As I was preparing my Singapore Sling yesterday I realized the number of ingredients required may be more that some of you have in your liquor cabinet. Today I give you another classic cocktail to beat the heat. One with less ingredients and more simplicity, The Gimlet. This cocktail gets it's name from: Gimlet-a hand tool used to drill small holes. That sounds appropriate to me. While the cocktail is artistically simple in taste like many other classic cocktails there is no Highlander. There can't be only one. It's recipe is debated and even the types of ingredients are argued about across the internet, by cocktail drinkers and in books. The simple recipe is:
Combine in a shaker.
2oz GIN (Dry, Plymouth or Old Tom)
2oz Rose's Lime Juice (Rose's is specified)
1 TSP powdered sugar or simple syrup
Shake thouroughly and pour into an old fashioned glass. Garnish with a lime round.
That's it. Simple, right? Not so fast. For classical cocktail argument there's debate about the lime juice. Use Rose's or Fresh. Which Gin? Dry, Plymouth or the sweeter Old Tom. Top with club soda? If you do that you have made a different drink, The Gin Rickey. For new fangled recipe tinkerers, there's substitute Vodka for the Gin, add mint, or add cucumber or other vegtable or fruit. The list goes on. Connor and Kurgan will fight indefinitely. As a spectator to the epic battle I can say that as far as I'm concerned the above recipe IS the Gimlet. If you alter the recipe to something you like better please call it something else, the (whatever you add) Gimlet. If you alter it so far that your drink doesn't capture the spirit of the Gimlet then make up a new name. This is a simple cocktail. It's flavor is balanced and refreshing. It dosen't need complication. I do encourage you to try the original Gimlet to get the jist of the drink, but please alter away to make it something you like. I like my drinks more sour, so I'll add less sugar and more lime, Laura prefers sweeter drinks so she'll add a dash of Cherry Heering or fresh cherries. Try it, then make it your own, but try and guage when and if you lose the spirit of the flavor of the the original. Whatever you come up with based on this cocktail It will be a great way to beat the heat.
Showing posts with label cocktail. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cocktail. Show all posts
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
(Cocktail Recipe) The Singapore Sling
In honor of the current 98 degree temperature here I think we'll need a refreshing cocktail. A classic tropical drink should fit the bill nicely. How about a refreshing Singapore Sling. A slightly different tropical drink based with gin that has a complex flavor and doesn't just taste like the fruit juice they used as a mixer. This drink was invented at the Raffles Hotel in Singapore by bartender Ngiam Tong Boon. It has some mystery about it, as it's original recipe is up for debate. The currently accepted and far superior recipe is as follows:
1.5oz Gin
.5oz Cherry Heering
.25oz Cointreau
.5oz Benedictine
.5oz Lime Juice
2.0oz Pineapple Juice
Dash of Angostura Bitters
Few Dashes Grenadine
Shake with Ice and pour straight up or over ice and top with club soda. Garnish with a flag.
Using this recipe it's really not a classic sling anymore, but it's refreshing and it's flavor is complex enough to make you think of an exotic location like Singapore.
A little history and the opportunity to watch master bartender Chris McMillian in this video that's part of a series presented by the City of New Orleans. New Orleans Best Cocktail
1.5oz Gin
.5oz Cherry Heering
.25oz Cointreau
.5oz Benedictine
.5oz Lime Juice
2.0oz Pineapple Juice
Dash of Angostura Bitters
Few Dashes Grenadine
Shake with Ice and pour straight up or over ice and top with club soda. Garnish with a flag.
Using this recipe it's really not a classic sling anymore, but it's refreshing and it's flavor is complex enough to make you think of an exotic location like Singapore.
A little history and the opportunity to watch master bartender Chris McMillian in this video that's part of a series presented by the City of New Orleans. New Orleans Best Cocktail
Friday, May 20, 2011
(Cocktail recipe) The Chinese
1 1/2 oz Jamaica rum
1 tsp triple sec
1 tsp maraschino liqueur
1 tbsp grenadine syrup
1 dash bitters
1 tsp triple sec
1 tsp maraschino liqueur
1 tbsp grenadine syrup
1 dash bitters
Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker half-filled with ice cubes. Shake well, strain into a cocktail glass, and serve.
Lately I've been giving Chris various reprints of old bar books (and by reprints, I mean someone dismantled the old books and scanned, then printed them) for birthdays and Christmas. Occasionally I'll dig through them to find something interesting. My most recent discovery was the Chinese, so named for its color - it looks like traditional red Chinese lacquer. It's not overly sweet, but is very balanced, and it's all booze...so drink carefully!(Chris's Note) The Jamaica Rum that this recipe calls for is a style of rum, not necessarily rum from Jamaica. Unfortunately, like many old liquors and liqueurs that are no longer produced we're not really sure what it tasted like. The best approximation we can deduce is a dark Navy rum (Cruzan Black Strap, Goslings Black Seal, Kracken) mixed with a gold rum. In order to achieve this easily I would increase the Rum to 1/1 oz pour. You may need to adjust the triple sec, bitters, and Maraschino accordingly by teaspoon to balance the rum you chose to use. The finished product should taste completely smooth and balanced when it hits the tongue like a fine Chinese Lacquer finish.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
(Review) Patron Silver 100% Agave Tequila 80 Proof
Mystique: 1-10 points
Score: 6
Currently the douchebag drink of choice
Color: 1-10 points
Score: 9
perfectly clear
Scent: 1-10 points
Score: 6
Barely agave / No smell
Initial Impression: 1-10 points
Score: 5
Nice Bottle / douchey reputation
Mouthfeel: 1-10 points
Score: 8
No oil /disappears quickly
Taste: 1-10 x 4 points
Score: 20
Woody Cedar? / No Burn / bad aftertaste
Raw score total: 54
Bonus Points: Value 1-10 points
Score: 3
$40 for a 750ml overpriced for lack of flavor there are much better premium tequilas
Total Score: 57 points
It appears this Tequila is very popular with the Jersey Shore crowd and while I like that tequila is gaining a little popularity I can't say I like the Douche-bag Patrol being associated with it. I do understand why they like it though as it has almost no flavor and smell. I expect as much from the crowd that drinks premium vodka as a mixer. In short, this is Tequila for Sissies, over-refined and laking flavor. To be less harsh I could say that if you don't like tequila or you don't like to taste your alcohol in your drink then this tequila might be for you. To me it’s only flavor is like the cedar chips you put in a hamster cage. After checking their website (which is very nice and full of pictures) I see they ferment the Agave in wooden barrels which is probably where it picks up that taste. I hope their anejo is tastier and ill have to try that at a later date. If you're looking for a premium tequila look elsewhere as this is one I don't think can stand on it's own on the rocks. As a shooter with lime and salt it loses all flavor completely. Maybe it's the lack of flavor making it popular, or maybe its just that name is a bit easier to pronounce.
Score: 6
Currently the douchebag drink of choice
Color: 1-10 points
Score: 9
perfectly clear
Scent: 1-10 points
Score: 6
Barely agave / No smell
Initial Impression: 1-10 points
Score: 5
Nice Bottle / douchey reputation
Mouthfeel: 1-10 points
Score: 8
No oil /disappears quickly
Taste: 1-10 x 4 points
Score: 20
Woody Cedar? / No Burn / bad aftertaste
Raw score total: 54
Bonus Points: Value 1-10 points
Score: 3
$40 for a 750ml overpriced for lack of flavor there are much better premium tequilas
Total Score: 57 points
It appears this Tequila is very popular with the Jersey Shore crowd and while I like that tequila is gaining a little popularity I can't say I like the Douche-bag Patrol being associated with it. I do understand why they like it though as it has almost no flavor and smell. I expect as much from the crowd that drinks premium vodka as a mixer. In short, this is Tequila for Sissies, over-refined and laking flavor. To be less harsh I could say that if you don't like tequila or you don't like to taste your alcohol in your drink then this tequila might be for you. To me it’s only flavor is like the cedar chips you put in a hamster cage. After checking their website (which is very nice and full of pictures) I see they ferment the Agave in wooden barrels which is probably where it picks up that taste. I hope their anejo is tastier and ill have to try that at a later date. If you're looking for a premium tequila look elsewhere as this is one I don't think can stand on it's own on the rocks. As a shooter with lime and salt it loses all flavor completely. Maybe it's the lack of flavor making it popular, or maybe its just that name is a bit easier to pronounce.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
(Review) Beefeater Gin 94 proof
Mystique: 1-10 points
Score: 7
It’s always been rail gin
Color: 1-10 points
Score: 7
hard to say its clear like gin should be
Scent: 1-10 points
Score: 4
alcohol, overpowering, medicine-y, juniper and fennel
Initial Impression: 1-10 points
Score: 9
established brand, cool bottle, history
Mouth feel: 1-10 points
Score: 7
feels light like it evaporates in your mouth
Taste: 1-10 x 4 points
Score: 24
instant burn / overwhelming botanicals
Raw score total: 58 points
Bonus Points:
Value: 1-10 points
Score: 5
It's priced too high right under premium gins
Total Score: 63 points
I received this as a Christmas gift because I wanted the really cool red glass shaker it came with, but I'm sure I must have tried it before and don't remember. This gin has been around since 1820 and for a lot of people it may be the bottle they think of when they think gin. It a distinguished looking square glass bottle with the English Beefeater on it, you know the guys in the red suits with the funny hats that stand guard at the towers of London. It has a reputation of being an example of what London Dry Gin should be, but If you only ever tasted this as an example of gin I think you'd be doing gin a dis-service. Even though the company claims it to be thoughtfully blended and crafted it has no refinement or smoothness to it. It smells like rubbing alcohol with something mixed in it. This may be due to the high proofing. It doesn't have a smooth combined nose, one sip and it overpowered my sense of smell. The taste is harsh and overpowering. I tried it straight and that was awful my mouth was totally overpowered by burn and botanicals. In a g&t I still found it too strong, even overpowering the quinine and lime. I finally mixed it in a Singapore Sling and it worked. The aroma was blended in with the other ingredients and it kept a refreshing snap. I would use this for rail gin only in mixers and strong flavored ones at that. I think the company is trying to market this as a top shelf product. Pricing is just below premium gins and it's just too high in my opinion. I won’t be keeping this as my rail gin, but if you like very strong flavors or drink very sweet mixed drinks by all means try it.
Score: 7
It’s always been rail gin
Color: 1-10 points
Score: 7
hard to say its clear like gin should be
Scent: 1-10 points
Score: 4
alcohol, overpowering, medicine-y, juniper and fennel
Initial Impression: 1-10 points
Score: 9
established brand, cool bottle, history
Mouth feel: 1-10 points
Score: 7
feels light like it evaporates in your mouth
Taste: 1-10 x 4 points
Score: 24
instant burn / overwhelming botanicals
Raw score total: 58 points
Bonus Points:
Value: 1-10 points
Score: 5
It's priced too high right under premium gins
Total Score: 63 points
I received this as a Christmas gift because I wanted the really cool red glass shaker it came with, but I'm sure I must have tried it before and don't remember. This gin has been around since 1820 and for a lot of people it may be the bottle they think of when they think gin. It a distinguished looking square glass bottle with the English Beefeater on it, you know the guys in the red suits with the funny hats that stand guard at the towers of London. It has a reputation of being an example of what London Dry Gin should be, but If you only ever tasted this as an example of gin I think you'd be doing gin a dis-service. Even though the company claims it to be thoughtfully blended and crafted it has no refinement or smoothness to it. It smells like rubbing alcohol with something mixed in it. This may be due to the high proofing. It doesn't have a smooth combined nose, one sip and it overpowered my sense of smell. The taste is harsh and overpowering. I tried it straight and that was awful my mouth was totally overpowered by burn and botanicals. In a g&t I still found it too strong, even overpowering the quinine and lime. I finally mixed it in a Singapore Sling and it worked. The aroma was blended in with the other ingredients and it kept a refreshing snap. I would use this for rail gin only in mixers and strong flavored ones at that. I think the company is trying to market this as a top shelf product. Pricing is just below premium gins and it's just too high in my opinion. I won’t be keeping this as my rail gin, but if you like very strong flavors or drink very sweet mixed drinks by all means try it.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
(Cocktail Recipe) APPLE JACK SLAMMER
I'm not sure who originated this. I reverse engenieered it from a hot bartender who would never give me the recipe at a strip club I used to frequent. It's a fun round to have with friends and it tastes sweet and savory.
Get a 3oz thick walled shot or jigger glass
Pour 1.5oz of club soda or ginger ale in the shot glass
In a shaker place ice, 1oz jack daniels, .5 oz of apple flavored brandy shake well.
Float the jack and apple mix on top of the club soda/ ginger ale in the glass
Serve with napkin on top.
Place hand on top of napkin and slam glass on bar to mix.
Drink fizzy mixture as a shot.
Get a 3oz thick walled shot or jigger glass
Pour 1.5oz of club soda or ginger ale in the shot glass
In a shaker place ice, 1oz jack daniels, .5 oz of apple flavored brandy shake well.
Float the jack and apple mix on top of the club soda/ ginger ale in the glass
Serve with napkin on top.
Place hand on top of napkin and slam glass on bar to mix.
Drink fizzy mixture as a shot.
(Cocktail Recipe) El Presidente's Mai Tai Punch
This is my take on the original Mai Tai. I've scaled it up so you can make it as a punch for parties and gatherings and it wont get you so schnockered after 2 of them. It still packs a wallop though.
6 oz dark rum
6oz light rum
2oz coconut rum
1oz apricot or peach brandy
1oz other fruity brandy like blackberry
24oz pineapple juice
24oz Sunkist orange soda
Mix in 1 gallon container, Shake, Pour over ice packed glass add orange and pineapple wedges to garnish with a paper umbrella.
(Do not sub any other orange soda. Sunkist is the only orange soda with caffeine and all that rum will make you sleepy, you want the party to be lively :)
6 oz dark rum
6oz light rum
2oz coconut rum
1oz apricot or peach brandy
1oz other fruity brandy like blackberry
24oz pineapple juice
24oz Sunkist orange soda
Mix in 1 gallon container, Shake, Pour over ice packed glass add orange and pineapple wedges to garnish with a paper umbrella.
(Do not sub any other orange soda. Sunkist is the only orange soda with caffeine and all that rum will make you sleepy, you want the party to be lively :)
(Review) JAGERMEISTER
Mystique: 1-10
Score: 10 points
cool bottle, stag on the label this shit is METAL!
Color: 1-10
Score: 6 points
black?
Scent: 1-10
Score: 7 points
mouthwash
Initial Impression: 1-10
Score: 10 points
interesting
Mouthfeel: 1-10
Score: 8 points
blood
Taste: 1-10 x 4
Score: 8 x 4 = 32 points
Cough Medicine
Raw Score Total: 72 points
Bonus Points
Value: 1-10
Score: 3 points
Total Score: 77 points
Jagermeister. You say the name and it sounds tough. This is a mans drink. Or is it? It's German (you know the Germans always make good stuff) and its made in a place called Wolfenbüttel. Can that name be any more metal? Throw up your devil horns and slam one down. This stuff is pounded down by bro’s and ho's at bars across America. It's used as a challenge and a rite of passage, but never for it's creators intention. “Yea man, and I heard it has elks blood in it too!” (it doesn't, this was a rumor started some time ago).
How does that happen you ask? What was it's intended purpose? Well a long time ago some German dude created a new digestif. WTF is that you ask? A drink designed to help you digest your dinner, meant to be taken in a dainty stemmed shot glass and sipped. Hardly metal, but the stuff worked. The combination of herbs and spices uses some holistic medicine approach and it helps you digest your dinner. No, not really, what it does is stops the formation of gas therefore making you feel better after a big meal and seemingly digest your food better. It's ‘snake oil’, like in the old western movies. “Doc Browns cure all will cure what ails you, only a nickle.”
The stuff is legit as I can attest, it does make you feel better after a big meal. So it's billed as a kind of medicine. Did it at one time have a legit purpose? Yes, it was issued to the German army as a field anesthetic. What! “Hey that Yank blew your arm off, here put some Jager on it!”
Yes folks, that's metal!
So you own a drink recipe that tastes like cough medicine, has a high alcohol content and looks like blood. What do you do with it? You market the hell out if it. Get it’s name out there and sponsor tons of stuff like car and speedboat racing and make it manly. But it's too sweet and tastes funny. Well you recommend that it only be drunk at below freezing temperatures. Yea man, perfect! Just think, we'll name it tough, put some religious symbolism on the bottle and sponsor a metal concert tour!
All kidding aside I like the stuff, it does get rid of gas and its fun to pound a few. I would not recommend it at room temperature because it takes on this weird pancake syrup flavor and it'll coat a glass like paint, but frozen and chased by a beer it's a fun evening. I cannot say it's a great value. It's fairly expensive, but no more so than other specialty liquors. Save it for that after dinner shot or make a Jagerbomb with some Redbull at the bar (that’s the most popular form of mixer - it always has the word bomb in it). When you drink it always remember to make up some extra shit about it's history or ingredients to scare or impress your friends with and you can't go wrong. Whatever it is not, what it is, is fun! Hells yea!
Score: 10 points
cool bottle, stag on the label this shit is METAL!
Color: 1-10
Score: 6 points
black?
Scent: 1-10
Score: 7 points
mouthwash
Initial Impression: 1-10
Score: 10 points
interesting
Mouthfeel: 1-10
Score: 8 points
blood
Taste: 1-10 x 4
Score: 8 x 4 = 32 points
Cough Medicine
Raw Score Total: 72 points
Bonus Points
Value: 1-10
Score: 3 points
Total Score: 77 points
Jagermeister. You say the name and it sounds tough. This is a mans drink. Or is it? It's German (you know the Germans always make good stuff) and its made in a place called Wolfenbüttel. Can that name be any more metal? Throw up your devil horns and slam one down. This stuff is pounded down by bro’s and ho's at bars across America. It's used as a challenge and a rite of passage, but never for it's creators intention. “Yea man, and I heard it has elks blood in it too!” (it doesn't, this was a rumor started some time ago).
How does that happen you ask? What was it's intended purpose? Well a long time ago some German dude created a new digestif. WTF is that you ask? A drink designed to help you digest your dinner, meant to be taken in a dainty stemmed shot glass and sipped. Hardly metal, but the stuff worked. The combination of herbs and spices uses some holistic medicine approach and it helps you digest your dinner. No, not really, what it does is stops the formation of gas therefore making you feel better after a big meal and seemingly digest your food better. It's ‘snake oil’, like in the old western movies. “Doc Browns cure all will cure what ails you, only a nickle.”
The stuff is legit as I can attest, it does make you feel better after a big meal. So it's billed as a kind of medicine. Did it at one time have a legit purpose? Yes, it was issued to the German army as a field anesthetic. What! “Hey that Yank blew your arm off, here put some Jager on it!”
Yes folks, that's metal!
So you own a drink recipe that tastes like cough medicine, has a high alcohol content and looks like blood. What do you do with it? You market the hell out if it. Get it’s name out there and sponsor tons of stuff like car and speedboat racing and make it manly. But it's too sweet and tastes funny. Well you recommend that it only be drunk at below freezing temperatures. Yea man, perfect! Just think, we'll name it tough, put some religious symbolism on the bottle and sponsor a metal concert tour!
All kidding aside I like the stuff, it does get rid of gas and its fun to pound a few. I would not recommend it at room temperature because it takes on this weird pancake syrup flavor and it'll coat a glass like paint, but frozen and chased by a beer it's a fun evening. I cannot say it's a great value. It's fairly expensive, but no more so than other specialty liquors. Save it for that after dinner shot or make a Jagerbomb with some Redbull at the bar (that’s the most popular form of mixer - it always has the word bomb in it). When you drink it always remember to make up some extra shit about it's history or ingredients to scare or impress your friends with and you can't go wrong. Whatever it is not, what it is, is fun! Hells yea!
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