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Annarose Krone

Finalist of the Woodford and Licor 43 competitions, bartender

@annarosekrone

Sometimes I forget the vast range of modifiers you can use in a cocktail. I was gifted a bottle of Pineau des Charentes from @pineau_academy, a white wine made from Cognac and grapes, and found it so fun to play with—especially leading into fall (even though LA keeps playing us, which is honestly rudeT). It has a beautiful nuttiness that’s reminiscent of a sherry, but has a hint more sweetness similar to a vibrant, sweet vermouth. It immediately made me want a cocktail that’s warm and comforting, which I think we all need after this past year of coping with the holidays in isolation. So here’s to a better holiday season!

I made 2 cocktails this time I’m still not over Manhattan variations, so my first drink is with cinnamon apple honey syrup, cardamom bitters, rye whiskey, and of course Pineau des Charentes. It was actually raining in LA the day I was playing with this idea, so the name comes from that and one of my favorite @adventuretime episodes, Rainy Day Daydream!

Rainy Day Daydream

1.5 oz Pineau des Charentes White
.5 oz Green Apple Cinnamon Honey Syrup
1.5 oz Rye Whiskey
2 dash Cardamom bitters
Garnish Apple Flag
(Syrup: Simmer green apple cubes and cinnamon sticks in water for 10 mins. Let sit for 10 mins. Strain. Add honey 2: 1 cinnamon apple water.)

My second cocktail is a soul-warming, low abv, hot toddy. Pineau des Charentes plays a huge role in this one, creating that cozy blanket feeling with its warm notes of toasted wood and stone fruit. I wanted to bring up its herbal spice side with an amaro also reminiscent of fall.

Warm Fluffy Blanket

2oz Pineau des Charentes White
.5oz Lemon
.5oz Ginger syrup
1oz @amaroMontenegro_us (or any fall amaro)
4oz Hot water
Garnish Flamed Rosemary

Why Pineau?

I loved discovering Pineau des Charentes because it’s a new cocktail arsenal I never knew I needed. As a huge fan of sherry and vermouth, Pineau des Charentes is reminiscent of both, and can easily be subbed in for fun twists on classics—in addition to new cocktail creations. I specifically love the seasonal notes that transport me to cuddling up by a fire with a warm, fluffy blanket.

Annarose is a Los Angeles based, award winning mixologist who believes every great cocktail tells a story. She aspires to create lasting memories and believes what better way to do that than through sharing a drink.