Cocktails Please

[AJPM44]

We have dinner threads, wine threads, and beer threads, but no cocktail threads. As someone who has bartended since he was 18, and drank even longer than that, I enjoy a well made cocktail. So have it, post your creations, loves, and how do they do make those here.

[maunahaole]

I know that I like a sazerac. Even though I have only had one of them at a joint down the street from home.

Dark n Stormy is quite refreshing.

[AJPM44]

A sazerac is delicious, and very easy to make. Take two chilled glasses, in one pour in a enough Pernod, Herbsaint, Pastis, proper Swiss Absinthe, etc. to coat the whole glass, pour out excess. In the next glass, put in ice, 2 ounce whiskey (rye if preferred, or Brandy, the original claims Cognac to be used), .75 ounce of simple syrup (1 part sugar: 1 part water), and about 5 dashes of Peychaud's Bitters. Stir a lot. Pour chilled drink into coated glass, cut out a swath of lemon peel, spritz it throughout the glass and enjoy. The good thing about this drink is you can adjust the amounts to your taste. Also, other than the Peychaud's Bitters, you can get all the ingredients at any liquor store. Even the Peychaud's are easy to find, and will last you a long time.

[maunahaole]

What is the difference between Peychauds and Angostora [sp?]?

[AJPM44]

Peychaud's is much lighter in flavor and has a much stronger black licorice flavor than Angostura. Angostura has a more "herbal" flavor to me.. If you were to substitute the two, you would omit the Pernod, and you would have an Old Fashioned. So many recipes called for bitters, but a lot of bars don't bother to add them anymore. If you go to most bars, not many are going to put orange bitters in your Manhattan, let alone your Gin Martini. The best way to get a feel for bitters is to put some on your hands, rub them together and get the smell from them. This will give you an idea about what they bring to your drink.

[Ben]

I drink Old Fashioneds (no fruit) about 95% of the time. My go-to mix is Old Forester and bitters from the Bitter Truth. When the lady at the liquor store recommended them, I thought they looked kinda cheap and cornball. But they've proven me wrong and then some. I much prefer their aromatic bitters over Angostura. And they're very reasonably priced.

[Ben]

Things I had this weekend:

*Parker's 18 + water (delicious - seems a touch hot until you remember it's 94 proof)
*Van Winkle 12 + water (tasting notes: mmmmmmmm)
*A dark and stormy, which I love hopelessly.

Best surprise of the weekend: I had these (both bourbons were generous doubles), plus a round of three more D&S's for friends, plus a Maker's old fashioned, plus some weird beer my gf drank, and the tab was $34. I looked at the check, and all the drinks were on there. Holy crap thats the cheapest drunk of all time. Sons of Liberty Tavern, Rutherfordton, NC. Cool place in an old jewelry store, so the building is probably 10' wide. I'm never drinking anywhere else.

[AJPM44]

Ephemeral Cocktail last night:

2oz Old Tom Gin
1oz Noilly Pratt Dry
.25oz St. germain
I have no celery bitters, so I mixed up some celery seeds and lemon peel.

Really nice drink

[C.Dyer]

Last night:

Aviation: 2oz Gin, 0.5oz Maraschino, 0.5oz Lemon, 0.25oz Creme De Violette, shaken, up, cocktail cherry.

Trinidad Sour: 1oz Angostura bitters, 0.75oz orgeat, 0.5oz lemon, 0.5oz Rye, shaken, big rock, orange peel and slapped mint

[AJPM44]

Last night:

Aviation: 2oz Gin, 0.5oz Maraschino, 0.5oz Lemon, 0.25oz Creme De Violette, shaken, up, cocktail cherry.

Trinidad Sour: 1oz Angostura bitters, 0.75oz orgeat, 0.5oz lemon, 0.5oz Rye, shaken, big rock, orange peel and slapped mint

After looking at the Trinidad Sour, I had to try that. Really not what I was expecting. Pretty cool drink.

download (1).jpg

[WadePatton]

Things I had this weekend:
...
*A dark and stormy, which I love hopelessly.

... Sons of Liberty Tavern, Rutherfordton, NC. Cool place in an old jewelry store, so the building is probably 10' wide. I'm never drinking anywhere else.

two things: fill us in (the innocent bystanders who live on beer and wine and eau de mason jar) with the details of "dark and stormy". (sounds like a girl i used to date)

and how far is Rutherfordton from Bryson City?

[spopepro]

A Dark 'n Stormy (TM) is goslings black seal rum and ginger beer. Seriously... they own the name. My favorite is cruzan blackstrap rum and reeds extra ginger. If I'm pouring for guests I'll somewhat float the rum so the glass looks like an approaching storm in the gulf.

A question for the crowd: the local market has some great looking sparkling elderflower drink. I'd love to get some... but whatever shall I do with it?

[AJPM44]

Elderflower is the MSG of the cocktail world; it makes everything better. Try it in a Sazerac or a Negroni

[Nathanrtaylor]

Elderflower is the MSG of the cocktail world; it makes everything better. Try it in a Sazerac or a Negroni

Also a small pinch of salt added to the shaker before stirring/shaking. Not enough to notice SALT, but enough.

One of my favorites is the Clapless Belle from the Patterson House in Nashville.

The version I make at home is pretty close. Something like this:
.5 oz Fresh squeezed ginger juice
.5 oz simple syrup
1 oz lemon juice
2 oz Bulleit Bourbon
Shake well
Rinse highball glass with Laphroig
Serve with a few big ice cubes

[spopepro]

Elderflower is the MSG of the cocktail world; it makes everything better. Try it in a Sazerac or a Negroni

Inspired by the vieux carre and AJPM44:

1oz rye (currently using rittenhouse)
.75oz pineau des charentes (conac-ish stuff)
.75oz vya sweet vermouth
.25oz herbsaint
Dash of my lemon spice bitters
Stir with ice
Pour into highball glass, top with elderflower presse
Two cherries

It's good.

[maunahaole]

That sounds like a good drink, but there's no way I'm getting near a maraschino cherry.

[Octave]

That sounds like a good drink, but there's no way I'm getting near a maraschino cherry.

Are you objecting to this crap
Attachment 58642

or a real maraschino cherry (luxardo) in all it's unbastardized, non-neon glory..
Attachment 58643

[maunahaole]

What are the approximate ratios on those ingredients?

[Roman]

Or, two whole oranges juiced with a wooden hand reamer juicer thing and a half to a whole lemon, depending on the size of the thing, all strained into the shaker through a little metal mesh strainer. I like them with more oj than lemon, but ymmv.

http://www.esquire.com/drinks/ward-eight-drink-recipe

[maunahaole]

The crap version, as that one I have seen during all steps of processing.