With several awards and accolades under her belt, Stephanie Teslar, Blue Hound Kitchen & Cocktails’ head bartender, has introduced 10 new cocktails that are “throwbacks” of Southern-inspired drinks and focus on house-made ingredients.
Stephanie takes a more culinary view when she crafts her cocktails. She spends a lot of time in the kitchen experimenting with produce and pairing her cocktails with Blue Hound’s menu.
Right now she’s making a lot of bases in-house including spiced rum, blue curacao, Thai tea bourbon and citrus vodka. She prefers to make her own ingredients so she can alter the flavor profiles.
The new menu is available now through October. Here are a few of Stephanie’s favorites (full menu and photos attached):
Kentucky Thunder ($11) – Thai Tea Buffalo Trace, House made Banana Syrup, Coconut Milk, Sugar Rim. This is Stephanie’s favorite cocktail on the new menu. She infuses the bourbon with Thai tea, makes her own banana syrup (reduces down the bananas and strains them) and adds coconut milk. It’s only three ingredients, but it’s really flavorful. It’s refreshing and different and she finishes it with a sugar rim.
The Blueprint ($10) – Tanqueray 10, House made Blue Curacao, Lemon, Orange Bitters, Bubbles. This cocktail is light and refreshing. It’s a citrus-forward gin that pairs well with the prosecco. Stephanie combines citrus zest, ginger, cloves and all spice and lets it macerate.
The Barn Burner ($11) – Copper City Bourbon, Cynar, Chile, Crème de Menthe, Peach Bitters, Flamed Citrus. This cocktail has all the elements of a Mint Julep, but in a stirred cocktail. Stephanie wanted to do a julep cocktail, but not serve it over ice. She wanted people to experience a julep differently and enjoy the flavors in a new way. The Ancho Reyes Chile Liqueur is authentic tasting, you’ve got the bourbon on the front with a slight minty taste on the back and added tartness of the citrus peel.
Other new items:
Porch Crawler ($12) – Aylesbury duck vodka, Kronan, Lemon, Fresh Cherries, Grapefruit Juice, Rose Water.
Back in Black ($10) – Bombay Sapphire, Ginger/Bergamot Tea Syrup, Fernet, Lemon, Soda.
Daisy Duke ($11) – Herradura Blanco, Saline Solution, Green Pepper, Thai Basil, Agave, Citrus.
Quick Gin Fizz ($12) – Bols Sloe Gin, Ransom Old Tom Gin, Passion Fruit, Lime, Egg White, Peppercorns.
Young and Famous ($11) – House Spiced White Wine, Famous Grouse Scotch, Demerara, Lemon, Pernod.
Paris of the Plains ($11) – Bols Genever, Lavender Crème De Mure, Pineapple, Bols Yogurt, Balsamic.
Corn & Oil ($12) – 151 Demerara Rum, Banks, Coffee and cornflake infused Falernum, Lime, Angostura.
