The world of Blade Runner 2049 is a bleak desolate dystopia where the ecosystems of the world have collapsed. No traditional agriculture or anything green is left and instead all nutrition is grown in mechanical pods that are mechanical and wholly unnatural.

Yet if you look closer in to this world you see a beautiful symphony are crisp and clear colors that are brooding yet vibrant.

Horrifically dense grey cities are dotted and illuminated by beautifully rich and dynamic colors surrounded by vast areas of orange dessert and perfectly bleak synthetic farms.

Even with all this beauty interspersed and layered with complete desolation, what I found most striking about the cinematography of Blade Runner 2049 (which won an Oscar) is the very deliberate and sparing use of rich and deep blue palates.

This color palate is used very discriminately in the film, only in a few key scenes are bathed in this soothing yet dynamic blue. This makes the blue’s presence very important in the instances it shows up.

And then it hits me; the deep and foreboding blue tones that I love so much in Blade Runner 2049 are used to harken to the original Blade Runner, which used this blue palate extensively throughout the film, much more than in 2049.

This shared visual palate and theme connects the films in ways that are much deeper than in other sequels; the two Blade Runners are united not only in story, world, and characters but also through art and visual storytelling. This type of connection and art forward movie making elevates the two Blade Runners to some of the best and most artistically valid movies of our time.

This blue palate not only unites the movie in deep and intrinsic ways it also unites Deckard and K, the Blade Runners themselves. They both go through the same stages of knowing who they are fully, to questioning the very nature of their existence and identity, to ultimately turning on those they originally identified with.

The blue is their reckoning and represents the eternal struggle to find oneself true self and the identity that may or may not define who we are.

So to honor the intricate beauty and unity of Blade Runner and Blade Runner 2o49 I created a custom craft cocktail that encapsulates both the visual style and unique palate of these films.

Soaked in Blue: A Blade Runner Cocktail

You will need:

• 3 ounces Dry London Gin (Beefeater worked great for me)
• 1 ounce Blue Curaçao
• 1 ounce fresh Lime Juice
• 1 dash Orange Bitters
• 1 dash Angostura Bitters

Add all ingredients to an ice-filled stainless steel shaker, and stir extremely well. Strain in to a cocktail glass and garnish with a simple lemon twist.

Just like the movies it is based off of, Soaked in Blue: A Blade Runner Cocktail is a visually striking yet deep and complex original cocktail. The dry London Gin gives the Soaked in Blue a perfect base that represents the Blade Runner universe to a T: dry on the front end and complex and deep at its core. The Blue Curaçao adds hints of bitterness due to the Laraha, a bitter Orange variety that the liquor gets its soul from.

All told, Soaked in Blue: A Blade Runner Cocktail can be a bit dry and hard to access for some, just like the movies but as with Blade Runner, it is well worth it in the end. If you need to add a dash of fresh simple syrup to sweeten it up a bit, making it more accessible.

Time to belly up to the bar, make your self a Soaked in Blue and turn on Blade Runner 2049; it is a visual masterpiece that elevates the entire art of movie making.

The post Soaked in Blue: A Cocktail Made for the Blade Runners appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

If you only go for these stalwarts I have some bad news for you…

This pride season swing for the fences; go for something amazing and demand something fabulous.

EFFEN Vodka sent me their limited edition Pride bottle to review and on it’s own it is a supremely smooth and clean 80 proof vodka that is crisp and light. I used it as the base of two fantastic Pride-inspired cocktails that are refreshing and multidimensional. These are great cocktails  to refresh yourself before or after Pride, or to cool down after an amazing day of marching, festivals, and partying.

EFFEN Vodka Parade Punch

• 11⁄2 parts EFFEN® Vodka
• 1 part tonic water or soda water
• 1⁄2 part lemonade
• 4 strawberry slices
• 3-4 basil leaves
• 2 lemon slices

In a red wine glass, place basil leaves, lemon slices and strawberries. Add large hand-carved cubical ice with the EFFEN Vodka and lemonade. Top with tonic or soda water and garnish with a fruit and basil leaf skewer. I recommend muddling a couple strawberry slices and mint leaves in the bottom of the glass before adding anything else to get a bit more flavor. I also feel that tonic water is a far better choice than club soda in bringing out more complex and satisfying notes in this superb cocktail.

the EFFEN Vodka Parade Punch is amazingly crisp, clean, and refreshing. It will cool you and your squad down on even the hottest of June days, plus it is easy to scale up the recipe to make by the pitcher.

EFFEN Vodka Love is Love

• 11⁄2 parts EFFEN® Vodka
• 1⁄2 part Triple Sec
• 1⁄2 part pomegranate juice (I used POM)
• 1⁄2 part fresh lemon juice

Chill a coupe or martini glass with ice water first. Shake all ingredients on ice in a stainless steel mixer and strain into the coupe or martini glass. Garnish with a lemon peel.

EFFEN Vodka Love is Love is a high-class cocktail that harkens back to classics such as the Vesper and Manhatten. This cocktail can only be done justice by making it at most two servings at a time, but the result is a highly complex, slightly sweet, and extremely balanced high-concept classic cocktail. The Love is Love is best enjoyed after sunset with friends as the atmosphere cools and you reflect on the glorious day that just transpired.

For this Pride season pick up a bottle of EFFEN Vodka and create some stellar cocktails that will blow all your friends aways. Plus, for every special pride edition bottle of Vodka made EFFEN donates $1 to Outfest; an organization that promotes LGBTQ Equality by creating, sharing, and protecting LGBTQ stories on the screen. So Sashay Away and make this pride one to remember.

The post Don’t Be Basic with Your Pride Cocktails appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

Crown Royal Texas Mesquite uses the superb Crown Royal Deluxe Canadian Whisky as its base and infuses it with locally sourced Texas mesquite wood; the result is an exceptionally smooth drinking whisky paired with an almost fiery smoky undercarriage. I first had the Crown Royal Texas Mesquite neat and was met with a nose that is dominated by a fierce smokey soul with hints of mild vanilla intertwined with BBQ spiciness. Just like the nose suggests the palette is initially dominated by mesquite that has undeniable tones of oak, but that quickly gives way to more subtle hints of caramel and vanilla that the delicious Crown Royal Deluxe base brings to the table. Crown Royal Texas Mesquite finishes just as you would expect; dominated by an interesting and novel smokiness but also with an extremely smooth and forthcoming finish.

As good as Crown Royal Texas Mesquite is on its own it truly shines as part of a minimalist yet distinctive cocktail, these are the ones I recommend.

Texas Mesquite Old Fashioned

• 1.5 oz. Crown Royal Texas Mesquite
• ½ teaspoon of wildflower honey
• Dash of orange bitters

Add honey to a rocks glass and top with Crown Royal Texas Mesquite. Stir for 30 seconds to mix in the honey, then add ice. Add a dash of orange bitters and stir again. Garnish with an orange peel and/or mint sprig.

This take on the classic Old Fashioned gives multidimensionality to a classic favorite. The mesquite smokiness changes the flavor profile  a bit but leaves what makes the Old Fashioned great intact.  The Texas Mesquite Old Fashioned pairs best with grilled, smoked, and barbecued red meat.

Texas Mesquite Mule

• 1.5 oz. Crown Royal Texas Mesquite
• ½ oz. lemon juice
• ½ oz. agave syrup
• 4 oz. Ginger Beer

Combine Crown Royal Texas Mesquite, lemon juice and agave syrup in a shaker. Strain over ice and top with ginger beer. Garnish with a lemon wheel, lime, or slice of candied ginger.

This ultra-easy cocktail option is best enjoyed outside during a sweltering outdoor party or BBQ. This Mule is amazingly refreshing, surprisingly light, and crisp so it pairs extremely well with grilled hardy vegetables.

For this father’s day slow down, lock yourself in the home office or parlor, and enjoy a glass or two of Crown Royal Texas Mesquite. You deserve it.

The post Enjoying Father’s Day with Crown Royal Texas Mesquite appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

On its own this Whiskey is a classic all-Americana Rye that warms the soul while being accessible and extremely drinkable. The nose represents the whiskey well; it is extremely balanced in that it does not hit the nose hard at all, rather it slowly seeps in and surprises you with vanilla and cinnamon notes with subtle earthy undertones. The palate is exactly what the nose hints at; extremely balanced in a way many ryes are not. You are met with mild molasses inspired sweetness up front and finishes clean with subtle hints of spice and complexity. When consumed neat or on the rocks it splashes against your stomach immediately warming you from the inside out. Where Sagamore Spirit’s Rye really soars is as part of a complex yet well balanced spring cocktail.

Black-Eyed Rye

• 1.5 oz Sagamore Spirit Rye Whiskey
• 0.5 oz Fresh Lime Juice
• 0.75 Sagamore Blackberry Simple Syrup
• 3 oz Ginger beer
• 1 Mint Sprig
• Blackberries or other fruit for garnish

Stir the whiskey, lime juice, and simple syrup in an ice filled shaker and strain in to a cocktail glass, top with Ginger Beer. Garnish with a mint sprig and ideally a couple of fresh blackberries, I had to use cherries and a strawberry since blackberries are not in season yet here in Colorado.

The resulting cocktail is perfectly balanced yet surprisingly complex. The blackberry simple syrup adds a hint of sweetness without being overpowering or sticky in any way. The ginger beer and mint give a spiciness that really opens up and lets you enjoy the Rye Whiskey. This has to be the perfect drink for enjoying on the porch as the warm spring night envelopes you.

The post Perfecting the Spring Cocktail with Sagamore Spirit Rye appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

Deadpool is something special; he is unlike any hero that has ever existed yet there is something creepily comforting and calming about him. You would love to invite Wade out on a quick weekend road trip just to see what he would burn down and the destruction he could wrought on the rural plains of America, but you would never want him to know exactly where you lived.

So I decided to use Wade Wilson’s birthplace as the inspiration for my cocktail and the resulting experience is something special.

Since Wade was born in some undisclosed location in Canada (no wonder he loves Wolverine!) I decided to adapt the classic Caesar just for our favorite Felon in Red. The Caesar is a drink rarely seen outside of Canada, think of it as the Great White North’s version of a Bloody Mary with the addition of liquified fish. Without further ado I present the Degenerate Regenerate!

The Degenerate Regenerate: A Caesar for Deadpool

• 2 ounces Vodka
• Juice from 1/2 a lime
• 4 ounces Clamato Juice
• 2 dashes Worcestershire sauce
• 2 dashes original red Tabasco
• pinch salt
• pinch garlic salt
• pinch steak seasoning.
• small amount spicy horseradish

Mix the salt, garlic salt, and steak seasoning in a shallow dish and find yourself a genuine Mason Jar. This HAS to be an authentic, true to god Mason Jar. The Caesar which the Degenerate Regenerate is based on originated from Canada, where they do not have specialty glassware so if you try to go hipster on this cocktail it WILL betray you. If you do not have a Mason Jar a Rockport boot, the best footwear to ever come out of Canada, will work in a pinch.

Ok, sorry, back to it (I had a couple of the Degenerate Regenerates already). Take a mason jar, moisten the rim with fresh lime juice (that’s right I said moisten. MOISTEN….) and rim the glass with the salt mixture. Fill the glass with large cubical ice, the more it resembles Iceman’s testicles the better, and pour in the vodka. Wolverine, if you are reading this, TRIPLE the amount of Vodka.

Add in the dashes of Worcestershire sauce, red Tabasco, and the 4 ounces of Clamato juice. I like to add a pickle, cocktail onion, and an olive for my garnish. Stir well and enjoy the greatest unknown cocktail that exists north of the border; a bloodied Deadpool would agree with your life choices.

The resulting cocktail is an amazing amalgamation of all things Deadpool and even Canadian. The clam juice in the Clamato gives depth that every Bloody Mary lacks while the home-made rim garnish is something to cherish and behold. Plus there is vodka that makes the whole ordeal wholly enjoyable.

Do yourself a favor and just try and craft a Degenerate Regenerate, pop on Deadpool, and get ready for the coming of the best movie of the year: Deadpool 2.

The post A Cocktail Fit Only For Deadpool appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

In order to create a custom cocktail that truly captures the fun-loving dumpster fire that is Kristen Wigg’s character Annie throughout the movie I had to come up with something that feels classy on the outside but is far more rebellious, complex, and messy than it ever lets on. The only liquor that could fulfill this call is of course Tequila, it is equal parts classy and destructive.

One of the hardest things about enjoying truly top-shelf original cocktails is paying the astronomically hefty price that comes along with buying them at snooty and elitist bars. This cocktail needed to be Annie’s go-to drink drink when she wanted to exude an air of class and dignity while not breaking the bank when making it at home. And most importantly; it needed to be strong enough to help her get her buzz on to make it through all of life’s artificial trials that only affect millenials.

Luckily I had one of the best Tequila’s I have ever tried on hand; Hornitos Cristalino. Hornitos Cristalino is a finely aged Anejo tequila that is gently filtered resulting is an extremely smooth tequila that is light, versatile, and highly approachable. 

I decided to use the Cristalino as the base of this Mojito-type cocktail that bends genre expectations as well as being easy drinking, refreshing, and surprisingly complex. I introduce to you The Bridesmaid: A Tequila Mojito.

The Bridesmaid: A Tequila Mojito

• 2 0z Tequila (Blanco or filtered Anejo, I found Hornitos Cristalino fit the bill perfectly)
• 1 oz fresh Lime Juice
• Club Soda
• Blue Agave Nectar
• Fresh mint leaves
• Fresh Lime

Take a good amount of mint leaves (at least 10) and add them to the bottom of your glass with the agave nectar, the lime juice, and a couple of wedges of lime. Muddle them all together well adding ice to the glass. Finally add the tequila and stir extremely well topping the glass off with the club soda and a lime with mint leaf garnish.

The result is an extremely crisp, well-balanced, and refreshing cocktail that looks classy and tastes great yet gets you going in a way that only tequila can. Plus, the blue agave nectar and mint give this cocktail an extremely fresh and engaging taste that is unmatched.

So just like Annie in Bridesmaids let your inner dumpster fire breath free and embrace the subtle dignity of accepting what you love while making it look as well put together as possible. Have fun, celebrate your life and the people in it, and enjoy every second.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BfmfOqIny3d/?taken-by=truenortherncolorado

Did you know Mezcal isn’t just cheap Tequila? Learn more about this popular alternative.

The post Creating a Cocktail That Represents the Classy Dumpster-Fire That is Bridesmaids appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

The film is poignant scene followed by poignant scene, each with measurable emotional heft and deftly written jokes that grow during the entirety of the film. The families interplays are amazing and complex yet relatable to almost everyone. The Tenenbaums exist in a fairly monotone world dominated by subtle and demure color palates that look like they are directly out of the L.L. Bean catalogue. That is why the use of bright color is so striking with important symbolism in deep red, calm teal, vibrant yellow, and foreboding blue.

The entire film uses shockingly simple motifs and scenes to convey deep and intricate interworking of the family and their relationships. The entirety of the movie is shot with set pieces that look simple on the surface but are full of intricate and rich detail. There are layers in every shot that yearn to be explored by the viewer as colors represent more than simple set pieces or single lines ever could.

What I needed to recreate in a cocktail was simple beauty that is surprisingly complex and breath-taking yet still very accessible. I knew I needed my final product to represent the the deep red that is so important throughout the film yet not be overly sweet nor simple. Campari was obviously the perfect base to fit all my needs. Something like a Campari Soda was too rudimentary and single dimensional to adequately represent Wes Anderson’s masterpiece and the Negroni is too well known an a bit too overwhelming.  Unlike my article for Atomic Blonde I decided to base this cocktail on something existing and not create a cocktail from the ground up.

I based my Royal Tenenbaum cocktail  on the ‘Italian Gentleman’ where equal parts Campari and Bourbon interplay nicely to create a pleasing yet highly dynamic beverage. Campari is a very root-forward and dominating liquor and is hence usually relegated to a simple splash or minor role in most cocktails. Since Bourbon is so full-featured on its own it can hang with the Campari in a one-to-one ratio creating a unique interplay that is strangely balanced and even a bit demure. Just like the Royal Tenenbaums this cocktail is complex yet accessible and beautiful in its simple elegance. to create the Royal Tenenbaum cocktail follow this recipe:

The Royal Tenenbaum

• 1.5 ounce Campari
• 1.5 ounce Bourbon (I used Bulleit)
• .75 ounce fresh lemon juice
• .25 ounce home-made simple syrup
• a couple dashes of orange bitters

Stir the ingredients well in an ice-filled shaker while your cocktail glass chills. Strain in the chilled glass and garnish with either a lemon or lime wedge.

The resulting cocktail is a perfect balance with the rooty forwardness of the Campari with the more subtle and traditional aspects of a high quality bourbon. The two main ingredients leverage each other’s strengths while combining together to create something that is more than the sum of all of its parts, just as Wes Anderson creates complex and engrossing scenes from simple set pieces and writing. The simple sugar mellows it all out and the lemon juice adds depth, just as all the minor characters in the Royal Tenenbaums help create a fully realized rich tapestry of a world.

The post Capturing the Simple Brilliance and Beauty of the Royal Tenenbaums in a Cocktail appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

The world of Atomic Blonde is bathed in neon blue along with splashes of red and only hints of bright colors that are all set against a grey monotone backdrop. The first thing my cocktail needed to be was a stunning bright, borderline neon-blue which is no easy task. Luckily I a bottle of Blue Curacao on hand.

We are introduced to our main heroine Lorraine Broughton (played perfectly by Charlize Theron) in the most perfect way possible; soaking in an iced-filled tub while drinking vodka inundated by the exact  tone of blue that I wanted my cocktail to represent.

Next I had to focus on the soul of my new creation. Charlize Theron’s character Lorraine looks and feels ice cold from the very first frame she is introduced. Throughout the entirety of Atomic Blonde Lorraine is relentless ass-kicker; she fights, brawls, and scraps until her very last breath. She leaves every fight fully exhausted and barely standing. She wins every fight, but at a steep cost and only through sheer force of will.

Just like the main character and movie itself my cocktail had to be visually stunning, full of life, and a bit rough around the edges. It took me a few tries to perfect but I finally created something that I feel is a great representation of Atomic Blonde and the character that Charlize Theron brings to life so well.

To make my Atomic Blonde Cocktail I assembled the main ingredients: Vodka, Blue Curacao, maraschino cherries, fresh mandarin oranges, and grenadine.

In a cocktail shaker filled with ice add 2 parts vodka, 2 parts Blue Curacao, and one part grenadine. Stir extremely well and strain slowly into ice-filled shaker topping with a splash of soda water and garnishing with a slice of mandarin orange and maraschino cherry.

The resulting cocktail is something to behold. To begin, this Atomic Blonde cocktail is simply visually stunning with its neon blue coloring that perfectly represents the overriding palette choices of the film. When you take the first sip you are greeted with the orange overtones of the Blue Curacao while the base of vodka warms both your mouth and stomach. The finish is nicely sweet due to the grenadine and beckons for another drink. Just like our main heroine the Atomic Blonde cocktail is visually captivating, extremely enjoyable, and a bit rough around the edges.

If you are ready for an amazing night in gather up the needed ingredients, cue up Atomic Blonde, recreate my cocktail and have an experience that is usually reserved for the East side of the Berlin Wall.

The post Creating the Perfect Cocktail for Atomic Blonde appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

On its own Crown Royal pours a rich and golden amber with a rich and multifaceted nose that is dominated by smooth oak notes with hints of vanilla and sweet fruit. Crown Royal’s palate is perfectly represented by the first hits of the nose; it is smooth and easy to drink yet deep and flavorful with aapects of vanilla that end in an extremely satisfying and filling finish which stay on the tongue for a long time.

View this post on Instagram

Getting a new cocktail ready for a Super Bowl article for @factorytwofour with Crown Royal Whisky as a base and cherry juice. This is a good one. @crownroyal #whisky #cocktails #cocktail #superbowl #factorytwofour #crownroyal

A post shared by Nick (@truenortherncolorado) on Feb 3, 2018 at 3:37pm PST

The Royal Cherry is an easy cocktail to make that will surely satisfy even the most picky of your Super Bowl guests, so be sure to have a enough ingredients on hand since once they try it everyone will want one. Start by filling a cocktail glass with ice; add 1.5 ounces of Crown Royal, 3 ounces of pure cherry juice (NOT a sugar filled cocktail blend) and top with soda water, a splash of grenadine, and maraschino cherry garnish. The resulting cocktail is a well balanced yet extremely satisfying and multifaceted experience that can be enjoyed on its own or with a variety of Super Bowl staples. The subtle sweetness, base of oaky whisky and ultimately refreshing nature of the Royal Cherry is reminiscent of its inspiration; the classic Old Fashioned, a truly great favorite.

Up your Super Bowl hosting game with the Royal Cherry cocktail that has the ultimately smooth Crown Royal Canadian Whisky beating at its heart; it will by loved by all those who try it.

The post Creating the Perfect Super Bowl Cocktail appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

View this post on Instagram

I almost forgot how good the Abbey is from New Belgium. It’s perfect for this weather. @newbelgium #trippel #beer #colorado #coloradobeer #craftbeer #coloradocraft #coloradocraftbeer

A post shared by Nick (@truenortherncolorado) on Jan 5, 2018 at 2:36pm PST

Abbey Belgian Style Dubbel from New Belgium is throwback to very beginning of the brewery with its deep monastic roots. This was one of their first beers that New Belgium brewed in its inception in 1991 and this updated 2015 recipe does the style amazing justice. Abbey pours clear from the New Belgium tap with a deep reddish brown that looks like a perfectly restored hard-wood table with billowing off-white head pouring thick bust dissipating fast. The nose is a bit earthy at first whiff with subtly sweet notes of chocolate and banana making their way to the forefront along side mild tobacco undertones. The taste is slightly sweet at first with the chocolate malts shining through with a subtle spicy bitterness finishing the first swallow off. The Belgian Yeast and seven malts, including caramel Munich and Chocolate, harken to the days of old were Belgian monks used this sublime creation to keep warm during the onslaught of winter.

View this post on Instagram

Cracked open a 2016 “Eh?” Royal by Wiley Roots from my cellar. It has bottle-aged extremely well. Still have one more to try in 2019, can’t wait. @wileyrootsbrewingco #craftbeer #coloradobeer #coloradocraftbeer #beer #greeleybeer #wileyrootsbrewing

A post shared by Nick (@truenortherncolorado) on Jan 7, 2018 at 2:29pm PST

I love collecting fine and vintage beers in my cellar and this past week I decided to crack open a 2016 “Eh?” Royal by Wiley Roots Brewing and was blown away by not only how good of a beer it is, but how well it aged. “Eh?” Royal uses Wiley Roots’ superb Imperial Stout as a base then ages it in Crown Royal barrels with maple and pecans. The resulting brew is the perfect balance of soul-warming alcohol forward goodness that is tempered with the subtle sweetness of maple and subtle nuttiness of the pecans. Aging “Eh?” Royal in my temperature controlled cellar resulted in an even further mellowing of the imperial and alcohol forwardness of the beer making it a subtle and easy drinking delight that warms you almost instantly. This is the perfect brew to enjoy by the fire as sun slowly sets on yet another cold day.

The king of warm winter cocktails has to be the classic Hot Toddy. This is a ruthlessly simple cocktail to make; boil water in a tea kettle as you add 2 ounces of Bourbon, 2 teaspoons fresh honey, and a the juice from 1/4 of a lemon to the bottom of a coffee mug. Fill the coffee mug with boiling water, let cool a bit, and then enjoy the easiest, most refreshing, and satisfying evening hot cocktail you can make. I prefer to use a simple yet high quality small batch Bourbon like Bulleit for your classic Toddy, but if you want to get creative and honor an American classic you cannot go wrong with substituting it with Laird’s Applejack liquor. With Applejack as the base the classic Hot Toddy becomes something truly special and reminiscent of the great American west.

View this post on Instagram

Power is out, caught this beauty reading by fire-light. #poweroutage #powersout #reading #readingnook #fireplace #cozy #fireplacereading #cozyplace

A post shared by Nick (@truenortherncolorado) on Jan 13, 2018 at 4:13pm PST

So whatever your choice is, even if it is a non-alcoholic cider or tea, be sure to make your favorite drink as the cold descends upon us so that you can survive the brutalities of winter with something that warms from within. So cuddle up in front of the fire with a loved one and start sipping your favorite warmer while quietly reading during this cold yet wonderful season.

The post Surviving Winter With the Best Cold Weather Drinks appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

Zesty Orange is definitely the most interesting of the Sipp sodas and is by far my favorite. It has a citrus Blood Orange base with a subtle hint of lime and a fragrant kick of spicy Jalapeño.

Since this is such a bold and innovative soda I decided to go bold and swing for the fences with my cocktail. I filled a goblet with ice, added 1.5 ounces Campari, 3 dashes Orange Angostura Bitters, and 3 ounces Zesty Orange. My creation was a multi-dimensional earthy and root-laden delight with citrus notes and orange sweetness evening the entire experience and creating a delightfully refreshing cocktail.

Ginger Blossom is a complex symphony that is based on ginger that has a bit of a spicy kick layered with subtly sweet vanilla and fresh lime. I decided to create a traditional Moscow Mule with it where I added 1.5 ounces of vodka and about 4 ounces Ginger Blossom with a twist and garnish of lime. The result was one of the best Moscow Mules I have ever had that was more complex and refreshing than I could have ever expected.

Sipp Sparkling Organic Beverages feature all-natural ingredients such as organic fruits and herbs to create very refreshing craft sodas that are very pleasing to the palette, refreshing, and surprisingly multi-dimensional. Even though  I only featured two sodas here with my paired cocktail creation suggestions the whole line is surprising, innovative, and refreshing.

The post Sipp Sparking Organics – Great on Their Own, Better in a Cocktail appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

All St. James Gate Brewery beer is built around the same closely guarded strain of yeast that all Guinness beer has at its core for over 200 years and this beer is no different. Guinness 200th Anniversary Import Stout pours as you would expect from classic Guinness except it appears as a very dark ruby-red that is almost black. The iconic pure white head builds thick and quickly due to the nitrogen carbonation and settles to an extremely dense cloud covering that is about an inch thick. The nose is dominated by thick aspects of roasted malt with notes of toffee and chocolate. The palate is a a bit complex but also extraordinary smooth with delicate flavors lingering around the edges of the black malty backbone. Guinness 200th Anniversary Import finishes dry and clean, beckoning you to take another sip.

200 years ago St. James Gate Brewers introduced something amazing to American shores, and now Guinness is ubiquitous with legendary beer. I enjoyed Guinness 200th Anniversary Import from the 14.9 oz can in my personalized Guinness pint glass, but it is also available in 11.2 oz bottles. Do your self a favor and celebrate history with a cold pour of Guinness 200th Anniversary Import.

The post Celebrate History with 200 Years of Guinness in the U.S. appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

As winter descends around me with thick blankets of snow I always look toward more substantial and complex liquors to keep me warm in the ever-lengthening cold nights. When the days get shorter and the nights much cooler, I always make a transition from lighter and crisper liquors to much more hearty and substantial ones. My go to night time sipping liquor or cocktail base has always been an aged bourbon or whisky, but when I was introduced to the barrel-aged Don Q Gran Añejo, I knew I had a new favorite to immediately work in to my night-time sipping rotation.

Don Q is known for its excellent barrel-aged Puerto Rican Rum and Gran Añejo is the best barrel aged rum I have tried yet. Not only is Don Q producing some of the best rum out there, it also prides itself on its top tier environmental practices and green technology. Unlike many other distilleries in the world, Don Q does not dispose of any waste in to the ocean, making them a great producer of top-tier rum and a leader in the industry in proper environmental practices..

Don Q Gran Añejo is first aged in American white oak barrels then carefully transferred and finished in Spanish sherry casks. This aging process was built to perfection through meticulous planning and the result is a masterful blended aged rum. With this practice, I decided to use Don Q Gran Añejo in my favorite Manhattan recipe in order to really test its legs.

Start with filling a cocktail glass with ice and soda water. As the glass chills, add 2 ounces of Gran Añejo into an ice-filled shaker with three dashes of bitter. Empty the soda water and ice filled glass and shake your shaker well. Place a single cherry in the bottom of the glass and strain your shaker directly over it. The resulting cocktail has a lingering essence of carbonation due to the soda water that unlocks the complex depth and robust quality of the Gran Añejo aged rum with the bitters, adding a bit of spicy depth to this deeply warming nighttime indulgence. I would put this cocktail against some of the best bourbon-based Manhattans out there; it is deep, complex, and infinitely enjoyable.

As fantastic as Don Q Gran Añejo is as the base of a winter cocktail, it truly shines on its own on the rocks. The nose is subtle with notes of vanilla wafting forward and hints of charred caramel due to the exquisite barrel aging process. The palate is dominated by perfectly sweet molasses with fringes of tobacco and oak refinement. Gran Añejo finishes extraordinarily smooth with the vanilla sensed on the nose coming to the forefront a trace of cinnamon. Don Q Gran Añejo on the rocks is the perfect way to end a long and cold winter night due to its deep complexity you can appreciate on many levels.

Be sure to class up your long winter nights by experiencing a truly superb premium aged rum. On the rocks Don Q Gran Añejo aged rum excels and as a cocktail base it blows your mind. Pick up Don Q Gran Añejo by using this location tool and find a new way to enjoy your winter nights.

The post Make Your Winter Nights Classy with Don Q Gran Añejo appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Don Q rum for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

Here in Colorado the days are getting shorter and the weather rapidly cooler, and with that I always like to focus on new and creative Fall cocktails to usher in my most favorite seasons. I am always on the hunt for substantive and dynamic Fall liquors and Don Q Oak Spiced rum fits the bill perfectly. Don Q is known for its exceptional Aged Puerto Rican Rums and Don Q Oak Spiced rum is an exceptional example of what a truly great barrel aged rum can be.

On its own Don Q Oak Spiced rum is fantastic for sipping as the sun slowly retreats behind the horizon. I prefer it poured over a single spherical ice cube, letting it cool and mellow a bit before fully enjoying what it has to offer. The first thing you notice with this spiced rum in the glass is the brilliant rich and golden hue it casts on the table due to the barrel aging process. At first the nose presents a robust vanilla front with cinnamon and hints of clove frolicking on the edge. The body is robust to say the least yet still silky smooth on the palate. The oaky tenderness warms the body as spice notes such as clove and cinnamon from the barrel aging process give this aged rum uncommon depth. Don Q Oak Spiced rum is simply fantastic on the rocks; the depth and originality of this rum is extremely unique and the aging process results in an exceptional drinking liquor.

As great as Don Q Oak Barrel Spiced Rum is on its own, it excels as part of a classy and creative Rum cocktail. A great cocktail to make is the Intensely Stormy that is a pure joy to sip during the early nights of fall. To create this simple and refreshing drink, you only need Don Q Oak Barrel Spiced Rum, Barrow’s Intense Ginger, ginger beer,  and fresh lime. To create this unusual take on the rum cocktail take an ice-filled pint glass, add 2 ounces Intense Ginger, 1 ounce of Don Q Oak Barrel Spiced Rum, and fill with ginger beer and a squeeze of fresh lime. Finally, garnish with a lime wedge and enjoy a refreshing iteration on an old favorite with a superb rum base that defines the genre.

If you enjoy creative takes on the greats of the past I have to recommend the Old Fashioned with Don Q Oak Spiced rum instead of the normal bourbon. In an ice-filled shaker add 3 ounces of Don Q Oak Spiced rum, 2 tbsp simple syrup, a couple dashes of bitters and stir well. Strain over an ice-filled glass adding an orange peel and maraschino cherries for garnish. An Old Fashioned with Don Q Oak Spiced rum is a creative and extremely tasty new take on a venerable and well known classic that is my new go-to cocktail for when I am entertaining. Don Q Oak Spiced rum breathes new life in to this well known favorite and gives it a depth of flavor never before seen in this cocktail.

Don Q Oak Spiced rum is superior for sipping on the rocks as our rapidly shorting days lead to more brilliant dusks and longer nights. It also shines as an extremely versatile base of both new-wave drinks and classic cocktails. Don Q Oak Spiced rum is a deep and satisfying liquor that deserves a spot in any home bar, and can be found using this online locator.

The post Celebrate Fall with Don Q Oak Barrel Spiced Rum appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

This year’s iteration, Laphroaig Cairdeas Quarter Cask, is another animal entirely. This unadulterated and pure cask-strength scotch is not for those new to the whisky game, it is for those that have are well traveled scotch lovers looking for the next mountain to climb. First off Cairdeas Quarter Cask is a whopping 114.4 proof (57.2 ABV) behemoth which is the very essence of undiluted and raw power. The nose does not quite tip you off to the experience you are about to have; it starts with hints of fresh vanilla and sweet malt overtones with an underlying base of bonfire style burnt wood. The palate is extremely deep and complex where the hints of vanilla noted in the nose comes to life amid a base of smoky fury. The mouthfeel has an oily essence that melds perfectly with wisps of licorice bitterness. Laphroaig Cairdeas Quarter Cask finishes surprisingly smooth with cream and smoke notes dominating for a long while on the palate.

If you are a true scotch lover and aficionado take the dive off the deep end in to this superb cask strength whisky. Be sure to enjoy Laphroaig Cairdeas Quarter Cask with a bit of water, up to 15% the total volume, in order to open up both the nose and palate and to settle this monster of a Islay scotch down a bit. This scotch is not for beginners, it is for those looking to experience cast-strength scotch in its rawest form. While it may be a bit daunting, trying Laphroaig Cairdeas Quarter Cask is extremely rewarding in every way imaginable.

The post Laphroaig Cairdeas Quarter Cask is not for Beginners appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

Crown Royal Vanilla is a great iteration of the venerable Canadian Whisky brand that is as smooth as always except with strong vanilla kick surrounded by subtle oak notes. This whisky drinks great both on the rocks and neat, but it really shines as the base of a vanilla whisky-coke, which brings visions of days sitting at the soda fountain decades ago. The vanilla makes the already superbly smooth whisky even more accessible and flavorful, giving new dimension to an old favorite. Crown Royal Vanilla is a fantastic whisky on its own but I would argue it truly shines as the centerpiece of the boozy vanilla desert shake.

I used the recipe for The Very Vanilla Shake created by Mixologist Brian Floyd for this decadent desert. Simply add 1.5 oz Crown Royal Vanilla, 2 scoops vanilla ice cream, and 3 dashes Mole Bitters to a blender and mix until creamy. Be sure to get a very high quality Vanilla Ice Cream, I got my favorite Tillamook Vanilla Bean. The resulting shake is a sublimely smooth experience as the vanilla base dominates with hints of a cocoa spiciness opening up the flavor palate due to the Mole Bitters. The Crown Royal Vanilla adds only minimal bite that parlays perfectly with the cool ice cream.

Making an amazing end of day treat after a great day at work and a hard lifting session. @factorytwofour @crownroyal #crownroyal #whisky #canadianwhisky #milkshake #boozymilkshakes #boozydessert #desert #crownvanilla #vanillasogood

A post shared by Nick (@truenortherncolorado) on Aug 15, 2017 at 7:37pm PDT

Be sure not to miss this perfect way to wind down after a long summer day with this spectacular boozy milkshake with Crown Royal Vanilla in its soul.

The post Cool Down With A Whisky Shake appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

Oh, and the most interesting part of the presidential library was definitely being greeted by a shockingly  life-like animatronic robot of LBJ reciting some of his favorite jokes. I kid you not it was far too weird to ever be made up.

A post shared by Nick (@truenortherncolorado) on Jul 22, 2017 at 10:52am PDT

Austin is home to some of the highest quality and most filling soul food dishes I have ever had. Here in Austin top chefs are creating truly unique dishes based on hearty southern stalwarts such as the unparalleled shrimp and salmon cake benedict that I had at the stunning Eastside Cafe. When you visit be sure to finish off brunch with a fresh-baked pie from their attached bakery and a scoop of ice cream, it may seem overly decadent, but in reality it was oh-so-perfect.

A post shared by Nick (@truenortherncolorado) on Jul 21, 2017 at 4:11pm PDT

What surprised me most about the Austin food scene was the extent of Japanese culinary influences we found throughout the city. This resulted in some of the most satisfying meals I have had. At Ramen Tatsu-Ya I enjoyed the closest to authentic Ramen I have had outside of our recent trip to Japan last spring. Here guests are allowed to almost infinitely customize their meal from the broth base to additional meats and ingredients, the pork broth and seared pork loin was the most succulent I have had in recent memory.

A post shared by Nick (@truenortherncolorado) on Jul 22, 2017 at 7:04pm PDT

BarChi Sushi featured the best happy hour of our visit with awesome deals on authentic Japanese beer, superb hand rolled sushi, and amazing Kyoto street food gems such as grilled baby octopus on a stick. Barchi is absolutely worth the visit when you are near 6th street during the late afternoon and are yearning for a taste of top notch Japanese inspired food.

A post shared by Nick (@truenortherncolorado) on Jul 23, 2017 at 10:54am PDT

Finally, when you are in town you have to stop by Lazarus Brewing which has the most high quality and creative beer list I have had outside of a Colorado brewery. My top recommendation is their Australian Pilsner which use only Australian hops that creates a distinct, crisp, and invigorating not to be missed German-style Pilsner.

This is where history and patriotism live and breathe. We love visiting presidential libraries and one day we will have visited them all. @reggiekred #lbj #lbjpresidentiallibrary #austin #texas #adventureawaits #history

A post shared by Nick (@truenortherncolorado) on Jul 22, 2017 at 3:02pm PDT

The post Austin Texas is Way More Than Just Great Beer and Food appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

The first cider I tried was their flagship hard cider: Handlebar Hard Cider. You are greeted immediately with a full apple nose and only a hint of natural sweetness. The palette is unlike any I have experienced with hard cider due to the robust and fresh apples base; you feel as though you experiencing the meatiness of the apples themselves with hints of natural tannins from their skins. The taste remains extremely fresh and clean throughout due to there being very little added sugar and no additives. This is such a pure form of cider I am unsure I will ever find one quite as good.

What really blew me away however was Old Mine’s Hopped Up Handlebar Hard Cider. This is the same cider as above but dry hopped with all Citra hops. The nose is similar to the regular Handlebar, but this time you are treated to a full bouquet of floral notes due to the hops. The taste has no bitterness whatsoever from the hops, just the floral aspects that are first experienced on the nose. The added hop notes really balance the mild natural sweetness of the apples well creating a ridiculously balanced brew that I will enjoy for a long time to come. Hopped Up Handlebar Hard Cider is an exceptional bridge between craft brews and hard cider for beer enthusiasts.

Right now the best way to get Old Mine’s ciders is directly from their Cidery in downtown Erie Colorado, but more distribution is expected soon. I really recommend the trip if you are a craft beer lover who has not found a cider yet that speaks to your soul, you won’t be disappointed. In the meantime if you want to try both Handlebar and the Hopped Up variety be sure to check them out at Sesh Fest in Denver this Saturday, August 5th.

The post The Old Mine Cidery: Craft Cider for Beer Drinkers appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

A post shared by Nick (@truenortherncolorado) on Jul 8, 2017 at 5:47pm PDT

In Montana off of tiny dirt roads we found endless lush and brilliantly green fields of flowing wheat and native grasses that stretched to the perfectly bright blue sky horizon like an endless ocean. This area was breathtakingly beautiful in so many ways but the best aspect was the pristine environment dotted with towering clean energy giants powering entire communities while taking away nothing from the natural lands they occupied.

A post shared by Nick (@truenortherncolorado) on Jul 18, 2017 at 11:46am PDT

Further north into Montana tiny specks of small towns were found every 3o miles or so, each with a single grain tower reaching toward the sky, the largest structures on the horizon until the picturesque mountains that served as the most perfect backdrop imaginable.

A post shared by Nick (@truenortherncolorado) on Jul 10, 2017 at 7:52am PDT

After spending time with the unabashed and wild lands that were Montana we ventured south along the western border of Montana to Yellowstone National Park and entered via the North Gate. Mammoth Hot Springs was awe-inspiring with its endless lush vistas punctuated by travertine covered hills that were created due to limestone deposited by the mineral rich and naturally occurring hot springs that run like rivers underneath the thin calcite crust. This area was the most geologically beautiful I have ever seen and makes you thankful that these natural wonders have been so wonderfully preserved for all of us and future generations to enjoy.

Here in Yellowstone native animals like the Bison exist in their natural habitat in all its magnificent glory. This entire area of the United States is magical and it makes me realize how lucky I am to live in such a beautiful and diverse area with such wondrous natural beauty.

A post shared by Nick (@truenortherncolorado) on Jul 10, 2017 at 3:01pm PDT

Do yourself the greatest favor possible this summer; pack up your car, loved ones, and provisions so that you can begin the greatest road trip possible and take in the unimaginable beauty that is our great country.

A post shared by Nick (@truenortherncolorado) on Jul 11, 2017 at 12:21pm PDT

The post The Unimaginable Beauty of the U.S – A Road Trip Through Montana and Wyoming appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

Right now, there’s a war being waged against the level and fair internet we love. Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are working to pass through their plans for a “free and open internet” which would significantly roll back current FCC regulations which protect the internet we enjoy today. Don’t let the name fool you — their “free and open internet” plans are anything but.

Essentially, the changes they’re seeking would mean ISPs would be free to do two things key things they’re currently legally barred from. First, internet-based companies and services could be charged different amounts based on the discretion of the ISP, and second, some data could be favored over other information, based on the company or service it’s coming from.

ISPs argue that some data-heavy services like video and music streaming put an undue load on their infrastructure, and that they should be allowed to charge these companies more money, so that they can supposedly use those earnings to reinvest in better infrastructure. But this is nothing but a ruse so they can charge Pandora, Netflix, Spotify, and YouTube more in order to do business.

Imagine if Skype was forced to pay exorbitant fees when it was founded in 2003? That would have almost certainly prevented it from growing into the innovative — and needed — service it is today. So what other new and innovative products and services could we lose if net neutrality is not protected? What innovations will we lose out on forever because the cost of doing business and taking a risk is too high?

Net neutrality must be protected so that the innovation we’ve grown to love — and honestly, expect — from the internet continues to flourish indefinitely.

Upholding net neutrality is imperative to not only innovation, but also the free flow of information and ideas on the internet. Undoing current net neutrality rules would allow ISPs to favor the data of companies that pay them more — or they themselves own — over their competitors. Just imagine if Time Warner Cable (an ISP) ensured that Hulu (a company that it owns a stake in) streamed faster and at higher quality than Netflix. What if Verizon Internet would load TechCrunch articles (which it owns) far faster than its arch rival Gizmodo?

Such a scenario would undoubtedly lead to changes in the way we consume media, as the players the ISPs choose to give favor to would out compete all the other sources we’d have chosen if there was a level playing field. Of course, smaller companies that do not have enough cash to play ball would likely be lost in the ethereal void of slow loading pages and limited data transfer speeds.

***

So it’s time to stop reading and take some action. Here are a few links to help you get started:

John Oliver’s Website: www.gofccyourself.com

Contact your House and Congressional Representatives with this easy to use form: https://resistbot.io/

Donate and get involved with one of these great groups:

https://www.eff.org/      https://www.aclu.org/      https://www.freepress.net/

https://www.fightforthefuture.org/      https://www.publicknowledge.org/

The post Innovation, Fairness, and Choice: The Case for Net Neutrality appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

A post shared by Nick (@truenortherncolorado) on Jul 2, 2017 at 8:50am PDT

The cosplayers I met this weekend were out of this world and had a quality higher than I have ever seen or could expect. Kronk and Yzma were on point to a spectacular degree while Deadpool was as hilarious and irreverent as the character in the comics.

Some other amazing cosplayers included great takes on old favorites as well as meticulously designed masks and avatars, the level of detail and care was astounding.

As great as all the dedicated cosplayers were, I have to say the highlight of the weekend were the informative and entertaining panels.

A post shared by Nick (@truenortherncolorado) on Jul 2, 2017 at 3:39pm PDT

It was amazing to see some of my childhood heroes so up close and personal. Weird Al told  amazing stories that many never get to hear and his plans for future in not only music but also TV and movies. James and Oliver Phelps from the Harry Potter movie series were authentic and hilarious as they relived their years on set of possibly the most iconic movie franchise in history

The panel with Luke Cage actor Mike Colter and Iron Fist actor Finn Jones made me so excited for the upcoming season of Luke Cage and even more excited for the Defenders series that promises to be epic. These two had such great chemistry together and I cannot wait for the upcoming series.

A post shared by Nick (@truenortherncolorado) on Jul 1, 2017 at 2:37pm PDT

The best panel by far however was with Kate Mulgrew who played Captain Janeway in Star Trek Voyager and Red from Orange is the New Black. Her panel was ferocious, full of strength and extremely inspiring. I was lucky enough to get to asker her a question about how Janeway’s background in science informed and influenced her leadership as the captain of Voyager. She answered directly to me and at length with such honesty and earnestness. It was an amazing moment I will cherish forever.

If you ever get a chance to go to Denver Comic Con or any other Comic Con, I highly recommend it. What a great experience.

The post Denver Comic Con Was a Heroically Amazing Weekend appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.