Monday 23 December 2013

Cocktail No 52 - Butterfly Flip

A festive twist for the approaching season of goodwill.

This is essentially an enriched and sweetened Brandy Alexander and quite delicious. Well I omitted the sugar by mistake, so mine was closer to the Alexander.

Brandy with Crème de Cacao and cream is always a good combination. Add an egg yolk plus sugar and spice it up with nutmeg. If  you like Bailey's then throw your bottle in the bin and taste what its really meant to be like. Decadently thick on the tongue with a chocolat blast followed by the warmth of brandy coming through as it slips down the throat.  It always reminds me of the scene in Bridehead Revisited when Anthony Blanche drinks 4 Alexanders is quick succession to the outrage of the Oxford matrons doing lunch.

It needs really good shaking to mix in the cream, egg yolk and dissolve the sugar.

Recipe

Add equal measures of Brandy, Crème de Cacao and cream to a shaker. Add 1 egg yolk and a tablespoon of caster sugar. Shake very well to mix everything together and strain into cocktail glass. Sprinkle with grated nutmeg and enjoy!


Saturday 21 December 2013

Cocktail No 51 Opera

Sophistication is needed for a night at the Opera and this drink does deliver. Its very similar to a Negroni and will be enjoyed by all who love that classic.

Some references with different ratios of the ingredients can be found on the net, here is one link:

Opera - Cocktailia

The bitterness comes from the Dubonnet, which is a much overlooked aperitif.

The sweetness comes from the Maraschino - is it sad that I bough both of these just so I could try this cocktail? The Maraschino also ass a roundness from the cherry and its own contribution to bitter. The Gin is hiding in the background to deliver a punch to the gut, when you are not expecting it.

First sensation and taste is of cold, sweet and very subtle cherry.  Both the sweetness and the cherry intensify in flavour and the herbs in the Dubonnet start to kick in. Finally after about 2 seconds a warmth spreads through the mouth and across the tongue and the strength of the Gin powers through.

Bitter - Sweet - Strong and complex. Just what a cocktail should be.

Dubonnet website
From its origins with the French Foreign Legion to the legions of modern mixologists still using it today, Dubonnet Rouge Aperitif Wine has been a staple on the cocktail landscape since its introduction in 1846. Created by Parisian chemist / wine merchant Joseph Dubonnet as a means to make quinine more palatable for the soldiers battling malaria in North Africa, Dubonnet's mix of fortified wine, a proprietary blend of herbs, spices and peels, and the medicinal quinine is a recipe that has earned it legendary status in the world of sophisticated drinks.

Recipe

Add 2 measure of Gin and 1 measure each of Dubonnet and Maraschino to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a cocktail glass.


Tuesday 10 December 2013

Cocktail No 50 Kirsch Cobbler

As mentioned previously with Kirsch you either love it or hate it, so I suspect this one won't be too popular. Its an interesting drink all the same. The "attack" that you get from Kirsch is tamed very extensively. Partly its through diluting the spirits so its not too strong. Partly its from the alkaline and chalky taste from the bicarbonate in the soda water. The Maraschino adds a sweetening, though I can't say whether I can taste it or not - it does seem more Cherry flavoured than Kirsch alone, so I think it must be rounding out the flavours.

I would say its worth trying at least once. Better as a long drink in the summer perhaps.

Recipe

Add ice cubes to a goblet. Add equal measures of Kirsch and Maraschino and 4-6 Maraschino Cherries. Stir and top up with Soda Water.


Saturday 7 December 2013

Cocktail No 49 Brandy Crusta

From the ingredients this tastes very different from what I was expecting. Its quite sweet from the sugar syrup and the Maraschino (kindly sent over from Naples by my brother, where it costs 2.60 Euros compared to £23 here in the UK!).

There is a deepness from the Angostura Bitters, mixing with the Brandy which is always a great combination. But its the small amount of Maraschino which is the star of the drink. Its a sweet bitter cherry infusion and it subtly changes the brandy - I don't think I would identify it as Cherry in a blind tasting, but I wouldn't have said Brandy either.

Due to the price of Maraschino, this is one to order in the Cocktail Lounge I suspect, unless you have a link to southern Italy.

Its meant to have a sugar coating on the rim of the glass, which is what Crusta means, but I couldn't be bothered with that.

Recipe

If you want the Crusta, dip the rim of the cocktail glass in lemon juice then in caster sugar.

Put ice in shaker with 2 measure Brandy, 1 teaspoon sugar syrup, 3 dashes of Maraschino and 2 dashes of Angostura Bitters. Shake and strain into the cocktail glass. Decorate with spiral of lemon peel.


Tuesday 3 December 2013

Cocktail No 48 Muddy Water

So Cuba Libre (Rum & Coke with Lime to most people) replacing the lime with orange juice. The OJ makes a real difference. Since I am not really a Coke fan, I can't really say whether I am enjoying this.

It lives up to its name and looks like a muddy slurry. I guess the relatively high proportions of Rum and Orange Juice to Coke makes this a potent drink and changes the balance of flavour. Its definitely not a Rum & Coke. It is growing on me, but not sure its a repeater.

Mmmmh can't really say much more about this, but most people will have the ingredients in house, so try it and let me know what you think.

NB - there seems to be multiple completely different recipes for the Muddy Water.

Recipe

Fill a Highball glass with Ice. Add 1 measure White Rum with 1 Part Orange Juice and 2 measures Cola.



Sunday 1 December 2013

Cocktail No 47 Magnolia Blossom

This didn't really work for me - a bit too much lemon juice, which is intended to offset the cream. Perhaps its better with fresh lemon (I used Jif as it only needed a small amount). The grenadine is pleasant and gives a nice rose colouring. Just doesn't seem a good way to use Gin for me.

Recipe

Add 1 measure Gin to 1/2 measure cream to a cocktail shaker. Add 2 teaspoons Lemon Juice and 2 dashes Grenadine. Shake on ice and strain into a Cocktail glass.