Drinks! 2014 (Part 2)

[JoNorvelleWalker]

Tonight, at the last of twilight, I cut a few flame thrower nasturtium blossoms from my balcony.  Just because I can.  I had thought to use the graceful, pungent, bright orange flowers as a garnish for suimono, since dinner is Japanese cuisine.  They are so beautiful I finally decided to use them as an eatable table decoration.  Floating in a dark blue, almost black, stoneware bowl of water.

 

However I could not help but notice the blooms are the same hue as the naked and famous I am enjoying at the moment.  (Nonetheless, I put on a top before sitting down to eat.)

 

Only one drink tonight, because, well...sake.

[lesliec]

We found a small bottle of some mysterious liquid in the fridge yesterday.  Scientific analysis (ie sniffing it) suggested it was either cinnamon syrup or Donn's Mix, so something to use it up seemed a good idea.

 

The 1934 Zombie - good writeup and recipe here.  I used the last 30ml or so from a bottle of Gosling Black Seal, some Cruzan Blackstrap, Appleton 12, W&N, home-made falernum, local lime cordial, absinthe, grenadine, Angostura bitters and whatever was in the bottle from the fridge.  Very fine stuff, particularly served in a couple of our tiki mugs, and probably a lot stronger than it tasted but no adverse effects.  Sorry, no photos this time.

[lesliec]

Am I the only one still drinking?  Scary thought ...

 

Last night, the Yacht Club - Genever, maraschino, dry vermouth, absinthe, lemon twist.

 

I've had some of my own gin (which accidentally turned out closer to a Genever) at navy strength in a small oak barrel since February and it's coming along very nicely.  It's picked up quite a bit of colour from the wood and has smoothed out really well, so it went into this.  A nicely-balanced drink; the gin certainly makes its presence known but the whole thing works very well.  Another one for the Top 10!

[FrogPrincesse]

Am I the only one still drinking?  Scary thought ...

 

Last night, the Yacht Club - Genever, maraschino, dry vermouth, absinthe, lemon twist.

 

I've had some of my own gin (which accidentally turned out closer to a Genever) at navy strength in a small oak barrel since February and it's coming along very nicely.  It's picked up quite a bit of colour from the wood and has smoothed out really well, so it went into this.  A nicely-balanced drink; the gin certainly makes its presence known but the whole thing works very well.  Another one for the Top 10!

 

No you're not, I can assure you. But apparently you are the only one who has the time or energy to post between drinks.

 

That Yacht Club looks tasty. I may attempt a variation with St George dry rye gin as I am sans genever at the moment.

[haresfur]

Am I the only one still drinking?  Scary thought ...

 

 

I have this character flaw that when I feel stressed, the last thing I want is a drink.  I'll try to do better.

[lesliec]

 I may attempt a variation with St George dry rye gin as I am sans genever at the moment.

 

That should work, as I suspect it would with 'normal' gin as well.  Incidentally, or not, I made some genever on purpose last weekend, using some rye vodka from a previous experiment.  Signs are it's turned out well - it certainly smalls delicious - but I'll give it a few weeks to settle down before passing final judgement.  It's going to be rare; I have only 2.3 litres at 80%.  No, I won't be drinking it at that strength!

 

I have this character flaw that when I feel stressed, the last thing I want is a drink.  I'll try to do better.

 

I think you may have that backwards.  But yes, work on it.

[FrogPrincesse]

That should work, as I suspect it would with 'normal' gin as well.  

No doubt it would, but with 'normal' gin it is just a Turf Club I think (aka Tuxedo No. 2).

[JoNorvelleWalker]

Am I the only one still drinking?  Scary thought ...

 

Last night, the Yacht Club - Genever, maraschino, dry vermouth, absinthe, lemon twist.

 

I've had some of my own gin (which accidentally turned out closer to a Genever) at navy strength in a small oak barrel since February and it's coming along very nicely.  It's picked up quite a bit of colour from the wood and has smoothed out really well, so it went into this.  A nicely-balanced drink; the gin certainly makes its presence known but the whole thing works very well.  Another one for the Top 10!

 

I wanted to continue the nautical theme with death in the gulf stream.  I really did.  However having nothing that could pass for Holland gin, homemade nor otherwise, I foundered on the beach.  I even trekked out to the store at dusk, but there was no genever on the shelf, and I hiked home empty handed in the dark.

 

Well, not exactly empty handed.  I replenished my Cointreau (among other staples) and having popped a fresh bottle of W&N I am now enjoying a white mai tai, of which I have become quite fond.

 

I also discovered (by asking) that my local emporium grants a senior citizen discount.  Duh.  It's not a lot and it wouldn't have saved me more than, say, the cost of a few cases of wine, but still...

[lesliec]

'Yo ho ho and a bottle of Wray & Nephew' sounds pretty nautical to me.

 

Discounts are always worth having.  And you've once more proven my Life Rule # 2: if you don't ask, you don't get.

[Adam George]

Cynar That Time We Last Drank Manhattans?

2.0oz Cynar

1.5oz Punt e Mes

1.0oz High Rye Bourbon, I used Benchmark by Buffalo Trace

0.5oz Maraschino Luxardo

3 hearty dashes of Bitter Truth chocolate (very full bottle)

Stirred and served on rock.

Actually, I'm not sure if this is even an original recipe and don't really care. Either way, it's a punchy drink that isn't as boozy as you'd think by drinking it.

[tanstaafl2]

Cynar That Time We Last Drank Manhattans?

2.0oz Cynar

1.5oz Punt e Mes

1.0oz High Rye Bourbon, I used Benchmark by Buffalo Trace

0.5oz Maraschino Luxardo

3 hearty dashes of Bitter Truth chocolate (very full bottle)

Stirred and served on rock.

Actually, I'm not sure if this is even an original recipe and don't really care. Either way, it's a punchy drink that isn't as boozy as you'd think by drinking it.

 

 

Sounds intriguing although I don't think Benchmark would really qualify as a "high rye" bourbon. It is one of the lowest rye mashbills, maybe the lowest, of any of the major distillers (Benchmark is currently a 3 year old Buffalo Trace #1 mashbill bourbon). If you are looking for a reasonably affordable but good quality bourbon with a good deal more rye content (and age as well) you probably are better served with the basic Four Roses Yellow Label. For truly high rye the Four Roses Single Barrel at 100 proof adds a 35% rye mashbill and more proof and is hard to beat in my book.

[tanstaafl2]

Sounds intriguing although I don't think Benchmark would really qualify as a "high rye" bourbon. It is one of the lowest rye mashbills, maybe the lowest, of any of the major distillers (Benchmark is currently a 3 year old Buffalo Trace #1 mashbill bourbon). If you are looking for a reasonably affordable but good quality bourbon with a good deal more rye content (and age as well) you probably are better served with the basic Four Roses Yellow Label. For truly high rye the Four Roses Single Barrel at 100 proof adds a 35% rye mashbill and more proof and is hard to beat in my book

 

Of course both cost more than Benchmark! But Yellow Label isn't that much more and I think it is a nice, and well worthwhile, step up in quality.

[EvergreenDan]

1.5 oz blanco tequila

0.5 mezcal (Vida)

0.25 elderflower liqueur

0.5 Campari

0.75 lime.

 

Sort of a smokey Mexican Bitter Elder. Worth further experimentation.

[FrogPrincesse]

That looks pretty good, Dan. It reminds me of Jim Meehan's El Puente, another tequila-based drink with mezcal and elderflower, where the grapefruit flavor is contributed by the juice rather than Campari.

 

A bartender friend, who apparently doesn't know me that well (or knows me too well and is trying to push my buttons, I am not exactly sure...), just gave me a bottle of St Germain. So it is time for me to revisit these elderflower drinks...  

Edited August 19, 2014 by FrogPrincesse (log)

[Hassouni]

Don't look a gift bottle in the mouth! I'm sure it'll make lovely fizzy drinks for kids' parties 

[EvergreenDan]

Don't look a gift bottle in the mouth! I'm sure it'll make lovely fizzy drinks for kids' parties 

Zing!!

[Adam George]

Sounds intriguing although I don't think Benchmark would really qualify as a "high rye" bourbon. It is one of the lowest rye mashbills, maybe the lowest, of any of the major distillers (Benchmark is currently a 3 year old Buffalo Trace #1 mashbill bourbon). If you are looking for a reasonably affordable but good quality bourbon with a good deal more rye content (and age as well) you probably are better served with the basic Four Roses Yellow Label. For truly high rye the Four Roses Single Barrel at 100 proof adds a 35% rye mashbill and more proof and is hard to beat in my book.

I've been had by my supplier. Oh well, the spice is clearly youth, and mixed I don't mind this.

[tanstaafl2]

I've been had by my supplier. Oh well, the spice is clearly youth, and mixed I don't mind this.

 

A supplier providing less than accurate information??? Say it ain't so!

 

[JoNorvelleWalker]

I started with Mississippi punch, but then I met my match.

[lesliec]

Dammit, Rafa, you did it again. Laughter in the Dark (Islay Scotch, Cynar, PX).

I get piles of chocolate up front, then the Cynar kicks in and lingers. Lovely stuff.

[FrogPrincesse]

Oh dear, the Mixology Challenge is due in 3 days. Coconuts. Any brilliant ideas?

 

Also I've been tasked with coming up with a tiki punch (or two) for a party. It's going to be a busy weekend for sure!

[lesliec]

Combine the two - a massive Mai Tai served in a real coconut shell.

I'd drink it ...

[ChrisTaylor]

A drink brought to you by 20th Century Rafa^TM: Choke Me Like You Love Me. Rye/Cynar/PX with a dash of absinthe. I used the last of my Wild Turkey 101, which is maybe very close to the last of the Wild Turkey 101 that exists outside the confines of random suburban bottle-os. I used Herbsaint. This one ticks all the boxes.

[Craig E]

Oh dear, the Mixology Challenge is due in 3 days. Coconuts. Any brilliant ideas?

 

Thanks for the note--it inspired me to publish my first go at an original cocktail. 

 

I have to sheepishly admit that it centers on Malibu coconut rum, which I recognize might get me laughed out of eGullet forums. But hear me out. 

 

The idea is to see if I could get Malibu into a respectable craft cocktail. Starting with the coconut premise, I took it in the direction of Asian cuisine, with ginger, lime, and spicy pepper flavors. I settled on Cynar as a partnering liquor to bring some depth. 

 

Bodhicitta

by Craig Eliason, St. Paul, MN (USA)

1 oz Cynar

1 1/2 oz Coconut rum, Malibu

1 Egg white

1/2 oz Ginger syrup

1/2 oz Lime juice

1 pn Cayenne pepper (as garnish)

1 sli Candied ginger (as garnish)

 

Dry shake, shake, strain into a cocktail glass, garnish with a light dusting of cayenne and piece of candied ginger.

 

--

Kindred Cocktails | Craft + Collect + Concoct + Categorize + Community

 

Entered into Mixology Monday LXXXVIII  hosted by Rated R Cocktails. 

 

Feedback welcome!

Edited August 24, 2014 by Craig E (log)

[KD1191]

Oh dear, the Mixology Challenge is due in 3 days. Coconuts. Any brilliant ideas?

 

I rehashed this Hibiscus Milk Punch + Coconut Water concoction. There are those that complain about the mouth-feel of both ingredients. Personally, I love the lactic tang of the punch, but coconut water I'm mostly indifferent towards. Here, the tang is somewhat tempered, with the coconut water lengthening the impact of the rum/pisco blend and adding some subtle sweetness.