An Evening Together - Northland Country Club and J. Carver Distillery

Hard to believe January is coming to a close. The distillery has not slowed down after the hustle and bustle of the 2014 holiday season. Actually, it feels like we have been busier than ever. Product development has been on the forefront while the J. Carver team continues to get out and about with tastings and events.

Last week’s trip to Duluth for a five course cocktail and food pairing at Northland Country Club was delightful. A huge shout out to Ryan Bauer, Director of FUN, the chefs, and his team for collaborating with J. Carver Distillery to create tasty cocktails made with J. Carver Premium Vodka and Premium Gin that paired beautifully with jaw dropping appetizers. It was an evening enjoyed by all that brought Minnesota craft spirits and chef inspired food for the members and guests at Northland Country Club to a new level. Cheers to a memorable evening!

COURSE 1
“J. Carver French 75”
1 ounce J. Carver Premium Vodka
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. SERVED IN A CHAMPAGNE FLUTE  
Paired with:  An Alaea salt, Kukui nut & scallion poke cones 

COURSE 2
J. Carver Left Bank
1 ½  ounces J. Carver Premium Gin
1 ounce Elderflower Liqueur
1 ounce Sauvignon Blanc
Combine all ingredients in shaker with ice. Shake and strain. 
Serve in a Martini glass. Garnish with a lime twist
Paired with an assortment of gourmet cheeses including Chevre from Wisconsin.

COURSE 3
Copa Malbec created at Coalition
2 oz J. Carver Premium Gin
3/4 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 oz simple syrup
1 oz Piatelli Malbec wine
Shake all ingredients and strain in a low ball with ice. Top with Malbec wine.
SERVED IN A LOW BALL GLASS WITH ICE  
Paired with:  Braised five-spiced pork belly, pickled cucumber and jalapeno slaw, Sriracha aioli, crushed peanuts, sweet soy on a bao bun.  

COURSE 4
Maple Kiss
1 oz J. Carver Premium Vodka
2 oz Chilled Pacific Coast Hard Apple Cider
Drizzle with 2 teaspoons REAL Minnesota Maple syrup
Shake all ingredients and strain in a Martini glass.
SERVE IN A MARTINI GLASS 
Paired with:  Chicken fried bacon and sausage cream gravy.  

COURSE 5
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 into a low ball glass with ice. Garnish with a lemon twist and a Maraschino cherry.
Great balance of bitter orange and sweetness
PAIR with:  Tempura fried spicy ahi roll, soy reduction and pickled ginger aioli.  

Looking forward to our next event. Until then, raising a glass to those who create tasty libations with hand crafted spirits distilled here in Minnesota and to our restaurateurs and chefs who create delicious bites satisfying all of us who hunger and thirst for good eats and drinks. Cheers!

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!

J. Carver Distillery Open House

J.CARVER DISTILLERY OPEN HOUSE

Many have asked, so we are happy to announce a public Open House. Stop by Saturday, December 13th from 9-2 pm and meet the team, check out our equipment and our distilling process. 

J. Carver apparel including hats, shirts, and sweatshirts will be available for purchase. Though we won’t be tasting at the distillery during this Open House, our products are available for purchase at all our local liquor stores. Great gifts for the Holidays!

Local Restaurants Serving Up J. Carver Cocktails

Have you tried these J. Carver Cocktails - The J. Carver White Cranberry Cosmopolitan, Crimson Splash, The Vesper, Steve's Super Bloody, The Saketini, or a Maple Long John Martini? These tasty libations are being enjoyed by distillery friends and fans new and old alike at local gathering places and restaurants around town. Check out these recipes and stop in at these watering holes to enjoy locally made Minnesota craft spirits or add the gift of J. Carver Vodka and Gin to your Thanksgiving table this year by creating cocktails with family and friends. Raise a glass and share stories and memories that will bring your family together during your holiday celebration.

The J. Carver White Cranberry Cosmopolitan is a festive signature drink created by J. Carver Distillery. Last weekend, it was served by the Minneapolis Hyatt Regency staff at the martini luge ice sculpture during the Cystic Fybrosis gala. The event was glamorous and the martinis were delicious.

J. Carver White Cranberry Cosmopolitan
1 ½ ounces of J. Carver Premium Vodka
¾ ounce Marie Brizard Triple Sec
1 ½ ounce White Cranberry Juice
¼ ounce Cinnamon Infused Simple Syrup
Shake and strain. Serve in a Martini glass
Garnish with cranberries cooked and infused in simple syrup

The Hyatt's Prairie Kitchen and Bar shakes up an incredible Dirty Martini made with J. Carver Premium Vodka. Perfection. Thank you Andrew Scullin, Elizabeth and their talented team for inviting Gina Holman of J. Carver Distillery to their staff training to discuss cocktail creations made with J. Carver Premium Vodka. The next time you are in Minneapolis, try a J. Carver Dirty Martini or Moscow Mule. Cheers!

The Crimson Splash is featured at local establishments in Waconia including Chumley's, The Saloon, Hoppers, and Island View Dining.

This cocktail is featured at many of the local watering holes around Waconia including Chumley's, The Saloon, Hoppers, and Island View Dining.

J. Carver Crimson Splash
1 ½ ounces of J. Carver Premium Vodka
1 ½ ounces of Cranberry Juice
Splash of ginger ale
Server in a low ball over ice. Garnish with a lemon wedge

J. Carver Vesper

Matt at Zeitgeist Arts Cafe in Duluth

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

Enjoy this Martini at Zeitgeist Arts in Duluth or at Sushi Fix in Wayzata. Matt was a master shaking the cocktail table side and Anthony commanded is bar.

Anthony at Sushi Fix serving up a Saketini

Saketini - Visit Billy and Anthony at Sushi Fix in Wayzata. This drink will WOW you! Order with J. Carver Premium Vodka and Anthony shakes this martini up with Sake and garnishes with fresh ginger. Delicious! Perfect timing for their #barhop supporting local businesses on Saturday, November 29th from 2-5 pm. Kampai!

Steve's Super Bloody Mary made with J. Carver - In the mood for a Bloody Mary with all the fixings? OK, a meal in itself! Stop by and see Steve at Hoppers in Waconia on Sunday for some football fun and an incredible Bloody Mary to boot. You won't be disappointed.

Dessert - 'Tis the season for Pumpkin Pie.... or how about a Maple Long John Cocktail? The choice is not as easy as it seems! The staff at Island View Dining and Golf Club make it easy to decide and satisfy your sweet tooth after a delicious meal by serving up this cocktail. Warm up by their fireplace and enjoy this delicious delight.

Maple Long John Cocktail
1 ounce J. Carver Premium Vodka
1 ounce Metcalfe’s Vermont Maple Cream
1 ounce William Wolf Pecan Bourbon
Serve over ice in a low ball glass

Thank you to all of these restaurants for supporting J. Carver Distillery and Minnesota Craft spirits. The J. Carver Distillery Team extends our best to you and yours as family and friends spend time around the table during holiday celebrations. Wishing you a very Happy Thanksgiving. Cheers!