Try this Portuguese “cocktail” this warm, Spring weekend!

Try this quick and easy Portuguese mix for a refreshing cocktail on a spring or summer night.

Ingredients

• Dry White Port Wine
• Tonic Water
• Lime
• Ice

Simple: Just mix the Port Wine and Tonic Water in a 1:1 ratio, add a squeeze of fresh lime and garnish with the lime wedge. Serve over ice in any wine glassware.

A few to consider:

Quinta Seara D’Ordens White Porto Fino
Taylors Chip Dry White Port NV
Burmester Extra Dry White Port

*Image free from dreamstime.com

Everyone welcome Canton: A premium ginger liqueur that is worth some fuss.

Answer: Fabulous. Question: How would you describe Canton, the new premium ginger liqueur in one word?

This past weekend I got to try the new Liqueur created by the French Indochine ginger root estate of Domaine de Canton. Canton is an infusion of VSOP white Cognac and baby ginger and can be enjoyed either over the rocks or within a cocktail. Canton is 28 percent alcohol (56 proof) and contains syrup made from caramelized Vietnamese baby ginger, Grand Champagne VSOP cognac, neutral spirit, orange blossom honey from Provence, and vanilla.

My first take was that the bottle was quite aesthetically pleasing although a little difficult to pour from. This small note aside, I had no other complaint. I first tried Canton poured right into a snifter. The aroma was quite pleasing and the ginger really stood out. On the palette the liqueur was a touch sweet with subtle notes of honey and great flavors throughout. Overall the Canton is elegant and exciting and well suited for livening up any plain, old cocktail. I took the advice of the website (www.cantonliquer.com) and tried the Indochine Martini. Quite a simple recipe that resulted in a very exciting and unique Martini.

• 2 oz Canton
• 2 oz Pravda vodka (I used Grey Goose)
• splash of pineapple juice

Shake with ice & strain into martini glass.
Garnish with fresh ginger.

I also tried a few other combinations one of which turned out very good.

• 2 oz. Vodka
• 2 oz Canton
• 1 oz. Orange juice
• 1/2 oz. Apricot brandy

Combine ingredients and shake lightly over ice. Strain into a Martini Glass.
Garnish with fresh Ginger and slice of orange.

Canton is already on the shelves in New York City and will be making its way across the US over the course f the next year. It is a fun Liqueur to play around with and will make any cocktail a success. Highly recommended!