The Improved Brubaker.

I know I'm preaching to the choir on this one, but if you have been living under a rock, and you haven't been to The Sugar House yet...go.  Drop everything.  Leave your husbands and children to fend for themselves, put on something pretty, and go.

It was a cold and snowy Detroit night when my gal pals and I were ushered into a dark, brick walled, taxidermied, candle lit, magical wonderland know as The Sugar House - a craft cocktail bar featuring a refined and pallet titilating menu of prohibition era style cocktails.  (And this after being ushered into one dressing room and fitted for bras together at the fabulous Bravo Intimates...yep.  we needed a stiff cocktail)  (But a good bra is life changing, just sayin'").  But I digress, they get a giant block of ice once a week from Dexter and hand chip your cubes.  The gentlemen bartenders wear their sleeves rolled up with little black arm bands.  You feel as though you've been transported...and then there are the cocktails.  Oh! the cocktails.  They make their own syrups, bitters, and squeeze their own juices.  The different flavor combinations are so complex and so perfect.  Go ahead, put a raw egg in my drink (just don't tell me about it), because I trust you , and I know it will be delicious.

So, when planning a big Sunday family dinner for this afternoon, I decided we were going old school and everyone was partaking in my favorite Sugar House delicacy...The Improved Brubaker...or Joe's take on it at anyway. (recipe slightly different, yet delectable!)

1 part fresh squeezed lime juice
1 part homemade blackberry syrup (simple syrup with a pint of blackberries...and let 'em simmer)
3 parts agave blanco tequilla
Mint leaves
Cinnamon (a pinch)

I meant to take a picture of the jug of cocktails all day...but somebody drank it all too fast (ok, maybe me.)

Joe made the cocktails in a growler from my other favorite place on earth - Tandem Ciders

Here are a few picks of last years Tandem Cider excursion...best damn hard cider anywhere.  Light and smooth and something you crave until the next summer on Leelanau.

And, one more of the sugar house menu.  Watch a sultry and hot Sugar House promo video here.

And, thank you family - for a lovely day walking around the farm, eating beautiful food, and sipping cocktails with me.
We built memories today people!