Last Updated on November 2, 2023 by Leah Hall
Hey all, another in our series of Mixologist Mondays! This time with Chicocktailcutie, Erica! I fell in love with Erica’s cocktails and photos a few years ago on Instagram, and used her advice of places to go in Chicago a few years ago!
Can’t wait for you all to meet her too (maybe someday I will finally get to meet her in person)! So, here’s Erica in her own words!
Tell us about yourself! How did you get into cocktails?
I’ve loved cocktails since I was a waitress in college. I’d then make cocktails for my friends at parties and gatherings. I’m talkin Frozen Daquiris, Apple Martinis…Nothing that I’d really make now. I’d say I’ve improved tremendously.
When I moved to Chicago in 2011, my boyfriend (now husband) took me to a great Craft Cocktail Bar called Barrell House Flat (sadly they’ve closed). The menu was so amazing and creative. Then I’d want to go to more and more cocktail bars that were serving up creative drinks. I think started to purchase more liquors and started making lots of drinks at home.
This post contains affiliate links for products that we think you as readers might find useful, and we make commission off of these! For more details about our affiliates, click our Disclosure and Contacts Page.
Top 3 favorite cocktails
(If we’re talking classics….)
- Margarita
- Jungle Bird
- Gin Martini with Stuffed Blue Cheese Olives (Slightly Dirty)
How do you come up with drinks? What is your inspiration?
I get inspiration from others. Social media, restaurants, and magazines. I’ll go into a restaurant and if I like a drink I think about what I have at home that I mimic or make an improvement. Sometimes, I honestly will throw a recipe together.
And, I must admit I don’t measure often. I generally just eyeball. But it’s from years of making cocktails.
Tell us one fun/interesting or weird fact about yourself
Not that interesting but I work as a Producer in Advertising. I produce commercials and ads for social.
If you could have a drink with anyone in the world who would it be?
Issa Rae. She just seems like a FUN time. I’d love to chat about her show and so much more. She inspires me.
Tell us 3 Instagrams or blogs that you love to follow
- Cocktail Files
- Sip Ponder Repeat
- Valcohol
- And of course YOUR account. Really enjoy the cocktails you all post. (Leah here, blushing!)
Have a Recipe to Share with Us?
Madness Punch
2 oz Mezcal
.5oz St. Germain
.25oz Yellow Chartreuse
.5oz Raspberry Syrup
.25oz Lime
Mint for garnish
Shake all with ice, strain. Garnish with mint.
The below recipe is inspired by Fanny Chu’s Pina Colada.
- 1 oz Demerara Rum
- 1oz White Plantation Rum
- 1oz Fresh Pineapple juice
- .5oz Coconut Milk
- .05 oz Lime
- .25oz Falernum
Make sure to follow Erica on Instagram at ChiCocktailCutie!!
Check out our other Mixologist Monday Posts!
Thanks, Erica! More Mixologist Mondays to come soon!
Also, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram and tag #gastronomcocktails so we can see all the wonderful recipes YOU recreate from this site!
You can also subscribe to our newsletter so you never miss a delicious recipe again!
Interested in stocking your own home bar? Make sure to see our favorites at our Amazon Store!
If you liked this post, don’t forget to subscribe for new (and of course free) recipes by entering your email address on the side bar (and get all the recipes delivered to your inbox when we post), so you don’t miss out on a thing. You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest!
Gastronomblog is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com