Italian Sunset

ITALIAN SUNSET

Hey everyone! If Tequila Sunrises are getting boring (like 15 years ago :D), here's a fun little twist on it. I introduce you to the Italian Sunset. Based on the Italian almond liqueur (DiSaronno), this cocktail is to the sweeter side. Let's take a look:

• 6 cl amaretto
• pulp-free quality orange juice
• club soda
• grenadine
• (garnish)

I actually made two versions of it, in one using OJ that had pulp in it just to see why it was originally mentioned that specifically pulp-free should be used. Fair enough, the result looks better, with no chips of fruit sticking on the side of the glass after you've drunk some of it.

Anyhow, using a bit larger glass than normally, fill it with crushed ice. Add in the amaretto, carefully pour in the OJ and then top it with slub soda. Drizzle some grenadine to create the sunset effect, add a straw but don't stir it! Garnish if you please (I used a twist) and enjoy.

Since the amaretto lays at the bottom, it is sweet. Using the straw and going the up-down motion will help enjoy this cocktail way more better, getting all layers of flavors (since the cocktail should layer in three separate...layers :D)

Toasted Almond (cocktail)

TOASTED ALMOND

(COCKTAIL)

Ever wanted to make the White Russian Great Again? :D Well, here's a fun "twist" nonetheless, with great flavors! I introduce to you the Toasted Almond (cocktail). Apparently everything in the States is BIG so I had to cut the measures in half to make mine, explained soon why. This creamy drink has easy-to-find ingredients, well-balanced and super easy to make:

• 1 part DiSaronno (amaretto)
• 1 part kahlúa
• 1 part cream

I used 3 cl each, seems that the friends abroad use 2 fl oz so that'll be 6 cl! :D Anyways, I shaked everything with ice and without straining poured the content into a tumbler. Feel free to add roasted almond chips to garnish.

I have to say, I prefer the shaking over building so every ingredient gets mixed well with each other. Needless to say, it worked. sweet-ish almondy-coffee taste is mellowed by the cream. Weightwatchers note, this is not a drink for you! For others, highly recommended!

Random Access Cocktails (RAC)

RANDOM ACCESS COCKTAILS

A good Monday evening to everyone! Last night I had a little game with a friend of mine after some heavy duty Dungeons&Dragons. He had brought a bottle of sour apple schnapps so I thought "Why not randomly decide two other liqueurs and whip up a drink of them?" What a splendid idea!

Three "rules":

1. 2 cl of sour apple included
2. one lime wedge squeezed in
3. 4 cl of apple juice included

So we headed to my bar cabinet and rolled a d20 to decide which Dekuyper liqueurs we would use! We both rolled once and with 20 bottles available we got the following combinations:

• peach & blueberry
• amaretto & watermelon

#1

sour apple, peach, blueberry, apple juice, lime wedge

So here's the first one. With a fresh aroma, you couldn't really notice the peach flavor. The blueberry on the other hand dominated most of the drink leaving only a crisp, US-candy-ish (jelly bean) aftertaste to it!

#2

sour apple, amaretto, water melon, apple juice, lime wedge

The second one was a peculiar mixture! You have that distinct almond aroma, tastes like amaretto and then changes to the watermelony flavors! The apple part has completely disappeared!

In its essence, both cocktails weren't "super delicious". Sure, one goes (for the ladies) but they both had a problem of being very sugary (like candy), synthetic and something youngsters would appreciate. All of this was culminated in our discussion:

Me: "Try having six of these!"

Friend: " :D "

Rouva Runeberg

ROUVA RUNEBERG

(MRS. RUNEBERG)

Happy national Runeberg's day to you all! In order to celebrate his legacy, I re-created a cocktail Niko Autti from the A21 Cocktail Lounge invented. I don't know when though, probably two years ago. The recipe I have was from a food magazine I cut and today (okay I made this yesterday) I could really try it out:

• 2 table spoons of raspberry jam or 12 raspberries
• 3 cl raspberry vodka
• 1 cl almond liqueur (amaretto)
• 1 cl vanilla syrup

For the sugar rim:

• sugar
• a lemon wedge

First things first, I didn't have raspberry vodka, so I combined some raspberry liqueur with plain vodka. It's not the same but it'll do for now. Also, not having real raspberries (during February it's really hard to come by in Finland) I used the jam. The vanilla syrup I made myself.

First do the sugar rim by coating the side of the glass with the lemon, tapping it on sugar and letting it chill in the fridge. Put the ingredients in a cocktail shaker, add ice and stir vigorously. Strain into your glass.

Visually good-looking, this cocktail is overly sweet! Fair enough, I used the raspberry liqueur-vodka mix instead of "pure" raspberry vodka, but the amount of jam with the vanilla syrup made this drink way to sugary. I can't agree that two table spoons of jam equals 12 raspberries and instead, would cut the jam amount to half to the least. Also I would've used a smaller cocktail glass. But that was my problem, not the drink's. Also, the amaretto flavors were barely noticeable. Nonetheless, it was a fun little experiment to do on a specific day in a year.

Also note the Runeberg's torte next to the drink, a pastry made just for this day (I didn't have the sugar coating since I didn't have powdered sugar at home).

The Godmother

THE GODMOTHER

As promised, here's the close relative of our earlier cocktail, the Godfather. I give you, the Godmother. I wanted to put my "photoshop" skills to use and gave this drink some deserved style it totally deserved. Just like the fatherly version, you can play with the ratio. Be it 1:1, 2:1 or even 3:1 (like here) or vice versa, go right ahead! Just a friendly reminder though, the amount of vodka is usually superior to our almondy liqueur but hey, whatever floats your boat!

• 4.5 cl quality vodka
• 1.5 cl Amaretto Disaronno

Take a tumbler, fill it with ice and pour in your ingredients. As seen here, I used the 3:1 ratio and I must add, that the vodka I used was Russian Standard and boy was this vodka smooooooth as can be! I really enjoyed this drink. Albeit, the Godmother is like a "buffed" Amaretto on ice but the brand of vodka can really make a difference. Don't get stingy here!

So if you want to man-up your Amaretto, choose the Godmother. If you want more complexity, choose the Godfather. Either way, both are good choices.

The Godfather

THE GODFATHER

"I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse"

- Michael Corleone

That's right boys and girls. Here's a sweet-ish short cocktail that in its essence has no actual reference with the Godfather film/novels, except that the liquer used in this drink has Disaronno in it, which is Italian made:

• 2.5 cl Scotch
• 2.5 cl Amaretto Disaronno 

Pour both ingredients in a tumbler with ice and enjoy. The ratio with these two may and can be varied as the drinker sees fit. I liked the 1:1 ratio, it was both strong and sweet and when the ice melts it smoothens the sweetness of amaretto, I approve of that. I could understand the use of more scotch but having more amaretto probably won't cut it in the big boys' league.

The Godfather drink has a close relative, the Godmother, which will be introduced to you later!

American Belle

AMERICAN BELLE

2013

2018, using Heering as the cherry liqueur instead of DK

Let's continue with some shooters! When it comes to shooters, layered ones are always the most fun ones. Not only do you get a visually astonishing "drink", the true beauty is that when gulping down one, you actually get to taste every flavor in it (at least usually)! The American Belle is a minor exception to this:

• 1.25 cl (or 1.5 cl if your shot glass is large enough) cherry liqueur
• 1.25 (1.5) cl amaretto
• 1.25 (1.5) cl bourbon whiskey

Layer in the given order in a shot glass or alternative build over some ice in a small-ish tumbler. I made a shooter out of this one (very obvious, isn't it?).

Sweet cherry, hardly any almondy flavor and finally the bourbon. The combination is the whiskey (I used Jim Beam) and cherry is actually a very interesting one, sadly the flavors of amaretto were completely hidden.

Not a classic drink, not a five-star shooter either, but visually a good one and tastewise...well, was okay, I guess...

!EDIT 2018!

So I made this one again, now using Heering Cherry liqueur instead of a pink bright (cheaper) cherry version and the results were completely different. Much more balanced and distinctively better tasting as it was five years ago!

The Perfect Day To Get Drunk

THE PERFECT DAY TO GET DRUNK

without the cola...

...and with it

Today I'm completing a friend challenge! A co-worker of mine challenged me (after I introduced her to my blog). This is what she wrote and quote:

"Alrighty then! So I want a cocktail called "The Perfect Day To Get Drunk. It has to have coca-cola in it (unless I have a killer idea that doesn't involve it) and this cocktail is drunk from a wine glass. Not many other requirements, although as a guideline, I like caipiroskas, strawberry margaritas etc. I don't prefer whisky, beer, cognac etc. Oh and it needs to be fresh! Oh and bring me the recipe in Finnish at work, because I'm too lazy to read English :D"

Too bad, I don't work anymore and this is ALL in English! So my brain started working. I definitely wanted to have some sort of fruit in it, muddled. Then it struck me...peaches! Almonds! Lime! Cola! And they all work together just dandy! So I came up with the following (first edition) recipe:

• 3/4 of a peach, skin peeled and fruit chopped
• 4 cl amaretto
• 2 cl peach schnapps
• 1 cl vodka
• the juice of one lime wedge
• (a dash of cola)

First, peel the peach and cut three quarters of it into semi-small chunks and put it in the mixing glass. You can muddle them at this point, if you please. Add the amaretto, peach schnapps and vodka (for that little kick) and squeeze the juice from the lime wedge. Add ice (or muddle the fruit pieces now, if you haven't already) and shake vigorously.

Now take you chilled wine glass (I used a white wine glass, a bit smaller in size) and without straining pour the mixture in the glass. The result as seen in the first picture. Alternatively, you can top the drink with cola and finally, add a lime wedge for decoration and a couple of straws. Enjoy!

Now to the review. So I used some peach schnapps to compliment the flavor of peaches, the vodka to actually put some strength into this drink and as my main ingredient amaretto. After tasting this I've come to the following conclusion, tweaking the recipe as follows:

• 3/4 of a peach
• 3 cl Amaretto
• 3 cl peach schnapps
• 1 cl vodka
• 2 cl fresh lime juice
• (dash of cola)

The original cocktail tasted good, but the amaretto was a bit too overpowering. After some of the ice has melted the peach flavors come in. With the tweaked recipe, it has less almondy flavor, a bit more peachiness and also more sourness that balances the sweetness from the amaretto/peaches. It is truly a perfect day to get drunk!

Amaretto Sour

Amaretto Sour

In a perfect world, cocktails are perfect too. While I'm not a perfect cocktail mixologist, I strive to create cocktails that taste excellent, look amazing and leave a good impression to both the maker and the drinker. This is one of them...

The Amaretto Sour.

Inspired by Jeffrey Morgenthaler, I picked up the challenge and created an Amaretto Sour he perfected.

• 4.5 cl Amaretto
• 2.25 cl bourbon
• 3 cl fresh lemon juice
• 0.5 cl simple syrup
• 1.5 cl egg white (a tad less than one egg white whole, unless a small egg)

Combine everything in a cocktail shaker and dry shake first roughly for a little while. After this add plenty of ice and shake again. Double strain into a tumbler filled with ice. Decoration-wise, there are a few options proper for this cocktail; lemon/orange zest/wedge or a maraschino cherry.¨

As a big fan of Amaretto and a big fan of sours, this cocktail is almost as good as the Boston Sour, but still manages to plunge into my top cocktail list.

Obsession

OBSESSION

Continuing with the Amarula theme, on the same evening I created another Amarula - based cocktail. This was very good but does not match with the  White Nile Martini I created before. But here goes:

• 25 ml Amarula
• 25 ml Disaronno
• 25 ml Creme dé cacao (white)
• 25 ml milk

I dipped the rim of the glass in water and then with powdered cocoa and put it in the fridge while preparing the drink. Add everything in the shaker, fill it with ice and shake it brotha!

(double) strain in a cocktail glass and add grated chocolate on top. Serve.

This cocktail was good, as mentioned before. The almondy-chocolate taste wasn't too strong thanks to the milk plus the amarula gave this cocktail a nice fruity touch. 

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...

Jellyfish shot

JELLYFISH SHOT

Another shot at your disposal! I present you with the Jellyfish shot! I got this recipe from TipsyBartender and thought "why the heck not?" Looking kind of like the Alien Brain Hemorrhage, layered shots like these are

1. fun to make

2. beautiful

3. good in taste, in a weird way

What you need is:

• 2 cl creme de cacao
• 1 cl of amaretto
• 2 cl of baileys
• a few drops of grenadine

Add about half a shot glass with the creme de cacao. The gently pour the amaretto on top of it to create a layer. After that make another layer of baileys on top of those. Create the jellyfish by adding a few drops of grenadine on the shot. The amount I used was roughly a tea spoon.

Taste-wise...well kind of a mish-mash. Baileys was very dominant as well as the end grenadine. But want to impress your friends (again) with layered shot? Totally worth it.

Colt Cruiser

Colt Cruiser

Another cocktail I truly enjoyed. The Colt Cruiser is easy to make and tastes rather sweet. In addition, one wouldn't think the ingredients for this drink would work so well together! Here we go:

• 2cl rum (white)
• 1cl amaretto
• 1cl creme de bananes
• 2cl lemon juice
• 12cl lemonade

Shake the four first ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice and strain into a high ball glass with ice. Top the mixture with lemonade according to taste. You could garnish the drink with one or two maraschino cherries. I added a dangling rind of orange as well.

As said, this is a surprisingly excellent choice for any occasion. Highly recommended!