Mixing Up the Left Coast, week 12

Our post today features Left Coast Libations cocktails from Yanni Kehagiaras. The book says he’s at Nopa in San Francisco and since we’re terrible people who haven’t looked it up recently, we’ll have to take their word for it. What we have to say is Yanni sure made us think about our cocktails and brought our Padawan to the dark side … he’s now an avid follower of Laphroaig much to the Gindicate’s chagrin.

Burns Night Cap

2 oz Laphroaig Quarter Cask scotch

½ oz Benedictine

½ oz Lillet Blanc

2 dashes Angostura bitters

Stir all ingredients with ice, strain into chilled cocktail glass.

The aroma was all Laphroaig, peaty and medicinal and not at all appetizing for people who usually like gin. However, the Lillet really brought forward a mellow warmth and herbaceous-ness from the Benedictine. All of which mellowed out the smoky peaty-ness of the scotch. It was unbelievably yummy and shocking in its flavors. We couldn’t believe how tamed and complex the Laphroaig became in this cocktail. Quite enjoyable … again the Padawan was pleased. Now he is incorrigible, always ordering cocktails featuring Laphroaig. Thanks Mr. Kehagiaras.

The Bitter End

2 oz Flor de Caña Aged White 4-year rum

1 oz grapefruit juice

½ oz lime juice

½ oz John D. Taylor’s Velvet Falernum

2 dashes Angostura bitters

Angostura bitters float (garnish, up to ¼ oz)

Build in a Collins glass using all ingredients except garnish. Fill with crushed ice and stir. Float additional bitters.

The aroma is warm and spicy like cinnamon or cloves from the Angostura. There is just a hint of the peppery quality of grapefruit that comes through as well. The flavor is citrus, rum, and a slightly bitter tartness from the rum. The bitters help tie it all together with the sweet falernum, the sharp rum, and the bold citrus. Together it’s a light, crisp, and slightly tart drink. The second time we added an additional ¼ oz of falernum and it really mellowed the grapefruit and brought out the spicy quality of the bitters. Next time we’ll try it as originally written, but with pink grapefruit. That might really make the difference. Overall an excellent drink!