Kiki

KIKI

Oh boy are we into something good now! This is the first time I've created a flaming shooter but I had to give this one a try. I present you with the Kiki.

What you need:

• ⅓ shot of Kahlúa (coffee liquor)
• ⅓ shot of Amaretto
• ⅓ shot of Cointreau (triple sec)
• a source of fire

Layer the three ingredients in the given order (kahlúa, amaretto and finally the cointreau) but try to keep a steady hand, especially on the triple sec. I almost botched it but managed to keep the layers separated (as seen in the picture). Now carefully light the top on fire, enjoy the show then blow the fire out and shoot!

Personally, I liked this shot very much. I could clearly taste each ingredients. It's like a 3-in-1 shot. None did overwhelm another and the final coffee flavored taste was very pleasant. Also, this cocktail looks quite beautiful. I give Kiki a big thumps up!

N.B!

Always treat cocktails with fire with great caution. Fire is a good servant but a bad master. At least have something to extinguish the flames should things go awry.

French Connection

FRENCH CONNECTION

Good evening ladies and gentlemen. Tonight's savory cocktail is the perfect after dinner tipple. I kid you not. The French Connection. 

• 3.5 cl of cognac (prefer VSOP or XO if all possible)
• 3.5 cl of amaretto (Disaronno equals quality)

A kind reminder before we get started. As mentioned in the ingredients, only use quality cognac. No, don't use brandy. Also, for most of us, amaretto = Disaronno and I am completely fine with this. Quality matter in this case (like it does in any cocktail for that matter).

Take 3-5 ice cubes (larger > smaller) and fill a snifter or an old fashioned glass with them. Slowly pour the cognac first, then add the amaretto. Swirl the glass a few times so the alcohols mix and enjoy with time. This is not a shooter.

For me, wow...just wow! I couldn't believe at first how these ingredients make such a fine combination. The cognac's warmth and the amaretto's sweetness mixed in a chilled glass. I'll be damned, those French did get something right!

Sophisticated, elegant, stylish. I've yet to meet its match...

Sot Grass

Sot Grass

Tonight's shooter. The Sot Grass. Introducing:

• ½ a shot of Pisang Ambon (a banana flavored liquor)
• ½ a shot of Jägermeister

Layer in a shot glass, the pisang first followed by the Jäger.

First things first. This is a beautiful cocktail. The colors are pretty when layered...but that's about it then. This shot's flavor did not really please me at all. Jägermeister's flavor was so overwhelming I could barely taste any of the "banana" liquor. Given, the shot was from the sweeter side and the aftertaste did have notes of "banana". The reason I'm using quotation marks is that I can't really consider Pisang Ambon as a good banana flavored liquor. It tastes rather synthetic.

But should I rank this shot...2/5, and one point goes for the looks of this shot.

Bacardi Cocktail

BACARDI COCKTAIL

Today I'm presenting you with a classic cocktail called the Bacardi Cocktail. It is a simple cocktail to make and given, taste-wise this cocktail sure is simple as well. Trust me when I say it's not a good thing.

What you need:

• 4.5 cl Bacardi rum (white)
• 2.5 cl fresh lime juice (juice from ½ a lime)
• 0.5 cl grenadine (a splash)

Combine all of the ingredients in a cocktail shaker, add ice and shake. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Now, you could use either a cocktail cherry or a slice of lime to decorate, whatever suits your needs. I went for the lime (the green-red color combination is aesthetically pleasing).

As you might have noticed, this drink is basically a red hued lime-rum mixture and yeah, it didn't taste much differently either (figures). The grenadine did give a light sweetened taste to it but all in all this cocktail is only mediocre at best.

The next time I want a fancy red colored drink, I make myself a Cosmo instead. Now I felt like wasting good rum and lime juice...

Boston Sour

BOSTON SOUR

Boston Sour, volume I

Boston Sour, volume II

Well met! I've had a rough day at work today so after I got home I thought of whipping myself a nice cocktail. Which I did. Hence, the Boston Sour. I've always thought that this was the Whiskey Sour but in fact the Whiskey Sour does not have egg white in it and this does. Otherwise the Sour is a very simple cocktail (yet extremely elegant) which can be made different with almost any spirit.

• 5 cl Whiskey (bourbon) (I used Jim Beam, I find it an extremely good whiskey for cocktails)
• 2,5 cl lemon juice (½ a lemon)
• 2,5 cl sugar syrup OR 2 tsp caster sugar
• 4 drops of Angostura bitters
• 1 egg white

First things first, separate the egg yolk from the white. In a cocktail glass, combine the egg white plus all of the other ingredients, add a lot of ice and remember to shake like you've never shaked before! (because of the egg white).

Take a old fashioned - glass (tumbler), fill it with ice cubes and strain the cocktail mixture in the glass. Now take a strip of lemon peel and twist the essential oils into the drink and use the peel as a decoration. The egg white creates a nice foam as shown in the picture. Also different from the non-egg version, this drink has much more build.

A perfect Boston Sour.

Post Edit:

I have been informed with crucial information regarding this cocktail. Remember boys and girls to dry shake all of the ingredients first, this is to ensure that the egg white incorporates with the other ingredientsand that it gets a nice frothy texture. Then add ice and shake again.

Lynchburg Lemonade

LYNCHBURG LEMONADE

Today I'll present you with a famous whiskey based cocktail. The name derives from Lynchburg, Tennessee, where the Jack Daniel's distillery is located. Without further ado, let's get down to business:

• 1 part Jack Daniel's whiskey
• 1 part Triple Sec
• 1 part lemon juice
• Sprite/ 7up / lemonade

Combine the first three ingredients in a cocktail shaker, fill it with ice and shake. Take a collins glass (or a highball like I did) filled with ice cubes and pour the shaker content in it. Top up with lemonade. Garnish with a lemon slice.

This cocktail really had its sweet&sour taste in it. Surprisingly well did the whiskey distinct itself in this otherwise lemonade - tasting cocktail. This cocktail's ingredients can be modified into a larger batch making it a good punch for parties and such.

Brandy Alexander

BRANDY ALEXANDER

Back in the days

Greetings again! It has been almost two months since my last update but there's a good explanation for that; moving to our new house + I haven't had internet for over month after we moved.

Anyhow, let's get back to business. I present you with one of the more classic cocktails, the Brandy Alexander. If used with gin, it's called an Alexander. What you need to create this superb cocktail:

• 3 cl cognac (I used Hennessy VSOP)
• 3 cl dark créme de cacao
• 3 cl fresh cream
• grated nutmeg to decorate

Combine all of the ingredients (except for the nutmeg) in a cocktail shaker, add ice and shake vigorously (due to the cream). Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and sprinkle some grated nutmeg to garnish. Serve.

I found this cocktail to be elegant, sweet-ish and rather heavy due to the cream's consistency. Taste-wise plain amazing. One could taste the different flavors from the cognac, cocoa liquor and cream. The nutmeg had a surprising taste, since I haven't tasted it before per se.

All in all, this cocktails deserves a solid 5/5. It's bulky consistency only prevents me from having more than one at a time.

Brandy Alexander vol. II, 2013