As a Gin lover, I find that I can add Gin to pretty much any drink and really like it. The question of Gin-ing or not came up recently when trying to finish off a half bottle of French Champagne.
I'd heard that you can pair Champagne and Sloe Gin to produce a light, girly cocktail that is quite refreshing. The recipe is as follows:
Sloe Royale
1 oz Sloe Gin
3 oz Sparkling Wine
berry to garnish
Pour 1 oz Sloe Gin into Champagne flute. Top with 3 oz sparkling wine. Drop in a berry (seasonal) to garnish. Serve.
The problem I have is this. Does the Sloe Gin really enhance the cocktail or would it be better to place a hibiscus flower (that has been candied in syrup) at the bottom of the Champagne glass and top with sparkling wine? I have had both and have a very difficult time choosing a favorite. Maybe I'll just have to do a few more taste tests to see.
Happy Cocktails!
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Monday, March 15, 2010
Opportunity Knocks
Every Thursday morning, for the past year or so, there has been a semi truck parked in the dirt off the overpass near my office. It sits innocently on the side of the road in the morning hours and is usually gone before 10am. I wouldn't normally comment on a parked Semi, they're always around. The part that makes this particular truck special is the huge picture of Bacardi Limon and the booze that hides in its cargo section.
Every time I see the truck I get this overwhelming feeling that I need to do something. I need to liberate this hold of booze. I need to be Robin Hood! I need to take from the rich and give to the poor! Namely ... me!
However, my conscious takes over and I think how wrong it would be. I mean, its Bacardi! Who would drink that much bad rum? Sure they could have Bacardi Reserva Limitada, which isn't half bad, but they probably only have Silver.
And this, people, is why I drink Gin.
Every time I see the truck I get this overwhelming feeling that I need to do something. I need to liberate this hold of booze. I need to be Robin Hood! I need to take from the rich and give to the poor! Namely ... me!
However, my conscious takes over and I think how wrong it would be. I mean, its Bacardi! Who would drink that much bad rum? Sure they could have Bacardi Reserva Limitada, which isn't half bad, but they probably only have Silver.
And this, people, is why I drink Gin.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Crescent City Blossom
This cocktail made 3rd Place (Tie) at the 2007 Tales of the Cocktail, New Orleans, LA. It was created by Martin Cate, now, of the Smuggler's Cove, San Francisco, CA.
- 2 1/2 oz Sparkling Wine
- 1 oz Plymouth Gin
- 1 oz St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur
- 1/4 oz Stirrings Blood Orange Bitters
Combine the above in an ice filled mixing glass. Stir until chilled and strain into a Champagne glass. Top with sparkling wine. Garnish with an orange peel spiral.
This one of my favorite cocktails and I love asking Martin to make it whenever he's behind the bar. Luckily for me, I can make it at home and enjoy it after a lovely meal. Cheers!
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Comments on Gin
What would be the gateway alcohol to Gin?
This question is inherently circular in its answer. Vodka might be the closest in color and flavor, yet it doesn’t really provide the qualities that even the mildest Gin provides, i.e. Juniper. Even highly herbal or botanical vodka’s like Square One Botanical don’t have the ingredients that make a gin, a gin. For a light, smooth, easy drinking gin try Plymouth. Plymouth Gin is exclusive in that it is the only gin that can be called a Plymouth style gin. It is most notable for not having the bitter orange flavor of other gins, yet still having a refreshing citrus flavor. This quality is only enhanced by the traditional lemon twist that is used on the rim and as a garnish in a Plymouth Martini. We are living in a great age of Gin. There are new style, old style, new-old style, and avant guard gins being produced across the world. Anyone can find a gin that tickles their taste buds or their pocket books.
This question is inherently circular in its answer. Vodka might be the closest in color and flavor, yet it doesn’t really provide the qualities that even the mildest Gin provides, i.e. Juniper. Even highly herbal or botanical vodka’s like Square One Botanical don’t have the ingredients that make a gin, a gin. For a light, smooth, easy drinking gin try Plymouth. Plymouth Gin is exclusive in that it is the only gin that can be called a Plymouth style gin. It is most notable for not having the bitter orange flavor of other gins, yet still having a refreshing citrus flavor. This quality is only enhanced by the traditional lemon twist that is used on the rim and as a garnish in a Plymouth Martini. We are living in a great age of Gin. There are new style, old style, new-old style, and avant guard gins being produced across the world. Anyone can find a gin that tickles their taste buds or their pocket books.
Friday, February 5, 2010
The Power of Advertising
Previously we posted about the power of advertising in the sale of alcohol. Sure big alcohol distributors make a lot of money on single page adds in magazines. However, it's refreshing to find home decor catalogs with clearly discernible bottles of alcohol or cocktails on tables and in cupboards. Sure, it's nice to get the Beverages and More catalog, but so much nicer when the advertising is a little less blatant. We noticed that the Beverages and More catalog formatting is difficult to understand that the photo layout is juvenile. The section on Vodka is set against a bright white background so the whole page is white with bold black letters. Boring. It doesn't make me stand up and say, "I must have that bottle of Hanger 1! It's only $19.99!" I do have to give BevMo the credit of being a lot more interesting than grocery store advertisments.
Interestingly enough, the February 2010 Pottery Barn catalog came out recently. We all thought that there would be a good selection of booze nestled in the room arangements. However, the corporate overlords must have caught on to these subliminal messages and put a stop to them. They probably figured free advertising isn't in their best interest. Afterall, this catalog is aimed at the Upper Middle Class, who can afford to spend, spend, spend. I only counted a half dozen different wines in cuppords and most lables were turned; except a white called 21 which was prominently placed on a table. There was also a bottle of Heiniken with a half full glass next to it on a coffee table. That coffee table set up was pretentious. Who sits around their living room playing scrabble, drinking Heiniken out of a glass, and flipping through ancient tomes or unabridged dictionaries? So disappointing! Pottery Barn, why have you forsaken us?!
I wonder if there are other magazines or catalogs out there that are subliminal booze advertisments? The Crate & Barrel must advertise somewhere. Right? The Gindicate will be on the lookout.
Interestingly enough, the February 2010 Pottery Barn catalog came out recently. We all thought that there would be a good selection of booze nestled in the room arangements. However, the corporate overlords must have caught on to these subliminal messages and put a stop to them. They probably figured free advertising isn't in their best interest. Afterall, this catalog is aimed at the Upper Middle Class, who can afford to spend, spend, spend. I only counted a half dozen different wines in cuppords and most lables were turned; except a white called 21 which was prominently placed on a table. There was also a bottle of Heiniken with a half full glass next to it on a coffee table. That coffee table set up was pretentious. Who sits around their living room playing scrabble, drinking Heiniken out of a glass, and flipping through ancient tomes or unabridged dictionaries? So disappointing! Pottery Barn, why have you forsaken us?!
I wonder if there are other magazines or catalogs out there that are subliminal booze advertisments? The Crate & Barrel must advertise somewhere. Right? The Gindicate will be on the lookout.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Comments on Gin
The Gindicate is always talking about "the gateway." You know, PSA's tell you that pot is the gateway drug to harder drugs. Bacon is the gateway meat to people. Our members also feel that Pritchard's rum is the gateway to bourbon with its rich, smokey oak flavor. Well, if Pritchard’s is the gateway rum to bourbon, then what is the gateway gin to whiskey and bourbon?
That would be Genever. Most Genevers have a robust flavor that gives the fullness of body that a bourbon or whiskey contains. Gins and vodkas are distilled to such a high proof that you lose the flavor of the grain used to make the base alcohol. Since Genever is pot distilled the flavor is preserved. In aged Genevers those flavors are even more exaggerated.
Our current recommendation is Bols Genever. It has the classic taste one expects with a Genever and yet is easy to mix. Have it in the Improved Holland Gin Cocktail; it'll give you a reason to break out the Absinthe!
That would be Genever. Most Genevers have a robust flavor that gives the fullness of body that a bourbon or whiskey contains. Gins and vodkas are distilled to such a high proof that you lose the flavor of the grain used to make the base alcohol. Since Genever is pot distilled the flavor is preserved. In aged Genevers those flavors are even more exaggerated.
Our current recommendation is Bols Genever. It has the classic taste one expects with a Genever and yet is easy to mix. Have it in the Improved Holland Gin Cocktail; it'll give you a reason to break out the Absinthe!
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Southside Cocktail
2 oz Gin
¾ oz fresh lime juice
2 pieces of lime
2 sprigs of mint
4 oz soda water
1 oz simple syrup
Muddle one sprig of mint with the lime pieces, lime juice, and simple syrup in the bottom of a bar glass. Add gin and shake well. Pour into a goblet over crushed ice and stir until outside of the glass frosts. Top with soda water, garnish with remaining sprig of mint. Serve and enjoy.
The Southside cocktail is a very fresh and summer-time-esque drink. We chose to use New Amsterdam, which is a rather sweet gin. It made the sour of the lime rather distinct. We think next time we’ll choose a more meaty gin that will play off the mint more.
Although, similar to the disturbingly popular mojito, we find this an easier drinking cocktail. We could have a dozen or so of these, without feeling it at all … until too late. This kind of cocktail could reestablish gin as the king of booze once again. In this cocktail, the tartness and flavor of the gin makes it more approachable to the average drinker. This is a definite cross-over drink.
¾ oz fresh lime juice
2 pieces of lime
2 sprigs of mint
4 oz soda water
1 oz simple syrup
Muddle one sprig of mint with the lime pieces, lime juice, and simple syrup in the bottom of a bar glass. Add gin and shake well. Pour into a goblet over crushed ice and stir until outside of the glass frosts. Top with soda water, garnish with remaining sprig of mint. Serve and enjoy.
The Southside cocktail is a very fresh and summer-time-esque drink. We chose to use New Amsterdam, which is a rather sweet gin. It made the sour of the lime rather distinct. We think next time we’ll choose a more meaty gin that will play off the mint more.
Although, similar to the disturbingly popular mojito, we find this an easier drinking cocktail. We could have a dozen or so of these, without feeling it at all … until too late. This kind of cocktail could reestablish gin as the king of booze once again. In this cocktail, the tartness and flavor of the gin makes it more approachable to the average drinker. This is a definite cross-over drink.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Comments on Gin
What gin do you get someone who claims to not be a gin person?
You want something that is going to be unique in appearance, unique in flavor, eye catching and approachable for the average drinker. It isn’t so heavily juniper in flavor. We recommend Magellan Gin, the world’s only natural blue gin. Yes, it is actually blue in color and doesn’t need a colored bottle to market its “uniqueness.” While very floral, Magellan provides the exclusivity of color and uniqueness of flavor that can be a real enticement for “non” gin drinkers. It also makes a mellow and beautiful martini when made with proper premium vermouth.
You want something that is going to be unique in appearance, unique in flavor, eye catching and approachable for the average drinker. It isn’t so heavily juniper in flavor. We recommend Magellan Gin, the world’s only natural blue gin. Yes, it is actually blue in color and doesn’t need a colored bottle to market its “uniqueness.” While very floral, Magellan provides the exclusivity of color and uniqueness of flavor that can be a real enticement for “non” gin drinkers. It also makes a mellow and beautiful martini when made with proper premium vermouth.
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