Pariisin Varpunen / Nikolaschka / La Môme Piaf

Pariisin Varpunen / Nikolaschka / 

La Môme Piaf

Hi everyone! Today I made a shot called Pariisin Varpunen (La môme Piaf / Little Sparrow) / Nikolaschka. Depending on the main ingredient used. The recipe I got from a Finnish cocktail-magazine in which many different cognac based cocktails/drinks were represented. I shall be doing more of them later in the coming weeks.

If you want to try something really extraordinary, give this one a try. It is definitely different :D

• 4 cl cognac (for a Vodka Nikolaschka use vodka instead)
• a thick slice of orange/lemon
• ~1 tsp instant coffee powder
• ~1 tsp fine caster sugar

Put the alcohol in a snifter/small tumbler. Layer the citrus slice on top with the coffee and sugar side by side. Now at this point you can still make a choice:

1. Drink the liquor and bite on the citrus
2. Bite on the citrus and then drink the liquor

I opted for the 2nd one. Also, I prefered the cognac-based shooter way better. Or then the vodka needs to be properly chilled, which in this case wasn't. Nonetheless, in case you really want to surprise your guests with an after-dinner "cocktail", try this one! :D

New York Coffee

NEW YORK COFFEE

Hey! Here's a nice touch on mixed coffee drinks! Many have had an Irish Coffee before, sure but if that sounds boring, why not try a New York Coffee? A liquorice twist with excellent taste that'll sweep your feet right away :D

• 2 cl kahlúa
• 2 cl sambuca
• hot coffee
• loosely whipped cream
• grated nutmeg to garnish

Preheat the glass. Pour excess hot water away, add in the alcohols followed with the coffee. Stir gently and layer the cream on top. Garnish and serve.

Easy and delicious! In addition, if you still want to pimp this one up, before layering the cream, add a few pinches salt in the drink and stir. Then you have a Silvertaffee Coffee, based on the Finnish "Hopeatoffee" - candy since they taste the same :)

Minttufernet

MINTTUFERNET

(Peppermintfernet)

A Finnish bar classic

Hey everyone! Today's cocktail is a short, powerful, robust drink, the Minttufernet. It literally translates to "Peppermintfernet" due to its two ingredients you'll need:

• 2 - 2.5 cl Fernet-Branca (an Italian bitter liqueur)
• 2 - 2.5 cl Cremé de menthe, green
• (1:1 ratio nonetheless)

In a tumbler filled half way with ice, add both ingredients in the glass. Gently stir and serve.

It's quite the cocktail! With a powerful peppermint aroma to it, the sweetness from the menthe goes along nicely with the aromatic and bitterness of Fernet-Branca creating a balanced drink. Moreover, as the ice melts, it mellows the drink even further. One could argue that you could use even 4-4 cl both, but with this one, less is more.

The Minttufernet also warmths one's body quite well :D