A Classic Italian cocktail good enough for Bond? You know that’s something of which I’ll be fond. Originating in Milan at the Campari Bar, it’s a cocktila who’s name is bizzare. Bitter Campari is something American’s don’t love - but it’s something I’m very fond of! Equal parts Campari and vermouth & topped with a soda splash. It’s a perfect summer cocktail, mixed in a dash!

Americano

1 1/2 ounces Campari

1 1/2 ounces red Vermouth

soda water

twist of lemon

In a highball glass, combine Campari and Vermouth. Stir gently. Add ice then top with soda water. Garnish with a twist of lemon. Cin cin.

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How about a splash of history for this Friday? The Kir Royale has it is spades. Created in France by a priest named Kir when Nazi’s took red wine to quash French cheer. Resistance persisted and we now have a drink that’s event better than wine and delightfully pink. A dash of cassis & topped with champs, it’s a delicious FU to Nazi camps.

KIR Royale

1/3 ounce Cassis

3 ounces champagne

Pour cassis into a champagne glass and top with chilled champagne. Optionally garnish with a raspberry. Cin cin!

If there is anything that has ever seemed sillier to me than decanting and aerating wine, I'm not sure what it could be.  I pay a lot of money for the nice bottle of wine.  Why on earth am I going to pour the wine OUT of the fancy bottle?  Then no one can appreciate the label and revel in my genius of buying such a swanky bottle of wine.

But then I was introduced to a new fancy aerator and I decided it was time to grow up and figure out what the hub bub was all about.  I texted with my friend the wine maker, researched online, and taste tested {it was hard work and it was all for you}.

Here's what I learned.  Always decant a nice bottle of wine.  If it's old, there could be sediment in the bottom and that's yucky.  If it's not old, it brings out the aromas by being exposed to air.  If you bought a cheap bottle of wine, decant or aerate that thing so it isn't so "biting."  So basically, always decant.

Aerating is a quick and dirty way of skipping the decanter and leaving the wine in the bottle {hooray!  see my fancy label!}

Lenox Decanter

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Waterford Linsmore Decanter

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Riedel Apple Decanter

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TRIbella Aerator