This Valentine's Day, Give Her (or Him!) a Cocktail!

Okay, don't JUST give her/him a cocktail. Also take them out to dinner. But mix them a cocktail to set up the evening (or as a nightcap), and start the night out right!

The Penny Lane tastes like a boozy chocolate dipped cherry. Find the recipe and technique below!

"Penny Lane"

2 oz. Ceres Vodka from Chicago Distilling Company
2 oz chilled hot chocolate made with local dairy (I used Ghirardelli unsweetened cocoa)
2 tsp. cognac
1 oz cherry juice

OPTIONAL: 1 Meadow Haven Farm egg white

The Technique:

If omitting the egg white, shake the ingredients together with ice for 10 seconds. Strain into a glass and garnish with a cocoa powder heart.

If adding the egg white, shake all of the ingredients together without ice for 20 seconds, then incorporate ice and shake again for 10 seconds. Strain into a glass, gently shaking the egg white on top.

The Garnish:

See that picture above? This is how you accomplish an awesome garnish on top of this drink, or really any drink.

It's super simple. Take a piece of cardboard and draw a shape on it. Then carefully cut it out.

Sit it on top of the glass and carefully shake cocoa/cinnamon/sprinkles over top.

Remove the template carefully and voila!

A few tips:

Make sure the amount of liquid in the glass is near the top but not right to the edge, otherwise, your template will get wet!
If the template does get wet, just let it dry out on a flat surface. It will dry and you can reuse it.
If you don't remove the template carefully, you will damage your cute little garnish! To save it, you could re-shake the cocktail then try again!