Domaine de Canton Cocktail Advances to 42 Below Cocktail World Cup D.C. Regionals!

Meet the Cook Strait Sling

Almost 100 years ago, a bartender named Ngiam Tong Boon created a drink that would become world famous, the Singapore Sling.  Also known as the Straits Sling, it was named for the Straits of Singapore, the connecting body of water between Singapore and Malaysia to the north, and Indonesia to the south.

The featured drink of this blog posting was inspired by an early version of the Straits Sling, which contained only gin, lemon juice, two types of bitters, Benedictine, and seltzer water.  We're proud to say that the Cook Strait Sling has advanced to the Capitol Region Finals of the 42 Below Cocktail World Cup Competition. 

Since this competition is sponsored by 42 Below Vodka, a fine product of New Zealand, this drink was named for Cook Strait, the water passage separating the two main islands of New Zealand, the North Island and the South Island. 

It's easy to make, here's how:

The Cook Strait Sling

1.5 oz 42 Below Vodka

1/2 oz fresh lemon juice

1/2 oz Cherry Heering Cherry Liqueur

3/4 oz Domaine de Canton French Ginger Liqueur

2 dashes Angostura Bitters

2 dashes Orange Bitters 

Shake well with ice, strain into highball glass filled with ice, then add 2 oz seltzer water back into shaker, swirl it around in ice, then top off the drink with it. Stir, serve, enjoy.

Professionals in the City - Pre-Valentine's Day Mixer

Tuesday, February 9, 2010 from 7pm to 10pm
At Farmers & Fishers / Co-sponsored by Domaine de Canton

Join Professionals in the City for a Pre-Valentine's Day cocktail party at Farmers & Fishers at the Washington Harbour in Georgetown. Meet fellow professionals, sip on a great new cocktail and sample hors d’oeuvres in a private event space with beautiful surroundings. Cozy up with a new friend next to the fireplace in the elegant lounge, or mingle in the main room. Special Domaine de Canton “A Streetcar Named de Canton” cocktails will be mixed by Jon Arroyo, Chief Mixologist of Farmers & Fishers and the Alembic Cocktail Catering Co. with delicious appetizers prepared by Chef Stephen Bieker.

Admission Includes: 

Two “Streetcar Named de Canton” signature cocktails (recipe below) or a choice of wine, beer or other cocktails
Hummus and Tapenade Dips With Grilled Bread
Assorted Farmhouse Pizza Bites
Chocolate Covered Bacon Lollis
Crudités Platter With Dips Fresh Made Guacamole, Chips & Salsa

Come alone or invite a friend - you won’t want to miss this exclusive event! Admission is $40.00 if purchased by 5 p.m. Friday, February 5, 2010.  Reservations must be made through Professionals in the City [ event registration link: http://bit.ly/c1HgxT ]

Streetcar Named De Canton


¾ oz Domaine de Canton

1 oz Kubler Absinthe

¾ oz Lime juice

¾ oz Mint syrup

8 mint leaves

4 chunks of ginger

In a mixing glass muddle mint leaves, ginger, and lime juice. Add mint syrup, Domaine de Canton, and Kubler, add ice cover and shake vigorously. Fine strain into a single old fashioned glass filled with ice. Garnish with a fresh mint sprig.

The Basil Faultless Cocktail

This recent invention pairs nicely with Asian cuisine, or spicy appetizers, and it's incredibly easy to make. It debuted last night at a kickoff event for Taste of the Nation D.C., held at The Passenger (1021 7th Street, NW, Washington, D.C.), and I must have made 100 of them, it was that popular.

The Basil Faultless Cocktail

1.5 oz Gin (such as Plymouth or Hendrick's)

1 oz Domaine de Canton French Ginger Liqueur

1/2 oz fresh-squeezed lemon juice

4-5 basil leaves

Shake well with ice, add 1-2 oz seltzer water to shaker, strain into a chilled cocktail glass, garnish with basil sprig. Enjoy!

Share Our Strength's Taste of the Nation D.C. event will be held Monday, April 12th at the National Building Museum here in Washington, D.C., and will feature some of the area's best chefs and mixologists. The event raises money to wipe out child poverty. For more information on this amazing event, please see: http://strength.org/washington. Hope to see you there!

Meet the Carioca en Manhattan

This is a nice variation on the Manhattan, and drink I created for Cuca Fresca Cachaca (not much of a stretch, as Domaine de Canton works beautifully with cachaca, and all cane spirits, for that matter):

Carioca en Manhattan

1.5 oz Cuca Fresca Pura Gold Cachaca

.75 oz Domaine de Canton French Ginger Liqueur

.25 to .50 oz Italian Vermouth (depending on desired sweetness)

2 dashes each Peychaud's and Angostura Bitters

Shake well with ice, strain into a chilled cocktail glass, garnish with a lemon twist. Enjoy!

The name derives from the local name for residents of Rio de Janiero, who are referred to as Cariocas. Cheers!

Sugar and Champagne Benefit

On Wednesday, January 27th, Domaine de Canton was featured in the signature cocktail presented at Sugar and Champagne, a fundraising event for the Washington Humane Society. The cocktail was created by acclaimed D.C. mixologist Simo Ahmadi, of Equinox (which hopes to reopen in February after their fire), and was dubbed the Bloody Sour:

Bloody Sour

1.5 oz Cirrus Vodka

1 oz Domaine de Canton

1 oz fresh sour mix

1/4 oz fresh lime juice

Shake all ingredients, serve on the rocks, then garnish with about a 1/4 oz of dry red wine.

Shown below, Simo prepares the Bloody Sour.

Patrons of the event were invited to bring their dogs. The pooch shown here fit right in.

Domaine de Canton at Upcoming and Recent D.C. Events

Domaine de Canton French Ginger Liqueur continues to be embraced by mixologists at events all across the D.C. area. Some recent examples:

9th Annual Sugar and Champagne Affair

On Wednesday, January 27th, Domaine de Canton will be paired with Cirrus Vodka in the featured cocktail being served at the 9th annual Sugar and Champagne Affair, a wonderful event benefiting the Humane Society. The event is hosted by Todd and Ellen Gray of Equinox Restaurant and Salamander Hospitality, and will be held at the RItz Carlton, 1150 22d Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20037, from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm, with a VIP reception starting at 6:00 pm. For more info, and to purchase tickets, please see:

http://www.washhumane.org/sugar/sugar.asp

Guests (and their dogs!) will be greeted by the world's finest sparkling wines, Champagne, and delicious desserts from the area's top Pastry Chefs. This annual event is in honor of the Washington Humane Society Officiers, who work 24 hours a day, saving the homeless, lost, neglected, and abused animals in our area, and offer a Humane Education program that teaches elementary school children compassion and respect for animals.

As noted above, Domaine de Canton will be paired with Cirrus Vodka in the featured cocktail at the Sugar and Champagne Affair, The Bloody Sour, to be served by Equinox Restaurant's acclaimed mixologist, Simo Ahmadi. To make the drink at home, here's how:

The Bloody Sour

created by Simo Ahmadi, Mixologist at Equinox Restaurant

1.5 oz Cirrus Vodka

1 oz Domaine de Canton

1 oz Fresh Made Sour Mix

1/4 oz fresh squeezed lime juice

Shake all ingredients and strain into a chilled martini glass. For the garnish, pour 1/2 oz of red wine (preferably a light Pinot Noir) into a jigger, and pour it around the rim of the glass. It will float to the top and serve as a lovely garnish.

As an added treat, Simo was joined by Gina Chersevani (PS7's) on the Dishing it Out Radio program, on WTOP 1o3.5 FM, making the drink for show hosts Nycci and David Nellis. To listen to the show, please click here:

http://www.wtopnews.com/?sid+1648569&nid=410

For more info on Gina and Simo's contributions to this event, please see:

http://www.washhumane.org/mixologist2010_email/html

As a side note, Equinox is hopeful of reopening in late February after suffering their devastating pre-Christmas fire. With the renovations that are planned, look for Equinox, like the Phoenix, to rise from the ashes to be better than ever.

Haiti Disaster Relief: A Fundraiser to Benefit the International Red Cross

Monday, January 18, The Passenger and Warehouse Theater, 1021 7th Street, NW

On Monday, January 18, the Passenger was the venue for a fundraising effort to benefit Haitian earthquake relief efforts. Domaine de Canton Brand Ambassador Phil Greene, also of the Museum of the American Cocktail, was a guest bartender, and served drinks along with Tom and Derek Brown of the Passenger. Participants were also able to view a special screening of The Agronomist - a story of strength and hope in the improverished nation of Haiti.

The event was very well attended, ad raised money for Haitian disaster relief; 25% of the happy hour sales and 100% of the gratituities intended for bartenders and waitstaff were donated to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The event was co-sponsored by the Warehouse Theatre, Washington Film Institute, The Passenger, The Civilian Arts Project, and by generous product donations from Domaine de Canton French Ginger Liqueur, Chairman's Reserve Rum, and Hop & Wine.

Domaine de Canton and Chairman's Reserve Rum (from St. Lucia) were both featured in an amazing Ginger Daiquiri:

Ginger Daiquiri

2 oz Chairman's Reserve Rum

1.5 oz Domaine de Canton

1 oz fresh lime juice

Fill shaker with ingredients and crushed ice, and shake well. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass, or pour contents of shaker into a highball glass.

For more info on Domaine de Canton, please see http://www.domainedecanton.com/. For more info on Chairman's Reserve, please see http://www.saintluciarums.com/

Cheers!