THE INFUSED SYRUPS

 Heavy Syrup       

• 2 parts sugar by weight
• 1 part water by weight

 Light Syrup

• 1 part sugar by weight
• 1 part water by weight

1. Bring water to a boil. Dissolve sugar into the boiling water, stirring constantly. Once sugar is dissolved completely, remove pan from heat immediately. (Note: Boiling syrup for an extended period of time will thicken it.)
2. Allow syrup to cool.
3. Load the Porthole with desired ingredients and check for a good seal before adding syrup.
4. Infuse for at least 24 hours in a refrigerator. Infusion times will vary with ingredients.

 Tips:

• Heavy syrup is best for infusing fruit. Light simple syrup is best for infusing herbs.
• Only use a filter screen if infusion ingredients can pass though the spout, otherwise leave out for faster filling and pouring.
• Leave an inch of space at the top when filling the Porthole with syrup. Do not immediately insert the stopper in the spout so ingredients can settle and expand.
• Refrigerate when not in use. Remove stopper when not in the refrigerator.
• To make a light, simple syrup that does not require a stove, combine equal parts (1:1) sugar and water in a bottle and shake until the sugar is completely dissolved.
• In place of the recipe above, you can also infuse honey, maple, or agave syrups.
• To extend the life of your syrup, add a tablespoon of vodka to your infusion.

—source: Steelite International

 

THE RECEIPES of PORTHOLE

 MARÍA FÉLIX by crucial detail

• 3 large strawberries
• 1/2 medium sized Navel or Valencia orange
• 2 oz (60g) roasted cacao nibs
• 7 oz (200g) Tequila Blanco (Herencia Mexicana)
• 2 3/4 oz (80g) Grand Marnier

1. Wash fruit. Quarter strawberries lenghtwise, stem on, and fan-slice them. Cut orange cross-grain into 1/8” thick slices.
2. Arrange 6 strawberry fans in Porthole, alternating skin and pulp facing the glass pane. Sprinkle half of cacao nibs on strawberries. Arrange a layer of orange slices. Sprinkle rest of cacao nibs on oranges. Arrange remaining strawberries, lightly packing the Porthole cavity.
3. Close Porthole, tighten screw, squeeze, snug screws, and check for good seal.
4. Combine tequila and Grand Marnier.
5. Fill Porthole with combined liquids.
6. Infuse for a minimum of 30 minutes before sampling, consume within 4 hours (extended infusion of orange rind will turn the infusion bitter).

Tips:

• We highly recommend using Herencia Mexicana Tequila Blanco for this particular cocktail but any quality white tequila with pronounced agave notes should work nicely.
• Sifting the cacao nibs will reduce chocolate dust clouding the infusion.
• To transform María Félix into a spicy La Valentina, add one medium dried chipotle pepper to ingredients.

 

 

CIDER by the aviary

Inside the Porthole:

• 7.5g (.26 oz) rare tea cellar cider spice noir
• 1g (.04 oz) allspice, roasted at 350ºF for 10 minutes
• 1g (.04 oz) clove, roasted at at 350ºF for 10 minutes
• 1/2 cinnamon stick, roasted at at 350ºF for 10 minutes
• 2g (.07 oz) nutmeg
• 3g (.1 oz) hibiscus
• 8g (.3 oz) dried cranberries
• 8g (.3 oz) dried currants
• 1 sugar cube
• 16 apple slices, 1/8” thick
• 1 ginger slice, 1/8” inch thick
• 2 sage sprigs, rolled in hands to release oil
• 2 thyme sprigs
• 1 orange zest, removed with peeler, all pith removed

Cocktail to be added (makes two Portholes):

• 67g (2 1/4 fl oz) laird’s apple brandy, 100 proof
• 59g (2 fl oz) white verjus
• 30g (1 fl oz) simple syrup
• 1g (1/32 fl oz) fee’s orange bitters
• 223g (7 1/2 fl oz) water

Assemble the Porthole, checking the seal for good contact. Using a bottle pourer or a funnel, transfer liquid ingredient mix into the assembled Porthole through the spout. Best if poured and sampled in 5-10 minute increments and consumed within 25 minutes of preparation.

 

BLUEBERRY by the aviary

Inside the porthole:

• 1 whole lemon zest, removed with peeler, all pith removed
• ¼ grapefruit zest, removed with peeler, all pith removed
• 2 strawberries, thinly sliced with stem on, fan, then slice stem off
• 2 mint sprigs, rolled in hands to release oil
• 16 blueberries
• 2 edible marigold flowers
• 4g (.1 oz) freeze-dried pomegranate arils
• 5g (.2 oz) rare tea cellar berry meritage tea
• 1/3 vanilla bean, split and scraped

Cocktail to be added (makes two Portholes):

• 103g (3 1/2 fl oz) bulleit rye whiskey
• 77g (2 5/8 fl oz) white verjus
• 26g (7/8 fl oz) simple syrup
• 31g (1 fl oz) carpano antica formula vermouth
• 2g (1/16 fl oz) angostura orange bitters
• 186g (6 1/4 fl oz) water

Assemble the Porthole, checking the seal for good contact. Using a bottle pourer or a funnel, transfer liquid ingredient mix into the assembled Porthole through the spout. Best if poured and sampled in 5-10 minute increments and consumed within 30 minutes of preparation.

 

PORTHOLE PENICILLIN by zdenek hartman

• 6-8 slices lemon
• 4 slices fresh ginger
• 1” x 4”(2.5cm x 10cm) slice of honeycomb
• 1.5 oz (43g) Lapsang Souchong tea
• 5 oz (142g) Johnnie Walker Black Label
• 5 oz (142g) Laphroaig Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 16 yr.

 

1. Wash fruit. Slice lemons into rounds, slice ginger lengthwise.
2. Brew tea according to packet instructions.
3. Arrange fresh ingredients on one side inside the Porthole, alternating lemon and ginger slices. Set honeycomb in the open area.
4. Close Porthole, tighten screw, squeeze, snug screws, and check for good seal.
5. Combine Johnnie Walker, Laphroaig, and Lapsang tea.
6. Fill Porthole with combined liquids.
7. Infuse for a minimum of 30 minutes before sampling, consume within 4 hours (extended infusion of lemon rind will turn the infusion bitter).

 

DASHI by modernist cuisine

• 6.2oz (175g) Dried baby shrimp
• 4.2oz (120g) Seasoned kombu envelopes
• 0.3oz (7g) Bonito flakes
• Water to fill, room temperature

1. Fill Porthole with dry ingredients.
2. Close the Porthole, and check for a good seal.
3. Fill Porthole with water.
4. Allow dashi to infuse at least 1 hour at room temperature, or refrigerate infusion overnight before use.

Another Variation: 

 

WILD MUSHROOM DASHI by modernist cuisine

• 0.3 oz (9g) Dried shiitake mushrooms
• 0.6 (18g) Dried morel mushrooms
• 0.3 oz (7g) Dried oyster mushrooms
• 0.6oz (17g) Dried Chinese enoki
• 0.1g (4g) Dried black fungus
• Water to fill, room temperature

1. Fill Porthole with dry ingredients.
2. Close the Porthole, and check for a good seal.
3. Fill Porthole with water.
4. Allow dashi to infuse at least 1 hour at room temperature, or refrigerate infusion overnight before use.

 

CHAI by the aviary

Inside the Porthole:

• 3 grapefruit slices, 1/8 inch thick, cut in half
• 1/2 lemon peel, peeled using channel knife
• 1 thyme sprig
• 3 dried apricots
• 10g (.4 oz) freeze-dried apricots
• 1/3 fresh apricot, sliced and fanned
• 3 ginger slices, 1/8 inch thick
• 8g (.3 oz) rare tea cellar bourbon chai tea
• 1.5g (.052 oz) dried hibiscus flower
• 1.2g (.042 oz) dried elderflower
• 0.2g (.007 oz) saffron threads

 Cocktail to be added (makes two Portholes):

• 53g (1 3/4 fl oz) olmeca altos blanco tequila
• 18g (5/8 fl oz) elijah craig 12yr bourbon
• 53g (1 3/4 fl oz) white verjus
• 28g (1 fl oz) st. germain elderflower liqueur
• 1g (1/32 fl oz) angostura orange bitters
• 18g (5/8 fl oz) simple syrup
• 26g (7/8 fl oz) tio pepe fino
• 185g (6 1/4 fl oz) water

Assemble the Porthole, checking the seal for good contact. Using a bottle pourer or a funnel, transfer liquid ingredient mix into the assembled Porthole through the spout. Best if poured and sampled in 5-10 minute increments and consumed within 25 minutes of preparation

 

CRANBERRY by the aviary

 Inside the Porthole:

• 10g (.4 oz) rare tea cellar cranberry autumn harvest tea
• 3g (.1 oz) freeze-dried pomegranate arils
• 2 whole star anise
• 2g (.07 oz) mace
• 2 rosemary sprigs, slightly bruised to release oil
• 1 whole lemon peel, removed with peeler, wrapped around rosemary
• 2 orange slices, 3mm (1/8 inch) thick, cut in half
• 12 fresh cranberries, with shallow slits to aid infusion

Cocktail to be added (makes two Portholes):

• 166g (5 5/8 fl oz) water
• 1g (1/32 fl oz) north shore sirene absinthe
• 1g (1/32 fl oz) angostura orange bitters
• 1g (1/32 fl oz) regan’s orange bitters
• 2g (1/16 fl oz) st. elizabeth’s allspice dram
• 62g (2 1/8 fl oz) white verjus
• 83g (2 3/4 fl oz) journeyman rum
• 35g (1 1/8 fl oz) cocchi Americano
• 14g (1/2 fl oz) st. george terroir gin
• 17g (5/8 fl oz) simple syrup

Assemble the Porthole, checking the seal for good contact. Using a bottle pourer or a funnel, transfer liquid ingredient mix into the assembled Porthole through the spout. Best if poured and sampled in 5-10 minute increments and consumed within 25 minutes of preparation.

 

GINGER RYE MIKADO by crucial detail

• 1 medium sized ginger root
• 1 lime
• 1 1/4 oz (35g) maple syrup
• 10 oz (285g) rye whiskey

1. Wash lime and peel it with a vegetable peeler. Remove pith if necessary. Reserve peel. Juice the peeled lime. Strain the juice. Stir lime juice, maple syrup and whiskey together.
2. Julienne ginger. Cut reserved lime zest into 3/16” wide strips.
3. Arrange ginger and lime in the porthole into a random pattern, lightly packing the Porthole cavity.
4. Close the Porthole and check for a good seal.
5. Fill with Porthole with cocktail base.
6. Infuse for a minimum of 30 minutes before sampling, enjoy for up to 6 hours straight up, over ice or with a dash of soda.