KEVIN BRAUCH FALL COCKTAILS

Gemini Award-winning television host Kevin Brauch has spent a career travelling the globe in search of the most unique beverages. His show on the Food Network, The Thirsty Traveler, has been seen in 65 countries on five continents.

He is currently working on his next television program CheF*OFF for Food Network Canada.

Inside Milton Magazine recently caught up with the celebrity bartender to chat about creating something unique for entertaining your guests this season. With hints of cinnamon, nutmeg and rhubarb on mind, Brauch shared his Great Pumpkin moment with us and a bit of Autumn Indulgence.

Brauch spends his off-camera time writing comedy and keeps fit by playing year-round ice hockey, mountain biking and triathlon training. Guilty pleasures include imported beer, CD shopping and sneaking out of work mid-afternoon for a trip down to the pub to cheer on the Arsenal Gunners Football Club of London, England.

AUTUMN INDULGENCE

Sweetness from the icewine and the spicy nature of this special tea combine beautifully to create a masterful autumn cocktail. Wonderful for Thanksgiving and holiday entertaining. Sophisticated and yet still very approachable and fun!

Ingredients:

• 1 oz Mission Hill Reserve 2006 Vidal Icewine (or similar)
• 1 oz Premium Vodka ABSOLUT
• ½ oz Cointreau Liqueur
• 2 oz chilled, 2 hour steeped Celestial Seasonings Bengal Spice Tea
• 2 dashes Twisted & Bitter Orange Bitters

Action:
Combine ingredients (in order) over ice in cocktail shaker
Stir for 20 revolutions
Strain into chilled 5oz (or 6oz) cocktail glass
Garnish: Three (semi-frozen, chilled) cranberries

THE GREAT PUMPKIN (AKA CHARLIE BROWN) 'BAR STYLE'

Ingredients:

• 1 large tablespoon pumpkin puree
• 2 oz Maker's Mark Bourbon
• 2 dashes rhubarb bitters
• Juice from half lemon
• Dash cinnamon and nutmeg
• 2-3 tablespoons of brown sugar syrup (2:1 ratio sugar to water depending on sweetness of puree)

Action:
Brush inside of cocktail glass with thick cranberry puree (SEE PHOTO)
Set aside in fridge to chill
Ice into stainless 1/2 of Boston shaker - set aside
Build all ingredients into glass 1/2 of Boston shaker
Pour ingredients into iced stainless and seal shaker
Gently shake and/or roll and/or aggressive stir for
20-30 seconds (if your ice is small & brittle - not
too much force or drinks will be over watered with melted ice)
Double strain slowly into cranberry painted cocktail glass (pour away from
cranberry paint if possible)

FOR 'BAR STYLE' ADD ONE EGG WHITE TO BOSTON GLASS,
SEAL WITH OTHER INGREDIENTS AND SHAKE AGRESSIVELY
FOR A MINIMUM of 30 seconds TO EMULSIFY EGG WHITE.