Help for a Couple of Cocktail Novices (Part 1)

[Kerry Beal]

Doesn't get any more basic than a martini.

[Tri2Cook]

But it's a good basic! Although, at the risk of being pelted with large ice cubes, I confess that I actually prefer a G&T over a martini.

Edited October 30, 2011 by Tri2Cook (log)

[Kerry Beal]

But it's a good basic! Although, at the risk of being pelted with large ice cubes, I confess that I actually prefer a G&T over a martini.

They'll be pelting me too - I'm not really a martini fan. Do love a good G&T though!

[Kerry Beal]

Over on the drinks thread the 3G was mentioned. Noticed I had everything to make it - G'vine gin, St Germain, Domaine de Canton and a little spritz of absinthe. Sadly no dill in the garden for garnish - next time if I do lime zest I'll do a chunk rather than little bits.

Very tasty - bet it would be even better with about 1/2 an ounce of lime.

[brinza]

I just want to comment on the cocktail porn in this thread. Kerry's photos are making me so thirsty. I just want to reach through the screen and grab these drinks! Damn.

[Steamtrain]

I just want to comment on the cocktail porn in this thread. Kerry's photos are making me so thirsty. I just want to reach through the screen and grab these drinks! Damn.

+1

And when will there be a name change for this thread?

[Kerry Beal]

I just want to comment on the cocktail porn in this thread. Kerry's photos are making me so thirsty. I just want to reach through the screen and grab these drinks! Damn.

+1

And when will there be a name change for this thread?

Thanks guys - but no name change - we are still novices - just novices with a whole lot more booze than we started with!

I headed off to work today with a spritz bottle of absinthe and a little sample size bottle of Lillet blanc - one of the nurses is having a party and we had been discussing cocktails to try - I suggested given what she currently enjoys that a Corpse Reviver #2 would probably go over well. Sadly LCBO tells me that Lillet won't be in stock again until next week - I'll have to give her my bottle if she likes it.

[Anna N]

...

Sadly LCBO tells me that Lillet won't be in stock again until next week - I'll have to give her my bottle if she likes it.

Say it isn't so! I introduced my daughter and son-in-law to the Corpse Reviver last night and pretty much finished off my Lillet!

[Tri2Cook]

If I lived closer, I could help you both out. I have 4 bottles in the house right now but your store will have it back in before I could get it to you from here.

[tanstaafl2]

...

Sadly LCBO tells me that Lillet won't be in stock again until next week - I'll have to give her my bottle if she likes it.

Say it isn't so! I introduced my daughter and son-in-law to the Corpse Reviver last night and pretty much finished off my Lillet!

There is always Cocchi Americano as a substitute if they have that. As noted here some think it may be more like the original Kina Lillet. But I suppose that would be harder than the Lillet Blanc to find. I recently acquired a bottle of the Cocchi and made up a CR2 with both (my Lillet, while closed with a vac u vin, was not as fresh as the Cocchi). Both are good but it does make a difference. Since I tend to prefer less bitter the Lillet may have been a slight favorite but it may not be as close to the intended taste of the original drink.

[Tri2Cook]

No Cocchi at the LCBO so far, unfortunately.

[Anna N]

Tonight a Bitter Mac. Will need to repeat this at another time as I am coming down with a cold and couldn't taste much beyond the Famous Grouse.

[Kerry Beal]

I've been resisting the Nonino when I've seen it at the liquor store - but I finally caved - after all you can't have too many amaro in the house (can you?).

Tonight the Paper Plane - equal parts bourbon, aperol, nonino, and lemon. Very tasty! Well worth the purchase price of the Nonino.

Tomorrow will have to try the Paper Airplane to compare.

[Tri2Cook]

Tonight the Paper Plane - equal parts bourbon, aperol, nonino, and lemon. Very tasty! Well worth the purchase price of the Nonino.

I've been curious about that one but haven't tried it, I'll have to give it a shot.

The weather is cold and windy with snow flurries this evening. Just the kind of night I've been waiting for to try the Fernet & Jerry:

1 tbsp Tom & Jerry batter

1 oz Fernet Branca

2 oz hot milk

Tastes like more (I really like Fernet) but I think I may try a different version next. Would be a shame to waste the rest (I made a 1/4 batch) of the batter...

[Kerry Beal]

Paper Airplane - think I like the Paper Plane better. I'll have to try the variation with the Ramazotti though - perhaps it will stand up better to the campari.

[EvergreenDan]

...n waiting for to try the Fernet & Jerry...

That. Sounds. Amazing.

Just had a:

The Shift Drink

by Jacob Grier, Portland OR

1 1/2 oz Rye

3/4 oz Ginger liqueur, Domaine de Canton

3/4 oz Lemon juice

1/2 oz Fernet Branca

Shake, strain, cocktail glass, lemon twist.

I found the Fernet took over the Canton and it was a touch tart. I added another 1/4 oz of Canton (1 oz total) and found it superb.

[Tri2Cook]

Just had a:

The Shift Drink

by Jacob Grier, Portland OR

1 1/2 oz Rye

3/4 oz Ginger liqueur, Domaine de Canton

3/4 oz Lemon juice

1/2 oz Fernet Branca

Shake, strain, cocktail glass, lemon twist.

I found the Fernet took over the Canton and it was a touch tart. I added another 1/4 oz of Canton (1 oz total) and found it superb.

More Fernet! Gotta try it!

Tonight I had...

The Cure for Pain

1 1/4 oz rye

3/4 oz sweet vermouth

3/4 oz bourbon

1/2 oz tawny port

1/2 oz white creme de cacao

1 teaspoon Campari

Stir, strain, rim glass with orange peel, twist and drop in.

[Anna N]

Why I am still very much a cocktail novice - my very first Daiquiri.

[FrogPrincesse]

Anna,

I love Daiquiris! (And my favorite variation, El Floridita no. 1, which has a touch of Maraschino)

What rum did you use?

[Anna N]

Anna,

I love Daiquiris! (And my favorite variation, El Floridita no. 1, which has a touch of Maraschino)

What rum did you use?

Havana Club. I enjoyed it but not as much as other cocktails I have tried. Would think it would be pleasant on a sunny afternoon by the pool - not so much when the temperature is 6C and the snow is only a few miles north.

[FrogPrincesse]

Yes, it's definitely a summer drink!

[Anna N]

As an antidote to a creeping case of Friday night self-pity I made a second cocktail tonight - Monk's Revenge

For those of you who are rolling your eyes, I learned to drink Gammel Dansk at a very early age! My kind of cocktail esp. when the weather sucks.

[EvergreenDan]

Just tried a Paper Airplane riff with my newly-acquired 1L bottle of Amaro Nardini. I like this stuff. I had ready about it being minty, but the mint is very subdued. Mostly bitter orange. Fairly mild. Would be a nice aperitif with some lemon and soda.

I like all the variations, but I still like Ramazzotti best. I did restock on Gran Classico, so I want to revisit that with CioCiaro.

I also picked up a bottle of El Dorado 15. Very nice. The flavor is somewhat similar to Zacapa 23, but without the sweetness. I could easily enjoy a glass of that neat.

[Kerry Beal]

Tonight made the Blackthorn - from the Savoy Cocktail book via Regan. Irish whiskey, sweet vermouth, angostura, and absinthe dash. Hubby's binned - he didn't care for it at all. To mine I added a bit of Grand Marnier and some Angostura orange - became considerably more palatable. Hubby opted for the Paper Plane as his replacement drink.

[Tri2Cook]

Not sure if I'd like that one or not. I'm finding that I haven't entirely acquired the sophisti-mi-cation to enjoy many of the "all booze" drinks. I usually want something to balance the booziness a bit to be happy with the result. I don't require sweet (though I don't have the complete aversion to it some do) and there are exceptions but, for the most part, that's the case. Going to the LCBO monday to see if the local store is getting the Wychwood Bah Humbug Ale. I'm not sure if I particularly care about the beer... but I want the bottle! I see the LCBO caved on it's position to not carry Crystal Head vodka, the local store has it. I don't plan to buy that one though.