting started!

Today is National Kahlua Day.

Here’s the story of Kahlua (according to Kahlua) in a few sentences.

-Kahlua was created in 1936 by chemist Montalvo Lara. It means “House of the Acolhua people.” Lara used coffee beans from the fields of Veracruz, which were grown by a pair of brothers, the Alvarez.

-In the 1950′s,Kahlua became popular and began global distribution. It wasn’t until the 1960′s though, that it hit North America and of course, the U.S. fell in love with its creamy and distinctive Mexican flavored goodness. From there, it grew and grew!

-In 2007, Kahlua joined the flavor craze and added flavors like French Vanilla, Hazelnut and Mocha.

Kahlua has been a huge staple in weddings contributing to the white russian phenomenon and has been sweetening peoples coffee since.. well.. seems like forever. Be sure to stop by your local Binny’s after work and grab that big bottle of Kahlua… you know you want to!

Happy National Margarita Day!

Posted on February 20, 2013 by Hilary Jurinak

You might think that the month of February already has too many holidays. Well, here’s a holiday we can all get behind. Join us this Friday as we celebrate National Margarita Day.

Yep. It’s a thing.

To prepare, we headed to our South Loop Tasting Room and asked our crack team of cocktail specialists for their best custom margarita recipe. Check it out:

Cocktail Glass The Binny’s Margarita

2oz Don Julio Blanco
3/4oz Gran Torres
1/4 to 1/2oz Agave Nectar (Add more or less to taste)
2 1/2oz Fresh Lemon/Lime juice blend (Add more or less to taste)

Give it a quick shake, strain over ice and garnish with a slated rim and lime wheel.

That agave nectar is the secret to a great margarita. It’s cleaner in taste and naturally lower in calories than sugar or high fructose corn syrup based mixers. Special thanks to Josh, our bartender, for sharing his awesome Margarita recipe!

Continue reading →

Lovely Cocktails for Valentine’s Day

Posted on February 13, 2013 by Hilary Jurinak

Oh, Valentine’s Day. A time of celebration, love and of course- indulging! Try one of these recommended holiday treats with your loved one or single bff’s!

Popping bottles: The 2011 Banfi Rosa Regale Brachetto d’Acqui is a sparkling red with festive cranberry color and has a fresh raspberry taste, with crisp acidity, enticing the palate with an initial softness, graduating to a round luscious finish with just a touch of sweetness to hit the spot.

For all of you adventurous beer lovers: Try Lindemans Framboise or Liefman’s Cuvee Brut. They both offer a lot of sweet and tart fruit. Both are a pinkish red, succulently fruity, and almost dangerously sippable.

Now if you’re trying to get really fancy, we have some great cocktail choices fit to please everyone.

For the ladies…

Be sure to try X-Rated Fusion Liqueur. At $22.99 a bottle, you have many ways to enjoy this sensuous fusion of ultra premium French vodka & Sicilian blood orange mingling with mango and passion fruits. Enjoy over ice or mix with Champagne for a fruity and bubbly Valentine’s Day treat.

For the men…

Bring on the whiskey! This Cupid’s Manhattan is guaranteed to not disappoint. Pour him this spicy twist on a classic cocktail to make his head spin… in a good way. Include 2 parts Redemption Rye, 1 part M&R Sweet Vermouth, a dash of Fee Brothers Cherry Bitters for fruity sweetness and a dash of Bittermens Hellfire Habanero Shrub Bitters to spice things up.

So whether you’ve got a hot date or are celebrating with your closest friends, be sure to try one of these festive liquid treats! Show us your version on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram!

Happy Mardi Gras!

Posted on February 12, 2013 by Hilary Jurinak

Happy Fat Tuesday to you all! One of the best days to indulge and not feel any sort of guilt… until tomorrow maybe…

Whether you’re celebrating from home or the bar tonight, do it right with one of these traditional Mardi Gras beverages.

Brewed in NOLA, Abita Beer is sure to please. After Hurricane Katrina, you couldn’t get this stuff for months!

Or try sipping on the traditional New Orleans Hurricane. You can never go wrong with rum. We found a great recipe for you to try here.

Straight from the French Quarter, try the Red Snapper. Heavy with whiskey and cranberry juice, it’s guaranteed to hit your sweet spot.

Cheers!

The Fizzy Iggy

Posted on February 11, 2013 by Hilary Jurinak

This special cocktail comes to you from our party planner, Jeff Caldcleugh. No surprise here.. Jeff loves to party. He created this cocktail after hosting numerous get-togethers with his pals and a little inspiration from his pup, Iggy!

Cocktail Glass The Fizzy Iggy

One part Hum
Three parts Cava
Dash of Simple Syrup to taste
Squeeze of Lime Juice

Shake ingredients with ice, strain into a chilled Champagne flute.

There ya have it, a sweet treat to enjoy anytime through out the year.

Did you enjoy making The Fizzy Iggy? Show us your version on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Be sure to check out our mixology centers in participating Binny’s.

The Marroquin

Posted on February 5, 2013 by Hilary Jurinak

Are you all ready for something different? We bring you… get ready for it… “The Marroquin.”

Josh Dempsey, our South Loop bartender, is sharing his sweet treat with us! Inspired by his girlfriend (awww) he named this Spanish-french cocktail after her and mixed in a few of her favorite ingredients!

Rocks Glass The Marroquin

1 part Partida Reposado Tequila
1 part St. Germain
1 part Agave Nectar
A pinch of fresh squeezed lemon and lime.

Shake ingredients with ice, strain into chilled rocks glass coated with salt. It’s a one-two punch… to your mouth! Enjoy that sweet and sour mix of cocktail greatness.

What’d you think of this love-inspired Marroquin? Share with us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram! Also, be sure to check out our mixology centers in participating Binny’s.

The Second Gunman

Posted on February 4, 2013 by Hilary Jurinak

Alright folks, things are about to get dirty. Brian Lynch, our bartender slash beer guy slash ham expert from South Loop is bringing you a spin on an old classic- the dirty martini. Known to Brian and all he serves as “The Second Gunman,” this extra dirty treat will keep you coming back for more.

Cocktail Glass The Second Gunman

Shot of Zubrowka Vodka
Dash of Dry Vermouth
Olive Juice (TONS of it…the dirtier the better.)
Peppadew Stuffed Olive

Shake ingredients with ice, strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a Peppadew Stuffed Olive.

Yum! We know what we’re sipping on tonight.

Enjoy and be sure to share with us your own version of Brian’s dirty treat on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram! Also, be sure to check out our mixology centers at participating Binny’s!

The Boztini

Posted on February 1, 2013 by Hilary Jurinak

It’s time to talk Whiskey! We’re shaking it up with our gourmet market clerk and South Loop Tasting Room bartender, Ashley Boswell. Ashley has been with Binny’s for the past five years. Now she’s giving up her secret treat, the “Boztini.”

Cocktail Glass The Boztini

2 oz Rittenhouse Rye
1/2 oz cherry liqueur
1/2 oz grenadine
Splash simple syrup
Splash club soda
2 splashes of cherry bitters
1/4 lime
1/2 lemon
Shake ingredients with ice, strain into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a Maraschino cherry.

What’s behind Ashley’s cocktail creation? We asked her: “I wanted a fruity drink, but they all call for vodka, so I used my favorite whiskey instead.”

Find everything you’ll need for The Boztini and more at Binny’s! Check out our “Mixology Center” display at participating stores. And don’t forget to show us your version of The Boztini on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram!

Drillaud Recipe: The Aviation

Posted on November 21, 2011 by Greg Versch

We’re still hot on Drillaud French Liqueur. Why? The lineup offers great flavors at a huge savings compared to more famous brands, what with their advertising budgets and well-paid spokespeople and corporate jets and all.

Cocktail Glass Aviation

2 oz Hendrick’s Gin
1/2 oz lemon juice
1/2 oz Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur
1/2 oz Drillaud Creme de Violette

Shake ingredients with ice, strain into chilled cocktail glass. Drop in two Luxardo Marasche Cherries.

You can use any gin for this recipe, but we especially love the way the cucumber, rose pedal, and other botanicals in Hendrick’s work so well with the round, floral Drillaud Violette. The inclusion of Creme de Violette gives you a more authentic, classic Aviation. We’re excited to offer the usually tough-to-get liqueur that used to be the cornerstone of this cocktail.

Continue reading →

Drillaud Recipe: The Water Lily

Posted on October 21, 2011 by Greg Versch

Here’s another cocktail recipe featuring Drillaud French Liqueur. This time we dig up a more obscure cocktail that features more than one of the Drillaud flavors:

Cocktail Glass Water Lily

3/4 oz gin
3/4 oz Drillaud Orange Brandy
3/4 oz Drillaud Creme de Violette
3/4 oz lemon juice

Shake ingredients with ice, strain into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with an orange twist.

Some people prefer a little more gin – add up to 2 oz if you like it less sweet and more cutting and botanical.

We must admit finding this one in Mr. Boston Official Bartender’s Guide (a really great resource, by the way). We tried it because it uses more than one of the Drillaud flavors, but we recommend it because it is delicious. The water lily is a bright, floral cocktail that reminds us of springtime. The tart combination of floral, herbal and citrus notes can be quite potent.

Binny's Beverage Depot

Category Archives: Cocktails