ML - Michigan Avenue

2012 - Issue 4 - Summer

Michigan Avenue - Niche Media - Michigan Avenue magazine is a luxury lifestyle magazine centered around Chicago’s finest people, events, fashion, health & beauty, fine dining & more!

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Guide imbibe flavors of summer MAKE LIKE A MIXOLOGIST BY ADDING THESE TRENDING FLAVORS TO YOUR NEXT COCKTAIL. by audarshia townsend Cherry W hile waiting for a table at the red-hot, Italian-inspired Balena, order up an Amarena. Created by the restaurant's award-winning mixologist, Debbi Peek, the drink blends a base of Grey Goose Cherry Noir, amaro liqueur, and egg white with fresh lemon sour, basil, and blackberry puree, and is served in a chilled coupe glass. Balena, 1633 N. Halsted St., 312-867-3888; balenachicago.com Chocolate B espoke cocktail company Femme du Coupe teaches aspiring mixologists the tricks of the trade during off-site, interactive classes. This summer Femme's proprietress, Revae Schneider, plans to delight participants with drinks like The Black Patent, featuring Godiva Chocolate vodka, ancho chili syrup, a bit of lemon, and a splash of Guinness. 773-916-6070; femmeducoupe.com Elderberry C hicago mixologists enthusiastic- ally support local spirits, and North Shore Distillery is typically at the top of the list. Eldergin, the company's latest single-batch spirit, infuses gin with fresh elderberries. You'll find it on cocktail menus at Premise in Andersonville, Scofflaw in Logan Square, and The Drawing Room in the Gold Coast. Premise, 5420 N. Clark St., 773-334-9463; premisechicago.com Scofflaw, 3201 W. Armitage Ave., 773-252-9700; scofflawchicago.com The Drawing Room, 937 N. Rush St., 312-266-2694; thedrchicago.com Belvedere Lemon Tea vodka amps up the traditional Arnold Palmer. Jalapeño and Honey T amps up the classic Arnold his year marks the golden anniversary for Stolichnaya's flavored vodkas, which debuted in 1962. To commemorate 50 years, the brand debuted Stoli Hot and Stoli Sticki in mid April. Stoli Hot highlights the warm, fiery sensation of jalapeño peppers, while Stoli Sticki offers a touch of honey. Want a taste for yourself? Try Bridge House Tavern or Epic—both stock the flavors behind their bars. Bridge House Tavern, 321 N. Clark St., 312-644-0283; bridgehousetavern.com Epic, 112 W. Hubbard St., 312-222-4940; epicrestaurantchicago.com Lemon Tea W ith intense flavors of black and green tea, ginger, chamomile, lemon grass, honey, and lemon, Belvedere Lemon Tea vodka Palmer. Resist the temptation to drink it straight and order a Porch Swing at State and Lake, a concoction with honey, lemon, and St~Germain, topped with a splash of Moët Imperial. State and Lake, 201 N. State St., 312-239-9400; stateandlakechicago.com Orange Curaçao N othing says summer like a margarita, but that doesn't mean you can't break tradition a bit. Head to Henri and have the bartender shake you up a Reverse Margarita, made with two shots of Rhum Clement Creole Shrubb, one of orange Curaçao, a shot of tequila, and half of a lime squeezed in a rocks glass. The French-style rum showcases the tequila with flavors of cane sugar, spices, and island orange peels. Henri, 18 S. Michigan Ave., 312-578-0763; henrichicago.com In the MIx Femme du coupe's revae schneider reveals her infusion secrets. 154 michiganavemag.com Do certain spirits carry the flavor better than others? vodka is a neutral spirit; it adds proof to the cocktail, but doesn't necessarily impart much flavor once other ingredients are added. it tends to hold flavor the most, hence the reason there are so many flavored vodkas. Does using flavored spirits give you more flexibility with cocktail recipes? they give me the ability to work with flavors i wouldn't be able to infuse myself. godiva vodkas, for instance, are not as sweet as you might think. What flavors would you like to see that are not currently on the market? i would love to see different tea flavors, such as green tea or english breakfast. i'd also like to see a lavender product out there. it's the making of a perfect "adult teatime" with the girls on a hot summer day! equila for breakfast? It's not such a stretch when it's infused with mango, pineapple, and soursop, like Tanteo Tropical Fruit T Tequila's tropical variety. Prasino bartenders mix the spirit with fresh pineapple juice and coconut water for a brunch cocktail that's downright delicious. Prasino, 1846 W. Division St., 312-878-1212; prasino.com MA photography by thinkstock (drinks); Linda bergonia (schneider)

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