High-Proof Preacher

Cocktail and Spirits blog re-launching Fall 2018

 
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highproof, Portland, High Proof Preacher

My name is Jordan Hughes. I am a food & beverage photographer and writer from Portland, OR.

I've grown up in the Pacific Northwest my whole life and I have no plans to ever leave. Since starting "High-Proof Preacher" I've gotten to work with some amazing spirit brands and distilleries. I have a passion for the craft spirits scene here in Portland but love connecting and partnering with different brands around the world whenever I have the opportunity.

I hope I can be a resource to "home bartenders" everywhere, as well as an asset to craft spirit companies that are trying to up their digital content & social media game!

 

Connect with me on Instagram

Mixing up a delicious fizzy cocktail with @UncleVals Botanical Gin! . Inspired by a man and his love of gardening, this complex and crisp gin is perfect for a warm weather cocktail. This bottle has quite the list of botanicals, including cucumber, lemon, sage, lavender and of course juniper. I wanted to focus on those refreshing citrus and cucumber elements of the gin, while also incorporating another favorite summer flavor by balancing the drink with some fresh-made strawberry simple syrup. Be sure to give this one a solid dry shake in order to produce that perfect head of foam. Enjoy! . Facts & Figures . 2 oz @UncleVals Botanical Gin ¾ oz fresh lemon juice ½ zo strawberry simple syrup 3-4 cucumber slices Egg white Dry lemon soda water Sage leaf . Add the cucumber slices and strawberry simple syrup to a shaker and gently muddle. Add gin, lemon juice and egg white and shake well without ice. Then add ice, shake and double-strain into a rocks glass over a large cube. Carefully top with dry lemon soda and place a sage leaf on top for garnish. . #highproofpreacher #unclevalsgin #sponsored
It’s currently the one season in Portland that’s not very dark and not very stormy ☀️ But that’s just fine because a refreshing rum beverage is perfect for this 95° weather! . A Dark N Stormy is a simple drink, generally only consisting of ginger beer and blackstrap rum. However, throwing in a few dashes of aromatic bitters, fresh lime juice and even muddling some ginger can easily elevate this simple highball 👌🏼 . This is my entry for @goslingsrum’s #mydarknstormycontest for a chance to win a trip to Bermuda 🌴🍹 If you want to do the same, post the perfect Dark N Stormy, add that hashtag and specify that you are both a US resident and over the age of 21— hey @goslingsrum 👋🏼 I just so happen to be both those things! 😆😆 . Any other good suggestions for cocktails that feature blackstrap rum? . #highproofpreacher
Just a little Old New Orleans classic for a Wednesday night cap. Can’t go wrong 🥃 . Vieux Carré . ¾ oz Rye Whiskey ¾ oz Cognac ¾ oz Sweet Vermouth 1 tsp Bénédictine 2 dashes Peychaud’s bitters 2 dashes aromatic bitters . Combine ingredients in a mixing glass and stir with ice. Strain into a rocks glass over a large cube and garnish with a skewered maraschino cherry ✌🏼 . #highproofpreacher
Thanks for all the NOLA recs from everyone over the last week. It’s amazing how many full-on spreadsheets I’ve received listing out favorite restaurants, bars, museums and shops 📥 Seriously you’re all amazing! . Only thing is it’s @tales_of_the_cocktail so that’ll keep me pretty busy for most hours of the day and the way it’s looking, most of the night 🌃 Who else is going this year? It’ll be a packed week but let me know if you’re heading there and maybe we can meet up for water or a green smoothie– because if you are, you’ll probably want a little break from cocktails in the middle of a week-long cocktail event. . Definitely going to miss my ride or die @selflessly_styled though 😘 Hoping @pip_from_portland takes good care of her! . #highproofpreacher
I’m not sure at what point you “officially” become a regular at a bar, but I have to be getting close at @palomarpdx 🌴 . I’ve always scoffed at blended daiquiris as syrupy boat drinks, but this Cuban-inspired spot has changed all that for me. Palomar offers most of their daiquiris shaken or blended, and it’s worth trying them both ways as they adjust the ingredient ratios based on preparation method. They also offer the option of adding absinthe to any daiquiri for 25¢ (highly recommended). . A fan favorite is without a doubt the frozen banana daiquiri... which is blended with real bananas and topped with banana runts 🍌👌🏼 . It was so fun meeting up with @spiritedla and @chamberlainwill here tonight! It’s always amazing getting to hang with people in real life that I’ve only known via Instagram. Enjoy PDX you guys! 👋🏼 . #highproofpreacher
The chill on that glass though ❄️👌🏼 . I’m honored to be doing some photo work for one of my favorite local distilleries @newdealpdx. When I started this account, Lance from New Deal invited me out for a tour and tasting of the distillery. I had maybe 200 followers and was honestly just stoked that someone I didn’t have any previous connection with appreciated what I was doing on here. . This week, I was tasked with shooting various New Deal cocktails at @blankslatebar, a gorgeous spot tucked a little ways out in NE Portland. The crew there was incredibly hospitable and enjoyable to work with. I’m looking forward to going back just to hang and enjoy a drink in the near future 🍸 . All this to say, I’m super thankful to be doing what I’m doing right now and for the regular opportunities for new experiences and to connect with great people who are passionate about what they do ✌🏼 . #highproofpreacher
Happy July friends ☀️🍹🎇 . For this whole month, my friends over at @townshendsdistillery are rallying bars all over Portland to serve Gin Rickeys for a cause! The classic recipe is nothing more than gin, lime, soda water and ice. Simple to make and even easier to drink on a hot summer day 👌🏼 . @townshendsdistillery and participating bars will be selling these limited edition Gin Rickey pins to support local non-profit @not_ok_pdx. This female-run organization is dedicated to decreasing sexual violence and predatory behavior in bars and restaurants by providing bystander intervention workshops to service industry staff. . Just serving drinks and empowering the local community 🙌🏼 . #highproofpreacher
Just RSVP’d to @freelandspirits’ grand opening party on July 14th for their new distillery and tasting room 🙌🏼 I stopped in today to check out the progress and I’m even more excited now to see the finished space! . Also, @leahgeorgebrown from Angel Face will be there mixing up some delicious drinks with Freeland Gin, along with several other amazing local bartenders. I was honored to do a shoot with Leah and the Freeland ladies a few weeks ago, so keep an eye out for more pics like the above 🍸📸 . #highproofpreacher #freelandspirits
Spotted this cocktail recipe over on @migsology’s feed a while back but only just got around to trying it out. It consists of several of my favorite ingredients, so I figured I’d be a fan even before mixing it up for myself. . It’s one of those drinks where I took the first sip and exclaimed to myself “whaaaaaat.” Perfectly balanced and just friggin tasty 👌🏼 . Pirate Radio ☠️📻 . 1 ½ Stiggins’ Fancy Pineapple @plantation.rum 1 oz Cocchi Americano ½ oz Suze ½ oz Green Chartreuse Lemon zest . Stir, strain, serve up. Garnish with lemon zest 🍋 . #highproofpreacher
I’m super excited for my first @tales_of_the_cocktail experience next month! 🍸 . I’ll be doing some photos for @thirsty, as well as @catahoulahotel 📸 but won’t necessarily have a full shooting schedule. If any of you fine people will be around for the festivities, let me know and let’s meet up! . I’ve never been to NOLA, so I need all your best recs. What spots do I absolutely have to hit while I’m there? . #highproofpreacher
Back at it again with the mezcal! Can you blame me though? . I’ve been jamming on @mezcallosjavis lately, which I mentioned a few posts back (just swipe to get a better look at the bottle). They are a quality, family-run artisanal mezcal brand, and well worth supporting if you see their stuff around. I used their espadín to recreate this fun recipe by the great @momose_julia 🙌🏼 Her original cocktail is called “Electron” and it combines both earthy and citrus flavors, and has a pink peppercorn salt rim 😋 . The recipe is up on @vinepair, so check out the link in bio to grab the specs and give it a try at home! . #highproofpreacher
The travel bug hits at the beginning of every summer, right on schedule ✈️ No major trips planned for me this year though, partially due to some of the uncertainties that come with being in my first year of full-time freelancing. Thankfully, Portland is truly gorgeous this time of year so after suffering through all the rain, leaving during the summer months is kinda ridiculous anyway. . I do have a few short getaways planned though... and honestly, I’m just excited to finally use my travel cocktail kit from @stephenkenn the way it was intended to be used 🥃 Every detail of this thing is perfect (scroll to see some close ups). I’m thankful to know cool people like @stephenkenn and @beksopperman who make really cool things! 😎🙌🏼 . #highproofpreacher

 

 

I run my own creative business full-time

 
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