Wishing You a Happy New Year With A Festive Cocoktail

As we bring a memorable year at J. Carver Distillery to a close, we want to thank you for supporting us in 2014. Here is to you, our distillery friends and fans and all of the liquor stores and restaurants across the state who have partnered with us to carry J. Carver craft spirits. In honor of all of you, we are raising a glass to celebrate this past year and this New Year’s Eve with this classic French 75 cocktail. Enjoy this libation this evening while the Champagne is flowing or during your New Year’s Day brunch tomorrow. Cheers to another successful year in 2015 as we create and launch new and unique Minnesota craft spirits and continue this exciting journey together. 

“J. Carver French 75”

1 ounce J. Carver Premium Vodka OR Premium Gin (Amazingly – you can use either/or!)
½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
½ ounce simple syrup
3 ounces Champagne

Add all ingredients except the Champagne in a shaker and fill with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a Champagne flute. Top with Champagne and ENJOY!

The J. Carver Distillery Team wishes you a VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The Cocktailian, Restaurants, Spirit Shops, and Gifts of the Season

The most wonderful time of year is here and the hustle and bustle of the season has kept us on our toes at the distillery and around town. The focus has been on production and keeping the J. Carver Premium Vodka and Premium Gin flowing. The Distillery team has been busy pouring at festive events like the Cocktailian at the Varsity Theater last week. J. Carver crafted two specialty drinks, the “Botanical Lady” and “Maple Kiss” which were enjoyed by over 843 guests at the Cocktailian. Thank you to City Pages for inviting J. Carver Distillery to participate in this amazing event with a portion of the proceeds benefiting “Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry Campaign.” 

Botanical Lady
Ingredients
3 oz J. Carver Premium Gin
1 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 oz thyme-infused simple syrup
Shake all ingredients and strain in a Martini glass. Garnish with a thyme sprig.

Maple Kiss
Ingredients
1 oz J. Carver Premium Vodka
2 oz Chilled hard apple cider (Pacific Coast Hard Apple Cider)
Drizzle with REAL Minnesota Maple syrup
Shake all ingredients and strain in a Martini glass.

Other events have included pouring at liquor stores and specialty shops around town. A popular tasting was at The Vintage in Chanhassen. J. Carver Vodka served with Jack Rudy Elderflower tonic was tasty and refreshing. This cocktail can be made as a Martini or served over ice in a Collins glass. 

J. Carver Elderflower Tonic
Ingredients:
2 oz J. Carver Premium Vodka
1 oz Jack Rudy Elderflower tonic
½ simple syrup
¾ oz fresh lemon juice

Out and about and around town, bars and restaurants are shaking things up with J. Carver craft spirits creating drinks and expanding their specialty cocktail programs - exciting times in the spirits industry. 

At Lola’s Lake House in Waconia, our table enjoyed an array of cocktails including the classic Lemon Drop Martini and Orange Martini, the J. Carver Vodka Cosmopolitan and Lola’s specialty Fireside Martini made with J. Carver Premium Vodka. Delicious!

The ever popular Moscow Mule and specialty martinis were enjoyed by all listening to talented local artists singing classic Christmas carols at School of the Wise 2 in Chanhassen. SOW2 is all about local. Stop by and check out this neighborhood gathering place supporting J. Carver craft spirits distilled just down the road. 

Many have asked during our open house last week and we are pleased to announce rye whiskey and apple brandy that are aging in barrels made right here in Minnesota. And yes, the rye and apples are local too. For the Bourbon lovers out there, patience is a virtue, but do not fret, we are working on Bourbon too.

Need a little help deciding what to get that special someone on your list? How about gift ideas from your backyard and the gift of J. Carver Distillery Minnesota craft spirits? It is a party in a bottle. J. Carver Premium Vodka and Premium Gin are available at local liquor stores around town. Keep local gifts in mind. Cheers!

Crafting Holiday Cocktails - Spirits of Discovery

The holiday season is upon us. What better way to celebrate with family and friends around the table than with a libation made with hand crafted J. Carver Premium Vodka and Premium Gin. Watch guests’ eyes light up when they see these festive cocktails awaiting their arrival. These cocktails are among the tasty traditions that evoke memories during the holidays – and inspire new ones. There are many creations here for you to choose from: 

J. Carver Crimson Splash
1 1/2 ounces of J. Carver Premium Vodka
2 ounces Cranberry Juice
A splash of ginger ale
Fill a low ball with ice. Add J. Carver Premium Vodka and cranberry juice. Leave room for a splash of ginger ale. Squeeze in a lemon for garnish. For a festive touch, add three cranberries infused in simple syrup as an additional garnish. See below for simple syrup recipe.*

J. Carver Moscow Mule
2 ounce J. Carver Premium Vodka
4 ounce Ginger Beer
3/4 ounce fresh lime
Served over crushed ice in traditional copper mug or a Collins glass. Garnish with lime.

J. Carver Cosmopolitan
1 ounce J. Carver Premium Vodka
1 ounce J. Carver Premium Gin
1/2 ounce Marie Brizard Triple Sec
3/4 ounce of Cranberry juice
½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
Combine all ingredients in shaker with ice. Shake and strain. Serve in Martini Glass rimmed with fine sugar and garnish with a lemon twist and cranberries*.

Pomegranate Gin Martini
1 1/2 ounces of J. Carver Premium Gin
1 ounce Marie Brizard Triple Sec
1/2 dropper of Bittercube Bolivar Bitters
¾ ounce Powell & Mahoney Pomegranate Mixer OR pomegranate juice
Combine all ingredients in shaker with ice. Shake and strain. Serve in a Martini glass.
Garnish with an orange twist and pomegranate seeds infused with simple syrup* for a festive flair.

Pomegranate Vodka Martini
1 1/2 ounces of J. Carver Premium Vodka
1 ounce Marie Brizard Triple Sec
1/2 dropper of orange or grapefruit bitters
¾ ounce Powell & Mahoney Pomegranate Mixer OR pomegranate juice
Combine all ingredients in shaker with ice. Shake and strain. Serve in a Martini glass.
Garnish with an orange twist and pomegranate seeds infused with simple syrup* for a festive flair.

J. Carver Negroni
1 ounce J. Carver Premium Gin
1 ounce Campari
1 ounce Vermouth Blanc
Combine all ingredients in a low ball served over ice. Garnish with a thick lemon twist.

J. Carver Jasmine
1 ½ ounces J. Carver Premium Gin
1 ounce Cointreau
¾ ounce Campari
½ ounce fresh lemon juice
Combine all ingredients in shaker with ice. Shake and strain. Serve in a Martini glass. Garnish with a lemon twist and a Maraschino cherry.

J. Carver Vesper
2 ounces J. Carver Premium Gin
1 ounce J. Carver Premium Vodka
1 ounce Vermouth Blanc
Combine all ingredients in shaker with ice. Shake and strain. Serve in a Martini glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.

J. Carver Left Bank
1 ½  ounces J. Carver Premium Gin
1 ounce Elderflower Liqueur
1 ounce Vermouth Blanc 
Combine all ingredients in shaker with ice. Shake and strain. Serve in a Martini glass. Garnish with a lime twist.

J. Carver Aviation
1 ½ ounces J. Carver Premium Gin
½ ounce Crème De Violette
¼ Maraschino Liqueur
¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
½ ounce simple syrup
Combine all ingredients in shaker with ice. Shake and strain. Serve in a Martini glass. Serve in a Martini glass rimmed with fine sugar and garnish with two Maraschino cherries and a lemon twist.

Maple Kiss
1 once J. Carver Premium Vodka
2 ounces chilled Pacific Coast Hard Apple Cider
Drizzle with real maple syrup
Served over ice in a low ball glass.

J. Carver “French 76”
1 1/2 ounces of J. Carver Premium Vodka
1 ounce Marie Brizard Orange Curaçao
1/2 dropper of Bittercube Jamaican Bitters
1 ounce chilled Cava or Prosecco
Combine all ingredients in shaker with ice. Shake and strain. Serve in a champagne flute. Top with Cava or Prosecco. Garnish with an orange twist.

*Simple syrup recipe: In a saucepan, boil 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water over medium high heat until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat immediately. Cool and store in glass container.

*For cranberry garnish, after removing from heat, take the batch of simple syrup add one bag of fresh cranberries while liquid is still hot and then cool completely. Store in a glass container and refrigerate. Use as garnish in above cocktails.

*For pomegranate seed garnish, after removing the liquid from heat, cool the batch of simple syrup completely and add seeds of one pomegranate. Store in a glass container and refrigerate. Use as garnish in above cocktails.

J. Carver Premium Vodka and Premium Gin are available at over 137 local spirit shops and restaurants in Minnesota. From north to south, and east to west, J. Carver Premium Vodka and Gin are within reach to taste, create and enjoy classic, quality cocktails during the holidays. ‘Tis the season for time with family and friends all together in one place. The J. Carver Distillery team looks forward to celebrating the season with our distillery fans and friends enjoying these and other tasty cocktails. J. Carver Distillery – Spirits of Discovery.