Drinks! 2015 - 2016

[Tri2Cook]

Just spotted a drink at Cocktail Virgin Slut that I want to try. I'm a big fan of the Eeyore's Requiem so a drink called Winnie the Pooh easily caught my attention. They look to be almost identical with the Pooh replacing Eeyore's gin with rum and going a little lighter on the Campari and Fernet Branca and heavier on the orange bitters. My question is, I don't have Banks 5 Island rum and don't know anything about it, so what would be a good substitute? The only white rums I have are Wray & Nephew overproof and Havana Club anejo blanco. I have a fairly decent selection of non-whites if one of those would work better.

[FrogPrincesse]

8 minutes ago, Tri2Cook said:

Just spotted a drink at Cocktail Virgin Slut that I want to try. I'm a big fan of the Eeyore's Requiem so a drink called Winnie the Pooh easily caught my attention. They look to be almost identical with the Pooh replacing Eeyore's gin with rum and going a little lighter on the Campari and Fernet Branca and heavier on the orange bitters. My question is, I don't have Banks 5 Island rum and don't know anything about it, so what would be a good substitute? The only white rums I have are Wray & Nephew overproof and Havana Club anejo blanco. I have a fairly decent selection of non-whites if one of those would work better.

See here.

 

[Tri2Cook]

13 minutes ago, FrogPrincesse said:

See here.

 

Not sure how I missed that one. I could have tried this a long time ago. Your sub is a no-go for me though. No Plantation and no batavia arrack. My rum selection isn't at all great, just good for where I live. Other than the two I already mentioned above, I have Appleton Extra, Barbancourt 3-Star, Coruba, Cruzan Black Strap, Doorly's XO, El Dorado 12 year, Flor de Cana 7 year, Goslings Black Seal, Lemon Hart 151, Lemon Hart 80, Mount Gay Extra Old, Smith & Cross and Kracken. Seven of those (plus the Wray & Nephew mentioned above) aren't available here, they required the help of others or, in the case of the Lemon Hart 151, some creative finagling to obtain. So that's what I have to work with.

[FrogPrincesse]

@Tri2Cook Not sure either! Lol.

Use a white rum - your Havana Club anejo blanco would work great, and add a touch of something for spice - allspice dram, or falernum (a barspoon or less). That'd be a decent substitute.

Edited January 28, 2016 by FrogPrincesse minor editing (log)

[Tri2Cook]

7 minutes ago, FrogPrincesse said:

@Tri2Cook Not sure either! Lol.

Use a white rum - your Havana Club anejo blanco would work great, and add a touch of something for spice - allspice dram, or falernum (a barspoon or less). That'd be a decent substitute.

I'll give that a shot. I have homemade falernum and allspice dram in the cabinet right now. Both are more on the high proof side than standard, I don't use them often and wanted them to last on the shelf, but they taste good.

[FrogPrincesse]

A bunch of recent classics from the past couple of weeks.

 

10:3:2 Daiquiri with Dillon rhum agricole, lime juice, JM cane syrup. I really like this rhum agricole. It's cheap and very flavorful, high proof too (55). I think @Rafa recommended it a while back (thanks!).

 

 

 

2:1 Martini with Sipsmith London dry gin, Noilly Prat extra dry vermouth, Regan / Fee Brothers / Angostura orange bitters. I am still completely in love with this London dry gin. It is pretty much perfect for a Martini.

 

 

 

Norwegian Wood (Jeff Morgenthaler) with Krogstad aquavit, Daron XO calvados, Martini Gran Lusso vermouth, yellow Chartreuse, Angostura bitters. A very nice winter drink. I liked it a lot with the Gran Lusso. It has a bitter edge that was nice with the caraway notes of the aquavit.

 

 

 

Toronto (David A. Embury with ratios from PDT) with Rittenhouse 100 rye whiskey, barrel-aged Fernet Francisco, demerara syrup. I did it up but maybe it's better on a large rock... Still debating this. Also which Fernet do I like best in this... That's a good question!

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 28, 2016 by FrogPrincesse formatting (log)

[Rafa]

Old [expletive]' Fashioned.

[JoNorvelleWalker]

I cannot understand while after but two mai tais I cannot walk straight, while Richard Nixon, our former president of somewhat blessed memory was seemingly unaffected.

 

It must take practice.

[FrogPrincesse]

59 minutes ago, JoNorvelleWalker said:

I cannot understand while after but two mai tais I cannot walk straight, while Richard Nixon, our former president of somewhat blessed memory was seemingly unaffected.

 

It must take practice.

I suspect maybe you make yours a tad stronger than most people? Also, sadly, the ability to metabolize alcohol is directly related to weight and sex (men having an automatic advantage).

[JoNorvelleWalker]

Indeed, though I am no small thing.  Anyhow, inspired by Chris Hennes, I switched to mezcal with my beans.

[sbumgarner]

If I made my Mai Tais with 3 oz of overproof rum I'd definitely be walking a little crooked after two, I wouldn't feel too bad about it.

[EvergreenDan]

9 hours ago, sbumgarner said:

If I made my Mai Tais with 3 oz of overproof rum I'd definitely be walking a little crooked after two. I wouldn't feel.

FTFY

[FrogPrincesse]

Ocean Side (Erick Castro) with Tanqueray London dry gin, lime juice, simple syrup, Berg & Hauck celery bitters, salt, mint.

 

Better than I remembered! Actually super nice, tart, crisp, gin-forward obviously, and a touch savory.

 

 

 

Edited February 1, 2016 by FrogPrincesse (log)

[JoNorvelleWalker]

3 hours ago, EvergreenDan said:

FTFY

 

It's not just all overproof rum.  There's Grand Marnier or Cointreau in there too.

[Rafa]

Double Dutch. Genever, curaçao, pear eau de vie, lemon, honey, ginger, orange bitters. A loose takeoff of our menu's Barnum Effect (genever, curaçao, lemon, pistachio, Branca Menta, orange bitters). Fun.

[JoNorvelleWalker]

After my mai tai I was still waiting for tonight's Ayocote Morado to cook.  It's cold but this weekend the temperatures are plummeting.  So I thought it would be an excellent occasion for a margarita while I can:   Rancho Los Fresnos 2013, 2:1:1.

 

Don't know why I don't do this more often.

 

[FrogPrincesse]

A recent Manhattan with Michter's straight rye, Martini Gran Lusso, Berg & Hauck / The Bitter Truth old time aromatics bitters, French brandied cherry.

 

The old time aromatic bitters seem more spice-forward than the Angostura which has more caramel/warm notes in comparison.

I really like the Michter's, it's great for mixing and fabulous for sipping too.

 

Edited February 21, 2016 by FrogPrincesse Typo (log)

[ChrisTaylor]

Long time listener, first time caller ...

 

No, really, I haven't posted in a while. Someone, somewhere might be awfully concerned that I've started to look after my health and have begun to abstain. Not wanting such noxious lies spread about me, I've decided it's time to post a boozy update.

 

These are in no order at all. These were not consumed in one sitting. Or were they? >_> <_< >_>

 

A Negroni.

 

 

A boilermarker. Talisker 10 and, er, a local porter. Smoked? Maybe. I don't know. I have a feeling it might be Feral's Smoked Porter. They mix it up. The bacon garnish is a standard with the 'Devil's Smokehouse' pairing, even though the beer changes. This was consumed at Boilermaker House in Melbourne. I am rather fond of that place. Whisky? Beer? A good chance you'll hear Tom Waits, Creedance and John Lee Hooker within a period of 20 minutes? 

 

 

Quill. An equal parts Negroni with a quarter ounce of absinthe. Not a fan. Well, I don't dislike it, but it's the kind of riff that's inferior to the original. It's like listening to Scarlett Johansson attempt to cover Tom Waits songs. Or, to make use of a rather charming Australianism, 'Yeah .. Nah ...'

 

 

A couple drinks from the local branch Dinner by Heston Blumenthal: the Mint Rickey and Sarsaparilla Shrub. The latter was nicely gin-forward. Made me think of The Dead Rabbit Drinks Manual.

 

 

More from Dinner: the Cider Gimlet and a Bloody Mary. I remember, once upon a time, asking Adam George and Rafa and others if the Bloody Mary could ever be a truly lovely cocktail. The answer was no, no, no. I've since learn to accept a well-crafted Bloody Mary that uses good quality ingredients (and loses the boring vodka in favour of blanco tequila, if I'm the one mixing) is, at least, drinkable ... but this was something else. Would a purist consider it a Bloody Mary? Obviously not ... but those guys are no fun, anyway.

 

 

A riff on the Planter's Punch from Berry's Potions. Not really a Planter's at all--will not fight anyone on that point. The bitters served as garnish. I'd just bought them (at Australian prices!) and was looking for an excuse to do something with them. And, yeah, a split base.

 

 

Death & Co. mixing at its simplest: Shanty Town. Workable.

 

 

More Berry. Puka Puka Punch. Worked with what I had, rum-wise. I'm sure Jeff will forgive me.

 

 

Berry again. Meeting House Punch.

 

 

Diamonds on my Windshield. Like tears from Heaven ...

 

 

Duboudreau. Rather pleasing. Would revisit.

 

 

A Daiquiri. It's rather warm down here, after all.

 

 

Cobra's Fang. Death & Co. Yeah, no overproof rum. I maybe added a bit more Havana Club. Shoot me.

 

 

A couple drinks from one of my most very favouritest most favourite bars, Romeo Lane. They're too busy making killer drinks in a pleasant setting to worry about silly things like useful websites. The African Flower is in the foreground. Bourbon and, er, some kind of amari. Lucano, from memory. Forget what my partner ordered. Something with strawberries in it.

 

 

Heaven is a Place/This is the Place. Stupidly long name. Pretty banging drink.

 

 

[lesliec]

Welcome back to Drinks, Chris.  I think I speak for all of us regulars in saying you've redeemed yourself.

 

Glad you iked Diamonds on my Windshield.  It is a bit of a cracker.

 

The Duboudreau sounds like something I'd like - that might be tomorrow night's treat.  I think somebody should hurry up and add it to Kindred, though ...

 

Mine won't have Dubonnet, but there are one or two alternatives in my collection.  

[Rafa]

Betsy. Smith & Cross, Ransom Old Tom, port, lime, ginger, Ango bitters, allspice spray on the mint. I forgot the yellow Chartreuse from my original recipe, and you know what? I like it better.

[JoNorvelleWalker]

Everything is better with yellow Chartreuse.

 

Finishing dinner with a glass of V.E.P. now.

 

 

Edit:  achingly beautiful picture though, Rafa.

Edited February 15, 2016 by JoNorvelleWalker rapture (log)

[lesliec]

On 14/02/2016 at 8:39 PM, lesliec said:

The Duboudreau sounds like something I'd like - that might be tomorrow night's treat.  I think somebody should hurry up and add it to Kindred, though ...

 

 

Oh look - somebody did.

 

And not bad, either.  I used Rittenhouse 100 (most recipes seem not to specify the rye, but there's at least one out there that says Rittenhouse), and Cocchi di Torino for the vermouth.  It was interesting to drink.  The first taste was smooth rye, then later a little Fernet, then finishing with a surprisingly strong burst of lemon.  I wasn't aware of the St Germain, but it must have formed the background to it all.  Very pleasant and I'll do it again, but I might see if I agree with Jamie Boudreau, who thinks it should be orange rather than lemon zest.  Or maybe this is one of those cases we talked about here recently where the zest should be squeezed then discarded, not left in the glass.

[Rafa]

Midori Sour.

 

Oh, and another Betsy.

 

 

[ananth]

hello Rafa

what are your specs for your Midori Sour?

[Rafa]

My spec is

 

1 oz Midori

1 oz Martin Miller's Westbourne Strength

1 oz Lime juice

1/2 oz Simple syrup

egg white

 

Dry shake, shake, strain, up.

 

Our house spec at The Up & Up (yes, we have a house Midori Sour, because we love good things) is slightly different, with a blend of our own lime cordial and lemon juice.