Flaweless TV - Making Cocktails with Chris Cardone 🍸

Shakin’ Spirits with a Pro

Recipes Revealed!

🌮Margarita
🍹Paloma
🐴 Mint Julip
🍸Martini
🍊Negroni

Chris Cardone and I met in 2015 at the launch of my restaurant White Street in TriBeCa. I hired him as Head Bartender and he is, without a doubt, among the best hires of my career. I couldn’t adore him more and not just because of his internationally acclaimed talents (2017 Diageo World Class Bartender of the Year) but also because of his endless willingness to teach me and our entire staff. He made us better just by being around him. He takes the art of hospitality to Flaweless levels and beyond!

Today, you can find him running the ship at “I Sodi” an incredible Italian restaurant in the West Village of Manhattan. He was kind enough to visit me on my rooftop and to workshop some recipes for five of my favorite cocktails. Check out this episode to see Chris in action! All of the recipes are below but don’t worry if you can’t do “flair bartending”. -The cocktails are just as delicious when you don’t flip the bottles! 😁🍹

Five Flaweless Cocktail Recipes

🌮Margarita

INGREDIENTS - Christine’s Version

3/4 ounce fresh lime juice

3/4 ounce 1-1 agave syrup (a 50/50 mixture of agave syrup and water)

1/2 ounce mezcal

1 1/2 ounce tequila

Glass: Rocks glass

Garnish: Smoked salt and a lime wedge

INGREDIENTS - Chris Cardone’s Version

3/4 ounce fresh lime juice

1/4 ounce 1-1 agave syrup (a 50/50 mixture of agave syrup and water)

3/4 ounce Cointreau

2 ounce tequila

Glass: Rocks

Garnish: Salt and a lime wedge

METHOD

1. Prepare your glass:

   • Rub the flesh side of a lime wedge along the outside rim of a rocks glass.

   • Dip the glass into a plate of smoked salt and move back and forth to coat.

   • Fill glass with ice cubes and place lime wedge on the rim at “2 o’clock”.

   • Set in front of you while you make your cocktail.

2. In a cocktail shaker, add lime juice, 1-1 agave syrup, mezcal and tequila.

3. Add enough ice to the shaker to cover the ingredients.

4. Close shaker and shake vigorously for 30 seconds; until the sides of the shaker are frosting up.

5. Strain drink into your prepared glass and serve.

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🍹Paloma

INGREDIENTS

1/2 ounce fresh lime juice

3/4 ounce fresh grapefruit juice

2 ounce tequila

Splash of simple syrup (optional)

1 ounce club soda

Crushed Ice

Glass: Stemmed cocktail glass

Garnish: Sugar and a grapefruit slice

METHOD

1. Prepare your glass:

   • Rub the flesh side of a lime wedge along the outside rim of a cocktail glass.

   • Dip the glass into a plate of sugar and move back and forth to coat.

   • Fill glass with crushed ice.

   • Set in front of you while you make your cocktail.

2. In a cocktail shaker, add lime juice, grapefruit juice, simple syrup (if you’re using) and tequila.

3. Add enough ice to the shaker to cover the ingredients.

4. Close shaker and shake vigorously for 30 seconds; until the sides of the shaker are frosting up.

5. Strain drink into your prepared glass and, at the same time, pour in club soda.

6. Garnish with a grapefruit slice and serve.

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🐴Mint Julip

INGREDIENTS

1/2 ounce simple syrup (or one sugar cube)

Handful of mint leaves (about 12), pulled from the base of the stem. Reserve the tops for garnish!

2 ounces bourbon

Crushed Ice

Angostura bitters

Glass: Rocks glass or metal Julip cup

Garnish: Bouquet of fresh mint

METHOD

1. In a Rocks glass or Julip cup place simple syrup and mint leaves.

2. Using a muddler, tap the mint leaves to release their oils. If using a sugar cube, now is the time to crush it with your muddler.

3. Pour in bourbon.

4. Fill glass half-way with crushed ice and stir to combine.

5. Fill the rest of the glass with crushed ice until nearly overflowing.

6. Make a bouquet out of mint leaf sprigs and “spank” them gently against the palm of your hand to release their fragrance.

7. Insert bouquet down the side-edge of your glass at “2 o’clock”.

8. Add several dashes of Angostura bitters to the top of the ice and serve.

PRO TIP: if you have one, place a “Julip Strainer” on top of your cocktail. It will keep the ice from falling on your outfit; and it looks beautiful too!

With Julip Strainer!

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🍸Martini - 50/50

A 50/50 martini is a wonderful and classic aperitivo with low ABV (alcohol by volume) especially when you make it in my favorite glass - the “Nick & Nora”.

INGREDIENTS

1 ounce white vermouth (aka dry or French vermouth)

1 ounce gin

Glass: Nick & Nora glass

Garnish: Olive or lemon twist

METHOD

1. Place a Nick and Nora glass in front of you while you prepare your cocktail.

2. In a mixing glass add vermouth and gin.

3. Add ice and, using a bar spoon, stir until the sides of the mixing glass feel frosty cold.

4. Strain cocktail into glass using a Hawthorn strainer.

5. Garnish with an olive or lemon twist (or both which is called an “Oliver Twist”! 🍸🍋

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🍊Negroni

A Flaweless Summer cocktail favorite where three wonderful spirits share the stage.

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 ounce Gin

1 1/4 ounce Red Vermouth

1 ounce Campari

Glass: Rocks glass

Garnish: 1” wide peel of orange

METHOD

1. Place a large ice cube or two in a rocks glass and place it in front of you while you prepare your cocktail.

2. In a mixing glass add gin, vermouth and Campari.

3. Add ice and, using a bar spoon, stir until the sides of the mixing glass feel cold.

4. Strain cocktail into prepared glass using a Hawthorn strainer.

5. Using a carrot peeler, peel a 1” wide x 3” long peel of an orange. 🍊

6. Squeeze the peel, pith side up, over the glass to express the oils then drop peel into glass and serve.