Entry for November

What I've been up to so far in the past couple of weeks I have acquired Cherry Heering, Hendrick's gin,Creme Yvette, Maraschino and HUGE bottle of Cruzan dark rum, Skky ginger vodka (a good for sub Canton), A six pack of Fee brother's bitters, Peychaud's bitters and a 1974 edition of the Mr. Boslon's bartender's guide. Which still has Creme Yvette as ingredient for it's drinks along with hawking every liquor Mr.Boston makes lots of nice obscure cocktails still to make.  I made a Creme Yvette cocktail from the book, it came out syrupy and medciney Blegh... like cough syurp.

I immedately took to Applejack a nice smooth brandy with a sweet apple finish, very  nice. Creme Yvette took longer, I found the trick to getting me to like it was to bypass the famous Creme Yvette cocktails and mix it with humble lemonade.  that worked. I really enjoy the Hendrick's it has lovely bontanicals but I can't taste the famous cucumber bit yet. Cherry Heering is delightful. I'm having problems with the Maraschino though. I haven't cracked the Cruzan dark rum yet but it smells good like caramel. I also have some booze that a friend of mine gave because he has to much cheap stuff: Buttershots, blue Curacao and Amaretto I've only used the Amaretto. Still need to get into whiskey. Been using the bitters a lot, very handy to have around.

Here's a cocktail I concoted I'm calling it
Fruity Delight.


1 1/2 oz Mount gay dark rum
1 oz applejack
1 oz Cherry Heering
1/4 oz skky ginger vodka or Canton
1.4 cup lemonade


Pour into cocktail shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Pour into cocktail glass and sip.


I like this drink. I think I can take out the lemonade and next time just use lemon juice.
I can taste the cherries, the applejack and the rum. The ginger gives it a nice snap afterward. Liek all my drinks it errs on the sweet side. No picture right now.

New cocktail.

This morning I was intending to make a Bebbo from Ted Haigh's Vintage Cocktails and Forgotten Spirits. However I did not have lemon and it is a dark and stormy morning. So did a quick survey of what I had. I decided what I really wanted was to take some of key ingredients of the Bebbo and put a spin on it. Or rather make a  fizz. As with always my cocktails err on the sweet side. So I toned it down.

I call this cocktail Honey Bee Fizz.

Ingredients:
2 tsp honey
one egg white
2 oz Gin
1 oz Lillet
1 oz orange juice
Club soda
a splash of lime juice

Steps:
1. Heat honey in microwave for a one minute.
2. Add egg white, gin, lillet, orange juice and lime jucie to shaker.
3. add honey
4. Dry shake vigorously for a minute.
5. Add ice.
6. Shake again for minute.
7. Pour into cocktail glass.
8. Add club soda
9. Enjoy.

Tasting notes: This drink tastes mostly of honey, orange and gin. After a few sips I can taste the lillet. But mostly honey and gin. My sense of smell isn't very good right now. I still have cold. But I like what I can taste and I think I will make this drink again. The fizz is dying down now. I think the lillet helps to marry the flavors. I'm not sure.

Gin: A cure for what ailes ya

Lots of people dislike gin, they say: "It tastes like a pine tree". At one time I was one of those people. I had limited experience with gin and I suppose the gin I had wasn't very good. I didn’t know what I was missing. Old Mother ruin as it was called in England had lots in store for me. At the coaxing of some good natured souls on the chow spirits board I bought a bottle of Boodle’s gin. At first I was flummoxed. Then I sat back and let my nose do the driving. Instead of gulping I tried sipping the cocktail I had made (gin, lemonade and chambord). I sniffed it let the botanicals work their magic, I could smell coriander and other spices. When I sniffed I could taste them sparking on my tongue. It was very good night. I experimented. Gin and I are now best friends. Right now I’m enjoying Gin, angostura bitters, and lemonade.  I am very sick but this cheers the soul. I’m glad I have it with me. If you want a sophisticated cocktail that actually tastes like something gin it will do you a world of good.