Gingerhassle

GINGERHÄSSÄKKÄ

(GINGERHASSLE)

(I know, it is in Finnish)

Hello everyone! Here's a very refreshing drink, initially asked by a customer (do something citrus-y) and I thought of summoning something up for them. It turned out to be so good I figured "hey this makes one helluva drink!" Since this doesn't have a proper name yet, it is called a "Gingerhassle". Yeah, that'll do :D.

½ lime's juice

2 cl cointreau

2 cl gin

ginger beer, to top

On a highball glass filled with ice, press the juice of ½ a lime onto it. Add the alcohols and top the whole thing up with ginger beer. Garnish with a lime wheel, add a straw and there you go!

It is both fresh with good notes of citrus, orange and ginger. The lime juice cuts the tight gingery notes and the gin I used (a london dry style) was more in the background. Nonetheless, an excellent drink this was!

Cafe Nero

CAFE NERO

Hot Stuff!

Hey everyone! Here's a coffee-based cocktail a customer (while back) ordered from me! At that point, I had no idea what the hell it was so the kind (wo)man showed me how to make one! In hindsight, I would make this drink into a much smaller champagne flute/glass so the proportional amount of Galliano would be much higher. Nonetheless, here's how to make a Cafe Nero.

• 4 cl Galliano (vanilla)
• sugar + citrus wedge (for coating the inner glass)
• coffee
• loosely whipped cream
• vanilla / nutmeg / essential oils from an orange as garnish
• some fire (remember safety!)

First things first, prewarm the glass. Dump the hot water and with the help of the citrus wedge, coat the inside rim of the glass. Pour some sugar on it to create a nice sugary rim.  Add in the galliano and set it on fire. Let the flames caramelize the sugar a bit, after which pour in the coffee. Layer some cream on top and garnish.

As I mentioned in the beginning, since I used a much higher volume glass to make this one, taste-wise it had gentle vanilla notes to it and I liked its smoothness. Moreover, this drink can easily be twisted by using another alcohol and garnish appropriately. 

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! 

Panssarijääkäri (Panzerjäger)

PANSSARIJÄÄKÄRI (PANZERJÄGER)

Panssarijääkäri, a shot that a customer once ordered. I had to ask him "A what now?" He explained to me, that this shot consists of:

• 2 cl Jägermeister
• 2 cl salty liquorice liqueur

The story behind it (apparently) goes that back in his (customer's) days he did his military service in the anti-tank service branch and these were often downed. Moreover, always three in the same time (one for the gunner, one for the driver and one for the commander of a tank).

Pour both ingredients in a shot glass and shoot! I have to say though, I don't wonder why these were ordered. The taste is somewhat sweeter than herbal and not as powerful as I would've thought. It doesn't make an excellent shot, but doesn't let you down either, kind of like Rick Astley.

Jumalan Ruoska (God's Whip)

JUMALAN RUOSKA (GOD'S WHIP)

Whip it REAL GOOD!

Here's a cocktail I found about last weekend and apparently it existed already in 2004! Jumalan Ruoska, or translated "God's Whip". A customer mentioned this name and I had to look it up later just to find out from a very old forum that indeed! This drink does exist! I had to give it a shot.

This drink is similar to the White Russian, especially due to one of the main ingredients. But let's see how this one's made.

• 2 cl Jaloviina * (A famous Finnish cut brandy, you could use any similar product if this one is not available)
• 2 cl Kahlúa (it has to be Kahlúa, any other coffee liqueur won't do the trick)
• Milk

Build into a OF/tumbler filled with ice. No garnish, just a straw.

First of all, milk-based cocktails are devious for they are so easily drunk. I don't lie, I could've finished my drink in a few sips! Secondly, this cocktail is full-bodied (thanks to Kahlúa) and smooth in texture with a nice brandy-ish flavor to it. Thirdly, for the Finns this drink is easily and readily available, since come on, any self-respecting person should stock at least Jaloviina in their homes! :D

I can only recommend trying this if the basic White Russians are getting waaaaaay boring!

(Galliano) Hot Shot

(GALLIANO) HOT SHOT

Hey!

Here's a shot, that has become notorious in the Finnish bar culture. I'm not quite sure how often these are ordered abroad, but in Finland there's a somewhat love-hate relationship with the Hot Shot.

The (Galliano) Hot Shot is a layered shot and has become famous for one reason: Many of these are typically ordered in the same time and we all know how layering a bunch of these is the most absolute fun :D

• 2 cl Galliano (vanilla)
• a small amount of coffee
• a small amount of cream

Put the galliano in the shot glass and carefully layer (with the help of a spoon) the coffee first and then the cream on top. Some like to sip it, some shoot it. Either way, it's a very vanilla-creamy shot and easily drunk. As...no-one doubted, right? Right?