FrogPrincesse

Yes. Life is good, and variety is the spice of life... Also Neisson > KoHana >> La Mauny. But it's an unfair comparison because only the Neisson is 50%. I wish KoHana white (this was the Lahi sugar cane variety) wasn't diluted to 40%.

Very timely (maybe by design?). This weekend it's the Jet Pilot Challenge on instagram (#jetpilotchallenge2015).

There is a little article in PUNCH about the Florodora. It's very pretty indeed.

The Cocchi VdT is really nice in a Martinez. Personally, I really like the PDT ratios compared to other recipes that are more gin-heavy. Let us know what you end up making!

A few ideas in the Port & Sherry thread.

You could start with something like Beefeater as a "baseline" for both cocktails. Then branch out to more unusual gins such as St George dry rye.

Love that one. I tried it last year at Tiki Oasis in the rum tasting session that Martin Cate of Smuggler's Cove organized. I wish we could get it in California.

Speaking of Denizen Merchant's Reserve, it was really great in the Daiquiri variation called Captain's Blood (named after the classic movie with Errol Flynn). Rum, lime juice, simple, Angostura bitters Tasteful and balanced; gone in no time.

I made some orgeat last week after a few weeks sans. Like Hassouni I tried a Denizen Merchant's Reserve Mai Tai with 2 oz rum, 1 oz lime, 1/2 oz Clement Creole Shrubb, 1/4 oz homemade orgeat (Beachbum recipe), 1/4 oz simple syrup (and mint from the backyard!). This is a very nice Mai Tai, but I think I've been spoiled with the versions with aged agricole. So it did not quite satisfy my craving the way I was hoping it would. Still I like this rum very much.

I haven't tried it but recently I've had Cardamaro a couple of times which I found too tame and not bitter enough. On the other hand, I was thoroughly impressed with Ciociaro. I am going to buy a bottle even though I have Picon (they are similar but each has its own personality). Ciociaro on ice makes a fabulous aperitif. .

Or try the Cradle of Life. It's a fun tiki number.

Charterhouse Cup (Adrian Gomes via Gaz Regan) with green Chartreuse as the base (!), Pimm's No. 1 Cup, Trois Rivieres white rhum agricole (La Mauny), lemon juice, sugar (2 tsp reduced to 1 tsp), egg white. I knew this was going to be a winner because of the alliance between the white rhum agricole and the Chartreuse (cf the Green Mile and the Daisy de Santiago). Here the mix is lightened up by Pimm's which contributes some spice and works remarkably well. Smart drink.

From last night - Manhattan with High West Son of Bourye, Margerum amaro, Dead Rabbit Orinoco bitters, brandied cherry. Very spicy/lively. And from a few nights ago, another Manhattan with High West Double Rye!, Margerum amaro, Miracle Mile toasted pecan bitters, Angostura bitters. (Margerum amaro on the rocks in the back) I tried it first with the pecan bitters only, but it needed the angostura to anchor the flavors.

Fyi- Bonal and Suze are two completely different beasts

It's nice in a mezcal Negroni (if you have Bonal!).

Variation on the Raucherkerzen (Caleb Linton via Gaz Regan) with Laphroaig 10 scotch, Cruzan blackstrap rum (Smith & Cross Jamaican rum), cinnamon syrup (homemade, D&C recipe, reduced to 1/4 oz), St Elizabeth allspice dram, Angostura bitters, orange twist (which was supposed to be discarded - oops!). No idea why but although I have blackstrap in my home bar, I reached for the S&C (and did not regret it). The end result is smokey/spicy with orange undernotes. A big glass of frankincense. Love it.

You are correct. The 4-year is very hard to find in any case, probably sold out.

If you send me samples, I promise to provide a full report

Get the 4-year if you can find it. It's amazing.

It's a good one for sure. It makes a butt-kicking OF (I had to increase the simple syrup from 1 to 2 barspoons) that made the Martini taste like water in comparison :-)

For the Mad Men premiere last night - an Old Fashioned with Willet 2-year rye & Miracle Mile Forbidden bitters, and a Martini with Sipsmith gin, Dolin dry vermouth, Regan & Fee Brothers bitters.

Thanks. If you are trying to finish your Captain Morgan, Captain Vadrna's Grog is quite good.

Oh god, I have a huge craving for this now. I need to make a batch of orgeat ASAP! :-) What rums did you use?

It's a nice article. It's always fun to read about people who are knowledgeable and enthusiastic about their profession. Thanks for sharing.

Well deserved indeed. I was happy for him when I read the announcement a few days ago. So many bartenders have been influenced directly or indirectly by him. He's a legend.