Not Just for Harry Potter Fans: Butterbeer From the Gibson

A Recipe for A Butterbeer Cocktail

by AJ Dronkers, Associate Publisher & Digital Editor EdibleDC

Biscotti Schnapps III

In a time of explosive craft cocktail programs across the DC region and along the 14th street corridor, it's refreshing to visit a pioneer of the neighborhood, the Gibson. On a recent fall evening, I knocked on their black unsigned door just past 14th & U Street for an evening of cocktails. What I found in DC's uber-speakeasy was an incredible team of bartenders that was blowing the lid off the concept of seasonal menu changes with 20 new drinks inspired by autumn. Our favorite of the evening was the Butterbeer that was both cozy and intoxicating - exactly what we look for during the holiday season. Here's the recipe, thank you Gibson!

Gibson Butterbeer Recipe

• 1.5 oz Famous Grouse scotch whiskey
• 1 oz Biscotti Liqueur
• 0.5 oz lemon juice
• 2.5 oz vanilla syrup
• 1 egg white
• Amber lager or Pilsner

Dry shake Famous Grouse scotch whiskey, biscotti liqueur, lemon juice and vanilla syrup with egg white. Add ice, shake, strain, top with amber lager -- top with nutmeg for garnish.

The Gibson is located at 2009 14th St. NW Washington, DC 20009. For a list of some of the some of the available The Gibson Fall Menu Preview.

EdibleDC Pride Guide + Rainbow Punch

Fruit

by AJ Dronkers, Associate Publisher & Digital Editor

June is a month celebrated around the globe to rejoice and reflect on LGBTQ history. This weekend is DC Pride, and DC has a long history of celebrating this weekend in high style. The Capital Pride Alliance works hard year round with a coalition of area groups and volunteers to pull together an incredible celebration of LGBTQ diversity. Here are some of our highlights, tips and a recipe for "Edible DC Rainbow Punch" that is sure to quench your thirst during this weekend heatwave.

Friday Night

BYT (Brightest Young Things) is known for throwing epic parties and they are back again with the  Capital Pride Kick-Off Party @ Arena Stage. The flashback theme is great for bringing out old workout clothes, neon colors and your treasured spandex.

Before: Swing by 17th street the original DC gayborhood and visit a number of businesses that are LGBTQ owned, run or supporters. It's easy to spot them as they have rainbow flags and decorations. Our picks would be Duke's Grocery for food or JR's Bar & Grill for drinks.

After: Don't have tickets? Go to Nellie's or Town located on U St. NW and merge with the after-party. They will have shuttles from the Arena Stage party directly to U St. all evening.

Saturday

Saturday is the famous DC Pride Parade which starts at 4:30 PM at 22nd and P St NW and runs until 7:30 PM. The path goes through Dupont Circle, the historic 17th Street neighborhood, cuts through Logan Circle neighborhood, takes a left on 14th St and ends at S St. Remember to stay hydrated! It's going to be hot. Pick a strategic spot along the route and prepare to be bombarded like a Baz Lurhmann film with beads, sequins, drag queens, families and over the top floats.

Before: Host your own gathering celebration or go to brunch, one of DC's favorite meals out. Some of our picks for brunch would include Annie's Paramount Steakhouse on 17th St. NW or Birch & Barley 14th St NW. Then head down to Pennsylvania Ave. NW between 3rd and 7th St. and enjoy food, drink, and loads of entertainment.

After: Take a disco nap and hydrate up. After you awake from your slumber, head to any LGBTQ establishment across the city. Our pick would be Number Nine on P St in Logan Circle. They have a super classy split level bar with a great crowd, tunes and drink specials.

Sunday

Before: Grab cold press coffee at one of our amazing local coffee spots such as  La Colombe Coffee, Compass Coffee, Chinatown Coffee, The Coffee Bar, The Wydown, Bake House or Whole Foods P Street. If you want to brunch, might we suggest the creative cuisine at Compass Rose on 14th St.?

After: We would suggest one of the hottest outdoor spots in DC, the gay-owned DACHA beer garden located in Shaw. They have massive umbrellas to cast some shade, and excellent beer selection. Sunday happens to be the gay gathering place.

EdibleDC Pride Punch

Adapted from Bon Appetit recipe for Algonquin Bar Punch.

PRIDEPUNCH

Making anything rainbow can be a bit of a pain, let's be honest, since it tends to involve a lot of produce and a lot of slicing and dicing. But the rewards are so worthwhile from the oohs and aaahs of your party guests from the beauty and the delicious factor that hits them from their first sip. Our fruit-inspired punch screams "It's summer!" and lets your rainbow be the party standout.

Ingredients (Serves 25-30 and fills a 1.7 Gallon Drink Dispenser)

• Peel of 8 lemons (removed with vegetable peeler)
• 2/3 cup superfine sugar
• 4 cups fresh raspberries
• 3 cups Plymouth Sloe Gin
• 3 cups Gin
• 3 cups fresh lemon juice
• 3 cups Dark Rum
• 4 cups chilled Champagne
• 1 watermelon
• 4 large oranges
• 1 pineapple
• 3 green apples
• 2 cups blueberries
• 1 large bushel of grapes

Instructions

Start by muddling the lemon peels and sugar with a wooden spoon. Next, add the raspberries and mash away until you have a nice pulp mixture and the sugar has dissolved. Pour in sloe gin, your gin of choice, lemon juice, and dark rum. Stir. Add ice and put in the fridge to chill.

LayersStart

Meanwhile being preparing all the fruit. You can change the fruit based on the season, but your goal is to create a rainbow layer in the drink dispenser. I started with watermelon cubes at the bottom, poured in some crushed ice at each layer, next orange slices + crushed ice, pineapple slices + crushed ice, green apples + crushed ice, blueberries + crushed ice, and finally frozen grapes + crushed ice. (Note: you may need to drain some water before adding the main punch depending on timing.)

LayersTop

LayersFinal

When ready pour the punch mixture into the drink dispenser, add champagne and you are good to go! Enjoy your Pride cocktail creation with friends and family. (Expert note: if you have enough time make an ice block the night before place in center of drink dispenser fruit layer for core chilling. Otherwise just have an ice bucket next to the dispenser for guests).

 To learn more about the Capital Pride Alliance and all the events taking place this weekend and throughout June visit here.

Cheers to the Cocktails of Summer

Buckle up, roll down the windows and get ready for an amazing summer cocktail cruise. We are happy to share with our Edible DC readers the full lineup of amazing summer cocktail recipes and specialty drinks served at the Edible DC Cocktail Derby on May 9. The event featured top shelf distillers of whiskey, bourbon, gin and new local craft distillers of a Virginia scotch-style whiskey. Beverage artisans True Tonics and Runningbyrd Tea were on hand to provide samples and mixers. Horse racing season inspired the decor and attire; hats and snappy outfits were everywhere. The event was catered by Poste Modern Brasserie and held in the outdoor courtyard of the Hotel Monaco. Vendors included Whistle Pig, James River Distillery, Koval, Catoctin Creek, Copper Fox, Virginia Distillery and Bernheim Wheat Whiskey. Special thanks to Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants, Typecase Industries, Amarillyis Floral + Event Design, and Elizabeth Duncan Events. Many thanks to event photographers Christina Brown and Katrina Tavanlar.

Copper Fox Distillery - The Bismark

2 ounces Copper Fox Rye

1 ounce lemon orange blossom shrub 1 ounce Carpano Bianco ½ ounce lemonade Sparkilng water Lemon verbena

Shake, strain on ice and top with sparkling water and lemon verbena for garnish.

Poste Modern Brasserie - Le Parc

1 part Strawberry Shrub (or any shrub flavor) 1 part Dolin Blanc 1 part vodka Club soda

Pour first three ingredients over ice, top with club soda. Garnish with a half strawberry and sprig of fresh thyme.

James River Distillery - Negroni

1 ounce Commonwealth Gin 1 ounce Campari 1 ounce Sweet Vermouth

Combine all ingredients in an old-fashioned or rocks glass and stir. Garnish with an orange peel.

True Tonics - Caribbean Pharaoh

2 ounces Lyon White Rum 2 ounces grapefruit juice ½ ounce True Grenadine Club soda Sprig of mint

Combine rum, grapefruit juice, and grenadine over shaved or small-cube ice in an old fashioned glass, top with club soda, and garnish with a sprig of mint.

WhistlePig - Porky’s Smash

2 ounces WhistlePig Rye Whiskey 4 lemon wedges 4-5 mint leaves 3/4 ounce simple syrup 1 dash each, aromatic and orange bitters Fresh mint, for garnish

Muddle the lemon and mint in a cocktail shaker. Add ice and remaining ingredients and shake well; strain into a chilled old-fashioned glass filled with crushed ice. Garnish with mint leaves.

Catoctin Creek -When Me Angry Gin Smash

Half a lime 4 to 6 mint leaves 1 3/4 ounces Catoctin Creek Watershed Gin 1 ounce pea purée* Mint for garnish

Muddle limes in a cocktail shaker. Add pea purée, mint leaves, gin and ice to the shaker and shake well. Strain into a rocks glass filled with crushed ice. Garnish with mint.

*Pea Purée: Take a cup of shelled peas, 1 oz of cold brew green tea, a teaspoon of sugar and a pinch of salt and place them in a food processor or blender until smooth. Strain the mixture using a fine mesh sieve.

KOVAL Distillery - Magna Fortuna

Named for a famous rescued Chicago racehorse

2 ounces KOVAL Dry Gin 1 ounce KOVAL Ginger Liqueur 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice 1 ounce spearmint infused simple syrup Club soda

Shake all ingredients with ice and pour into a glass. Top with club soda and garnish with a wedge of lime (optional: also garnish with mint).

Running Byrd Tea Co. - Spiked Runningbyrd Tea

Adapted from Cava Grill

1 jar Runningbyrd Apple Cider Tea, chilled 2 ounces whiskey 1 sprig of fresh mint 1 cinnamon stick 1 lemon twist for garnish

Pour the whiskey into the tea and shake a few times. Pair with a cinnamon stick and mint and serve.

Virginia Distillery Company - Virginia Highland Smash, or Highland Smash

1 ounce Virginia Highland Malt Whisky ½ ounce of rich honey syrup (2:1 honey/water) 1/4 wedge of lemon 5 spearmint leaves

In a cocktail shaker, gently muddle lemon with mint leaves, taking care to just barely bruise the mint leaves. Add honey syrup and Virginia Highland Malt Whisky and shake with ice. Strain into a rocks glass over one large ice cube. Garnish with two mint leaves slapped between your hands to release essential oils.

Bernheim & Domaine de Canton - The Gold Rush

1½ ounces Bernheim Original Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey 1 ounce Domaine de Canton liqueur ½ ounce fresh lemon juice

Place all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice; shake well and strain into a martini glass.

Catoctin Creek Distilling Company - Elemental Rye Julep

3 ounces Catoctin Creek Roundstone Rye Whisky ½ ounce of Element Lemon Mint Shrub (more or less to taste) 6-10 fresh mint leaves, plus more for garnish

Add mint to a rock glass with crushed ice, and muddle the mint to the ice. Add the rye and shrub and stir to combine, then garnish with more mint.

Thanks to Edible DC intern Avery Morrison for compiling the recipes and photos.