Cocktails inspired by China

[jsmeeker]

Not sure why I didn't think of this a little bit earlier..

The 2008 Olympics are starting. Opening ceremony in Beijing is on TV right now here in the USA. If you had to make a cocktail that celebrated the Olympics in China, what would you make?

I personally don't have any idea on where to start, so I hope our resident experts can come up with some ideas so we can toast the games throughout their duration.

[Nishla]

Good question...I'm not sure they have much of a cocktail culture there, it seems to be mostly hard liquor. Expensive whiskey or brandy, but especially really high proof liquor. There's one that my cousin fondly calls "white man killer."

Maybe something with tea and/or tropical fruits would be appropriate? Or ginger? I know, very cliche.

Edited August 9, 2008 by Nishla (log)

[Peter the eater]

Nice one Jeff, I'm reading your opener while watching the opening ceremonies on CBC.

The Auzzies have gone by and I've got back with a drink in time to see China's entrance. I'm enjoying a "Big Beige Cow", it's a skinny brown cow light on the Bailey's.

[jmfangio]

I think a little Domaine de Canton topped with champagne would be appropriate.

I don't really know much about the drinking habits on the Mainland, but I do have a bit of experience with drinking in Hong Kong, where they're particularly fond of French reds, expensive cognac, and Johnnie Walker Blue, of which I drank waaaaaay too much at Stephen Chow's 40th birthday party. And yes, being Hong Kong, karaoke was involved.

I don't know if this is still the trend, but when I was there it was all the rage to mix scotch with bottled oolong tea.

[Peter the eater]

I don't know if this is still the trend, but when I was there it was all the rage to mix scotch with bottled oolong tea.

Now that's a toddy I can excited about!

[Gifted Gourmet]

The Lichitini sounds like something delightful to quaff while the Olympics are on television this week:

1 1/2 oz vodka

1 1/2 oz Lichido Liqueur

dash of lime juice

1 pitted lychee

Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker.

Add ice.

Shake well.

Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

Drop a lychee in the glass for a garnish.

Guess that the Singpore Sling is fairly old fashioned nowadays ...

[KatieLoeb]

A little something I made up a while ago. The Pearl Plum vodka is realy delicious and instantly made me think of Asian inspired things.

Plum Blossom:

2.0 oz. Pearl Plum vodka

.5 oz fresh lemon juice

.5 oz. pineapple juice

.25 oz. St. Germain liqueur

1 tsp. Luxardo Maraschino liqueur

splash cranberry juice

dash Fee Brothers Lemon or Grapefruit bitters

Lemon Twist

Shake and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with lemon twist.

Edited August 9, 2008 by KatieLoeb (log)

[Bunnyhugs]

The China Blue is a genuine Chinese themed cocktail from Asia. Though I have a feeling the drink may have been invented in Japan. It's a staple of Japanese bars in China and Taiwan.

http://bunnyhugs.org/2008/04/14/china-blue/

Or you could try my own invention. . . Though it's Taiwanese themed (to be precise) and involves infusing Genever with Oolong tea - i.e. you may well find it a big pain in the arse to make. I swear it's good though.

http://bunnyhugs.org/2008/02/29/oolong-tea-infused-gin/

Or my other very Chinese tea infusion idea. . . pisco with chrysanthenum and puer tea.

http://bunnyhugs.org/2008/03/27/chrysanthe...-infused-pisco/

Or go very retro with the Shanghai Cocktail. It's sort of a slightly sweet, anise spiked rum punch. Not bad if you have anisette handy.

http://bunnyhugs.org/2007/03/11/shanghai/

Or if you are in the US you could celebrate Chinese and U.S. friendship with the Flying Tiger Cocktail, named after the US volunteer unit based in South-West China during the Sino-Japanese war.

http://bunnyhugs.org/2008/03/19/the-flying-tiger/

Ha ha. . .I've excelled myself on this one.

[jsmeeker]

maybe I can make Ming Tsai's "Blue Ginger Gimlet". Dunno why I didn't think about it before. I guess it sort of counts since Ming is Chinese.

vodka

lime juice

ginger simple syrup

Of course, you could make it with gin, too. Maybe I'll pick up some ginger and limes at the grocery store.

But thanks for all the other suggestions. They are great. This is exactly the sort of thing I was looking for.

[The Drinkist]

I'm sure there are plenty of members of the TV generation on here, so I'll suggest (ahem) a Grasshopper.

[Splificator]

See also this thread.

[mbanu]

I came up with an interesting drink a while back. It used an herbal syrup called Pan Gaoshou. Original entry here.

Edited August 20, 2008 by mbanu (log)