This Coffee Cocktail Is A Naka Knock-Out

Hey Pete Licata, there’s a cocktail in Seattle with your name on it.

Here now, Nik Virrey—who alongside friend Brandon Paul Weaver makes up half of Seattle’s best known professional coffee-slash-booze duo—shares a new coffee cocktail dubbed thePeat Licata.

The name, a nod to the 2013 American World Barista Championship winner and whiskey from the peat-forward Scottish island of Islay, is now being shaken and served at Naka on Capitol Hill. The kaiseki restaurant from chef/owner Shota Nakajima opened its doors last June to positive early reviews, with Virrey helming the bar.


Mixed drinks (or as Virrey calls them “plated cocktails”) match the beautifully presented multi-courses coming out of the kitchen at Naka and arrive with plenty of eye candy: one drink is served in a glass resting on crushed ice that’s strewn with fresh greens and berries, another is served shot-style inside of a carved out cucumber that looks like a flower. Plated, indeed.

This sort of elevated drinking might not work for everyone on every night, but if you want to try something for a special occasion, you’d be smart to start with Naka’s just-sweet-enough Peat Licata, served on a wood tray alongside an origami crane resting on moss, fragrant burning cedar chips, and coffee displayed in whole bean, ground, and brewed states.


Weaver created the concept, named the drink, and roasted the coffee; Virrey executed it. Naka serves the cocktail —an infusion of amaro to celebrate bitterness, Scotch whiskey for smoke, homemade nutty syrup, more bitters, and exceptionally strong brewed ice coffee—starting at 5 p.m. every day except Tuesday, when the space rests.

Check out the recipe below (origami is optional but recommended):

Peat Licata

-Meletti, 1.25 ounces

-Ardbeg, .5 ounces

-Smoked Pecan Syrup, to taste

-Scrappy’s Aromatic Bitters, to taste

-Kenya Kirinyaga Kiangoi AA (1:6 coffee to water ratio; hot-brewed ice coffee)
Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake like mad, strain, and serve up.

Make the delicious cocktail

The bottles: Owl’s Brew mixers, $10 for 8-ounce bottle, or $17 for 32-ounce bottle

The back story: We love our tea. And we love our booze. So, why not combine the two in a cocktail?

That’s the premise behind Owl’s Brew, a two-year-old line of tea-based mixers that can be combined with a wide variety of spirits (vodka, whiskey, tequila, etc.). It’s a concept that has found a strong market in relatively little time. Sales of the mixers are projected to hit $1.7 million this year — more than four times the total in 2014, according to the company — and the product is showing up everywhere from the shelves of Whole Foods to the bars in Loews Hotels. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that tea itself is so popular (wholesale tea sales climbed 10.7% to $10.84 billion over the last two years, according to Statista.)

The mixer line is the brainchild of Jennie Ripps and Maria Littlefield, marketing pros with a passion for (what else?) tea. The team admits their idea wasn’t a slam-dunk when they first floated it. “Historically, mixologists have been working with tea for a long time, but the person at home didn’t think tea could stand up to spirits,” says Ripps. Then again, Ripps and Littlefield weren’t looking to craft plain-Jane mixers—tea is the key ingredient, but it’s hardly the only one in the four varieties Owl’s Brew has released to date. They range from “The Classic” (English Breakfast tea with lemon and lime) to the newly launched “White and Vine” (white tea with pomegranate, lemon peel and watermelon). Tea is versatile enough to invite such combinations, Ripps adds, and that’s even before booze is added to the equation.

As for the brand’s name, it’s intended to promote the idea that tea is “wise” drinking, especially because of the high concentration of antioxidants in the beverage. Plus, the brand says that it uses only organic ingredients. Says Ripps: “Even if you’re drinking cocktails, you should know what you’re putting in your body.”

What we think about them: It’s hard to believe that it’s taken someone so long to come up with the concept of tea-based mixers, because it’s a pure winner. The mixers play up tea’s naturally refreshing quality, but they take that refreshment in different directions — whether it’s the lemon-y appeal of “The Classic” or the more exotic, tropical qualities of “Coco-Lada” (black tea with coconut, chai spices and pineapple). Moreover, the resulting cocktails change a great deal depending on the spirit that’s added to the mixer — and part of the “fun” of Owl’s Brew is seeing these differences in the combinations.

How to enjoy them: As mixers go, Owl’s Brew has what might be called an “open platform” approach — that is, you’re really not confined to any category of spirit. For that matter, you’re not even confined to spirits: The brand says you can combine the mixers with wine or beer in some instances (for example, “White and Vine” blends well with wheat beer, Ripps says). Or, if you prefer to go the non-alcoholic route, just add some seltzer. Cheers!


Super-easy, super-tasty and summer-tastic. Per serving:

2 lemon wedges

50ml gin

15ml elderflower cordial

Limonata (a proper one, like San Pellegrino)

1 lemon slice and 1 mint sprig, to garnish


Squeeze the lemon wedges into a highball glass, then discard the spent wedges. Add a decent handful of ice cubes, pour in the gin and cordial, and top with limonata. Garnish and serve.

Cocktail Infusions

Chef Matt's Cocktail Infusions

Florida Peach Julep Ingredients:
1 ½ oz. Wild buck whiskey
½ oz. simple syrup
1 Tbs. Diced Peach
5 mint leaves
½ oz. water
Directions:
In a glass, muddle mint, simple syrup and diced peaches lightly. Next, add whiskey to mixture with ice, cover. Shake vigorously. Pour into a rocks glass and finish with water.
Garnish with a sliced candied peach
The Passion Ingredients:
1 ½ oz. House infused Watermelon lemongrass vodka
½ oz. Simple syrup
Directions:
Place both ingredients into a shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a martini glass and garnish with a watermelon ball.
Infusion Ingredients:
1/2 seedless watermelon cut into cubes
1 whole lemongrass stalk ends removed
1 whole peal of lemon
3 Tbs. Lemon Juice
1 Tbs. Brown Sugar
Directions:

Place all ingredients into a large mason jar and fill with your favorite vodka. Allow to rest for 3-4 days in a cool dry place. Once time has passed, strain and enjoy!

6 Delicious Montreal Cocktails This Summer

Montreal summer, how we love thee, let us count the ways. There’s just so much awesomeness going on at any given moment all over the city, but if there is one thing that really makes the warmer months extra special, it’s the pure indulgence of sipping a refreshing cocktail on a comfy terrasse while enjoying good company and friendly weather. The perfect combination of quality ingredients and premium alcohol makes for a delicious party in your glass, and we’ve found 6 you owe it to yourself to try this summer.

1. Watermelon Mojito
Made with Havana Club 3 Year Old rum, fresh lemon and lime juice, muddled mint, watermelon and sugar. This watermelon mojito has the perfect ingredients for a night out.

2. Mai Tai
A lot of ingredients go into crafting the perfect date night. This new Mai Tai made with Sailor Jerry spiced rum, Amaretto, Triple Sec, fresh orange, pineapple and lime juice has all of them.

3. Strawberry Basil Lemonade
Part sweet, part refreshing, this Strawberry Basil Lemonade includes Beefeater 24 gin, fresh lemon juice, muddled strawberry and basil. Great for birthday toasts.

4. Basil Julep
This Basil Julep made with Jameson Irish Whiskey, fresh lemon and lime juice and basil leaves has just the right ingredients to help you celebrate that special occasion.

5. Bourbon Cherry Smash
Celebrate the good times with this Bourbon Cherry Smash made with Woodford Reserve bourbon, Averna Amaro, and cherry brandy liqueurs.

6. Lime Rickey
Nothing pairs better with patio season than this cool and refreshing Lime Rickey made with Absolut vodka, Limoncello, lime juice and soda.
Thirsty yet? Because we are. But we would not just leave you hanging after teasing you with these tantalizing cocktails which is why we’ll tell you where you can get ’em. Best known for their tender aged steaks, delicious Prime Rib, and a variety of seafood favourites that have made them famous for well over 40 years, The Keg Steakhouse + Bar is actually so much more.
Their wine menu is extensive and their latest bar menu features a great selection of signature cocktails, including all 6 listed above! Not only is each cocktail imagined and custom-made in-house, but they are also ridiculously affordable, with a double (“Keg Size”) costing you no more than $10.50!
The Keg has 4 gorgeous terrasses in the greater Montreal area (including two rooftops) and ashareable menu jam-packed with delectable items like fresh Ahi Tuna Tacos, shaved Prime Rib Sliders, and Crispy Shrimp. And, just in time for summer, The Keg’s Lobster Summer menu features delicious new shareable items like Crispy Lobster Tacos and Lobster Gratinee, plus returning favourites like the Sirloin and Half Lobster, and Whole Atlantic Lobster. These lobster features are only available until August 30th, so come and get them before they’re gone and make The Keg your new summer dining destination.
Check out The Keg’s Facebook Page and website for full menu and locations.

Bar-locating app DrinkAdvisor now compatible with iWatch

DrinkAdvisor is now available for the Apple iWatch, allowing users to discover local bars and browse cocktails from their wrist.
Featuring 210 cities across the globe, the “hyperlocal” app enables travellers and locals to find nearby venues according to various categories. The user’s ‘Favourite Spots’ can be bookmarked for later viewing on any Apple device – featuring images, ratings, a description and the venues signature cocktails, allowing the user to ‘follow’ the bars upcoming events schedule and deals.
The app also provides up to date information about the most recommended bars, pubs and clubs near the user, via Apple Watch’s GPS function, and provides directions to each one using Apple Maps.
A statement from DrinkAdvisor read: “No more waving around your phone in a new town or unknown district. You can find the way to the next bar or a nightclub with your iPhone stowed away while on the go or sitting at the bar.”
In addition, a cocktail guide features a selection of recipes categorised A-Z, complete with pictures, equipment, ingredients and history.
Earlier this year, DrinkAdvisor launched a new marketing tool for venues in an effort to make them “more visible on the party radar of smartphone owners”.