"Thiago Leite has a simple philosophy when it comes to making cocktails, and it applies whether you're hosting a fancy dinner party for friends or simply curling up on the couch for a quiet night with your partner and Netflix. Make what you like, he says. Consider the Caipiroska he was stirring together on a test run for Fairmont Pittsburgh's holiday cocktail classes."
"Leite, who is both the Downtown hotel's banquet director and restaurant manager, was born in the U.S., but he spent every summer of his childhood in Brazil with his family. The national drink there is the Caipirinha, a sweet and tangy cocktail made with fresh lime, sugar and cachaca, a vegetal distilled spirit made from fresh sugarcane juice. Like most bartenders, Leite is a fan of vodka, a sponge spirit that readily takes on the flavors of whatever it is mixed with."
"On this day, he was tweaking the long-established recipe by using Absolut Elyx instead of cachaca, and brown sugar in place of the superfine cane sugar that traditionally sweetens the drink. Known for its refreshing quality, this twist on a Caipirinha might seem like an odd choice in Pittsburgh in December. But remember Leite's No. 1 rule about following your bliss."
Thiago Leite prefers making cocktails that reflect personal preference whether entertaining or relaxing at home. He spent summers in Brazil and draws on the Caipirinha, made with lime, sugar and cachaca. He adapted the classic by creating a Caipiroska using vodka (Absolut Elyx) and brown sugar instead of superfine cane sugar. The Caipiroska remained refreshing despite being served during Pittsburgh's winter. Leite contrasted Brazilian summer traditions of iced drinks with Pittsburgh's hot chocolate customs. He also devised a whiskey-based cocktail called the Bashful Boulevardier, combining whiskey, Campari, cherry syrup and a dash of raspberry Chambord for a rich, festive flavor.
Read at www.post-gazette.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]