My passion for cocktails started more than 10 years ago, as a manifestation of the frustration that there wasn’t any kind of cocktail culture in my country. I had a deep fascination for different tastes, and, although I heard in movies about classic cocktails like an Old Fashioned or a Manhattan, I had nowhere to try them. I started purchasing a couple of bottles and, for almost five years, I’ve done classic cocktails almost exclusively.
Those mixes help you tremendously with regard to developing a palate and understanding flavour balance. Nowadays, I create original cocktails almost 90% of the time.

Although I have done a couple of gigs in the last year, I still consider mixology as being my passion, the most amazing hobby and a great trip through flavours, experiments and knowledge. During the week, for close to 13 years, my job involves writing articles, tutorials and reviews in the field of technology.

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru

About Alexandru Puiu

Budding mixologist during the weekend,
tech writer during the week.

My name is  Alexandru Puiu and I live in the middle of Romania, in a region called Transylvania, that was made famous by Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Vlad Tepes, who inspired the story of Dracula, was born in my city, Sighisoara.

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

Peachy Sunday ( #negroni twist)
1oz Dry Gin Peach Wembley
1oz Amaro Vermouth Punt e Mes
1oz m Strega Liquore
0.5oz Pear Liqueur Xante Spirit
2ds Bitters Peychaud’s
3 drops Saline Solution 20%
 
Stir with lots of ice, strain over fresh ice, garnish with an orange peel, and, if you have it, a passiflora

Peachy Sunday
( #negroni twist)

Awesome weekend everyone, and find balance in whatever makes you happy

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru #thursdaydrinks

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

Smoldering Smitten – original

1.5oz Blanc Rhum Agricole Dillon

0.75oz Rhum Vieux Agricole @rhum_depaz

0.5oz Chartreuse Green @chartreuse1605

0.25oz Mint Liqueur @minttuspirit

1oz Lime Juice

0.75oz Passion Fruit Syrup @fabbri1905

Angostura Bitters float

Shake with ice, strain over crushed ice. Float the bitters, garnish with mint and lime peel

Smoldering Smitten - original

So enthusiastic about this mix of flavours, the Blanc Rhum Agricole is such a funky base for a cocktail, and works great with lime, passion fruit and that pinch of Chartreuse and mint

Hope it sounds as good as it tasted.

Awesome weekend everyone, and find balance in whatever makes you happy

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru #thursdaydrinks

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

SuPEARb – original

1.5oz Pear Brandy (Rachiu de Pere) Pivnita Bunicii

0.5oz Mandarine Liquer Solado Averna

0.5oz Amar Majuni

0.5oz MOF Chartreuse

2ds Lemon Bitters The Bitter Truth

Stir with lots of ice, strain over a large ice cube in your favourite coupe, garnish with a lemon peel, after expressing essential oils. A pear flower also does wonders, if their readily available where you might be living

SuPEARb - original

Every now and again, I get back to my local spirits, and what they’re doing at Pivnita Bunicii in Saschiz, Transilvania is quite amazing. This particular bottle of pear brandy is bottled at 50ABV or 100 proof, after being barrel aged for some time to “take the edge off” from that higher proof, while still offering a punch in the best way possible

Awesome weekend everyone, and find balance in whatever makes you happy

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru #thursdaydrinks

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

Saint Give Me – original

1.5oz Jamaican Rum Smith & Cross

0.75oz Green Chartreuse

0.5oz Rum Elixir Dumont XO

0.25oz Pimento Dram The Bitter Truth

1oz Pineapple Juice

0.75oz Lime Juice

Shake with ice, strain over a large ice cube, garnish with a sprig of fresh mint and tiny white rose, if you have it

Saint Give Me - original

This was my last cocktail with a “normal” bottle of Green Chartreuse, since the global shortage will either keep it completely unavailable, as it is now, or make it insanely expensive, something the Carthusian monks will definitely not take advantage of.

If you haven’t heard, for a couple of months now, the monks behind the #Chartreuse family of spirits have announced that “They are limiting production, to focus on their primary goal: protect their monastic life and devote their time to solitude and prayer”.

 In other words, things will only get more difficult for fans of the very particular spirit from 1605

Awesome weekend everyone, and find balance in whatever makes you happy

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru #thursdaydrinks

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

Smothered Clouds – original

1oz Jamaican Rum Smith & Cross

0.5oz Pimento Dram The Bitter Truth

0.5oz Golden Falernum The Bitter Truth

0.5oz Chartreuse Jaune

2ds Yuzu Bitters The Japanese Bitters

0.5oz Supasawa

Stir with lots of ice, strain over a large ice cube, garnish with an orange peel, and the tiniest sprig of mint

Smothered Clouds - original

Some kind of a stirred tiki mix of flavours, this was a spur of the moment cocktail meant to recreate a wonderful picture from a couple of years back, in which the orange peel seems to be floating on a block of clear ice

Awesome weekend everyone, and find balance in whatever makes you happy

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru #thursdaydrinks

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

Hell’o Spritz – original
1.5oz Espadin Joven Montelobos Mezcal
1oz Verde Ancho Reyes
0.5oz Green Chartreuse
0.5oz Olive Brine
2ds Yuzu Bitters The Japanese Bitters
Top with DOCG Prosecco

 

Stir everything except the prosecco with lots of ice, strain over fresh ice in your favourite long drink / highball glass. Top with prosecco, and garnish with rosemary and a couple of stuffed olives. A chilli pepper for looks also helps get the point across

.

Hell’o Spritz - original

I’ve never mixed olive brine with tequila or mezcal, but if you’ve done the same until now, you’re missing out. That pinch of salt or saline solution that does wonders in a margarita, also work amazing if you’re taking it from olive brine. And if you want to tame the mezcal smoke just a tiny bit, the prosecco does wonders

Awesome weekend everyone, and find balance in whatever makes you happy

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru #thursdaydrinks

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

Running Theme – original

1.5oz Sea buckthorn Gin Cross Keys

0.5oz Bitter Del professore

0.5oz China China Amer Bigallet

0.5oz Cynar

0.25oz Cardamom Liqueur Marie Brizard

0.25oz Supasawa Supasawa co.

2ds Peach Bitters The Bitter

Stir with lots of ice, strain over a large ice cube and garnish with a sprig of mint and edible flower

Running Theme - original

There’s a running theme when it comes to some of my recent drinks. You can tell that it’s reminiscent of a Negroni, but it going further and further away from the original

The mix of bitter amaro with a very interesting gin definitely does wonders of tingling the tongue. The Supawasa is there to balance the pinch of sweetness from the amaro.

Awesome weekend everyone, and find balance in whatever makes you happy

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru #thursdaydrinks

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

Straight to the Orient – original
2oz Beluga vodka Gold Line
0.5oz Yuzu Liqueur Marie Brizard
0.33oz Ginger Syrup Pivnita Bunicii
2ds Peychaud’s Bitters for floating
 
Stir with a lot of ice, strain over fresh ice or serve in a coupe. Garnish with a sprig of rosemary and a lemon peel, after expressing essential oils

Straight to the Orient - original

If you a have a nice bottle of vodka, and want to spice it up a little, this is a nice little tipple to get things going, especially if you’re into oriental flavours, like Yuzu or Ginger
Hope it sounds as good as it tasted.

Awesome weekend everyone, and find balance in whatever makes you happy

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru #thursdaydrinks

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

Elderflower Vodka Sour
2oz Vodka Gold Line Beluga
1oz Elderflower Syrup Pivnita Bunicii
1.5oz Lime Juice
Top with a splash of tonic water
Peychaud’s Bitters Float Peychaud’s
 
Shake everything except the tonic water. Strain over fresh ice, top with tonic, float the bitters, garnish with lime peel and raspberries, a few blackberries if you find them

Elderflower Vodka Sour

I made this a while back, and although is quite simple, if you’re into elderflower, and have an appreciation for the touch of anise in Galliano, it’s a quite refreshing tipple

Awesome weekend everyone, and find balance in whatever makes you happy

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru #thursdaydrinks

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

Equal Balance – original

0.75oz Barrel Aged Gin Mary Le Bone

0.75oz Chambord Black Raspberry Liqueur

0.75oz Crème de Cacao a la Vanilie

0.75oz Dom Benedictine

0.75oz Lime Juice

2ds Orange Bitters Angostura

Shake with ice, strain without ice, garnish with a lemon peel, enjoy

Equal Balance - original

Every once in a while, I try my best at creating an equal parts cocktail, and sometimes, it turns out better than I expected. This was one of those times

With regard to the macarons, I’m neither an enthusiast consumer, nor a connoisseur, but I enjoy a couple of these colourful concoctions when I find them.

Awesome weekend everyone, and find balance in whatever makes you happy

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru #thursdaydrinks

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

Vintage Scene – original

1oz Vintage Green Chartreuse

1oz Vintage Dom Benedictine

1oz Vintage Pernod Anise

1oz Lime Juice

0.5oz Ginger & Lemongrass Syrup

Shake with ice, strain over fresh ice, garnish with mint, candied ginger and a mandarin slice

Vintage Scene - original

Vintage bottles always tell a story, even if the contents don’t always change over time. It’s the fascination with what that bottle has seen over time that entices me to keep looking for more. As an added bonus, they might also contain significantly less chemicals than modern iterations of same brands

Awesome weekend everyone, and find balance in whatever makes you happy

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru #thursdaydrinks

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

Quantitites for two

3oz Pear & Cardamom Gin Gvine @gvinegin

2oz Rose Aperitivo Starlino @thestarlino

1oz Green Chartreuse @chartreuse1605

2oz Lime Juice

1.5oz Mango Syrup @fabbri1905

Top with Prosecco

Shake with lots of ice, strain over fresh ice, garnish with mint and, if you have it, passiflora. Top with  prosecco

Mango Luster - original

My brother and his wonderful wife came to visit over the weekend, and she wanted something with mango. This is with what I ended up in the spur of the moment

Awesome weekend everyone, and find balance in whatever makes you happy

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru #thursdaydrinks

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

Nordic Sprinkle – original

1.5oz Aquavit Botanical Lysholm no.52
0.75oz Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto @italicusrdb
0.75oz Dry Sherry Amontillado Valdespino @valdespinosherry
0.5oz Apricot Liqueur @thebittertruthcompany
2ds Celery Bitters The Bitter Truth @thebittertruthromania

Stir with lots of ice, strain into a coupe or a large shot glass. Garnish with thyme and lemon peel


Nordic Sprinkle – original

Although I consider aquavit to be an acquired taste, like most spirits if you think about it, I’m fascinated about the savoury undertones, the opportunities that it involves when you’re thinking about taking it into one direction or another. Hope the mix above sounds as interesting as it was tasty.

Awesome weekend everyone, and find balance in whatever makes you happy

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru #thursdaydrinks

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

Sparkle Sprinkles – original
2oz Dry Gin Etsu Pacific Ocean
0.5oz Alpine Amaro Riserva Bordiga @bordiga1888
0.5oz Bonal Gentian Quina Aperitif
0.5oz Paragon Timur Berry Cordial @paragoncordial
1oz Lemon Juice
0.5oz Elderflower Syrup @pivnitabunicii
Top with Oak Wood Tonic Imperdibile @imperdibileitaliandrinks

Put all the ingredients into a @sodastream bottle with a couple of ice cubes. Adding additional bubbles besides the ones from the tonic water. You’ll be mixing and chilling the drink at the same time with the help of the ice cubes. Be careful.


NB. As a side note, chilled ingredients or cocktails do a better job of accepting CO2 in the mix then warm ones

Sparkle Sprinkles - original

A distant cousin of a gin & tonic, this is more of a complex botanical spritz with tonic water instead of prosecco. This was also a chance to take advantage of a couple of old bottles that I’ve neglected for a while, like the alpine amaro from Bordiga. The quinine from Bonal is also a nice touch

Awesome weekend everyone, and find balance in whatever makes you happy

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru #thursdaydrinks

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

Gin Clara – original
1.5oz Gin Oriental Spiced @whitleyneillgin
0.75oz Becherovka @becherovka_cz
0.75oz Italicus @italicusrdb
3-4oz tonic water @schweppes
2-3 dashes Juniper Bitters @dekuypercocktails
Mint foam – recipe bellow

Build in glass, give it a quick stir, add the foam on top, and garnish with mint and lemon peel, after expressing the essential oils by

Mint Foam

For the foam, blanche 60gr of mint leaves, blend with 500gr of water, 40gr of sugar, 30 drops saline solution (20%), 0.83gr Xantham Gum.

Moisten 2 sheets of gelatin in warm water, and mix over heat with 25% of the mint solution. Remove from the heat; add the rest of the mint solution while mixing constantly. Strain into a @isiculinary_international , add a N2O cartridge and let it develop in the fridge for more than a couple of hours. Use it over the course of a week

Gin Clara - original

It’s been quite a while since I’ve experimented with molecular mixology, and today I felt optimistic. This is the resulted of lots of patience and quite a complicated process. I love how it looks, but even more, I loved the taste

Awesome weekend everyone, and find balance in whatever makes you happy

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru #thursdaydrinks

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

Asolo (Breath of Wind) – original

Quantities for two

2oz Linie Aquavit

1oz China-China Amer Bigallet

1oz Cointreau

0.5oz Chambord

2oz Lemon Juice

1.5oz Tonic Herbal Syrup Kofi Ti

Top with Asolo Extra Brut Prosecco Montelvini

Shake with lots of ice, except the Prosecco, strain without ice, top with the Italian extra brut sparkling. Garnish with lemon peel and a strawberry

Asolo (Breath of Wind) - original

Asolo Prosecco extra brut superior DOCG from Montelvini has between 0 and 6 grams of sugar per litre. This makes it very particular, but also quite interesting. It makes it almost easier to identify all the wonderful notes of the Prosecco or Glera grapes, behind this style of wine

Awesome weekend everyone, and find balance in whatever makes you happy

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru #thursdaydrinks

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

Elderflower Rum Old Fashioned
1oz Jamaican Rum Smith & Cross
1oz Barbados Rum Reserva Plantation @plantation.rum
0.5oz Bermuda Black Rum @goslingsrum
2ds Orange Bitters @angosturahouse
2ds Jerry Thomas Own Decanter Bitters @thebittertruthcompany
0.25oz Elderflower Syrup @pivnitabunicii

Stir with ice and strain over your most lovely piece of clear ice

Elderflower Rum Old Fashioned

When making a rum Old Fashioned, I usually go for some ginger syrup, because I enjoy even a tiny bit of kick in my rum cocktails. I made an exception this time
I love elderflower tremendously, like most of the people in my country and in many parts of the world. It also works in an Old Fashioned, if you get the chance to make a mix similar to what I’ve written above

Awesome weekend everyone, and find balance in whatever makes you happy

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru #thursdaydrinks

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

Glace à l’orange – original
1.5oz Jamaican Rum Smith & Cross @smithandcross
0.75oz Blood Orange Liqueur Finsbury @finsburygin
0.75oz Orange Liqueur Calvet @calvet_wines
0.5oz Grand Marnier @grandmarnierofficial
1.5oz Lime Juice
0.75oz Elderflower Syrup @pivnitabunicii
1.5oz Orange Juice

Shake with ice, strain over fresh ice, garnish with orange peel and and your favorite red flower. Some dry ice, also ads a lot to the equation, if you have access to it.

Special thanks to @andrei.flesari for the dry ice, and @adrian.sacota for the glass

Glace à l’orange – original

I don’t know if I’ll ever get tired of the wonders created by dry ice, but I still think this is a substance or material that really deserves all the respect in the world. It’s quite dangerous, and if you aren’t careful, you might really get burned

Awesome weekend everyone, and find balance in whatever makes you happy

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru #thursdaydrinks

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

Touch of Evil by John Armstrong @deathandcompany via @fredericyarm
1.5oz Cynar @cynararg
1oz Demerara Rum @eldoradorums 15 Years
0.5oz Jamaican Rum Smith & Cross
1tsp Maraschino Liqueur @luxardoofficial
0.5tsp Fernet Branca @fernetbranca
1ds Salt Solution

Stir with lots of ice, strain without ice into a Nick & Nora glass, or your fancy tiny glass. Garnish with an orange peel, after expressing the essential oils

Touch of Evil by John Armstrong

Another awesome inspiration from Frederic Yarm, this is built around Cynar as a base spirit which, in my opinion, is an awesome idea, but I don’t think it’s for everyone. I also used a fancier bottle of El Dorado, the original mentions 8 years old

Awesome weekend everyone, and find balance in whatever makes you happy

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru #thursdaydrinks

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

1.5oz Rye WhistlePig Whiskey

0.75oz Apricot Liqueur The Bitter Truth

0.75oz Green Vintage 70’s Chartreuse

0.5oz Vintage Bénédictine DOM

2ds Lemon Bitters The Bitter Truth The Bitter Truth

1ds Orange Bitters Regan’s

Stir with lots of ice, strain over a large ice cube, garnish with a parsley flower and lemon peel. Dry ice, completely optional

Garden Hour, Burden Shower – original

Still fascinated with the complexity of Chartreuse, the significant amount of complexity it brings to any mix, especially when we’re talking about a pinch of rye spiciness. The Apricot liqueur and Benedictine just complete “the painting” in liquid form

Awesome weekend everyone, and find balance in whatever makes you happy

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru #thursdaydrinks

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

Smoking Cherry Bread – original

 

1.5oz Genever Bakers best

0.5oz China – China Amer Bigallet

0.5oz Killepitsch

0.5oz Vintage Cherry Grand Marnier

0.25oz Ancho Reyes

2ds Orange Bitters House of Angostura

2 sprays of peated whisky Machrie Moor Arran

Stir with lots of ice, strain over a large ice cube, garnish with and orange peel after expressing essential oils. Spray smoky peated whisky on top

Smoking Cherry Bread - original

So, so happy with this mix. A bit of smoke, a bit of spice, cherries in more ways than one, and the very special bottle that I’ve dreamt of for a very long time, China-China Amer. The Genever ties it all together.

Awesome weekend everyone, and find balance in whatever makes you happy

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru #thursdaydrinks

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

Disfrutando – original

1.5oz Tequila Plata Patrón

0.75oz Yuzu Liqueur Marie Brizard

0.75oz Verde Ancho Reyes

0.5oz Supasawa

Stir with lots of ice, strain into a coupe or fancy martini glass. Serve with a cracker, a radish rose and a teaspoon of salmon caviar

Disfrutando - original

A distant cousin of a Margarita, this was inspired by a tiny jar of salmon caviar that I bought today. I first set my mind on a Martini, like I did last year, but the small amount of smoke from the tequila, with a bit of a kick from the Ancho Reyes, made me think that this is a better idea. The fresh notes of yuzu always go amazing with any kind of fish

Awesome weekend everyone, and find balance in whatever makes you happy

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru #thursdaydrinks

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

Rum & Red – original

1.5oz Aged Rum Very Rare A.H. Riise Spirits

0.5oz Pineapple Plantation Rum

0.5oz John D. Taylor’s Velvet Falernum

0.5oz Marendry Bitter Fabbri 1905

1ds Elemakule Tiki Bitters Bittermens

1ds Bitters House of Angostura

Stir with lots of ice, strain into an ice cold glass, garnish with lime peel, after expressing essential oils

Rum & Red - original

This very fancy glass is part of a set of two, and was gifted to me by my parents. It’s a three piece from @peugeot, the leather coaster, the metal disk that you keep in the freezer, and the actual glass. Initially as a whisky tasting glass, it definitely works for other spirit forward drinks

Awesome weekend everyone, and find balance in whatever makes you happy

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru #thursdaydrinks

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

Gin & Tonic, sort of

2oz Dry Gin 47ABV Connoisseur’s @whitley_neill  gifted

0.75oz Genepi Abrupt @chartreuse.fr

0.33oz Jasmine Liqueur

0.5oz Lime Juice

Tonic Water to top Pink Grapefruit @franklinandsons

Build in glass full of ice, stir well before adding the tonic water, stir slightly again

Gin & Tonic, sort of

So enthusiastic about 47% ABV for gin, this is the sweet spot in my opinion, it does a much better job of standing up to modifiers, while delivering the perfect amount of botanicals. This is also the reason for which I’m happy that Whitley Neil is releasing Connoisseur’s Gin with this number attached
As a side note, I’m also incredibly happy that I managed to get my hands on this new bottle from Chartreuse, so wonderfully particularly unique, as always. If you’re not having any kind of Chartreuse in your life, you’re missing out.

Awesome weekend everyone, and find balance in whatever makes you happy

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru #thursdaydrinks

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

Bonbon Rouge – original

1.5oz XO HARDY Cognac

0.5oz Creme de Cacao Tempus Fugit Spirits

0.75oz Hunting Berry Bitter BELUGA

0.75oz Ginger Liqueur Domaine de Canton

2ds Orange Bitters House of Angostura

Stir with lots of ice, strain without ice, garnish with a lemon peel, a maraschino cherry and After Eight mint chocolate

Bonbon Rouge - original

I received a couple of weeks back some 50ml samples from Hardy cognac, and I’m definitely not a collector of tiny bottles, so I decided to mix something with one of them

After tasting the XO expression, found some notes of chocolate, discreet caramel, maybe a hint of vanilla, so I decided to go in that direction, hence the name bonbon

Awesome weekend everyone, and find balance in whatever makes you happy

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru #thursdaydrinks

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

Royal Eldersour Rose – original

1.5oz Linie Aquavit

0.75oz L’Autentico Galliano

0.5oz Campari

0.5oz Rose Liqueur Lanique

1oz Lime Juice

0.75oz Elderflower Syrup Pivnita Bunicii

2ds Bitters Peychaud’s

3-4 drops Foamee.me – optional

Shake with lots of ice, strain over a fresh ice cube, garnish with some dill and the most red flower you can find

Although it came from my head, I was overly enthusiastic about this one. The elderflower and rose feels natural, especially with touch of bitterness from Campari

Royal Eldersour Rose - original

Leaving the ingredients behind, I really love the glass. It’s been gifted to me this week by one of my oldest friends. It feels as such a natural handmade shape, like a mix between medieval references and the most pleasing attention to detail from modern times

Awesome weekend everyone, and find balance in whatever makes you happy

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru #thursdaydrinks

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

Angel Face – from Difford’s Guide

1 oz Dry Gin Cask Aged Marylebone

1 oz Calvados Chateau du Breuil

1 oz Apricot Liqueur

Stir with lots of ice, strain without ice, garnish with an apple slice and orange peel

Angel Face - from Difford's Guide

I recently bought a bottle calvados, and thought about using it in something simple, classic and equal parts. The result is definitely a stiff drink, but one full of flavour

Awesome weekend everyone, and find balance in whatever makes you happy

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru #thursdaydrinks

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

Cold Rum Run – original

1.5oz Single Estate 12 Years Nicaragua Rum Flor de Caña

0.75oz Apple & Hazelnut Liqueur Le Birlou Vedrenne

0.25oz Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur Mr Black Spirits

1oz Amaro Nonino

5 drops Supasawa co.

2ds Jerry Thomas Bitters The Bitter Truth

Stir with lots of ice, strain on a large clear ice cube, garnish with an orange peel, after expressing the essential oils

Cold Rum Run - original

Winter comes, the flavours change. Seasonality shouldn’t be obvious just in your restaurant plates, but also in your drinks. A bit stiffer, with forest flavors, apples, nuts. You know the drill

Awesome weekend everyone, and find balance in whatever makes you happy

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru #thursdaydrinks

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

Jam & Jelly – original

1.5oz Jamaican Rum Smith and Cross

0.5oz Creme de Banane Tempus Fugit Spirits

0.5oz Coconut Liqueur Malibu

0.5oz Creole Shrub Clément

2ds Elemakule Tiki Bitters Bittermens

1ds Lemon Bitters The Bitter Truth

Stir with lots of ice, strain without ice, garnish with a lime peel after expressing the essential oils

Jam & Jelly - original

Some tropical vibes in this one or what some might call a stirred tiki drink. Fruity, full of Jamaican rum funk, and with just a pinch of sweetness and acidity

Awesome weekend everyone, and find balance in whatever makes you happy

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru #thursdaydrinks

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

Smoky Mandoline – original

1.5oz Mezcal Joven El Recuerdo de Oaxaca

1oz Mandarine Napoléon

0.5oz Genepi Intense des Peres Chartreuse

0.5oz Supasawa Supasawa co.

1ds Umami Bitters The Japanese Bitters

1ds Hellfire Habanero Shrub Bittermens Bittermens

Stir with lots of ice, strain without ice in a glass with a peeled mandarin slice, and garnish with a mandarin peel

Smoky Mandoline - original

Inspired by somewhat of a Margarita, I used Mezcal instead of tequila, the wonderfully flavoured Mandarine Napoleon instead of a classic triple sec, a pinch of supasawa for acidity. The genepi is there to complete the botanical painting that I had in my mind

Awesome weekend everyone, and find balance in whatever makes you happy

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru #thursdaydrinks

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

Ti’ Punch with a Twist

3oz Blanc Agricole Rhum Neisson Officiel

1.5oz Lime Juice

1oz Ginger & Lemongrass Syrup Pivnita Bunicii

2ds Elixir de la Grande Chartreuse

Stir with lots of ice, strain over fresh ice. Garnish with a lime peel. The original required mashing lime cubes with a sugar cube

Ti’ Punch with a Twist

The official drink of Martinique, this is more botanically complex than a daiquiri or a Margarita, but its strong flavour might not be for fans of the ones previously mentioned

Another sour variation, as there are many across the classic books, the Ti’ Punch is much more particular in its flavour profile than most others

Awesome weekend everyone, and find balance in whatever makes you happy

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru #thursdaydrinks

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

1oz Overproof Plantation Rum

1oz Ancho Reyes

1oz Patrón XO Caffe Incendio

0.5oz Fernet Branca Menta

5oz Fresh Espresso

1oz Ginger & Lemongrass Syrup Pivnita Bunicii

3ds Elemakule Tiki Bitters Bittermens

Build in a blender, add a small shaker tin full of ice, just to have a bit of control over the dilution and an idea about what I was going for, flash blend or press the pulse button three times, if you have this button on yours. Dirty dump in your favorite beer mug or large glass. Garnish lavishly, or not at all, depending on what you have at hand.

Frozen Heat - original

The strange thing about this drink is that when I started creating it in my mind, Bailey’s was the first ingredient. It’s not included in the final mix because I thought that it was no longer necessary with all the spice and rum. I’ll use it next time

Awesome weekend everyone, and find balance in whatever makes you happy

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru #thursdaydrinks

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

Quantities for two

3oz XO Cognac Prince Hubert de Polignac

0.75oz Liqueur de Aloe Vedrenne

0.75oz Jasmine Liqueur Marie Brizard

0.75oz Elderflower Liqueur St-Germain

0.5oz Mandarine Napoléon

0.25oz MOF Limited Edition Chartreuse

3ds Elemakule Tiki Bitters Bittermens

0.75oz Supasawa co.

 

Stir with lots of ice, strain without ice in your favourite fancy coupes, garnish with a mandarin peel, after expressing essential oils. Eating an additional mandarin also adds something to the experience of enjoying the drink.

Les Fleurs du Cognac - original

The last drink from last weekend was a wonderful stiff sip, with a flowery backbone hidden behind that amazing bottle of cognac. As a side note, I was significantly reluctant about buying my first bottle of aloe vera liqueur, but it turned out great. I’ll see what else I can build around it

By the way, try to always share your drinks, every bit of feedback helps, and they also taste better with friend or loved one nearby

Awesome weekend everyone, and find balance in whatever makes you happy

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru #thursdaydrinks

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

1oz Gin
1oz Celery Stock – recipe bellow
0.5oz Aloe Vera Liqueur Vedrenne

0.5oz Lime Juice

0.25oz Green Chartreuse

0.25oz Ginger Syrup Pivnita Bunicii

0.125oz Simple Syrup

2oz Brut Champagne very cold

Carbonated and served over serrano ice cubes – recipe bellow. Spray with parsley tincture – recipe bellow. Garnish is optional

Parsley tincture

200gr Parsley

300gr 96 ABV Alcohol

 

Celery stock

Cold pressed juice from a head of celery mixed with 25% sugar, approximately 80gr sugar

Serrano ice

3 serrano peppers

60gr water

Deseed and cut pepper, blend with water, strain. Use 52gr of liquid going forward

220gr water

120gr green bell pepper juice

72gr glucose

60gr simple syrup

12gr St. George Spirits Green Chille Vodka (this will never be available in Europe, in my opinion. I used chillies infused palinka)

12gr ginger juice

3.5gr lime bitters

0.5gr salt

Jesus Can’t Hit a Curveball from The Aviary Book

This is the most complicated recipe that I’ve tried until know, it’s more a two day project than a cocktail, but I’m very enthusiastic that I got through it. It also tastes awesome. Very vegetal from the celery, parsley and pepper, and far from too hot

I’m still amazed about the whole concept of using flavoured ice to offer an experience that changes over time, as the night progresses. You should definitely give it a try, even if not with something as elaborated as this

awesome weekend everyone, and find balance in whatever makes you happy

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru #thursdaydrinks

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

2oz Melon Vodka Roberto Cavalli

0.5oz Menta Fernet Branca

0.25oz Pimento Dram The Bitter Truth

1oz Lime Juice

1oz Melon Syrup Fabbri 1905

2oz Sauvignon Blanc Villa Vinèa

2ds Bitters House of Angostura

Shake everything with ice, strain over fresh ice and garnish with some mint

I rarely use wine in my cocktails, especially dry wine, but I really felt that this Sauvignon Blanc had some melon fresh flavours, and went great in this mix of exotic flavours

Mellow Melon - original

It’s easy to dismiss fancy vodka, it’s the easiest thing to say “it’s just vodka”. But there are certainly some gems in the premium market, especially flavoured ones like this Melon Vodka from Roberto Cavalli that are quite special. Such a clean smooth melon sipping flavour, 5 times distilled, definitely no useless sweetness, just lovely

May you have an awesome weekend everyone, and find balance in whatever makes you happy

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru #thursdaydrinks

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

An English Sprinkle – #hendricksunusual

1.5oz Hendricks Gin

0.75oz Rhubarb & Ginger Liqueur Edinburgh Gin

0.25oz Marendry Bitter Fabbri 1905

0.75oz Fresh Lemon Juice

Top with English Garden tonic water from Folkington’s

2ds Chartreuse Bitters Elixir Chartreuse

 

Build in a glass full of ice, stir, add more ice if necessary. Garnish with rosemary & sage

An English Sprinkle

Always enjoy a #ginandtonic, especially on a Friday evening. Alone or with a loved one, make it a bit unusual, add that leftover syrup from the fridge, some strange source of local acidity from your country. Make it memorable

 Here’s to a very pleasant weekend

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru #thursdaydrinks

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

1oz Linie Aquavit

1oz Bitter XENTA

1oz Bonal Aperitif Gentiane-Quina

2ds Hellfire Habanero Shrub Bittermens

Stir with lots of ice for proper chilling and dilution. Strain over fresh ice, garnish with fennel stem and an optional habanero.

Feisty Red - original

A distant cousin of a Negroni, I feel it as being a bit more savoury than usual, and that less than discreet touch of spice certainly helps in that direction.

A 50 ABV bitter is a strange kind of monster, in the best way possible. Quite versatile in it’s blend of flavours, it has the bitter orange from the traditional Campari, but that touch of absinthe gives it quite a particular personality. I really think it’s worth experimenting with

 Here’s to a very pleasant weekend

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru #thursdaydrinks

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

1oz Rhum Agricole Blanc Rhum Neisson Officiel

0.75oz Jamaican Rum Smith & Cross

0.5oz OFTD Plantation Rum

0.75oz L’Amaro Romano Virgilii Pallini

0.5oz Pimento Dram The Bitter Truth

2oz Lime Juice

1oz Mango Syrup Fabbri 1905

2ds Hellfire Habanero Shrub Bittermens

Shake everything with lots of ice, strain over crushed ice, top with more crushed ice, garnish with mango slices and mango peel rose

Blooming Mango - original

I love mango and passion fruit equally when it comes to Tiki cocktails, but mango feels more savoury for me, hence the habanero shrub and extra lime juice, while passion fruit is on the sweeter, dessert side of things.

This mix of rums, some amaro and pimento dram is always a success on my book, but that mango and habanero shrub took it to another level

 Here’s to a very pleasant weekend

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru #thursdaydrinks

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

1.5oz Plata Tequila Patrón

0.5oz Elderflower Liqueur St-Germain

0.5oz Rose Liqueur Lanique

0.5oz Jasmine Liqueur @marie_Marie Brizard

1oz Lime Juice

Shake with ice, strain over a fresh clear ice cube. Garnish with lime peel

Flowerita - original

In the end, Margarita is a flower reference, but there aren’t many flowery ingredients in the original recipe, hence this concoction

Elderflower, jasmine, and rose seems like an awesome pairing for a tequila, and, in my opinion, you would be right. Love this mix of flavours, not too much acidity, too much flowers or that slight tequila smoke. Just enough. Enjoy

 Here’s to a very pleasant weekend

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru #thursdaydrinks

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

1.5oz Gin Strawberry & Black Pepper Whitley Neill

1oz Marendry Bitter Fabbri Fabbri 1905

0.5oz Chartreuse MOF Edition Chartreuse

0.5oz Lychee Liqueur Giffard

0.5oz Lemon Juice

Top with Juniper Sparkling Water No1 Botanicals

 

Mix the ingredients with ice without the sparkling water, strain over fresh ice with frozen or fresh raspberries. Top with sparkling juniper water from AV Drinks Import

Strawberry Ramble Bumble - original

On the fruity, flowery side of drinks, this was a spur of the moment mix of flavours, with a bit of comfort zone liquors, my favourite Chartreuse, and a bit of not so common elements, the Lychee. Here’s to a very pleasant weekend

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru #thursdaydrinks

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

1.5oz Jamaican Rum Smith & Cross

0.75oz Bitter Select Aperitivo

1.5oz Pineapple Juice

0.5oz Lime Juice

0.5oz Simple Syrup

Shake with lots of ice, strain over fresh ice, garnish with pineapple slice and leaves

Jungle Bird

 

Every once in a while, you need a classic, and I really wanted to share this one with my brother

Have a wonderful end of the week everyone

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru #thursdaydrinks

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

2oz Vodka Russian Standard

0.75oz Galliano L’Auntentico Galliano

1.5oz Lime Juice

1oz Elderflower Syrup Pivnita Bunicii

2ds Elixir de Chartreuse

Shake with ice, dirty dump in a tall glass. Top with more fresh ice, if necessary. Garnish with lime wheels and enjoy

Elderflower Vodka Sour

For more or less obvious reasons, I rarely use vodka as a main spirit, but I made an exception to day, and it was magical

With Galliano and the most wonderful elderflower syrup, you end up with something magical in more ways than one.

Have a wonderful end of the week everyone

 

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru #thursdaydrinks

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

1oz Jamaican Rum Smith & Cross

1oz Napoleon Mandarine

0.5oz Cynar

2oz Fresh Orange Juice

5-6oz Belgian Beer Leffe

Shake everything except the beer with ice, strain over fresh ice, top with beer, give it a slight stir as to not brake too many bubbles. Garnish with an orange peel after expressing essential oils over the glass.
Some maraschino cherries also help

Shandiffe original

Beer cocktails are a plenty over the internet, it just depends on what you’re into, if you like them or not. Before you discard them though, play with various types of beers, like the wonderful Belgian trappist

Have an amazing weekend going forward

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru #thursdaydrinks

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

2oz Mezcal Espadin Joven Rey Campero

1oz Ancho Reyes Verde Ancho Reyes

0.5oz Green Chartreuse

1.25oz Lime Juice

1oz Pineapple Syrup Giffard

5 drops Umami Bitters The Japanese Bitters

Pinch of black salt in glass

Shake hard with ice. Dirty dump in a coupe glass. Garnish with rosemary and a pinch of black salt

Pineapple Mezcalita Variation - original

I’m very enthusiastic about this new bottle of mezcal. I also posted it in my Instastory. It’s not gifted. I’m just fascinated with the smell, the aftertaste, the way it feels in your mouth

Have an amazing weekend going forward

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru #thursdaydrinks 

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

2oz 15 Years El Dorado Demerara Rum

0.33oz Crème de Banane Tempus Fugit Spirits

0.33oz Crème de Cacao Tempus Fugit Spirits

0.33oz Licor 43

1ds Elemakule Tiki Bitters Bittermens

1ds Angostura Bitters House of Angostura

1ds Cocoa Bitters Angostura #angosturalove

.Stir everything with lots of ice, for chilling and dilution. Strain over a large ice cube or cubes. Garnish with mint, and your favourite chocolate blocks

Rum & Cookies - original

The thought process behind this started with an Old Fashioned variation, and ended up tasting like a miraculous cookie

You have vanilla, you have chocolate, banana, complemented wonderfully by that Demerara rum backbone. Those bitters really finish the painting with just a pinch of spices

Have an amazing weekend going forward

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru #thursdaydrinks 

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

1oz Anejo KAH Tequila

1oz Joven Mezcal Rey Campero

1oz Verde Ancho Reyes

2oz Lime Juice

6oz Handmade Tomato Juice

0.5oz Ginger & Lemongrass Syrup Pivnita Bunicii

2ds Tabasco Sauce Tabasco

2ds Chipotle Pepper Sauce Tabasco

2ds Umami Bitters The Japanese Bitters

2ds Celery Bitters The Bitter Truth

1ds Worchestershire Sauce

1ds Soy Sauce

1ds Aged Aceto Balsamico

1/3tsp Grated Horseradish

Pinch of salt and pepper

Shake everything with lots of ice, strain over fresh ice, garnish with whatever tickles your fancy. Some cherry tomatoes with black salt, celery leaves and some special parsley are definitely great

 

Bloody Maria Variation

I completely understand that it seems like an insane amount of ingredients. When you reach 15 items, you definitely should stop. In my heart though, each and every element is justified

Have an amazing weekend going forward

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru#thursdaydrinks

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

1oz Peperoncino GIN Originario

1oz Campari

0.66oz Vermouth Dopo Teatro Cocchi1891

0.33oz Ancho Reyes

1ds Grapefruit Bitters Fee

1ds Hellfire Habanero Shrub Bob’s Bitters

.

Stir with lots of ice, strain over fresh ice, enjoy #negroniweek, wherever you might be in the world.

Spicy Negroni Twist for #negroniweek

#negroniweek is a wonderful celebration of all things Negroni. Alone or with friends, in a bar or at home, you should definitely enjoy this mix of #campari, #gin, and #vermouth with the most important person in your life.

In my case, I opted for a spicy variation, and hence the gin is also spiced with peperoncino, it would’ve seemed almost strange to not amplify those notes with Ancho Reyes and the most pleasant spicy bitters from #bobbitters

Have an amazing weekend going forward

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru #thursdaydrinks 

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

1.5oz Gin Hendrick’s

0.75oz Spearmint Liqueur homemade – recipe bellow

0.5oz Mint Liqueur Minttu

0.25oz MOF Limited Edition Chartreuse

1oz Lemon Juice

0.75oz Mint & Lemonbalm Syrup Pivnita Bunicii

5 drops Umami Bitters The Japanese Bitters

Shake with ice, strain over crushed ice. Top with more ice. Garnish with plenty of mint, different varieties, if you have them

For the spearmint liqueur, I filled an iSi Whipper with fresh mint, added 400ml of white rum @bacardi, and one N2O cartridge to create pressure. Strained it after 24 hours, added 15% gomme syrup, hard shake, filtered it through a coffee filter

Mint & Gin - original

I love mint, as any human should, and I wanted to show off a couple of varieties from the home garden carefully tended by @deeapuiu

Have an amazing weekend going forward

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru #thursdaydrinks 

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

2oz Spiced Rum @barracuda.spiced.rum

0.5oz Chille Liqueur Ancho Reyes

0.5oz Yuzu Liqueur Marie Brizard

0.5oz Ginger Liqueur Domaine de Canton

1tsp Pimento Dram The Bitter Truth

Angostura Bitters float House of Angostura

Build in glass, give it a quick stir. Fill with crushed ice. Stir it a bit more. Complete with crushed ice and float the bitters.

Hot A.F. - original

I’m still amazed when it comes to the versatility of spice and the wide range of spiciness that you can experience in your lifetime.

Barracuda spiced rum is my most recent purchase, and the “spiced” on the label doesn’t just refer to the usual suspects. This really has some chilli heat in there, and it inspired this creation.

The name is both a reference to the melange of heat sources in the cocktail, and also to the heat waves that this part of the world in the last couple of weeks.

Have an amazing weekend going forward

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

2oz Blended Scotch Whisky Ballantine’s

0.25oz Ginger & Lemongrass Syrup Pivnita Bunicii

1ds Angostura Bitters House of Angostura

1ds Elemakule Tiki Bitters Bittermens

Stir everything with lots of ice, strain over a fresh large ice cube, garnish with an orange peel after expressing the essential oils

Spicy Old Fashioned – variation

So happy to get a chance to try this new bottle of Ballantines 7 Year Old finished in a bourbon cask

@ballantines did an awesome job here, just a touch of sweetness that you almost always associate with bourbon, a pinch of caramel and a, sometimes, a whiff of vanilla. It’s still the same aged blended scotch that you know, but behind a more experimental mix of elements

Have an amazing weekend going forward

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

1.5oz Irish Whiskey Teeling

0.5oz Creme de Cacao Tempus Fugit Spirits

0.5oz Coffee Liqueur Mr Black Spirits

0.5oz Creme de Cassis Noir de Bourgogne Giffard

2ds Cocoa Bitters House of Angostura

Spray of Absinthe in the glass

Stir with lots of ice, strain an absinthe sprayed glass, and garnish with Maraschino cherries

Black Irish Wind - original

The thought process when creating cocktails is more than fascinating. You put some things together in your mind, think about the proportions, and then, you put it into practice

In occasions like the one above, you end up so proud of the final mix, that you think it’s a classic, it couldn’t have come up from your mind. It’s almost logical, a natural mix of flavours.

Have an amazing weekend going forward

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

Whiskey & Amaretto Spritz – original

1oz Bourbon Whiskey Buffalo Trace Distillery

1oz Amaretto Luxardo

0.25oz Pimento Dram The Bitter Truth

1tsp Amarena Cherry Syrup with one cherry

Top with prosecco in a champagne flute, give it a slight stir.

It’s quite a simple drink, but the Pimento Dram adds such a wonderful complexity and spicy kick, that you end up with a surprisingly particular cocktail

 

Whiskey & Amaretto Spritz - original

This was from an event I did last week with a couple of friends, and I was quite enthusiastic about the result. Made it the night before, but forgot to post it.

Have a wonderful weekend.

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

Romanian White Negroni – original

0.75oz Blackberries Palinka PATER

0.75oz Suze

1.25oz Sweet Ice Wine Contessa Villa Vinèa

Spray of Absinthe

Stir with with lots of ice, strain intro your favorite palinka glass, garnish with hibiscus flowers

Romanian White Negroni - original

I created this cocktail many years back, and although it’s far from your traditional Negroni when it comes to presentation, that was the thought process behind it.

Romanian Blackberry Palinka instead of your traditional gin, the classic Suze, and a very flavorful sweet wine made from almost frozen raisin grapes.

The spray of Absinthe is there to deceive you with regard to what you’re about to experience, while the hibiscus flowers give an ode to the traditional color of a Negroni.

Have a wonderful weekend.

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

Tiki New York Sour – variation

2oz Bourbon Whiskey Buffalo Trace

1oz Lemon Juice

0.75oz Orgeat

5 drops Elemakule Tiki Bitters Bittermens

Dry red wine float

Shake everything with lots of ice, strain over fresh ice, float the red wine. Garnish with a lemon peel

Tiki
New York Sour - variation

An experiment for a little get together that I have planned for tomorrow with a couple of friends, this is meant to introduce people to a tiny pinch of Tiki flavours hidden behind some flavours that are more well know.

Have a wonderful weekend.

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

Elderflower & Chamomile Spritz

1.5oz Elderflower Liqueur St-Germain

1oz Elisir de Camomila Bordiga

0.75oz Gentian Liqueur Suze

1.5oz Lime Juice

2ds Peach Bitters The Bitter Truth

Top with Prosecco

 

Shake with ice, strain over fresh ice, top with Prosecco, garnish with elderflower and mint leaves. Enjoy peacefully

Elderflower & Chamomile Spritz

No moment is more special or more well defined in my annual calendar than the blooming of elderflower. This branch wasn’t completely bloomed, but the smell was still wonderful

Have a wonderful weekend.

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

Scottish Improvisation – original
1oz Peated Single Malt Scotch Machrie Moor @arranwhisky
1oz Chille Liqueur Ancho Reyes @anchoreyes
1oz Aperol @aperolspritzofficial
0.33oz Lime Juice
Splash of Soda
2-3ds Creole Bitters @thebittertruthcompany

Build in glass, add a splash of soda, give it a quick stir. Garnish nicely

Scottish Improvisation - original

The completely different presentation comes from the fact that I am visiting, for a couple of days, my new home, near my home town

When I left my home this morning, I took a couple of bottles with me, and this is the result of that effort. Hope it sounds as balanced as it was

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

Sour Hour – original
1oz Pink Grapefruit Vodka Belvedere
0.5oz Cointreau
0.5oz Licor 43
0.5oz Elderflower Liqueur St-Germain
0.5oz Yellow Chartreuse
1.25oz Lemon Juice
1ds Lemon Bitters The Bitter Truth
1ds Grapefruit Bitters Fee Brothers, Inc.

Stir with lots ice, strain over fresh ice, garnish with fresh basil and half a passion fruit. You can also add a spoon to the equation, so you can take the pulp and add it to the drink

Sour Hour - original

When making drinks, you can always put yourself into difficult situations by using a bit too much of one ingredient, trying to balance a high quantity of lemon or lime juice, and this is how your learn

In this case, I started with the lemon juice, and I didn’t want to use any kind of syrup. A few liqueurs definitely gave it the balance that you want in a drink, with just a pinch of extra acidity

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

1oz Chille Liqueur @anchoreyes
1oz Cherry Liqueur Vișinată @pater_spirits
1oz White Rum Agricole @rhumtroisrivieres
Blanc Origines
3oz Hot Coffee
3-4 squares of milk chocolate

Pour the hot coffee over milk chocolate, stir it to melt. Add the rest of the ingredients, give it a quick stir. Garnish with an orange peel after expressing the essential oil, and rubbing the rim of the glass

Coffee Kick - original

I saw a clip a couple of days back with an espresso machine doing an amazing job with melting some chocolate squares in a cup with the help of hot coffee. I tried something similar with this drink, and you can see the process in my Reels
You usually see dark aged rum associated with coffee, but the funk of this blanc rhum agricole does wonders with the cherry liqueur and the Ancho Reyes spice. Hope you like how it sounds


#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

1oz Overproof Rum Plantation OFTD

0.75oz Marendry Bitter Fabbri

0.5oz Creme de Cacao Tempus Fugit

0.5oz Cherry Liqueur Pater 0.5oz Apricot Liqueur

2.5oz Grapefruit Juice

5 drops Elemakule Tiki Bitters

2ds Angostura Cocoa Bitters

Quick shake with crushed ice, dirty dump, top with more crushed ice in you largest glass, garnish with cherry blossom, mint and grapefruit peel

Rummy Orchard - original

An almost desert drink with fruity flavours, this was a lovely sip built around rum, cherry, apricot, grapefruit and a pinch of cocoa in two forms. Hope it sounds as good as it looks and serves as an inspiration for your future drinks

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

1.5oz Vodka Ginger Zest Belvedere

1oz French Vermouth Blanc La Quintinye Royal

0.5oz Yuzu Liqueur Marie Brizard

0.25oz Elderflower Liqueur St-Germain

1ds Elixir de Chartreuse

1spray Absinthe

Stir with lots of ice, strain into a coupe with a large clear ice cube diamond, or, if you’re not a fan of #cubesincoupes, just use a tumbler. Me, personally, I enjoy the initiative by @thecocktail.blog from a while back tremendously

White Spring - original

With regard to the actual cocktail, I love the balance of this, with a perfect mix of floral flavours, discreet botanicals, and wonderful citrus notes from the vodka

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

1.5oz 12 Stars Metaxa
0.75oz Cointreau
0.5oz Jägermeister
0.25oz Rose Liqueur Lanique
0.75oz Lime Juice
0.5oz Ginger Syrup Pivnita Bunicii

Shake everything with ice, double strain it into your favorite coupe glass.
Garnish with an orange slice and an orange peel that’s been expressed on top of the glass.
A dried lemon leaf is also a nice touch if you have one on hand

Flava Flow - original

I used the word flow in the title because cocktails like this do a great of showing how my mind works when creating many of my original cocktails, my thought process.

I start with a base spirit that I love, like the greek brandy Metaxa 12 Stars, add some botanical complexity through an amaro, like Jagermeister, some citrus notes through Cointreau and acidity from the lime juice.

The ginger syrup balances the acidity, while adding a pinch of spice.

The flowery notes from the rose liqueur top off the drink, without fighting with anything else.

It might seem a lot to some people, but this concept allows for plenty of flexibility, while helping you reach for most of your bottles.

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

Mango Cervesita – original

1oz Mezcal Silver Zignum

1oz Silver Tequila Herradura

0.5oz Verde Ancho Reyes

1.5oz Lime Juice

1oz Mango Syrup Fabbri 1905

5oz Mexican Beer Corona

3ds Bitters for floating House of Angostura

Mango Cervesita - original

I’ve never been a Corona drinker, but I saw it today at the supermarket, and immediately thought about creating something with tequila and mezcal. This is the end result.

Somewhat of a mix between a margarita and beer, this is much more interesting than you would first think. The mango adds so much to the equation, in the best way possible, while that slight spice from Ancho Reyes Verde compliments the result.

Shake everything without the beer, strain over fresh ice in your largest glass, top with beer, and slowly add the bitters for floating.

Garnish lavishly.

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

Italian Tiki Passion original

1oz Jamaican Rum Smith & Cross

0.5oz High Proof Demerara Rum 151 Lemon Hart Rum

1oz Sweet Vermouth di Torino Riserva Bordiga

0.5oz Marendry Bitter Fabbri 1905

1.5oz Lime Juice

0.5oz Orange Juice

1oz Passion Fruit Syrup Fabbri 1905

0.5oz Ginger Syrup Pivnita Bunicii

3-4oz Ginger Beer San Pellegrino

3ds bitters for floating Peychaud’s

Italian Tiki Passion - original

Shake everything with ice without the ginger beer. Dirty dump in a large glass.

 Add more fresh ice and top with ginger beer. Float bitters

Something of a pick me upper after a heavy Christmas dinner, this is refreshing, strong and with the perfect amount of ginger spice

This is my show of thanks to Jucan Sebastian Bogdan , Claudiu Jucan and Lacatusu Adrian Dan for introducing me to these wonderful Italian ingredients from Fabbri and Bordiga through their importer Top Brands Exclusive.

 If you live in Romania, you should definitely pay them a visit through www.bar-mag.ro

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

Summer Baller Punch – original

1oz High Proof Rum Lemon Hart

1oz Rhum Agricole Vieux Cuvée du Molin

0.5oz Campari

0.5oz Ancho Reyes

1.5oz Lemon Juice

1oz Ginger & Lemongrass Syrup

100gr Watermelon Cubes

Blend with a bunch of ice in blender. Pour in a cognac glass, garnish with basil, watermelon cubes, and add some fresh ground pepper

Summer Baller Punch - original

I would almost think that I wasted the wonderful summer fruits and vegetables, if I haven’t created something rummy with watermelon

This is inspired by a cocktail called The Summerlin, that I saw in a recent newsletter from @cocktailbuilder. It comprises of rum, watermelon juice, lemon juice, simple syrup and ground pepper for garnish

I went quite a bit far from that initial concept, because of the ground pepper, that made me think of savoury spicy notes. That’s the reason for Ancho Reyes, ginger syrup, and also the basil

The funk of the Martinique rum is quite fascinating, because it still holds its own in this mix of strong flavours and far from small quantities

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

Jaune Sentiment – original

1.5oz Cognac Ile de Ré CAMUS

0.5oz Becherovka

0.75oz Amaro Vermouth Dopo Teatro Giulio Cocchi

1oz Lemon Juice

1oz Elderflower Syrup Pivnita Bunicii

Jaune Sentiment - original

A cognac sour variation, this one is a slight departure from the original, and Becherovka is an awesome addition

Surprisingly, is a bit on the sour side. Although, I usually go for a 75% syrup to lemon/lime juice, these lemons seemed much more acidic than usual

It’s still nice, and interesting, but because of moments like this, I think I’ll start using my PH Meter, that I bought from Amazon a while back. It’s the perfect toy to be much more precise when it comes to acidity and, implicitly, perfect, identical drinks

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

Blinded by the coffee – original

1oz Dry Gin Unfiltered

1.5oz Ice Wine

0.5oz Yellow Chartreuse

0.5oz Creme de Cacao Blanc liqueur

1oz Espresso

Stir everything without the coffee with ice, strain over fresh ice, add the very hot fresh espresso. It will chill instantly and stay separated. You can also build it in the glass, if you want.

Blinded by the coffee - original

This is my second mix around a theme delivered by a friend of mine. The idea was to build a cocktail with wine, in one of its many forms, and coffee

I think coffee is a very versatile cocktail ingredient, but it’s mostly forgotten in its most original form, because of the very awesome coffee liqueurs and cold brew liqueurs that have shown up over the last couple of years

In any case, I think this is a very nicely balanced cocktail, one that touches on a couple of very particular flavours that you might identify individually

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

Justified Blunder – non-alcoholic/original

0.5oz Pimento Tonic Syrup

1oz Lemon Juice

1.5oz John Ross Virgin Distilled Botanicals

3oz SanBitter San Pelegrino

1.5oz Tonic Water Imperdibile

Justified
Blunder
non
alcoholic

I don’t know how much this habit will hold, but I’ll try to make an interesting non-alcoholic mix every Sunday

This was inspired by the wonderful pimento syrup, a flavor that I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of. It works great in non-alcoholic cocktails

The botanical notes that shouldn’t be missing from most cocktails come from the John Ross non-alcoholic distilled spirit. Originally from South Africa, this has dominant notes of honeybush, a local plant with a very particular bitterness. In any case, it works great even just with tonic

I completed my creation with Sanbitter, a great replacement for Campari in a non-alcoholic Negroni and some tonic water. I probably should’ve used a much better looking ice, maybe next time.

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

0.75oz Rose Liqueur Lanique

0.75oz Yuzu Liqueur Marie Brizard

1oz Bitter Riserva Martini

4oz Dry Rose Wine Lejereanu

2oz Rose Lemonade Fentimans

3ds Bitters Peychaud’s

Build in a large cognac glass over ice, give it a quick stir and garnish with a rose flower, sage and mint.

Considering the rose aspect of the original wine, this time, I went for a mix of la Lanique and Bitter from Martini. The Yuzu liqueur is there for a bit of acidity and a pinch of complexity. Peychaud’s also helps in that regard. Rose Lemonade from Fentimans it’s just awesome with both gin or dry wine.

 

Burning Rose Spritz - original

Although great to sip on its own, this is my second attempt at creating something original with the help of Lejereanu, the wine of two Romanian comedians and friends, Viorel Dragu and Dan Frînculescu.

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

Experiment in layering nr.3 Negroni Variation

1.5oz Campari @campariofficial well chilled

1.5oz Dry Vermouth @maisonnoillyprat

1.5oz BPT Infused Gin

Tsp Green Chartreuse @chartreuse_uk

Tsp Galliano @gallianomoments .

Experiment in layering nr.3

This is another experiment that I managed to create at one of my favorites restaurants in Romania, @noua.bucatarieromaneasca .

@alxionita is the bartender mixologist at this wonderful location and he does some amazing stuff

The concept behind this was to recreate the Romanian flag in a glass, and if it’s tasty, even better, this happened here.

Chilling the Campari in advance is fundamental for the layering process

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

Droplets Experiment No. 2

1oz Butterfly Pea Syrup Homemade

1oz Cointreau @cointreau

1oz Absinthe 40Abv Pernod

Drops of Bailey’s and homemade beetroot syrup

Droplets Experiment No. 2

As I mentioned in one of my recent posts, although drinkable shots or drinks, these are experiments that help me understand the interaction between potions

Much more drinkable than my last experiment with suspended droplets, this also ended up in a tumbler with a large cube of ice

These creations fascinate me tremendously, and I want to get better at making them and, certainly, faster. They are definitely great for impressing friends

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

Feels like home – original

1.5oz Kaspers Elderflower – Local Gin @pivnitabunicii

1oz Campari Cask Tales @campariofficial

0.5oz Luxardo Maraschino @luxardoofficial

1oz Lime Juice

0.5oz Butterfly Pea Tea Syrup Homemade

Feels like home - original

This one is very close to my heart because of the idea behind it. At the same time, because I spent the entire day in the car during the day, I thought about what I’m going to drink when I get home. This is where the name comes from

Another great thing about it is the actual glass in which I built the cocktail. This a glass cut from a bottle of Kaspers Gin, one from a set of six that was gifted to me by the amazing team behind the Pivnita Bunicii brand, led by Jim Turnbull and his wonderful wife

When it comes to sustainability and caring about the environment, nothing beats recycling your old bottles that look great and turning them into glasses. I was also missing some long drink glasses, so everything came together nicely

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

Arpeggio original

1.5oz Quince Gin @whitleyneillgin

1oz Lime Liqueur @patron

0.5oz Licor 43 @licor43global

0.5oz Suze @suzeofficial

0.5oz Raspberry Liqueur @edinburghgin .

Stirred with ice, strained, garnish with an orange peel

Arpeggio original

A very interesting mix of flavours, I thought it would be a bit more on the sweet side, but the lime liqueur from Patron balanced everything nicely, along with the bitterness from Suze

Something of a nightcap drink, this brings back memories of quince jam and fresh raspberries.

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

Remember the Summer original

1.5oz Kaspers Elderflower @pivnitabunicii

1oz Campari @campariofficial

1oz Ginger Syrup

1oz Lime Juice

1.5oz Pineapple Juice

3 sprays Elderflower Liqueur @edinburghgin

Remember the Summer original

This is one of three cocktails for an event that I’ll be having at Pivnita Bunicii, built around their local elderflower gin

A quite powerful mix of flavours, when I developed this, I thought about having sort of a Tiki vibe, but around gin and ginger

I really enjoyed it, and I felt like all the different tastes came together nicely, while not overpowering one another

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

Droplets Experiment

1.5oz Blanc Creme de Cacao @monin_europe

1oz Amaretto @luxardoofficial

1oz Irish Creme @baileysromania

0.75oz XO Cafe Incendio @patron

Drops of homemade beetroot syrup and homemade butterfly pea syrup

Droplets Experiment

Although drinkable and tasty, though a bit sweet, this was meant to be a learning experience

I discovered a couple of weeks back the profile of Zimplex Mixology Laboratory , a cocktail bar in Phuket, Thailand and they create some insane looking shoots

Sadly, I couldn’t find any kind of info with regard to the mixes they are using, the chemical products, if any, or the actual potions

Because I love a challenge, over the next couple of weeks I will try to understand what happens there through experiments. Something good must come out of this

With regard to the drink in the glass, in the end, I poured it over ice in a tumbler, mixed it and enjoyed it

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

Think of a lemon- Original

1oz Old Tom Gin @tanqueraygin

0.75oz Rosolio di Bergamotto @italicusrdb

0.75oz Yuzu Liqueur @mariebrizardfr

0.75oz Citronge Lime Liqueur @patron

0.75oz Lime Juice

0.75oz Lemon Juice

1oz Elderflowr Syrup @pivnitabunicii .

Think of a lemon
Original

This was inspired by an episode of Masterchef Professional on BBC, when one of the contestants created a dish around textures of cauliflower .

Having that concept in mind, of having the vegetable prepared in different ways, I thought about mixing every variety of lemon that I have in my bar in one drink, while going for some form of balance

I started with yuzu (Japanese lemon), bergamot (Italian lemon), Mexican lime from the Patron Citronge, fresh squeezed lemon and lime juice with some gin and my favorite elderflower syrup

The result is amazingly fresh, a bit on the sour side, but wonderful and with a floral background from the elderflower

The caramelized lemon wheel on top acts almost like a bitter, giving the mix a burnt sugar smell that’s perfect. Thanks to @deeapuiu for the effort behind carefully cooking these slices in the oven

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

Spicy Salad  – original

1.5oz/45ml Chilli Gin Ginifer
0.5oz/15ml Ginger Liqueur Domaine de Canton
0.5oz/15ml Pimento Dram
0.75oz/22ml Lovage Syrup Homemade
0.75oz/22ml Verjus
8 drops Aceto Balsamico 20 years old

Spicy Salad
Original

A savoury cocktail through and through, in this particular case, the chocolate garnish is meant to be deceiving

When creating a savoury cocktail, I really enjoy a spicy kick. In this case, you get that interesting spiciness of cloves and cinnamon from the pimento dram, while the chilli aftertaste is delivered from the very complex South African gin

Depending on where you live, the lovage might be a complete mystery, but it’s a very special leafy condiment, like a mix between parsley and celery.
I balanced the syrup with Verjus, unripped grapes juice that shouldn’t be missing from your fridge.

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

Chilling the Bitter fire – original

1.5oz/45ml Linie Aquavit
1.5oz/45ml Lemon Juice
0.75oz/22ml Blueberry Syrup
1oz/30ml Campari
1oz/30ml  Marendry Bitter
0.25oz China L’Amaro Martini

Chilling the Bitter fire
Original

The right half consists of butterfly pea syrup with water frozen for 3-4 hours

This is another experiment that I found it’s worth trying. I love the colours and I enjoy every chance of playing with my light bulb glass

A lot on the bitter side, this was meant to be a play on the color red, with the only sweet element being the blueberry syrup. It becomes more balanced as the time passes, with the ice melting

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

Beetroot Margarita – original

1.5oz/45ml Silver Tequila
1.5oz/45ml Mezcal
1oz/30ml Cointreau
1.5oz/45ml Ancho Reyes Verde
1oz/30ml Lime Juice
1.5oz/45ml Homemade Beetroot Syrup

For the syrup, I used 200g of sugar, 200g of water and 200g of fresh beetroot juice. Create the simple syrup first, by melting the sugar, then add the beetroot juice and let it start boiling. Strain it in a bottle, keep it in the fridge

 

Beetroot Margarita
Original

I love the red of beetroots, and they make an amazing red syrup that’s flavourful and perfect for a Margarita variation.

If you love a margarita that’s spicy and sweet, with just a bit of freshness from the lime juice, this is a great mix of flavours

 

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

Autumn Sunset – original
1.5oz/45ml Saffron Gin Gabriel Boudier Dijon
0.5oz/15ml Strega Liquore
0.5oz/15ml Maraschino Luxardo
0.5oz/15ml Tonic Syrup Kofi Ti
0.75oz/22ml White Port Delaforce
3ds Peach Bitters The Bitter Truth
2 sprays Green Chartreuse

Autumn Sunset
Original

This is a mix of flavours built around the very interesting saffron gin
I thought about creating a simple martini variation, with white port instead of vermouth, but I deviated
With Luxardo Maraschino and Liquore Strega, you get a bitterness and almost a sense of a classic drink, whatever that might mean

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

Walk’er Home – original
1.5oz/45ml Blended Scotch Whisky Gold Label Johnnie Walker
0.75oz/22ml Aperitif au Quinquina Tempus Fugit
0.75oz/22ml Lillet Rose
0.5oz/15ml Cynar
0.5oz/15ml Celtic Honey
2ds Angostura Bitters
2ds Orange Bitters Angostura

 

 

Walk’er Home
original

A predominantly spirit drink, this has it’s basis in a Boulevardier, but I went quite far from that mix of whiskey, vermouth and Campari

I replaced the bourbon with a scotch whisky that has quite a bit of smoke.
For vermouth, I went for a split base of Lillet and Tempus Fugit Kina L’Aero d’Or

Cynar gives me those much needed botanicals and bitter component, while the rarely used Celtin Honey tames a bit of the smokiness in the equation, but just a bit

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

Rhubarb Chillstorm – original
1.5oz/45ml Rhubarb Vodka
0.75oz/22ml Rhubarb & Ginger Liqueur
1oz/30ml Amaro Lucano
5oz/148ml Bitter Lemon
1oz/30 Dry Gin
Spray of Absinth

Rhubarb Chillstorm
original


Almost ten years ago, my favorite cocktail was vodka and bitter lemon with a lot of ice, maybe a splash of lime juice.
This is inspired by that.

The initial thought process was mixing vodka with bitter lemon. Because I recently bought a great bottle of rhubarb vodka, I wanted to amplify the rhubarb flavor with a great liqueur from Edinburgh Gin

The Amaro Lucano is there to add a significant botanical element, while the dry gin on top cuts a bit of the sweetness from the bitter lemon

This still reminds me of my yesteryear passion, but it’s updated for my nowadays palate, a tiny bit more complex

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru

Alexandru Puiu

The Mix

Jalapirihna – original
2oz/60ml Pitu Cachaça
1oz/30ml Ancho Reyes Chille Verde
1oz/30ml Lime Juice
1oz/30ml Blueberry Syrup

Chilli wires for garnish

Jalapirihna
Original

Caipirinha is a very famous cocktail, depending on where you live, or where you spent your latest holiday. Some might even call it more popular than a mojito
My caipirinha variation involves some Jalapeño liqueur that I enjoy tremendously. Ancho Reyes have done an amazing job with both their liqueurs
The blueberry syrup adds that much needed sweetness to this mix of flavors. The tiny wires of dehydrated chilli work great as garnish

#capellilavita #savourlavita #savourwithalexandru