Bar Exam: The Colman Cocktail

Wow! What was that that just hit us here?? Talk about a force of nature. Which is a way of saying this latest posting pause has been brought to you by the newest addition to the PDX appetite scene and the life that hasturned our world upside down 9in all the right ways), our new son Colman, born 3 weeks early Jan. 12th at a power packed 7#7oz.....


Colman passed out on my chest (left), drunk on mama's milk, and (right) pimping it in his car seat


Now that we're getting used to interrupted sleep....as much as one can get used to waking up at 1am, 3:13am, 4:55am, etc...I finally feel moderately able to put together some sort of post to honor Colman's tumultuous arrival. So how to pay tribute to something that both his mom w and I are...to be oh, so eloquent...gaga over? Thinking of what tastes good after a day of diapers (bringing new meaning to the term "shitload"), a soothing cocktail, something not too strong so I can remain able to parent, but with enough flavor to satisfy, seemed just the thing. Keeping in mind how honored I would have been to have a new cocktail named after me, may I present for your drinking pleasure The Colman. I loved this combo of vodka, pear brandy, ginger simple syrup, and citrus (with a nod of inspiration to the classic Impear cocktail at Castagna here in PDX). Far too easy to drink, this satisfies on every level, much like the feelings it's namesake has brought to our house!
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The Colman Cocktail
an E.D.T. original

makes 1 drink
ingredients:
2 oz. vodka
1/2 to 3/4 oz Clear Creek (or other) pear brandy
3/4 oz fresh squeezed lemon or lime juice (I've tried it w/both, and think they are equally delicious, so whatever you have laying around, have at it!)
1/2 oz (3/4 oz if you like a slightly sweeter drink) ginger simple syrup....recipe to follow
Disc of ginger for garnish

method:
Fill cocktail shaker half full of ice, add all the ingredients, shake for 20 seconds, and strain into a martini glass, garnish with ginger, and ponder the wonder of life!

Ginger Simple Syrup
ingredients:
1 cup water
1 cup sugar
1 cup peeled, roughly chopped ginger

method:
Add all ingredients to sauce pan, bring to a boil while stirring to dissolve sugar, turn heat down and simmer for 30 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool. Should keep in fridge for a week or so.