Cocktail Corner: Let Your Mood Inspire Your Cocktail

The cocktail deck, Cheers! Just Because makes it easy to find the perfect cocktail to suit your mood. Courtesy photo.

The cocktail deck, Cheers! Just Because makes it easy to find the perfect cocktail to suit your mood. Courtesy photo.

A Spirited Toast to All Things Alcoholic! By Leslie Dinaberg 

Feeling adventurous, naughty, flirty, insecure, sentimental or stressed? Have we got a cocktail for you.

Author (Sanctuaria: The Dive Bar of Cocktail Bars) Matt Seiter, a certified bartender, and industry historian, has something new and fun on the menu: the Cheers! Just Because collection of 50 “mood-inspired cocktail recipes” in a handy card deck format.

There’s something here for all types of cocktail lovers, from novices looking to set up their own home bar to advanced mixologists in search of exotic new recipes.

For the adventurous, how about “A Walk in the Grove,” which combines Calvados brandy (made with apples and pears) with lemon juice, Cointreau, simple syrup and a few drops of Absinthe for a ripe fruit adventure in cocktails. The naughty recipe is “Cookies & Cream Punch” (yum!) made with Gin, Maraschino Liqueur, Vanilla Bean Ice Cream and, of course, cookies!

Want to whip up the perfect drink for an occasion? The cocktail deck, Cheers! Just Because has the recipe for you. Courtesy photo.

Want to whip up the perfect drink for an occasion? The cocktail deck, Cheers! Just Because has the recipe for you. Courtesy photo.

The flirty category calls for “Loose Inhibitions,” combining Reposado Tequila, Cognac, fresh squeezed orange juice and lime juice and raw honey, shaken, not stirred. Feeling insecure, Seiter’s recipe for that is the “Mystic Lamp,” to “guide you to happier times” with a mixture of Puerto Rican Gold Rum, Lychee Juice, fresh squeezed orange juice and lime juice and almond extract.

You get the idea: pick a card, mix a drink.

Now that fall is here, the sentimental recommendation from the deck is perfect—”Remembering Summer” made with Cucumber -infused Blanco Tequila, St. Germain, fresh squeezed lime juice, rose water and Peychaud’s Bitters. Stressed, Seiter prescribes a tiki style cocktail called “Relief” with Cachaca (a Brazilian spirit made from sugarcane juice), fresh squeezed orange juice, hibiscus syrup, Allspice Dram, tonic water and mint leaves.

The Cheers! Just Because deck makes a fun host or hostess gift for cocktail aficionados, but it’s so much fun to play with, you just might want to keep it for yourself.

The cocktail deck, Cheers! Just Because takes the concept of mood in a truly unique direction, linking 50 drink recipes to different moods. Courtesy photo.

The cocktail deck, Cheers! Just Because takes the concept of mood in a truly unique direction, linking 50 drink recipes to different moods. Courtesy photo.

Cheers! Click here for more cocktail corner columns.

Leslie Dinaberg

When she’s not busy working as the editor of Santa Barbara SEASONS, Cocktail Corner author Leslie Dinaberg writes magazine articles, newspaper columns and grocery lists. When it comes to cocktails, Leslie considers herself a “goal-oriented drinker.”

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons on October 21, 2016.

Cocktail Corner: Vintage American Cocktails (and Beer!) at American Ale

Courtesy American AleA spirited toast to all things alcoholic! By Leslie Dinaberg

Burgers and beer are a classic pairing for good reason, but even if you’re looking for something a bit more adventurous in your glass, American Ale (14 E. Cota St.) is a great place for drinks.

The name alone was enough to sell me on the Hummingbird Feeder. Made with De Luze Alfred Cognac, Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur, Cointreau Noir, Carpano Antica Sweet Vermouth, Cherry Heering, Orange Bitters and Orange Zest, this sweet yet sophisticated concoction is the perfect treat to get your buzz on.

Also worth trying is the Cat Daddy’s Daiquiri, made with CatDaddy Carolina Moonshine, Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur, Fresh Ruby Grapefruit and Fresh Lime Juice. Delicious and refreshing!

The Mary Pickford is another equally fun libation. Made with Montanya Platino Colorado Rum, Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur, Fresh Pineapple Juice, Trader Vic’s Grenadine and Peychaud’s Bitters, this cocktail’s so tasty it’s hard to stay silent about it.

On the slightly more traditional side, American Ale offers The Original Sazerac, a nod to the famous Trader Vic’s with the Trader Victoriaia, The Very Old Fashioned, The Manhattan, Tennessee Sweet Tea (made with Everclear!), an American Mule, a Luxardo Cognac Old Fashioned and a minty fresh Kentucky Derby Julep.

There's no shortage of fresh ingredients at the bar at American Ale. Photo courtesy  https://www.facebook.com/pages/American-Ale/172053636278700

There’s no shortage of fresh ingredients at the bar at American Ale. Photo courtesy https://www.facebook.com/pages/American-Ale/172053636278700

This is all in addition to a yummy menu of signature burgers (all fresh ground), like the amazing and decadent Make’N Bacon Burger (with maple bacon jam, bacon, Italian Bacon, Canadian Bacon and American cheese) and the awesomely adventurous PB & J Burger (with crispy bacon, chunky peanut butter and grape jelly). American Ale also has healthier fare like an Argula Chicken Burger and a Lentil Burger, as well as a great Chopped Ice House Salad and a few different soups.

Some tasty moonshine from American Ale, photo by Leslie Dinaberg

Some tasty moonshine from American Ale, photo by Leslie Dinaberg

In addition to the vintage cocktails, American Ale has a variety of moonshine offerings, as well as a rotating assortment of 24 American craft beers and ciders on draft. For example, on the taps at press time are: Allagash Odyssey, a dark wheat, wood-aged beer from Portland, ME; Stone IPA, Stone Reason Be Damned Abbey Ale Aged In Red Wine Barrels,  Stone Unapologetic IPA  and the big, boozy Arrogant Bastard Ale, from Stone Brewing Co. in Escondido; Avery Ellie’s Brown Ale  from Boulder, CO; Ballast Point Sculpin IPA  from San Diego; the fruity and flavorful Figueroa Mountain – Lizards Mouth, the big dark Figueroa Mountain Grendel   and the Figueroa Mountain Saison from right here in Buellton.

Other nearly local selections are the Firestone Walker 805 Blonde Ale  and Firestone Walker Agrestic American Wild Red Sour  out of Paso Robles.

In addition, American Ale now offers:  Fox Barrel Blackberry Pear , a fruit cider from Colfax, CA;  Great Divide Oatmeal Yeti Imperial Stout  from Denver, CO; another local beer, Island King Tide , and imperial IPA from Island Brewing Company in Carpinteria; Knee Deep Hopotoligist IPA  from Knee Deep Brewing in Lincoln, CA;  Lightning Thunderweizen  a Weizen/Weissbier out of Poway; and the Belgian dark strong ale Lost Abbey Cuvee De Tomme  from San Marcos, CA.

Also on tap are: Modern Times Black House , an oatmeal stout made in San Diego; Oskar Blues Dale’s Pale Ale  from Lyons, CO; Port Mongo IPA  from San Marcos, CA; Saint Archer White Ale  out of San Diego; and Strand Beach House Amber  straight outa Torrance!

Cheers!

Click here for more cocktail corner columns.

Leslie Dinaberg

Leslie Dinaberg

When she’s not busy working as the editor of Santa Barbara SEASONS, Cocktail Corner author Leslie Dinaberg writes magazine articles, newspaper columns and grocery lists. When it comes to cocktails, Leslie considers herself a “goal-oriented drinker.”

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons on September 12, 2014.

Cocktail Corner: New Handcrafted Cocktails at Intermezzo

Intermezzo's Cherry Bomb (courtesy photo)

Intermezzo’s Cherry Bomb (courtesy photo)

A spirited toast to all things alcoholic! by Leslie Dinaberg  |

The creative crew at Intermezzo is shaking things up again this month, with a slew of new specialty cocktails to enjoy on a cold rainy day or warm winter afternoon. You never know what to expect weather-wise in February in Santa Barbara, but you can certainly expect these tasty, handcrafted cocktails to hit the spot!

Try the Cherry Bomb, a mix of Caliche rum, lemon, orgeat, egg whites, Brandy Cherry syrup, and Peychaud’s bitters.  It pairs well with girls night out and the “Mission” flatbread, topped with Fig preserves, Pt. Reyes blue cheese, crispy salami, wild arugula and drizzled with 20 year aged balsamic.

Intermezzo's new cocktails include (L-R) a Mai Tai, Pisco Sour, Santa Barbara Sazerac, Cherry Bomb and Tea with a Monk (courtesy photo)

Intermezzo’s new cocktails include (L-R) a Mai Tai, Pisco Sour, Santa Barbara Sazerac, Cherry Bomb and Tea with a Monk (courtesy photo)

Intermezzo’s retro favorite new version of a Mai Tai, a concoction of Gold & Silver Flor de Cana Rum, orgeat syrup, lime cordial, lemon juice, pineapple and dark rum, is a perfect post-theater treat, especially with one of Rosie’s Fresh Cinnamon Rolls, which are mouth-watering yummy. You even get to choose from cream cheese, orange or maple-bacon glaze … as if you possibly could go wrong!

(L-R) Intermezzo's Pisco Sour and Mai Tai (courtesy photo)

(L-R) Intermezzo’s Pisco Sour and Mai Tai (courtesy photo)

Also worth ditching work a little on the early side is Intermezzo’s new Tea with a Monk, made with Hop Head Vodka, Chartreuse, chamomile tea syrup, lemon, mint and chocolate bitters.  The Pisco Sour, made with Pisco La Diablada, lemon, simple syrup and egg white , is also new on the cocktail menu this season, along with the Santa Barbara Sazerac, mixed with Breaker bourbon, absinthe bitters and orange peel. This vintage-inspired cocktail pairs perfectly with Intermezzo’s Fried Chicken & Waffles Basket  with Apricot marmalade dipping sauce.

See you on patio at Intermezzo, 819 Anacapa St.

Cheers!
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Originally published in Santa Barbara SEASONS on February 7, 2014.

Leslie Dinaberg

Leslie Dinaberg

When she’s not busy working as the editor of Santa Barbara SEASONS, Cocktail Corner author Leslie Dinaberg writes magazine articles, newspaper columns and grocery lists. When it comes to cocktails, Leslie considers herself a “goal-oriented drinker.”