Jallumuuli

JALLUMUULI
(aka JALLUKINKERI)

A Finnish classic

Hey everyone! Here's a classic, that has reach a solid place in the Finnish bar culture, the Jallumuuli or Jallukinkeri. Easy to make, easy to drink and easily ordered again :D, this drink consists of:

• 4 cl Jaloviina * (A Finnish cut-brandy)
• 2 lime wedges (muddled)
• ginger ale

In a highball glass, muddle the lime wedges, add ice your Jaloviina* and top it off with ginger ale.

As said, the lime juice and ginger ale really helps cut the edge from the brandy, making this suitable for...pretty much anyone! 

Reader's Challenge: Sangreal Cocktail

THE SANGREAL COCKTAIL

A wannabe Sangria drink!

Let's keep up posting like there's no tomorrow! I recently received a Reader's Challenge (!!!) I was asked to make a Sangreal Cocktail and quote:

Have you ever tried the Sangreal cocktail? I first tested it at a cocktail bar three years ago and attempted it on my own. Here's how I did it: "Pour 4 cl Licor 43 in a highball glass, add two chunks of grapefruit and two chunks of lemon. Muddle most juice from out the chunks. Add two-three ice cubes and the red grenadine. Pour roughly half of the Ginger Ale and stir from the bottom so that the chunks won't stick there. Add still one or two ice cubes and fill up with Ginger Ale." This drink is a long one, somewhat mild, nicely reddish and exceptionally refreshing on hot summer evenings. Sang Real, or sangreal, comes from both French and Spanish and means the words Holy and Grail or Holy Royal. Thus, the name relates to something very old. Additionally the name relates to its colour, which should be close to what is known as "veriappelsiinivehnäolut" in Finnish. And as I first got the hint for this cocktail fr om a Swedish person, this challenge includes four nationalities :-)

I had no Licor 43 at home so I bought a sample bottle of it, also got pretty much everything else from the store except for the grenadine, which I already had.

I read the challenge a few times to get the jist. I realized I would need a large enough glass to make it and as I soon found out how large the grapefruit chunks were, I'm glad I picked up the bigger highball glass in the first place:

• 4 cl Licor 43
• two chunks grapefruit
• two chunks lemon
• 2 bs grenadine (I figured 2 bs would suffice)
• ginger ale, to top

Everything worked out fine until I added the grenadine. A few times now I've witnessed bad quality syrups and as you can see from the picture, the grenadine didn't give as much deep color as I was hoping for. Also, the camera didn't really give justice to the drink; with added orange slices (for the heck of it) it was a nice looking drink overall; its taste was just too sweet for me. I blame the grenadine; one didn't give enough color and two went overboard especially since Licor 43 itself is a sweet liqueur as well!

Let's be honest here (as if I weren't normally :D). This cocktail wasn't a top-tier one. But what really warmed my heart was indeed how I got to make this cocktail, by a random dude's challenge on my blog! Cheers to that!

Horse's Neck

HORSE'S NECK

Hello again! Today I'm introducing you to a cocktail which (after a little bit of research) apparently has two major variations. The classic cocktail Horse's Neck. On one thing we can both agree; you need ginger ale and a long lemon twist. But are you "supposed" to use brandy or whiskey in it? In my dearest opinion, it doesn't quite matter since both work in their favor and both are recognized as a key ingredient. Of course you get a completely different taste profile from those mentioned above so if serving one of these it won't hurt asking "brandy or bourbon?"

• 5 cl brandy or whiskey (bourbon)
• ginger ale
• a long lemon twist
• (angostura bitters)

Using a high ball glass, fill it half-way with ice. Then cut a long strip of lemon twist so part of it will hang from outside the glass. Add your choice of liquor and top it off with ginger ale. Some put a few dashes of angostura bitters on top of the drink; this is purely a matter of opinion/taste. You can also add a straw or two if you please.

In my version I used bourbon. The result was quite delightful indeed! I got a massive amount of citrus - notes and the bourbon totally works with ginger ale. At this point I must say I would have used a better quality mixer instead of Schweppes but in Finland it's hard to get anything else than that. If you do happen to bump into anything more rare, the price for one bottle is beyond outrageous. 

Nonetheless, this is a good cocktail and if you prefer a more of a sweeter version, use brandy instead.

Jamaican Mule

The Jamaican Mule

Here's the Jamaican Mule. As you might or might not know, there are several versions of the mule. For example the Moscow, the London or the Mexican, to name a few. Here's the Jamaican version using:

• 4cl of Spiced Rum (in its essence, any rum is okay except white)
• ½ a lime cut half
• ginger ale

In a high ball glass filled with ice, squeeze in the lime wedges, add the rum and top it off with ginger ale. Garnish with a lime wedge.

I must say this drink was a huge disappointment. Why? Because Schweppes "ginger ale" is utter shit. Never...never use it if all possible! I can't express in words how furious I am when describing how horrible this commercial piece of garbage Schweppes somehow managed to produce. If and when I get over this huge tragedy I barely can call a cocktail, what I suggest with deepest sincerety, for the love of God, use this brand of ginger beer instead next time:

Nuff' said.