Mezcaletti

Long days + rainy evenings... I’m not busting out any fancy cocktails tonight. I spotted this super simple, build-in-glass drink on Punch and thought I’d give it a go. It only takes a few ingredients and a few seconds to prepare, but it’s still interesting enough to sit and sip on

CocktailsJordan HughesMay 19, 2019mezcal, Agave, Amaro, classics & reshakesComment

Chartreuse Swizzle

This tiki-classic is made with Green Chartreuse as the base spirit. It might sound a little weird at first but this French herbal liqueur combined with pineapple, lime and Falernum, is just one of those special combinations. Add a few dashes of absinthe or maybe even a 1/2 oz of overproof rum for some extra fun.

CocktailsJordan HughesMarch 17, 2019Tiki, classics & reshakes, chartreuse, refreshingComment

Empress Gin Old Fashioned

Don’t be disappointed when you try squeezing a lemon peel over your drink! Just take the peel in your hands and gently squeeze. You should see a very light mist of fragrant citrus oils that will rest over the top of your finished cocktail.

Cocktails, RecipesJordan HughesMarch 2, 2019HPP Originals, GinComment

Blush Margarita

For whatever reason I’ve been on a big rosé kick lately. So naturally it’s been finding its way into more and more of my cocktail creations. One evening, I threw the tale end of a bottle of rosé wine in a sauce pan with some sugar and made a simple syrup. I had this idea of using my new syrup to make a Rosé Margarita. But I didn’t want it just to be a marg with rosé syrup in it. It had to be different and kinda “elevated.”

CocktailsJordan HughesFebruary 22, 2019Agave, HPP OriginalsComment

Sazerac

The origins of the Sazerac go way back to the early 1800’s, so the exact specs have undoubtedly changed in that amount of time. Early on it was made with brandy or cognac before bartenders started subbing in rye whiskey (which was a little more plentiful in the US). Lately, I’ve been enjoying splitting the base and using both cognac and high-proof rye.

CocktailsJordan HughesFebruary 12, 2019classic, classics & reshakes, whiskey, brandyComment

This Is Not A Drill

Sotol has to be the weirdest spirit I’ve ever come across. This incredibly vegetal spirit is made from Dasylirion or “desert spoon plant.” It primarily grows wild in Northern Mexico. Sotol is transparent, earthy and basically tastes like the desert from where it came.

CocktailsJordan HughesJanuary 13, 2019HPP Originals, AgaveComment

Down in Flames

Judson Winquist is an industry veteran who has been hard at work building out Normandie’s beverage program. He was willing to share this recipe for one of their most popular cocktails. According to Winquist, it drinks like a smoky Old Fashioned, featuring a split base of high-proof rye whiskey as well as mezcal.

Cocktails, BarsJordan HughesJanuary 13, 2019classics & reshakes, bars, AgaveComment

Spanish Coffee

People have been spiking their coffee with booze since the dawn of mankind… or something like that. Point being, throwing a shot of something into your cup of joe isn’t exactly an exciting cocktail. But hey, if you feel like making things a little more interesting and showing off for your friends a bit, make a Spanish Coffee.

Bars, Bartenders, CocktailsJordan HughesJanuary 4, 2019classics & reshakes, Rum, bartenders, holiday cocktailsComment

The Slow Way Down

There are a lot of orange liqueur options out there, so I can’t blame someone for just randomly picking a bottle off the shelf. However, liqueurs are often used as sweeteners in cocktails but the problem is that many of them are way too cloying & overly loaded with sugar. So the name of the game is finding a balanced orange liqueur that provides sweetness as well as a sophisticated flavor.

Cocktails, BrandsJordan HughesJanuary 3, 2019HPP Originals, AgaveComment

The Purple Puritan

It doesn’t matter where you’re at, if you order an Empress Gin cocktail, it’s going to turn some heads. There’s just something so mesmerizing about that color. I always have a deeper appreciation for a spirit after meeting the makers & seeing the where & how it was made. After visiting Victoria Distillers in BC in Sept. 2018, it’s been fun using their naturally indigo gin in various cocktails like this one.

Cocktails, RecipesJordan HughesDecember 31, 2018Gin, classics & reshakesComment

When the Fat Lady Sings

Cachaça + Drambuie + Amaro served Old Fashioned style. It just works so well. Maybe I’m behind the times & everyone is already aware of this magic, but I’m pretty thrilled with how this drink turned out.

CocktailsJordan HughesDecember 31, 2018HPP Originals, Cachaça, Amaro Comment

Timberbeast

Infusing spirits always makes me kinda nervous because I’m never 100% sure it’s going to work out. If it turns out bad or just not up to my personal standards, I feel like I wasted a bottle.

CocktailsJordan HughesDecember 18, 2018bourbon, absinthe, whiskey, HPP Originals, holiday cocktailsComment

Slamming Thimbles

Any Baijiu fans out there? This Chinese spirit is really funky stuff. Even though it’s the best-selling liquor in the world, it’s not very well known in other parts of the globe.

CocktailsJordan HughesDecember 5, 2018HPP Originals, Baijiu, refreshingComment

Nine-O-Six (solar eclipse cocktail)

The #totalsolareclipse hits tomorrow and apparently Oregon is the first place to experience it! "They" are saying it's going to be crazy, with millions of people flooding the freeways and city to don blacked-out paper glasses and stare up at the sky.

CocktailsJordan HughesAugust 20, 2017Amaro, Rum, Tiki, refreshing, HPP OriginalsComment