Posts Tagged ‘tequila’

21 Ways to Fête your Father (or Husband or Favorite Male) on June 21, Father’s Day

It’s Dad’s Day and it’s not too late to find the perfect gift to celebrate. Here are 21 ways to show your love on June 21, Father’s Day (and one more for good measure).

A SPIRITED CELEBRATION

With outdoor dining in full swing, grillmaster dads will love these two bold, terroir-driven reds to accompany a burger, steak or Portobello mushroom. 2016 7 Deadly Zinfandel is an old vine zinfandel from Lodi, California with aromas of jammy berry as well as leather, oak and spice.

7 Deadly Zinfandel

On the palate, it’s defined by a mélange of dark fruits, currant and toffee with a long spicy finish. The vineyard’s new 2018 7 Deadly Cab is equally full-bodied with a long finish, with fruit-forward blackberry flavors accented by aromas of vanilla and mocha.

And here’s some good news for health-conscious dads. Along with being vegan and gluten free, wines from 7 Deadly Zins are certified sustainable by the Lodi Rules Program, a rigorous and comprehensive sustainable winegrowing program centered on grower farming practices that benefit the environment, community and local economy.

Good Clean Wines

To avoid Dad’s feeling a bit out of sorts from all that rich wine and meat, add Good Clean Wines to his anytime repertoire. GoodClean.Wine white, red, rosé, spumante and spumante rosé are minimal-intervention at the growing and production stages with no added chemicals, pesticides or preservatives. That means there’s less chance for a hangover. The wine is produced naturally and made by small winemakers in Italy where grapes are allowed to take their own course. Good Clean Wines are produced in first-rate soils in sustainable vineyards and wineries with strict biodiverse, organic farming and winemaking practices.

Photo Credit: José Ángel Galavis Rivas

Introduce the curious Dad to a wine that’s out of the ordinary with an
Orange Glou Orange Wine Subscription. These distinctively colored wines are skin-contact white wines made from white grapes fermented with the grape skins, producing orange natural wines. Options include three and six bottles monthly or a one-time option for the orange curious.

TaZa

To go with any of these, you’ll need unbreakable wine glasses, the smart choice for outdoor dining or simply worry-free refreshment. I love the look and feel of TaZa’s chic plastic ones. Dad can use them for his favorite bourbon or whiskey cocktail as well. Buy him a selection of stemmed and stemless to cover all bases.

Ao Yun

For the dad who craves the utmost in style, give the gift of Ao Yun, a full-bodied Cabernet blend from the first wine estate in China’s Yunnan province on the foothills of the Himalayas. The multi-layered 2015 vintage combines Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc with notes of sandalwood, Dhofar incense and crushed strawberries. You won’t want to use plastic glasses with this complex Cab blend — Ao Yun has partnered with renowned crystal maker Riedel to design an exclusive wine glass for the optimal tasting experience.

Ah-So Wine

If Dad is more of a beach or pool kind of guy, a premium, pedigreed wine in a can is a great choice for its portability and drinkability. Happily, it’s essentially single-serve so there’s no worry about sharing. Colorado-born, Navarra-raised Ah-So Wine, the first-ever Spanish wine in a can, is estate-grown and estate-canned in Navarra, Spain following traditional viticulture methods and embracing organic and sustainable production from the delaCalles winemaking family.

YaVe Tequila

But maybe Dad’s more of a tequila drinker. He’s not forgotten either. YaVe Tequila’s premium Jalapeño Infused Reposado Tequila is a spicy base for a margarita with a kick. The tequila is aged for eight months in Jack Daniel’s whiskey barrels with jalapeño natural flavor slowly introduced, resulting in a rich, spicy scent with a smooth finish. Buy it with a luxury drawstring bottle holder or in a handmade leather bottle for a more elevated gift. Or a beer aficionado. A craft beer gift box from Tavour might be just the ticket. Tavour works directly with over 600 Independent breweries to curate craft beer gift boxes with selections that cannot be found in your local area. For a sample of gift box options, look at https://gifts.tavour.com.

Azulana Sparkling Tequila

Like the Ah-So wines, Azulana Sparkling Tequila is a convenient, refresher than comes in a can. It’s a ready-to-drink cocktail made with 100% blue agave tequila and sparkling soda, sweetened with just a tad of agave nectar. Create an assortment for Dad with original margarita, lime or pineapple-rosemary versions. They’re all pretty wonderful and they’re produced in Jalisco, Guadalajara, the birthplace of tequila. You’ll be helping the agave farmers, too, with your purchase: Azulana commits 8% of profits to non-profits initiatives in Mexico.

GRILLING AND GOURMET

Bachan’s Japanese Barbecue Sauce has a limited edition “Grill Dad” Gift Box for the chef Dad. The gift box features a limited edition “Grill Dad” T-shirt and three bottles of Bachan’s Japanese Barbecue Sauce, a teriyaki-ish sauce that might just change your thoughts about BBQ forever.

Bachan’s Japanese Barbecue Sauce

Cold-filled and small batch-crafted in California from an heirloom family recipe, Bachan’s 10 ingredients are all non-GMO and mostly organic, with a flavor profile that’s a departure from American tangy or tomato-ey. Use it on beef, chicken, even grilled veggies.

RED South Beach Steaks

For a complete grill experience from drinks to meat, RED South Beach has you covered. The acclaimed Miami Beach steakhouse is offering the ultimate gift for the home-chef Dad. The Master Chef Box has RED’s signature high-quality steaks, steak rubs, a bottle of Makers Mark and a RED apron, all packaged in a sleek reusable RED Butcher Shop Bag. Write to Office@REDSOBE.co to order.

Rouxbe

If your guy tends to something more gourmet, Rouxbe online culinary school offers courses developed by world-class chef educators and former culinary school executives. Whether Dad wants to gain confidence in the kitchen or is a professional interested in expanding his skill set, there’s a full range of courses, lessons, live events with culinary experts and recipes to keep him busy. Dad can hone his knife skills, master pasta, or bake bread among other choices. If you’re not sure that Dad would like this, you can gift him a free 30-day trial membership to test the waters. For Father’s Day, an Annual Membership is priced at 40% off.

BlendJet One

For the Dad who’s always on the go, the BlendJet One is a portable blender that fits into a tote or backpack for easy smoothies. Just charge the base and pack it up. Add ingredients, mix and voilà, a delicious snack or healthy meal. There are six flavors to choose from, all in a freeze-dried and powdered form, and all made with GMO-free real fruit and all-vegan ingredients. At checkout, use coupon code DADDAY10 for a 10% discount.

A STAYCATION VACATION

Since travel takes on a different cast this year, why not make Dad’s home vacation a luxe staycation? Dad will feel like he’s just stepped out of the spa with a Peshterry robe, the one found at many boutique hotels.

Peshterry Robe

It’s soft and comfortable as well as sustainably and ethically produced. Made in Turkey, the striped cotton robes have fast-drying terrycloth on the inside.

Pedipocket Blanket

For chilly nights around the fire pit or for cozying up indoors, the velvety-soft Pedipocket Blanket will keep Dad comfortable from head to toe. This ultra-plush, microfiber fleece blanket is nearly six feet long and has a built-in pocket on the bottom that will keep his feet nice and warm. Choose from 31 styles and colors.

The Original Foot Alignment Socks

Add some comfort and flair to Dad’s feet with two sock options. The Original Foot Alignment Socks will soothe dad’s feet after a hard day of work, working out, playing golf or just life in general. They’re like soaking your feet in a tub without needing any water, and they come in ten cheery colors.

Mojja’s

Dad can sass up his feet with mojja’s funky socks. Who wouldn’t want to rock a pair with pizza slices on them, or milk and cookies, frogs or donuts? Their Sock of the Month subscription is a perfect gift that keeps on gifting style with a sense of humor.

And since Dad might not be taking as many photos as he usually does this summer, it’s a great time to organize memories from previous trips to inspire his future wanderlust. While the thought of this might seem daunting, Mylio is like having a virtual photo-organizing assistant, and it’s free. The app automatically organizes digital photos so Dad can stop that non-stop scrolling and searching for the photo he can never seem to find. What’s even better, Mylio brings all the photos from his various tech devices together and sorts in a variety of ways like face tagging, dates, events and geotagging into folders and albums.

Umizato

Any type of computer work requires additional safety measures so I recommend protecting Dad’s eyes with blue light-blocking glasses. To prevent any chance of headache or eye strain after staring at yet another digital screen for hours, the lightweight, handcrafted glasses from Umizato will filter blue light so he’ll be more productive and feel better while looking sharp as ever. They’ll also help him sleep better.

Sprigboxes

While a hike in the forest may not be on Dad’s agenda this summer, he can indulge in some homestyle gardening that is simple and productive. A perfect starter kit requiring no significant planting space, Sprigboxes are small wooden cubes that come with everything he’ll need to grow his own little garden. Pick as many as you’d like one – they come with flowers, herbs, plants, fruits and veggies like sunflowers, rosemary, palm trees, strawberries and chili. Just add water.

ForestNation. Photo By: Padhi Swadesh

If Dad’s still yearning to see some trees, he can benefit the environment with a tree gift at home and abroad. For each tree gift set, ForestNation will plant 10 matching trees in locations in need.

The Cubii Pro

And, finally, give Dad a gift to help him prepare for that eventual hike. The Cubii Pro – Seated Under-Desk Elliptical will keep the WFH Dad in shape even while he’s sitting at a desk. As is all the rage, the elliptical comes with an app with on-demand videos to combine with weights or resistance bands, if desired, for a full workout.

Celebrate Stay-at-Home Cinco de Mayo in Style

Cinco de Mayo is an interesting holiday. While it commemorates a battle that was fought in Mexico, Mexico doesn’t celebrate it. And what’s even more perplexing is that outside of Mexico, Cinco de Mayo is often confused with Mexican Independence Day, which is actually on September 16. For those of you interested in the origins of this crazy fiesta day, Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Batalla de Puebla fought on May 5, 1862 in which the small town of Puebla defeated invading French troops.

Courtesy: Morton Beebe/CORBIS

So, why is Cinco de Mayo such a big deal north of the border? The origins of its celebration began in California in 1863 as a symbol of solidarity with Mexico against France. And, Americans being Americans, we love having a reason to celebrate.

Since we can’t join our friends at a Mexican restaurant or share a toast at our neighborhood bar this year, we’ll just have to bring the party home.

Spice up Your Space and Your Energy

Prep your home with the red, white and green colors of the Mexican flag using bandanas, towels, streamers or anything you might have on hand. Involve the kids in making a colorful piñata that you can fill with candy or small toys. If you have some balloons, any colors will work!

Set the mood with an all-day Instagram fiesta put on by Solmar Hotels & Resorts @Solmarhotelsandresorts. Through a series of IG stories dubbed “An Ode to the Avocado,” you’ll get the intel for making avocado-inspired facials and typical Mexican recipes and cocktails where avocados are king.

Add an educational dimension to the fiesta with a free online cooking class. TakeLessons TV will show you how to cook a lime chicken taco bowl with sweet corn and avocado salsa. You’ll also mix up a pineapple-mint agua fresca drink.

You’ll need a soundtrack for the evening, and Spotify has some great Cinco de Mayo playlists. I especially like the one put together by sassyshannah — it will keep you rocking into the wee hours —  as well as listanauta’s compilation of traditional Mexican tunes.

Visit Your Favorite Bar Virtually or Bring a Restaurant Home and Support the Hospitality Industry

If a bar date on Cinco de Mayo is more your speed, Virtual Cheers invites you to create your “night in” while also supporting the hospitality industry. By downloading a Zoom background from your favorite watering hole, you “purchase a round,” with all proceeds going to employee relief efforts. In the spirit of Cinco de Mayo, Latin-American bar Leyenda offers a paloma, a refreshing tequila cocktail with a grapefruit-flavored soda mixer.

Tanteo Tequila + The Wayland’s “Party in Place” will deliver a margarita party package in NYC in concert with cocktail-caterer Cocktails in Motion, keeping you safe at home while also benefiting hospitality workers via The LEE Initiative.

Show your support to local restaurants offering to bring the fiesta to you. The East End’s Bistro Ete and K Pasa will put together a takeout package covering the entire Cinco de Mayo celebration from margaritas to dessert.

A Stay-at-Home Trip to Margaritaville

No Cinco de Mayo celebration would be complete with some sort of margarita.

There are many traditional margarita recipes using either fresh limes or Rose’s lime juice. I’ve listed some of the ones devised by mixologists at hotels and restaurants that go beyond tradition to inspire you to invent your own new favorites with ingredients that won’t be impossible to find.

You can also opt for a pre-made margarita mix like Lt Blender’s Margarita in a Bag. Just add tequila and Triple Sec or Cointreau and freeze the entire bag to make a slushy margarita.

This video from Andaz Mayakoba Resort Riviera Maya shows you all the right steps to create the classic version.

PATRON offers a twist using coconut and cucumber:

1.5 oz. PATRÓN Silver

2 oz. coconut water

1/2 oz. fresh lime juice

½  oz. simple syrup

7 thin slices of cucumber, 3 for garnish

Guavarita

For something fruitier, try a Guavarita, a specialty at Hotel Xcaret Mexico:

1.5 oz. guava nectar

3 oz. tequila reposado

garnish with a lime wedge

O'Rita

Mustang Harry’s gives the margarita an Irish spin with the O’Rita:

2 oz. El Tesoro silver tequila

1 oz. fresh squeezed lime juice

1 oz. simple syrup

1/2 oz. Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey

To garnish, turn half a lime husk inside-out to create a “shot glass,” fill with Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey and carefully set on top

My smoky favorite is a Mezcalita that substitutes mezcal for tequila. Add pineapple juice, muddle a piece of roasted pineapple (if you have it), sprinkle in a bit of Cointreau and rim the glass with Tajin, the classic Mexican chili, salt and lime mix (you can order it on Amazon.)

Mezcal Manhattan

Or make it smoky, sweet and bitter with a Mezcal Manhattan from La Esquina NYC:

2 oz. Doña Vega Espadín mezcal

1 oz. sweet Vermouth

3 dashes Angostura Bitters

Garnish with an orange peel, maraschino cherry or brandy cherry

Bring on the Food

You can create a Mexican-inspired meal with these four dishes from chefs in North America:

Guacamole is a must-have starter at any Cinco de Mayo fiesta. Solmar Hotels & Resorts shares this recipe for a version with a kick: one ripe avocado, chili pepper, ¼ cup of onion, half a tablespoon of crushed garlic, chopped cilantro, two tablespoons of olive oil, two tablespoons of lime juice, salt and pepper to taste.

Guacamole

Serious Eats’ Mexican street corn (elote) is the perfect side salad

Mexican street corn

Mexican Fajitas with Red Sauce and Avocado, courtesy of Velas Resorts, are easy to make with ingredients that you likely already have in your cabinet

For non-meat eaters, food writer ChihYu Smith offers this delicious Paleo recipe for Fish Tacos

Teach Me, Please and Feed Me

If staying at home has made you kind of of lazy and you’d rather have someone else do most of the work, sign up for this margarita making class and happy hour. All you’ll need to do is supply your own tacos.

Jose Cuervo

Jose Cuervo has that covered for you, too. In the spirit of #TakeoutTuesdays and #TacoTuesday, Jose Cuervo is offering to pick up the tab for thousands of taco orders nationwide on Cinco de Mayo. Just tweet a photo of your receipt with the hashtags #CincotoGo and #CuervoContest to @JoseCuervo to be eligible.

And, finally, since this really is a holiday revolving around tequila, you’ll need to know the proper way to taste and drink the potent spirit. Javier Moreno Gomez, tequila and wine sommelier at Grand Residences Riviera Cancun, offers these tips:

Grand Residences Riviera Cancun

To taste the subtleties of tequila, drink it in a wine glass.

Similar to the methods used for wine and other spirits, the basic tasting method is swirl, sniff, sip and swallow.

Check the color; there will be noticeable differences in a reposado or añejo. While color doesn’t affect the flavor, the density or hue can suggest the amount of wood in the tequila and hint towards its complexities.

Swirl the tequila. Look for the legs, the tears of the agave. These suggest essential oils in the tequila and the presence of alcohol. If the tears fall quickly they have less alcohol but if the tears fall slowly you have more alcohol. Swirling the liquid also releases some of the molecules into the air.

Tequila has more alcohol than wine. Different parts of the tequila will have different aromas. Tequila is known to have 600 different aromas including citrus, mint, freshly cut grass, floral, honey, oak, almond, vanilla, butterscotch, chocolate, leather and caramel.

Sip a small amount and hold the tequila in your mouth for about 10 seconds while sucking in a bit of air. Move it around to get it over your tongue, and suck in some air over top of the tequila to bring the aromas up to your nose. Breathe out through your nose before swallowing. There are different taste zones on your tongue — four specific areas for salty, sweet, bitter and sour. Have the tequila wash over the entire tongue.

Swallow and savor the finish and aftertaste. Remember that everything you eat before a sip will affect the taste of the tequila.

Salud!

Bourbon, Rum, Tequila, Vodka and Whiskey Bars

It’s time to move on to our next set of summer cocktail celebrations in the second exploration of the city’s single liquor bar craze.  Here are some fabulous one-note venues that will satisfy your taste for something a little heavier than bitters or champagne.

Bourbon

Blue Smoke: If you can pull yourself away from the heavenly smell of barbeque, head straight to the bar and be wowed by the extensive bourbon list. Those feeling overwhelmed by the selection can opt for the bourbon flights including one ounce tastes of Basil Hayden’s, Blanton’s, Russell’s Reserve, Jefferson’s Reserve, and Blue Smoke Single Barrel.

116 East 27th Street; 212-447-7733; http://bluesmoke.com/blue/

Blue Smoke

Fette Sau: This Brooklyn hotspot is truly deserving of its repeated “Best BBQ in NYC” designation, but it should be equally recognized for its selection of “America’s Native Spirit.” Sit at the bar or grab a picnic table and show your New York pride while enjoying Hudson Baby Bourbon, the first bourbon to be distilled in New York.

354 Metropolitan Avenue (Brooklyn); 718-963-3404; http://www.fettesaubbq.com/

Fette Sau

Rum

Cienfuegos: Step into this Cuban-style speakeasy and be transformed into a world of pinks and greens where the rum steals the show. Rums hail from Barbados, Martinique, Fiji, and Guyana—to name a few. Bring some friends along and make sure to order any of the punch bowls with recommendations including the Isla Punch and the Peach Jam. Each of the three-selection rum flights includes specialties aged to perfection such as the High Roller with Ron Zacapa Centerario 25-year, Mount Gay 1703 Old Cask selection, and El Dorado Vintage Reserve 25-year.

95 Avenue A; 212-614-6818; http://www.cienfuegosny.com

Cienfuegos

Tequila

La Biblioteca: The basement of Richard Sandoval’s Zengo may call out to bookworms, but instead of finding shelves of the classics, explore more than 400 varieties of tequila. Take notes on your favorites while lounging over the wooden library tables or purchase your favorite bottle and store it in your own tequila locker for up to six months. Show your library card to retrieve your bottle and have it served with homemade sangrita or a shaker, sour mix, and salt to design your own margarita. Brush up on your tequila studies on Tuesday nights at 5pm while meeting ambassadors from different distilleries.

622 Third Avenue; 212-808-8110; http://www.richardsandoval.com/labiblioteca/

La Biblioteca

Mayahuel: Celebrate Cinco de Mayo every day at Mayahuel and gain a fine appreciation for tequila. The dark and sexy design is complemented by the smoky Mezcals as well as the inventive tequila-featured cocktails, punches and flights. For an authentic agave experience, try any of the sotol, blanco, reposado, or añejo selections. Traditional bar fare and bites take on a Mexican twist with palomitas (popcorn with lime, cotija cheese, and ancho chili) and croquetas (black bean and plaintain with roasted red pepper or chorizo and cheese smoked tomato).

304 East 6th Street; 212-253-5888; http://mayahuelny.com

Mayahuel

Vodka

Russian Vodka Room: In this Theater District favorite, choose from 53 different featured vodkas or be adventurous and try the Russian Vodka Room’s homemade flavor-infused vodkas. The brave at heart can try the horseradish or garlic, pepper, and dill vodkas. A traditional Russian menu accompanies the vodka, with highlights including the Gravlox with potato pancakes, assorted caviar selections, and pan seared veal blintzes.

265 West 52nd Street; 212-307-5835; http://www.russianvodkaroom.com/

Russian Vodka Room

Whiskey

Brandy Library: This TriBeCa favorite does boast a menu with almost any spirit you can think of, but its whiskey offerings are especially impressive. Browse through the 21-page whiskey menu online if you fear the anxiety coming on — you’ll find whiskeys from all over the world including selections from India and Japan, definitely enough to make your head spin without even a sip. Make sure to check in with any of the librarians for recommendations and suggestions.

25 North Moore Street; 212-226-5545; http://brandylibrary.com

Brandy Library:

Whiskey Tavern: Whiskey Tavern brings the feel of an authentic tavern to Chinatown with its old wooden booths and floors. Come for the game and enjoy your favorite whiskey with some traditional pub fare. True whiskey lovers should bravely order the pickle back, a shot of whiskey accompanied by a shot of pickle juice.

79 Baxter Street; 212-374-9119; http://whiskeytavernnyc.com/

Whiskey Tavern

Best Single-Liquor Bars in New York City

As the cold weather arrives, it’s a lovely time to cozy up indoors with your favorite cocktail in hand.  Here are some of New York City’s specialty bars, where you can find your favorite spirit with both familiar and unfamiliar choices.

More on Best Single-Liquor Bars in New York City

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