Flaweless TV - Making Cocktails with Chris Cardone šø
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 couldnāt 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 āI Sodiā 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 donāt worry if you canāt do āflair bartendingā. -The cocktails are just as delicious when you donāt flip the bottles! šš¹
Five Flaweless Cocktail Recipes
š®Margarita
INGREDIENTS - Christineās 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 Cardoneās 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
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 ā2 oāclockā.
Set in front of you while you make your cocktail.
In a cocktail shaker, add lime juice, 1-1 agave syrup, mezcal and tequila.
Add enough ice to the shaker to cover the ingredients.
Close shaker and shake vigorously for 30 seconds; until the sides of the shaker are frosting up.
Strain drink into your prepared glass and serve.
š¹Paloma
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
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.
In a cocktail shaker, add lime juice, grapefruit juice, simple syrup (if youāre using) and tequila.
Add enough ice to the shaker to cover the ingredients.
Close shaker and shake vigorously for 30 seconds; until the sides of the shaker are frosting up.
Strain drink into your prepared glass and, at the same time, pour in club soda.
Garnish with a grapefruit slice and serve.
š“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
In a Rocks glass or Julip cup place simple syrup and mint leaves.
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.
Pour in bourbon.
Fill glass half-way with crushed ice and stir to combine.
Fill the rest of the glass with crushed ice until nearly overflowing.
Make a bouquet out of mint leaf sprigs and āspankā them gently against the palm of your hand to release their fragrance.
Insert bouquet down the side-edge of your glass at ā2 oāclockā.
Add several dashes of Angostura bitters to the top of the ice and serve.
PRO TIP: if you have one, place a āJulip Strainerā on top of your cocktail. It will keep the ice from falling on your outfit; and it looks beautiful too!
šøMartini - 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 āNick & Noraā.
INGREDIENTS
1 ounce white vermouth (aka dry or French vermouth)
1 ounce gin
Glass: Nick & Nora glass
Garnish: Olive or lemon twist
METHOD
Place a Nick and Nora glass in front of you while you prepare your cocktail.
In a mixing glass add vermouth and gin.
Add ice and, using a bar spoon, stir until the sides of the mixing glass feel frosty cold.
Strain cocktail into glass using a Hawthorn strainer.
Garnish with an olive or lemon twist (or both which is called an āOliver Twistā! šøš
šNegroni
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: 1ā wide peel of orange
METHOD
Place a large ice cube or two in a rocks glass and place it in front of you while you prepare your cocktail.
In a mixing glass add gin, vermouth and Campari.
Add ice and, using a bar spoon, stir until the sides of the mixing glass feel cold.
Strain cocktail into prepared glass using a Hawthorn strainer.
Using a carrot peeler, peel a 1ā wide x 3ā long peel of an orange. š
Squeeze the peel, pith side up, over the glass to express the oils then drop peel into glass and serve.