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A Well Crafted Pantry

Recipe: Brix Layer Cocktail from Aviary

3 Comments A Well Crafted Pantry

Disclaimer: I received a complementary happy hour and cocktail instruction from Aviary Restaurant in SE Portland for review purposes. I was not otherwise compensated. Check out my review of the Aviary Happy Hour.

at-home-version of the Brix Layer Cocktail
Photo created from a photo taken by Bee of  The Spicy Bee

While enjoying several tasty dishes and cocktails at Aviary’s Happy Hour last week the barman Russ Hunsinger shared how he came up with one of Aviary’s most popular cocktails, the Brix Layer. Not only did he share his inspiration and thoughts behind the tasty concoction, but he pulled together a make shift bar in the dining room and showed us how to make it!

Russ came up with the drink while hanging out with friends, drinking Cabernet. He really wanted to figure out a way to create a cocktail that utilized the wine. He started off using a basic old fashioned recipe and working from there. The layering of the drink happened naturally and changes with the type of whiskey or cab used.

This recipe is only an approximation of the awesomeness we tasted at Aviary. But, I wanted to share with those of you that didn’t live in the Portland area and just have to schedule a trip to Aviary in to a future visit to our lovely city.

BrixLayer Ingredients

orange, cherry, bitters in glass

Muddle Well

sitr it up

fished product

Ingredients for the At-Home-Version of The Brix Layer:

  • 1 slice of orange
  • A few Parisian Brandied Cherries (Affiliate Link)
  • 1 Sugar Cube
  • 8 dashes of angostura aromatic bitters (Affiliate Link)
  • 2 oz House Sour*
  • 2 oz Buffalo Trace Bourbon
  • 3/4 oz Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Tools: ice, mixing tin, muddler, strainer, stirring spoon, large cocktail glass

*You can use any sour really, but the Aviary House Sour is made with lemon, lime, orange juice, and sugar. So, to get a similar taste you should use a homemade fresh sour that has orange juice in it. Try out this sweet-and-sour recipe from Baked Bree.

Directions for the At-Home-Version of The Brix Layer:

  1. In a mixing tin put one slice of orange, a few Parisian brandied cherries, 1 sugar cube and 8 dashes of bitters
  2. Muddle all ingredients in tin VERY WELL, releasing all of the oils and juices in the orange
  3. Add 2 oz of sour to the mixing tin
  4. Add 2 oz of Buffalo Trace Bourbon (or your favorite bourbon) to the tin
  5. Add ice to the tin and STIR with spoon
  6. Double strain the mixture into the cocktail glass
  7. Using the spoon (as in video below) to slow your pour, pour the 3/4 oz of Cabernet into the cocktail glass
  8. DRINK!
[youtube id=”RP_ibSlCRPo” width=”600″ height=”340″ position=”left”]
CHEERS! (My friend Bee with her Brix Layer cocktail!)
CHEERS! (My friend Bee with her Brix Layer cocktail!)
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Gin Basil Cocktail
A Well Crafted Pantry

Simple, Refreshing Gin and Basil Cocktail

4 Comments A Well Crafted Pantry

Gin and Basil Cocktail

Gin and Summer go hand in hand in my book. This simple and refreshing cocktail is perfect for a hot summer evening. Make it in single servings or mix it up in a batch to serve a crowd. I recently made a batch of this to serve at my husband’s Farm to Table Birthday Party. I also made a batch of Fruity Whiskey Collins. The two drinks went FAST and were perfect for an evening celebrating out in the garden and backyard.

Simple, Refreshing Gin and Basil Cocktail Recipe:

Gin and Basil Cocktail Ingredients

Gin and Basil Cocktail for one

Ingredients:

  •  2 oz of your favorite Gin
  •  1 oz of Lemon Juice (approximately 1 lemon)
  • 1 oz of Basil Simple Syrup
  • 4 oz soda water
  • ice
  • glass (at least 8 oz glass)
  • stirring spoon
  • garnish of Basil

Directions: 

  1. Pour 2 oz of Gin, 1 oz of Lemon Juice, 1 oz of Basil Simple Syrup, and 4 oz of soda water over ice in a tall glass.
  2. Stir
  3. Garnish with Basil leaf
  4. Enjoy!

Gin and Basil Cocktail

Gin and Basil Cocktail for Eight

Ingredients:

  •  16 oz of your favorite Gin
  •  8 oz of Lemon Juice (approximately 8 lemons)
  • 8 oz of Basil Simple Syrup
  • pitcher (at least 32 oz)
  • stirring spoon
  • Soda Water to be used at time of serving)
  • Measuring cup for 4oz (1/2 cup)
  • glassware, ice, stirring spoons, instructions sign and garnish of Basil for guests to make their own.

Directions: 

  1. Pour 16 oz of Gin, 8 oz of Lemon Juice, and 8 oz of Basil Simple Syrup into a pitcher
  2. Stir
  3. Set out with sign, glasses, stirring spoons, ice, measuring cup and soda water so guests can make their own.
  4. Pour 4 oz of the mixture over ice, top with soda water, stir, garnish with Basil and enjoy!
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Fruity Whiskey Collins Cocktail Recipe
A Well Crafted Pantry

A Fruity Whiskey Collins

2 Comments A Well Crafted Pantry

A Fruity Version of the Classic Whiskey Collins

I’m kind of in love with whiskey. It makes for wonderful cocktails year round. Don’t believe me? Try this awesome Fruity Whiskey Collins cocktail for the summer. And, then try this Honey, Orange, & Ginger Old Fashioned next Fall or Winter!

I made a batch of these bad boys for my husband’s Farm to Table Birthday Dinner Party. I set out a bottle of premixed ingredients and allowed guests to pour their own and top with soda water. It worked out really well. I had to make two batches because the drink was so popular.

Garnish the drink with a small orange and lemon wedge or top it with a cherry!

Ingredients for a Fruity Version of a Whiskey Collins

A Fruity Whiskey Collins

Recipe for a Single Cocktail

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz of your favorite whiskey
  • 1/2 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 1/2 lemon)
  • 1/2 oz freshly squeezed orange juice (about 1/4 large orange)
  • 1 oz simple syrup
  • 3 oz soda water

Directions:

  1. Pour whiskey over ice.
  2. Squeeze lemon & orange over a strainer and into ice. (You can do this without a strainer too. I just like my strainer)
  3. Pour simple syrup over ice
  4. Top with Soda Water
  5. Stir with cocktail stirrer, spoon, whatever!
  6. Garnish with fruit
  7. Enjoy!

Fruity Whiskey Collins Garnish

Batch Fruity Whiskey Collins Recipe:

makes approximately 8 cocktails and will need a 34 oz pitcher or container
Ingredients

  • 16 oz of your favorite whiskey
  • 4 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 1/2 lemon)
  • 4 oz freshly squeezed orange juice (about 1/4 large orange)
  • 8 oz simple syrup
  • Fruit for Garnish
  • Soda Water to top cocktails, not to mix in! 3oz/glass

Directions

    1. In a Pitcher Combine the Whiskey, Lemon Juice, Orange Juice, and Simple Syrup
    2. Stir Well
    3. Set a glass with a mark at 4 oz next to pitcher so that guests can measure their own cocktails out. A 1/2 cup measuring cup works perfect.
    4. Set out instructions for guests to pour 4 oz of mixture over ice, top with soda water, stir, and finish off with a garnish of fruit!

Fruity Version of a Whiskey Collins

What is your favorite summer beverage?

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