Festive Holiday Drink Recipes with Italian BalsamicVinegar!

Festive Holiday Drink Recipes with Italian BalsamicVinegar!

San Francisco bartender Carlo Splendorini uses a secret ingredient from Italy to balance his cocktails perfectly: Balsamico!

Carlo, who racks up prizes in national and international cocktail competitions, helped establish Michelin-starred MICHAEL MINA San Francisco as a front-runner in San Francisco?s cocktail scene. He an expert in creative cocktails, mixing ingredients in often surprising ways, and that?s where a few drops of balsamic vinegar come in.

The warm flavors of balsamic vinegar of Modena blend? perfectly into holiday cocktails, bringing depth and nuance to the flavors of the season. Carlo proves his point in these two Christmas cocktails. www.modenafinefoods.com

Recipes courtesy Carlo Splendorini

THE ITALIAN SANTA

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per cocktail:

1 1/2 oz. vodka

3/4 oz. spiced pear pur?e (or pear nectar with a sprinkle of cinnamon)

1/2 oz. lemon juice

1/4 oz. blood orange juice

1 ? teaspoons (1/4 oz.) chestnut balsamic vinegar, such as I Legni Chestnut Balsamico Vinegar of Modena

1 tablespoon whisked egg white (or 1 teaspoon powdered egg whites)

1 piece star anise (garnish)

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Shake ingredients together without ice for a few seconds to blend well.? Add ice and shake vigorously for 10 seconds more.? Strain into a wine glass and float a piece of star anise on top.

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Mixologist Carlo Spendorini has won national and international awards for his creative cocktail making.

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ROMEO AND JULIET UNDER THE MISTLETOE

per cocktail:

1 oz. vodka

1 oz. gin

2 tablespoons strawberry pur?e or finely crushed fresh strawberries

1 ? teaspoons (1/4 oz.) fig infused balsamic vinegar, such as F.lli Gorrieri Fig Balsamic

1 oz. lemon juice

1/2 oz. Aperol or Campari (slightly bitter aperitifs infused with herbs)

Pink and black peppercorns (garnish)

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Combine ingredients into a shaker tin with ice, shake vigorously for 10 seconds, strain into a Champagne coupe, garnish with a kiss of freshly ground pink and black pepper on top.

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Source: http://www.realfoodtraveler.com/2012/12/festive-holiday-drink-recipes-with-italian-balsamicvinegar/

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