Back in the fall, Christina Cabrera took home the biggest honor in her career - capturing First Place with her Autumn Rose Cocktail in the Four Roses Bourbon Cocktail Competition in conjunction with the San Francisco Chapter of the USBG.  The way she tells it: "To win against nine boys is incredible and I felt like I proved the ladies can do it".  

Christina, a Culinary Institute of America graduate, did it with a recipe that was true to her philosophy - creative, locally sourced ingredients and flavors that are harmonious together.  For this recipe, her local ingredient was the irresistible puffs of pork chicharrones from Ryan Farr's 4505 Meats which she  used as a garnish. In her cocktail, a dash of maple syrup, a bit of bacon, a sprinkle of non filtered apple cider and Four Roses Small Batch came together like a hit melody - luxurious, silky and teasing on the tongue. Way to go, Christina!

Four Roses is an American bourbon that's been around since 1888. Its legend goes like this: Paul Jones, Jr., the founder of Four Roses, became smitten by the beauty of a Southern belle. It is said that he sent a proposal to her, and she replied that if her answer were "Yes," she would wear a corsage of roses on her gown to the upcoming grand ball. Paul Jones waited for her answer excitedly on that night…when she arrived in her beautiful gown, she wore a corsage of four red roses. He later named his Bourbon "Four Roses" as a symbol of his devout passion for the lovely lady, a passion he thereafter transferred to making his beloved Four Roses Bourbon.