Spirits guru

From local brewers to the vineyards of Italy, exotic wines and spirits land on the shelves of our local stores and favorite bars. This site will inform and educate you about what's good and why. I'll share my best cocktail recipes; please send feedback. Together we'll explore what specialties local bartenders are mixing, and mark our calendars for special events. Salut!


About me

Keith Saunders

I honed my mixology skills at the Oak Room of the Copley Plaza Hotel in Boston. Other experience includes the Four Seasons Hotel in Chicago, and the Hotel Captain Cook in Anchorage, where I facilitated community tasting events while bartending at the Crow's Nest. I am currently working with a team of mixologists at Simon & Seafort's. To date, I have created more than 300 new cocktails. I've lived in Anchorage since 1999.

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Archive

New Martini's To Make Merry With! - 12/3/2008 5:51 pm

French Press? - 12/3/2008 5:35 pm

Second Annual Great Alaska Shootout Recipes! - 11/19/2008 8:48 pm

Warm Winter Cocktails To Warm The Spirit...... - 11/10/2008 4:02 pm

New Recipes from the Spirits Guru..... - 10/18/2008 12:47 pm

Fall is still here, if only in spirit..... - 10/18/2008 12:18 pm

Bourbon Whiskey 101! - 10/6/2008 5:14 pm

Single Malt Scotch Whisky 101 - 10/6/2008 4:37 pm

A few Bourbon Jewels I've come a across. - 9/30/2008 1:02 pm

Results of Whiskey-vs-Whisky Tasting! - 9/30/2008 12:53 pm

Whisky versus Whiskey at Simon and Seafort's! - 9/13/2008 12:06 pm

A Toast for Palin............... - 9/13/2008 11:38 am

None for Nine - 9/5/2008 9:20 am

Shucks! It's Oyster Time At Simon and Seafort's! - 9/2/2008 2:24 pm

Ten unusual uses for Vodka! - 8/24/2008 12:16 pm

Please Sir May I Have Some More! - 8/24/2008 11:44 am

Cilantro has it's time! - 8/13/2008 2:08 pm

The Mystery of Jasmine - 8/11/2008 3:12 pm

WineStyles Benefit! - 8/11/2008 2:48 pm

A Secret Basil Elixir! - 8/10/2008 3:57 pm

Rosemary and Thyme? - 8/10/2008 3:34 pm

August The Month Of Herbs! - 8/5/2008 2:01 pm

full archive »

The Classics for Father's Day!

Posted by Keith Saunders

Posted: June 11, 2008 - 3:10 pm

It's that time of the year to honor dear old Dad!

It's also a good time to bring out some of the classics.

Pay a special visit this Sunday with your Father and bring a few things with you to impress the old man.

Classic Manhattan (always a pleaser)

2 oz. Woodforde Reserve Bourbon
1 oz. Sweet Vermouth
a dash of bitters

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add all ingredients. Shake and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a cherry or lemon twist.

Gibson (rarely ordered, it is a sweet way to liven up your gin)

3 oz. Hendrick's Gin
1/4 oz. Pickled onion juice
2 drops Dry Vermouth

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add all ingredients. Shake and strain into a chilled martini glass. Skewer 3 pickled pearled onions and drop it into this beautiful liquid experience.

If dad's tastes travel in different directions, here are a few other options that will make for a spectacular bonding experience for you both.

The Lounge Lizard

1 1/2 oz. Goslings dark rum
1/2 oz Amaretto
Coke Cola

Fill a 6 oz. tumbler with ice and add the dark rum and amaretto, fill the remaining glass with coke cola, depending on the strength of the cocktail you desire. Rum and coke is considered to be the second most popular drink with men. This little twist with amaretto adds a very impressive quality to a simple, timeless cocktail.

Then there's Scotch!

It has to be Single Malt and should be no less than 12 years aged.

Nothing the best for dear old dad.

It also must be served neat with either a single ice cube or two or a splash of water, in order for it to open up and share it's secrets.

Here's what to get.

Glenmorangie Sherrywood, this smooth fruity nectar takes its unique characteristics from the Sherry oaked barrels it's aged in.

Brown Jug Warehouse has it available for $64.99, while supplies last.

Something a little more edge to it, Clynelish 14 yr. This spectacular Whisky is largerly ignored for other more popular brands but not so much better.

Clynelish is complex with lots of mineral earthy undertones and a spectacular texture that has hints of smoke and peat on the back of the palate.

Clynelish 14 yr. also may be purchased at Brown Jug Warehouse for a bargain price of $48.99.

Cheers Dad!

Salut!


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  3     October 28, 2008 - 9:26am | ammys

A segment of Britney

A segment of Britney Spears’ upcoming single ‘Womanizer’ was briefly leaked online last Friday
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  2     October 23, 2008 - 7:21am | ammys

A grizzly bear named Boog,

A grizzly bear named Boog, domesticated by a park ranger, Beth, helps deer friend Elliot escape from the mullet-sporting hunter, Shaw. When the Elliot decides to return the favor to help Boog escape from Beth he finds that Boog is very happy with his domesticated home. After a misunderstanding, Beth is convinced that Boog is reverting to his wild nature and releases him in the woods just as hunting season begins. Boog has no idea how to survive outside of his garage home with his beloved Beth. Elliott and Boog develop a strong bond not only between themselves but also with the wild animals and attempt to drive the hunters out of the forest.
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  1     June 12, 2008 - 9:54am | lushlife

Exxon Valdez Cocktails

Hey Keith, with the Exxon decision pending, I was wondering if you had, or knew of, any cocktails related to Exxon or named after oil companies, etc. which we can drink to commiserate or celebrate. I seem to recall you created something like that in the Crow's Nest, but maybe I'm thinking of TSO... anyway, let me know, I'd love to recommend it to people! ;)

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  June 12, 2008 - 2:37pm | wineglass

Related recipes!

The TSO was created for the 25th anniversary of Tesoro Gas and Oil last year. A lovely donation was made to the Spouses Club at Fort Rich for my contribution, by CEO Bruce Smith and his wife. The Crows Nest carried it on their menu but have since replaced it.

TSO
1 1/2 oz. El Tesoro Tequila
1/2 oz. Chambord
1 oz. Lemon Sour

Pour all ingredients into a shaker and shake 6-8 times. Strain into a chilled martini glass and float 1 oz. of champagne over the top.

Another I have called the Spill over the years also does not appear to my knowledge on any lists anymore.

The Spill

1 1/2 oz. Vodka
3/4 oz. Black Sambucca
1 oz Dark Creme de Cacao

Combine all ingredients into a martini shaker filled with ice and shake 6-8 times. Spill into an unchilled martini glass and sip this thick liquid slowly.

I found a recipe years ago on-line called the Exxon Valdez Cocktail. I can't seem to locate the location but here is the drink recipe.

Exxon Valdez Cocktail

3/4 oz.Black Sambucca
3/4 oz. Butterscotch Schnapps

Pour Black Sambucca into a shot glass and layer the Butterscotch Schnapps over the top.

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