Oh Boy!

Richard Oh, a California winemaker and self-proclaimed "all-around dude" has recently released his first distilled product: Ohzone. The liquor is best described by Richard himself, so here's an excerpt from his website: http://www.ohzonespirits.com/

"Made from first quality grapes via cold distillation, extraction and filtration, Ohzone is an entirely new category of spirit, so ask for it by name – it’s the only one of it’s kind. It’s not a vodka or gin or rum or tequila or brandy or moonshine or anything else out there…By itself, Ohzone tastes smooth and clean, with a hint of grape. And as the primary spirit in a never-ending, whirlwind tour of cocktails, infusions, culinary recipes – and in anything else the imagination may imagine – Ohzone transforms a spirit into the spiritual."

On my recent trip down to California I had the chance to give his new liquor a try at a small release party in Pacific Grove. He talks a big game, but the product surely speaks for itself. While Ohzone's mild nature will do just fine in familiar drinks like the cosmo or lemon drop, the sublte flavor lends itself much better to a more classic take on the cocktail that's becoming increasingly popular. I managed to get a bottle sent back up to Seattle for me to play around with. Give this one a try, if you're lucky enough to find a bottle of your own.

PomOhgranate Sour

• 2  oz. Ohzone
• 1 oz. homemade sour mix (recipe follows)
• 1/2 oz. pomegranate juice
• 1/2 oz. egg white

Fill shaker with ice and shake ingredients vigorously. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a twist of lemon.

Homemade Sour Mix

Nothing ruins a good drink faster than a bad sour mix. There are several premade sour mixes on the market, but I have yet to find a national brand that does justice to a quality cocktail. This simple recipe is a much better option. It can be made in large batches and keeps in a refrigerator for at least two weeks. Don't bother with store bought juices here; just squeeze the fruits yourself. The end result will be well worth the extra effort.

• 1 part granulated sugar
• 1 part water
• 1 part fresh lemon juice
• 1 part fresh lime juice

Combine water and sugar in a pan over medium heat. Whisk constantly until water is simmering and sugar has disolved, doing your best not to let the mixture boil. Remove from heat and allow to cool in the refrigerator, then combine with fresh juices and store refrigerated in large bottles or jars.

Variations: If you don't care for (or for some reason can't find) pomegranate juice you can make the drink plain by omitting it and increasing the quantities of Ohzone and sour mix by 1/4 oz. Also, I've found that this cocktail works quite well with my homemade blackberry liqueur taking the place of the pomegranate juice. If you're really in a pinch you can use bottled sour mix instead of the homemade version, just don't tell anyone you got the recipe from me.