Sipper of the Week: Sobieski Vodka Vodka and The Polished Princess
Vanilla, cranberries and pumpkin combine for this week's featured sipper. It is one of the cocktails created by the one and only Jonathan Pogash for Sobieski Vodka and it is called The Polished Princess.
I particularly like this cocktail because it is a mix of the best flavors of the season. You have a smooth vanilla vodka from Sobieski, the sweetness of fresh cranberries and the light spice of pumpkin pie. It all combines into one lovely mix that is backed up and brought together by egg white for that rich, creamy texture without the cream. I can see The Polished Princess as an ideal pairing for that Thanksgiving Day pumpkin pie...YUM!
The Polished Princess cocktail recipe...
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The Latest of Woodford Reserve Master's Collection Bourbon
In recent years the Master's Collection of Woodford Reserve has included some innovative bourbons. While the Sonoma-Cutrer Finish of two years ago may have been too much like wine for some people, you have to admit that it is fun to explore the distilleries experimentation with barrels. Just this month the fourth edition of the series was released and, while it again uses a special barrel, it is the exact opposite of that chardonnay-aged predecessor.
Woodford Reserve Master's Collection Seasoned Oak Finish Bourbon
Photo Courtesy of: © Woodford Reserve Bourbon
This 'Seasoned Oak Finish' is the boldest oak that I have yet to taste from Woodford Reserve and I like it. This is not the average "oakiness," but instead brings in spices and, most surprisingly anise, to a rich, extra-aged bourbon that is something new and it is fascinating. The key is that the barrels are "seasoned" by the changing seasons of 3-5 years in Kentucky. For $90 a bottle it's not in everyone's budget. However, if you are up for a very unique bourbon to enjoy on ice this is one you may want to look into.
Full review of Woodford Reserve Seasoned Oak Finish Bourbon...
Timeless Tipple of the Week: Brandy Daisy
If you take a look at many classic cocktail you will notice that there are many drinks that fit into a style, or a family. From the fizzes to the crustas and the sangarees to the smashes, many of these groups of drinks are made with a base spirit of choice and the rest of the drink follows a somewhat specific formula. This is the case for this week's timeless tipple of study, the beautifully named Daisy.
Daisies are a mix of spirit, syrup, lemon, either curacao or maraschino, and soda. Possibly the most popular of the lot is the Brandy Daisy, which also happens to be my favorite. This one has a nice balance of spirit, sweet and sour and the soda topping adds a little glimmer to the mix. This is also a classic cocktail in which you can employ those large cocktail glasses because the extra room can be used to increase the soda to your liking.
Other Daisies include the Gin Daisy, Rum Daisy (or according to Jerry Thomas, a Santa Cruz Rum Daisy, which uses "Santa Cruz rum"), and the Whiskey Daisy. Find these recipes and the Brandy Daisy here...
Cocktails from Jerry Thomas' 1887 Bartenders Guide
Fans of old-fashioned mixology know the name Jerry Thomas. He was the 19th century bartender who penned the first bartending guides and left us a written history of the age when cocktails were in their first glory. David Wondrich's book Imbibe! goes into great detail about Thomas and the theory of cocktails at the time and I highly recommend it for any enthusiast who has not yet read it.
If you can find an original copy of one of Thomas' bartending guides, which include How to Mix Drinks (1862) and the 1876 and 1877 editions of Bar-Tenders Guide, you are lucky but will have to spend a few hundred dollars or more. For those who want to experience the books without the high cost there are reprints available that often have introductions by modern mixologists. This is the route I went to obtain the 1877 Bar-Tenders Guide and I've begun to pull and adapt cocktails from this fascinating bar book.
To begin with here are four cocktails that have recently been added to my cocktail database...
- Absinthe Cocktail - a double dose of anise flavor and a cocktail that is not for the weak of heart.
- Morning Glory Cocktail - a complex mix of rye, brandy, curacao and absinthe with a sparkling top.
- Saratoga Cocktail - a Manhattan-esque drink that brings brandy into the neat mix.
- Soda Cocktail - a non-alcoholic drink that is essentially a homemade soda.
Sipper of the Week: Loft Lavender Cello and Herbal Pleasures
I have been infatuated with herbs since I married into a family whose matriarch was a master herb gardener and she taught me everything I wanted to know about growing and using all sorts of herbs. Since diving into the wonderful world of mixology I have been experimenting with a wide variety of herbal concoctions and a handful have worked out really well. However, most of the time those drinks require some homemade mixers to work and while I love ingredients straight out of the garden, they are not always attainable. That is why I created an herbal cocktail, Herbal Pleasures, that incorporates these tastes straight out of commercially-available bottles.
The cocktail is a celebration of countless herbs because its taste depends on the gin brand's recipe which you choose to pour (I do suggest a London Dry but have found that the cucumber of Hendrick's makes things equally interesting) and the secret recipe of Yellow Chartreuse (arguably the best herbal liqueur ever, IMHO), but the one sure fire flavor is lavender. This is because I have found that Loft Lavender Cello is an awesome source for year-round lavender and upon my first taste I knew this had many special places in cocktails. In Herbal Pleasures it not only adds that relaxing taste of lavender, but balances out the dryness of the other spirits with it's sweetness that is not overbearing but not transparent. I also prefer to go with a lemon twist garnish here, although a sprig of lavender may seem the natural choice. This is because the lemon brings in a tart citrus touch that none of the ingredients have, again, all bringing a balance to the drink.
Kahlúa's Gone Creamy
We all know Kahlúa and most of us regularly stock it in our bars, but for the next few months we can get a taste of the richer, creamier side of Kahlúa. For this holiday season the famous coffee liqueur brand has released Kahlúa Coffee Cream and it is spectacular. For as good as it is it will only last for awhile (so the story is at this moment) and we should enjoy it while it lasts then chalk it up as yet another coffee cream liqueur that will vanish (anybody recall Starbucks attempt?).
It is quite a shame that Kahlúa Coffee Cream is supposed to be a fleeting bottle because I have come to dig it as a smooth cream for my afternoon coffee, a relaxing dessert, and an quick alternative to the many Kahlua and cream mixed drinks. The balance of coffee and cream is nice; not too rich, nor too sweet and just the right amount of coffee flavor without the caffeine kick. This one also has those luscious chocolate, vanilla and caramel notes that are signature Kahlua. At any rate, while it's around I encourage you to check this liqueur out and enjoy it on the long, cold nights ahead in some of your favorite coffee-flavored cocktails.
Timeless Tipple of the Week: French 75
The cocktail of the week is notoriously a hard hitter despite its elegant look and that is why the French 75 is named after a piece of World War I artillery. In fact, in The Savoy Cocktail Book Harry Craddock says that it, "Hits with remarkable precision."
Like many of the cocktails of its day, the French 75 has some controversy. It is still debated if the original cocktail Harry MacElhone concocted was made with brandy or gin. Then there's the adaptation to a French 76, which brings vodka in as the base and with that one most agree. For me the French 75 is excellent with either of the two spirits, and yes both do pack a punch, but the brandy version has a richness that is extra delightful. Which one you choose probably depends on your mood at the time: if you feel like something semi-sweet go with the brandy and if dry is more to your taste at the moment go with the gin. Both are good choices.
Speed Pouring: Cap Friendly Style
Speed pourers are a one of the essential tools of the bar and while the standard design is perfect for busy bars there are a few drawbacks for the home bartender and those with a "mobile bar." The biggest of those disadvantages is the fact that every night, after you have entertained a dozen or so guests (or even poured yourself a favorite nightcap) you need to remove all of the pourers, wash them and wait for all the crevices to dry before putting them back in their proper storage place. And, when we are talking about that personal drink after a hard day's work, a pourer of any kind is not even feasible and you deal with the "glugs" of pouring straight from the bottle. Fear not, there is an option...
The solution is a different style of speed pourer called the Cap-On. This cheap little device allows you to have a speed pourer permanently placed inside your most used bottles while giving you the ability to replace the cap on the bottle when you are not using it, ultimately saving its freshness. For those who use a spirit here and there or may entertain one night every couple of weeks these disposable caps are one of the handiest tools you could come across.
Saturday Sipping: Domaine de Canton and the Spirited Punch
If you are one of the millions hosting a party tonight I have another tasty punch option for you to check out. This week's feature sipper is one that you can sip all night with all of your Halloween party guests and has a very fitting name: simply Spirited Punch.
The punch is an interesting mix of Rittenhouse rye whiskey, Canton ginger liqueur and 42 Below Manuka Honey vodka, which are all brought together by the main ingredient, an orange oolong tea. Served chilled with some fruit juices and a touch of sugar, it is an autumn punch that can work for tonight and any occasion in the coming months. The best aspect is that this punch is not one of those overly fruity or sweet ones, but has the depth of flavors that you normally only get in a single cocktail.
New Cocktail Videos Out There
There are some new and interesting cocktail videos available online that I have recently learned about and wanted to pass along. Also, in the very near future, About.com has a new Hot Toddy video coming out just in time for "toddy season" (for now you can read recipes here).
- 12 Second Cocktails - There are just a handful of cocktails so far, but if you want to watch a quick video - just 12 seconds - on how to mix a cocktail it's a good place to land. The other 15 seconds or so are a few commercials and the NYC bartenders' passing on a little history about the drinks.
- Mixmaster Mixology Competition - If all those cooking competitions on TV are boring you, switch over the SmallScreenNetwork and watch the coverage of last week's bartending competition from the Great American Distiller's Festival in Portland, Oregon. It's the uncut version of the show and a little under 2 hours, but rather interesting. (Note: to watch it let the player load, then click On Demand at the bottom, then the MMC title.) And while you're there browse through SSN's great video library, it's like our own TV channel, online of course.