When I heard that Brad Nordeen and Joe Ehlenz -- owners of LoLo American Kitchen & Craft Bar in Stillwater -- had created a series of cocktails in honor of WCCO Sports Director Mark Rosen, I was hurt.  I mean, sure, everyone loves Rosie... but what about meeeee?

Well, much to my unending gratitude and delight, bar manager Joe jumped at the chance to make a bespoke cocktail based on my personal preferences.  Keep in mind, though, that this isn't the "celebrity treatment;" any good bartender should be up to the challenge of making you a custom drink based on the flavors you're craving that particular day -- simply ask!

This cocktail combines strawberries with un-aged white whiskey -- providing a less oaky flavor than aged whiskey -- and a South Korean rice wine called soju -- in the same vein as Japanese sake, and also mild enough to not compete with the delicate berries.  Green Chartreuse adds complexity; orange blossom water and oleo-saccharum (sort of the liquid equivalent of citrus zest, to provide a lot of flavor without adding a lot of volume) add a deep citrus note.

Recipe:

• 4 strawberries
•  1 tsp. orange oleo-saccharum
• 2 oz white whiskey marinated with strawberries
• 1.25 oz soju
• 5 dashes orange blossom water
• ½ oz Green Chartreuse 
• 1 oz fresh-squeezed lemon juice
• 1 dash agave nectar

Instructions:

Muddle strawberries with the orange oleo-saccharum in a shaker tin.  Shake and double strain into a glass and garnish with a lemon twist.

LoLo American Kitchen & Craft Bar means "Locally Owned; Locally Operated."  They serve upscale food with latin influences in a neighborhood setting.

233 Main St S
Stillwater, MN 55082
(651) 342-2461

http://loloamericankitchen.com/