Cocktail Notes || EP. 9 “Mele Kalikimaka" (featuring Danielle Mendoza) || And to All a Goodnight
Happy holidays! I have a special gift for everyone this week. The song of the week is “Mele Kalikimaka”, featuring the lovely Danielle Mendoza. I have known Danielle Mendoza for over a decade but our musical journeys diverged early on. We became reacquainted in the past couple years, collaborating on performances and just hanging out. When she is not lifting heavy weights with me at the gym, you can find her involved with musical and theatre companies from coast to coast, and ocean to ocean. This includes productions throughout the Bay Area, New York, and cruises around the world. Her broad range of experience and incomparable talent is the reason I needed to feature her in this Hawaiian Christmas classic. Oh, and because she’s also one of my closest friends.
Danielle Mendoza
You can find her at @daniemendomusic and
The cocktail pairing of the week is “And to All a Goodnight”. I chose this cocktail on name alone. I thought it was a perfect choice for this Christmas Eve. In my opinion, “And to All a Goodnight” has a flavor profile akin to a “Manhattan”. The bourbon and cherry heering work together to give this cocktail that illusion on the palate. The cherry heering has a very fruit-forward, cherry flavor that is rather dry. With that addition, this drink had the fruity aromas that would have come from sweet vermouth, but without the sweetness itself. What makes this drink surprising is the addition of tequila. How often do you see bourbon and tequila being mixed together? The small bit of tequila brings an unmistakable vegetal note that gives the cocktail depth of flavor. Is this a festive holiday cocktail fitting of the name? I couldn’t say, but I know this would certainly bring cheer to any holiday get together. Danielle and I certainly enjoyed it. Cheers!
[December 24, 2020]