Summer Pitcher Drinks

You may recall previous posts about classes we have taken which were offered by the LCBO. For those of you who aren't from Ontario, this is our government run liquor monopoly. It is the largest purchaser of wine and spirits in the world and at the same time it pumps billions of dollars into the government coffers and provides Ontarians with an excellent supply of wine and liquor. Over the past few years they have really focused on the education side of wine and liquor . . . cooking and the appropriate wine pairings is a natural extension.

The LCBO store near our house is equipped with a large room where they hold tastings and cooking demonstrations three or four times a week. Previously we have taken a cooking class and a martini class there. When we attended the martini class the catalog of offerings for the summer had just come out, two looked very promising and tonight was the first of the two we had signed up for (the second is a cooking class in August).

This was the description for this evening's class:

LET’S TAKE IT OUTSIDE, PITCHER STYLE | $30

The Piña Colada was invented in Puerto Rico, and this evening we showcase other hot destination cocktails. Tropical bursts of flavour sure to excite the taste buds. Give your summer thirst a refreshing chill using blender recipes to entertain with style and ease.

How could we NOT sign up?

The class was excellent, well except for the annoying women at the next table one of whom had the most annoying donkey bray of a laugh imaginable. I think that they had been indulging in a pitcher or two of drinks before they had even showed up! ARGH

We got to sample six drinks, 5 with booze and one without (this, in a liquor store?)

Mango Margarita

375 ml (13 oz) Tequila
12 oz (1 1/2 cups) lime juice
6 oz (3/4 cup) simple syrup
24 oz (3 cups) mango juice
Mango slices for garnish

In a large pitcher combine all of the ingredients. Stir and pour into glasses filled with ice. Serve each garnished with a mango slice.

You could also make this by combining all the ingredients in a blender with ice. Pulse until the ice is the desired texture. Serve in Margarita glasses.

Sangria Especiale

1/5 l (2 regular sized bottles) coarse, full bodied wine (note, I would NOT use a high quality wine here)
175 ml (6 oz) Peach Schnapps
100 ml (3 3/4 oz) brandy
1/2 can frozen pulp free Orange Juice (concentrate)
1/4 cup sugar
soda water
other fruit liqueurs of juices as desired
slices of peaches, oranges, lemons, etc
Halved strawberries, frozen

Pour wine slowly into a large jug, add the remaining ingredients. Refrigerate approx 2 hours or up to 24. Place frozen strawberries in a glass. Fill 3/4 full of sangria. Top with soda.

Dublin Mocktail

(How ironic that it would be named for an Irish city - the Irish enjoying a non-alcoholic drink? I think not!!! That comment was for you Rob BTW!)

20 oz Cranberry Juice
30 oz Iced Tea
Lemon Wedges

Fill pitcher with ice. Add cranberry juice and iced tea. Stir. Pour into glasses and garnish each with a lemon wedge.

Milestone's Bellini

250 ml Peach Schnapps
200 ml white rum
500 ml sparkling wine
1 package of peach drink crystals
1 liter 7-Up
Boone's Sangria

In a large flat container mix the first four ingredients. Fill with 7-Up. Freeze. Every few hours stir it to break up the ice crystals. Spoon into martini glasses. Drizzle with Boone's Sangria.

Paul REALLY enjoyed this one!

Pineapple Coco Daiquiri

375 ml Bacardi Coco Rum
3 cups pineapple juice
1 1/2 oz lime juice

In a large pitcher mix all of the ingredients. Stir well. Pour into martini glasses. Garnish with a coconut-dipped lime wedge.

Pomnediere

375 ml (13 oz) vodka
12 oz (1 1/2 cups) Pama Pomegranate Liqueur
6 oz (3/4 cup) lime juice
6 oz (3/4 cup) simple syrup
12 oz (1 1/2 cups) mandarin or tangerine juice

In a large pitcher filled with ice add the ingredients and stir well. Pour into martini glasses.

Note: DO NOT OMIT the simple syrup. Our instructor forgot to add it and the drink was AWFUL. We poured some in to see the difference and it turned a horrid drink into a nice one.

Cheers!

Comments

[Robert]

Hi Jerry,

A really nice selection of cocktails there. Just as an aside - what is 'simple syrup'?

To give you an idea about Ireland and the attitude to drink here - last Christmas I was visiting with friends in Cork and I visited a friend of theirs place in Youghall - the entire family (mum, dad, sons, daughters, etc) had been out on 'the piss' the night before and when we got there most of them were still sleeping off the effects of the nights celebrations.

We were ushered into the kitchen, offered coffee, which was accepted, only to find that the coffee was laced with brandy! Once the coffee was downed a snifter of brandy was placed in front of me to try, and another, then yet another...

First time I have ever gotten drunk before lunchtime!

[Jerry]

Rob simple syrup is a combination of sugar and water (I do equal parts water to sugar) you boil it until the sugar dissolves and then refrigerate. Some use more sugar and others less, it depends upon how sweet you want it.

I used to work with a great friend from Ireland. She drank all of the time. I have never met anyone like that! It was from Gertie that I developed my impression of the Irish (and yes, I know how silly it is to form an opinion of an entire country based upon one party girl's behaviour! LOL)

[Robert]

Your impression would not be far from the truth though Jerry. Most Irish that I know love a pint. They also hold their drink well by and large and also make very entertaining drunks, and tend not to get aggressive when pissed, which makes pub closing time a much less traumatic affair than I remember it being in the UK...

[sandi @ the whistlestop cafe]

I'll have a mango margarita please sir, or make that a bellini, or a sangria...=D

[Jerry]

Robert - that describes Gertie to a 'T'.

Sandi - Bellinis in Savannah? YUM!