Winning Infusion Cocktail: The Marriage of Figaro by Judy Bronson

A little over a month ago I took in the final submissions for the Infused Spirits Cocktail Contest. I knew that getting the results would take some time given the nature of infusions and today I am thrilled to announce the winning cocktail. It is The Marriage of Figaro by? Judy Bronson who writes the fun blog Cocktations.

What made this drink stand out from the rest? Complexity, creativity, and richness in balance. The drink begins with fig-infused Four Roses Bourbon and she prescribes not just any old fig, but a combination of Turkish and Mission figs and this combination with FR's yellow label is stunning. This is a bourbon you can take into a multitude of other whiskey cocktails, especially those bare bones classics like a Brown University or Ward Eight. There is a lot of potential in this whiskey infusion.

When we add the other two ingredients in Bronson's recipe the drink becomes even more interesting. One is the always useful St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram and the other is Cardamaro. The latter is a unique amaro (bitter liqueur) with notes of cardoon and blessed thistle? that add an exotic quality unfound in similar spirits and it works really well in this drink, consider it essential.

Anyway, check out The Marriage of Figaro recipe and Judy's original submission. Thank you to all who participated, it was fun to explore your infusions, and congratulations Judy!

The next contest theme will not be as labor intensive, but no less flavorful. More on that later.

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Winning Absinthe Cocktail Recipe: La Dame Blasee

I want to say that last month's cocktail contest has been one of my favorites to date. There were some fantastic absinthe cocktails submitted and I thank every one for participating (check out the entries here). As contests go, we have to have a drink that takes the top honor and for this round it goes to Mixologist Nick Tether of MixSensations who shared La Dame Blas?e.

La Dame Blas?e (or The Jaded Lady) is the epitome of great absinthe cocktails and the panel of Mayhew, Milligan, and myself were unanimous on its value. When it comes to absinthe drinks it is important to find balance and flavors that compliment the anise without loosing the taste of any of the ingredients. In La Dame Blas?e, Tether found this balance by using La Fee Absinthe with Sauvignon Blanc and Zubrowka Bison Grass Vodka. Add in a little parsley and lemon simple syrup and a touch of mint bitters and a cocktail star is born. Unique? Yes. Tasty? Yes. There's more, though.

In Tether's design of this drink he includes an aromatic back of sorts to create a complete sensory experience. Before you make the drink, you will prepare a small tea-like mixture of the cocktail's botanicals then right before serving you would pour this concentrate over dry ice and a mint leaf. This little foggy bowl is meant to open your nose to an enhanced fragrance of what is in the drink before you. It's a nifty little trick and I can see these fog-filled bowls laid out at a dinner service, especially as we hit the Halloween season.

Give Tether's La Dame Blas?e a try yourself, it's simply delightful. The full recipe with complete preparation is here: La Dame Blas?e Cocktail Recipe. And, his original submission is here.

Once again, I must acknowledge the runner's up in the contest. As I said, all entries were impressive, these two just a touch above the rest.

• First was Justen Lenig's Le Fee en ete, which is a delightful mix of Bombay, St. Germain, Mansithe, and a lovely kumquat fennel shrub that has potential in other drinks - I just have to find them.
• Next up was Anne Bourg's Van Gogh's Roommate and she had me a hibiscus and pineapple - yum! With those two flavors (via syrup, vodka, and juice) she mixed Sorciere blue absinthe - admittedly difficult to obtain - and Chambord, and a muddle of pineapple and sugar in homage to the absinthe ritual.

Again, I appreciate every cocktail submitted and offer a warm Cheers! to Nick Tether whose drink I will likely be bringing up often in the coming years as I pull from the cocktail database.

Don't forget, Saturday (yes, this Saturday the 24th) is the deadline for the current cocktail contest. Subject this time: Infused Spirits. Submit your recipes here...

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