2019Q1SpiritedVA - 22

Antica Formula, a slightly bitter
Italian vermouth with notes of
citrus, vanilla, cherries, mint and
raisins. Enjoy it on the rocks or
in a Negroni Sbagliato: 1 ounce
each of Campari bitters, Antica
Formula and sparkling wine,
poured over ice, stirred, garnished
with orange peel and enjoyed!

Pick up a fine Hennessy
V.S.O.P. or Larressingle V.S.O.P.
Both Armagnac and Cognac are
best enjoyed straight. Slowly.
Savoring every sip.

MAY 25

Amber and dark rums
On Memorial Day, celebrate the
spirit of summer: rum, the base
for tiki and other wonderfully
tropical drinks. Rum, as we've
seen, begins with sugar cane,
distilled and aged in barrels. The
more it's aged, the darker and
more complex the liquor.
Mix up a Planter's Punch with
Ron Zacapa 23 Year Rum for
your party: 2 cups each of dark
rum, orange juice and pineapple
juice; ½ cup each of lime juice and
lemon juice; ¼ cup grenadine;
and orange slices and cherries for
garnish.

06
June
JUNE 1

Cognac and Armagnac
On National Cognac Day,
celebrate two grape-based French
brandies, from Cognac and
Armagnac. Though the names
make sense, the acronyms on the
labels are less clear. In a nutshell,
the letters represent how long
the brandy has aged, from V.O.
(Very Old) and V.S. (Very Special)
to V.S.O.P. (Very Special/Superior
Old Pale) and X.O. (Extra Old).

22 VIRGINIA ABC | ABC.VIRGINIA.GOV

Virginia ABC offers pre-made
cocktails, in individual serving
sizes or larger bottles. Garnish
them if you like, or bolster them
with an extra shot of spirit. Or
simply pop open and enjoy.
Try Fabrizia Italian
Margarita, Bacardi Rum
Punch, TGI Friday's Ultimate
Mudslide, or Kahluá White
Russian.

JUNE 22

Tiki drinks

JUNE 8

Flavored vodkas and
moonshines

Neutral, flavorless spirits can
give extra punch to a cocktail,
but flavors added to vodka
and moonshine expand the
possibilities. Sure, the trend's
early days brought some crazy
flavors, but the category has
become more refined.
Try dessert-like flavors such
as vanilla and caramel, seasonal
favorites like pumpkin, apple and
cucumber, botanicals such as basil,
and fruit essences including peach
and raspberry. Get adventurous
with moonshines like strawberry
pie or peach.

JUNE 15

Ready-to-pour cocktails
Sometimes you just want your
cocktail made for you. Fortunately,

In 1934, Don Gantt had returned
to the U.S. from his travels in the
Caribbean and South Pacific with
souvenirs and ideas. He opened
Don the Beachcomber restaurant
in L.A. with Pacific island-inspired
décor, food and drinks, kicking off
the tiki bar craze. Think rum, fresh
juices and flavor accents such
as spices and bitters, and fancy
garnishes like umbrellas.
Try the classic Zombie, using
classic Bacardí rum: to a shaker
of ice, add 2 ounces Bacardí
Superior, 1¾ ounces Bacardí
Gold, 1 ounce triple sec, 2 ounces
orange juice, 1 ounce lime juice, 1
ounce simple syrup and ¼ ounce
grenadine. Shake, strain and
pour into a highball glass with
ice. Garnish with a cherry and an
orange slice and plop yourself into
a lounge chair on the deck.

JUNE 29

Canadian Whisky
For Canada's 1867 Confederation
on July 1, try Canadian whisky-
smooth, easy-drinking, light
whiskies that are, of course, made
in Canada and aged in wooden
barrels for at least three years.
Corn and rye are the predominant
grains, and masterful blends are a
key to great Canadian whisky.
Explore the northern latitudes
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2019Q1SpiritedVA

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