Brown Derby

BROWN DERBY

"The classic bourbon Brown Derby cocktail is named for the eponymous hat-shaped Los Angeles diner. " 

- Liquor.com

So I decided to give this one a go. The recipe looked interesting enough and it's always fun to play around with different syrups. The cocktail Brown Derby itself is an old classic so I reckon there are numerous ways to twist this baby up!

• 6 cl bourbon

• 4.5 cl pink grapefruit juice

• 1.5 cl honey syrup (1:1 ratio)

Shake everything with ice, strain and garnish. I loved how balanced this cocktail was and also its incredible freshness! Especially with the grapefruit aromas. I like!

Paloma

PALOMA

"La Paloma" or "little dove"

Greetings again long time no see! Busy with life & work but thankfully my vacation starts after this week! To kick-start our week here's a Mexican specialty, the Paloma. Super famous over there, I've had two of these already and can admittedly say this is going to be my this summer's next favorite!

• 6 cl 100% de agave tequila
• ½ lime (juice)
• a pinch of salt
• grapefruit soda
• lime wheel garnish/etc.

Build into a high ball glass, add the lime juice, tequila and mixer, drop a little bit of salt in the drink and stir gently. Garnish and serve.

Wow, just nice. Fresh, smooth, balanced with a very nice after taste to it, I frigging loved this! Note to self though, "use high quality tequila and careful with the salt!"

I used Jose Cuervo's Tradicional tequila, which IMHO is super smooth and balanced by itself! A sipping tequila! As for the grapefruit soda, I didn't use the "traditional" ones, instead our Finnish brand Jaffa Greippi, which did its job just as planned.

This drink...I have to share with my friends, they deserve it!

Hemingway Daiquiri

HEMINGWAY DAIQUIRI

"I drink to make other people interesting"

- Ernest Hemingway, 1899 - 1961 

Hello everyone! Today's cocktail is more or less of a classic. It's a daiquiri popularized (or coined) by Ernest Hemingway who spent a part of his life in Cuba. According to the internet (it never lies by the way), he used to have many of these in a bar called "El Floridita". Also, the internet states that since Hemingway was a diabetic, he preferred a different kind of daiquiri (a less sugary one); legend has it that he loved this version so much that he always ordered a double, lending the cocktail its nickname of Papa Doble.

In its essence, the Hemingway Daiquiri is a more robust, dry version of the regular cocktail. If feeling manly enough, give this one a go and see for yourself!

• 6 cl white rum (prefer Cuban, e.g. Havana 3 años)
• 2 cl lime juice
• 1.5 cl maraschino liqueur (the sweetness to this cocktail derives from this ingredient)
• 1.5 cl grapefruit juice
• lime wheel (or maraschino cherry) as a garnish

Shake all ingredients except for the garnish with ice, strain, garnish and serve.

US citizens can't really use Havana rums because of the trade embargo that prohibits the selling of Cuban rum, but luckily for the rest of us, there is still hope :D But any good quality white rum will suffice.

For me, it had that oompf. Since my experience of daiquiris have always been sweeter, it was nice to experience the "other side" of this classic cocktail group. Moreover, there are so many different variations of the daiquiris out there, having a few different recipes in your back pocket doesn't hurt you at all. I give this cocktail a 3.5/5. Those who like their daiquiris dry and strong, it's a solid 5/5.

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!

The Heart Eater

THE HEART EATER

This is a story about a young man that ventured in the Great Plains of North America on a cold December night, 1841, in hopes of great adventure and fortune. It is purely fictional.

"To travel is to live."

- Hans Christian Andersen, 1805-1875

The winter breeze was strong tonight. Like any other night, Jedediah was walking in the woods with his companion, Jasper, in the middle of practically nowhere, finding shelter from the incoming storm. They had traveled for some time already and with the help of the North Star he was hoping to find Cheyenne, their next stop.

Hours after hours but still no sign of civilization. Jedediah was calm in mind. Their rations were close on ending but he was strong of will, and ammo. And no matter what they said, tonight he would hunt his very first bison.

Finally a glimpse of light in the horizon. A glimpse of hope for both of the travelers. They climbed the foothill and it felt like the highest mountain they've ever climbed so far. Jasper was getting weary. Jedediah on the other hand felt like a victor. 

They opened the front door, that made a heavy cracking sound. They were welcomed with a warmth that radiated from the interior. But not a single soul could be seen. They both quickly closed the door shut and gasped silently; here they could rest for a while, albeit Jedediah knew he would soon go out again.

                                                    

A man shows up from a room close to the counter. He smiles at Jedediah and Jasper and greets them; "Welcome, kinsmen. What brings you two here? Rest? Food? I can provide you with both. Then again, the storm is closing in on us, please, have a seat." The men sat down and dropped their gear on the ground. "You're hunters, aren't you?" He continued.

"Yes. And the night is not over yet." Jedediah replied with great confidence.

"Oh really? I know the wilds is flourishing with small game, I'm just not sure whether you should go out now when the breeze is getting stronger by the minute." The man said.

"Yes, really. I'm going to hunt us a bison." Jedediah said and looked the man straight in the eyes.

The man went silent. He then turned and walked towards the counter, grabbed two mugs and poured a honey-smelling liquid from a small-ish barrel on the wall. He sighed: "I don't think that's a good idea. Be assured though, if you ever do kill a bison, make sure to bring me its heart and I will make you a dish you shall never forget. Bring me its soul and I will make you a champion." The man said, brought the mugs to Jedediah and Jasper and lowered his hand on Jedediah's shoulder.

"I promise you that." He continued.

Jasper gulped down the drink and told Jedediah that he would get some rest. Jedediah nodded back with respect and started to clean his rifle. The man watched him closely throughout the operation. After a small while, Jedediah grabbed his gear again, thanked the man for the drink, grabbed his rifle and said:

"Don't you worry. I will be back in a little while."

Jedediah was not to be seen until the following morning.

The morning was perfectly clear. The storm never reached the lodge that was hidden among the trees. Jasper was worried that his companion would not return. The owner of the lodge told him that he saw a fiery passion for hunting in Jedediah's eyes when he said he would go after that bison.

"Don't you worry. He will be back in a little while." The man said.

And Jedediah did. The door opened and inside walked a man with blood on his hands. He laid his rifle on the wall and walked straight to the owner. He then opened his knapsack and inside some linen wraps he presented him the heart of a bison.

"Here, as requested. I complied your deed, now fill our need." Jedediah said following a big smile. The man took the heart and went in the kitchen. The preparation took him a decent amount of time. But what he presented Jedediah with was to be the most extraordinary experience he ever encountered:

Jedediah drank the concoction and immediately felt stronger inside. This is what he needed. This was it. In the afternoon, Jedediah and Jasper left. But before they reached the door, Jedediah turned to the man and said:

"By the way, what is your name?"

"They call me Hendrick's". The man replied with a smile.

The Heart Eater

• 3 cl Hendrick's Gin (1 fl. oz)
• 1.5 cl Zubrowka Bison Grass Vodka (0.5 fl. oz)
• 4.5 cl grapefruit juice (1.5 fl. oz)
• 1.5 cl simple syrup (0.5 fl. oz)
• 1 cl Blue Curacao (1/3 fl. oz)
• a cocktail cherry

Shake the first four ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice, doublestrain into a ice-cold cocktail glass (put it in the freezer for about 15 minutes or so), then gently pour the blue curacao in the middle of the drink and finally drop a cherry in the middle.

Sour Bison

SOUR BISON

Hello again! Today I made a rather sour-y cocktail from the ingredients (read: left overs) I had in my fridge. Also, at my disposal I had a new bottle of Zubrowka (thanks, sis!) so I wanted to try it out.

What ended up happening? I pressed the juices from 1 grapefruit and 1½ lemons, mixing them together. Then as follows:

• 4 cl Zubrowka
• 2 cl Peach schnapps
• a few dashes of angostura bitters
• 12 cl of the grapefruit-lemon juice mix

Added the bison grass vodka and peach schnapps in a cocktail mixer along with the few dashes of bitters and juice-mix. Give it some ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a high ball glass. Decorate as pleased.

Zubrowka's unique taste blends well with this all-together refreshing cocktail. In addition, the peach schnapps + bitters give this drink roundness and smoothness it well deserves.

This drink would be best at a hot summer day.

Coming of Age

COMING OF AGE

Esmeralda has come of age. It has come time for her to face the brave new world! Don't be afraid, young child! Seize the moment and you will be successful!

This is an exact copy of my friend's earlier recipe of Esmeralda with the following exception:

• added a tea spoon of Parfait Amour after straining the cocktail
• decorated with a maraschino cherry

To add the parfait amour gave this cocktail not only a vibrant color but a sense of grown-up among its peers. The extremely red cherry as a garnish shows passion in this drink. We truly have a lady drink here.

Taste-wise, I give it a solid 4 out of 5. Martini bianco's vanilla flavors work extremely well with parfait amour's flavors as if in total harmony. Highly recommended and better yet, easy to make!

Esmeralda / Friend challenge #1

ESMERALDA

I present you with the very first cocktail introduced by a friend of mine on this blog! As a co-worker I made me a drink which he calls Esmeralda. It is made of:

• 5cl vodka
• 2cl Martini bianco (vermouth)
• grapefruit juice (I used 8cl in this one) 

Shake with plenty of ice, (double)strain into a chilled cocktail glass. As a garnish I used a cape gooseberry fruit. You could also consider either a twist of lemon if you're feeling fancy. Overall,

an excellent cocktail this is! The vermouth's sweetness combined with the grapefruit bitterness...nice. I am honored to make this cocktail! 

In addition, I will be creating a more...adult version of this cocktail later on. Brace yourselves... 

PS. Keep challenging me! I'm up for it!

Triple Threat

TRIPLE THREAT

Double the action...triple the threat! Here we have another "fan made" cocktail I got from the forums. Albeit being rather "costly"/drink (considering the required articles for only two cocktails), this drink has the ability to be modified easily. The recipe serves two.

What is needed:

• 1 orange
• 1 blood orange
• 1 grape fruit
• 1 dl of alcohol (e.g. vodka, gin or even flavored vodka)

 Squeeze the juices from all fruits into their separate cups. Remember to save thick-ish slices of each fruit for later garnishing. Pour the juices into a cocktail shaker, add the chosen alcohol and ice, shake vigorously and double strain into two high ball glasses filled with ice so none of the pulp reaches the drink. Decorate with the fruit slices (as seen in the picture above).

What I now suggest is that you only use half of everything and shake one cocktail at a time. When I first did this with the "full measures", my shaker was extremely (too) full thus the shaking wasn't at its best.

This drink is absolutely and plain wonderful. The mixture of three citrus fruit combined with the alcohol gives that little something to your "glass of juice". Double straining this gives it a nice homogenenous look with no actual pulp in the drink. For a summer evening, just perfect.