Miami Bloggers Summer Sipping With Coopers’ Craft

Photo credit Nabila Verushka

It’s Summertime in South Florida and that means hanging out by the pool, garden parties, and all kinds of Summer fun! The South Florida Bloggers were invited by sponsor Coopers’ Craft to learn how to make beautiful and tasty Summer cocktails using Coopers’ Craft Kentucky Bourbon. The fun afternoon kicked off at Coopers’ Craft container bar in Wynwood Market – a gorgeous open market with a hip bar built inside a shipping container with an upcycled wooden deck.

Photo credit Nabila Verushka

As the bloggers arrived, they were treated to a gorgeous welcome cocktail called “Bienvenido a Verano.” The fruity drink made with berries, bourbon, and mint was served over an ice sphere with a frozen flower incased within it. It was light, fruity and delicious. The perfect drink to serve in a get together at home.

Photo credit Nabila Verushka

The event continued with a flavor wheel tasting where the Miami Bloggers tasted different food pairings to bring out the different flavors in Coopers’ Craft. We tasted apple and it highlighted the softer and sweeter flavors in Coopers’ Craft. We then tasted spiced gouda cheese that brought forward the spicy notes of the bourbon – cinnamon and cloves. The final food pairing was honey which accented the finish of the bourbon.

Photo credit Nabila Verushka

Miami Bloggers Summer Sippers Finale

We ended with the Spice of the Summer Cocktail made with apple syrup, bitters, ice infused with cinnamon and cloves, dehydrated apples as a garnish, and caramelized orange peel oil gives the drink orangey notes. It was fascinating to watch the talented mixologist, Anita, make this cocktail. To add the caramelized orange peel oil, she squeezes an oil peel and sets it a flame with a torch. The pyrotechnics were a hit! We finally have another use for our creme brûlée kitchen torch.

If you are looking for Summer Sipper cocktail recipes, the Coopers’ Craft website has some worth checking out.

Photo credit Nabila Verushka

Things Miami Bloggers Learned About Bourbon

A few things we learned about Bourbon & Coopers’ Craft. For alcohol to be labeled bourbon it must be:
1. Made in the US.
2. Aged in a brand new oak barrel.
3. Made with at least 51% corn.
4. Cannot be bottle under 85 proof.
5. Cannot be put into the barrel at greater than 125 proof.

What matters most in bourbon making is the barrel. 50-70% of the flavor and 100% of the color comes from the barrel where the bourbon is aged. Brown Forman is the only major distillery that makes their own barrels.

The person who makes the aging barrels is called a cooper and Coopers’ Craft is a brand that pays them homage.

Photo courtesy of Coopers’ Craft

Photo courtesy of Coopers’ Craft

Photo courtesy of Coopers’ Craft

Photo courtesy of Coopers’ Craft

Photo courtesy of Coopers’ Craft

Photo courtesy of Coopers’ Craft

Photo credit Nabila Verushka

Photo credit Nabila Verushka

Photo courtesy of Coopers’ Craft