Showing posts with label sweet vermouth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sweet vermouth. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Affinity Cocktail

Okay, so this drink happened as part of a string of drinks that involved Scotch, most of which were my own improvisations. I seem to remember enjoying it, but I was enjoying everything at that point. Cut to my drinking buddy and I playing Mariokart and talking about politics until 5AM -- it was spring forward too, so just about the worst weekend for screwing up your sleep schedule.

1 ounce Scotch
3/4 ounce dry vermouth
3/4 ounce sweet vermouth
2-3 dashes bitters
-Stir with cracked ice and strain into cocktail glass.

Enjoy and bottoms up!

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Rob Roy

So a Rob Roy is a version of a Manhattan that substitutes Scotch whiskey for Bourbon whiskey. I don't remember liking the Manhattan, but I definitely liked the Rob Roy. It was my first experience with scotch, and I was happy. So far, my whiskey preference is as such: scotch > bourbon > Seagram's 7. Scotch is just smoother and generally delicious, although there will be more to say on this subject soon.

1 1/2 ounce Scotch
3/4 ounce sweet vermouth
Dash of bitters
-Shake with cracked ice and strain into cocktail glass.

Enjoy and bottoms up!

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Petit Zinc


1 ounce vodka
1/2 ounce Cointreau
1/2 ounce sweet vermouth
1/2 ounce orange juice
-Stir with cracked ice and strain into cocktail glass.

I looked at these ingredients and had such high expectations. I thought it would be like a leap year or new fashion, but it tasted more like Sunny D and vodka. The orange juice I bought (not Sunny D but also not freshly squeezed) was probably to blame, but I shouldn't have to juice my own oranges to make a decent drink. This one also wasn't very much liquid in my glass. Good because I was going out after, but bad if I were staying in and that was my one drink for the night. You can always double I suppose ;-)

Enjoy and bottoms up!

Monday, March 1, 2010

Sweet Martini

Here's an issue with my note taking process: I usually write a few thoughts down only after my first few sips of a drink, leaving the tail end of my experience completely undocumented. I do so largely because I want to have a somewhat authentic experience and not create a Hawthorne Effect by observing myself to death. All of which is just a preamble to this: I remember actually enjoying my sweet martini, but all my notes are contrary to that notion. Hmm. I think I disliked the first few sips, but got into it by the end. I distinctly remember finishing this martini completely, which is something I don't usually do.

I want to stress that this is the sweet version of the classic martini and not some pseudo martini in the modern vernacular. I did make it dirty, but with less olive brine than before. I also had a sip of a friend's martini last week in New York, and I liked it. Maybe martinis just taste better there? They also seem to lead to being sick on the subway platform, so maybe I don't need to learn to like New York martinis (Note: I was not the sick one, just to be clear).

2 ounces vodka (or gin)
3/4 ounce sweet vermouth
-Stir over ice and strain into cocktail glass.

Well, as it goes my tastes seem to be developing if only I could remember drinks when it came time to order at the bar. Doing this blog has made me a target for drink questions, and I always draw a blank. 89 unique recipes since September and you'd think I could come up with something. Not so much.

Well, enjoy and bottoms up!

Friday, January 22, 2010

Perfect Manhattan

I don't remember what I said about the original version of the manhattan (I could just look it up but this is my second post today and I really can't be assed), but I can't imagine it was a glowing review. Maybe if I had better whiskey I would be okay with this, but I'm just really not. It left a bad aftertaste in the back of my throat, and the during-taste wasn't so hot either. I know this is one of those classic manly drinks (see martini, old fashioned), but I guess I just not classic or manly.

I keep thinking that I'm going to make myself like these kinds of drinks in the same way it took a couple of times drinking coffee before I liked it (she says with a cup of coffee nestled snug in the lapels of her robe, using it to keep herself warm -- see pocket cup). I just don't know that it's going to happen, unfortunately.

1 1/2 ounce blended whiskey
1/2 ounce sweet vermouth
1/4 ounce dry vermouth
dash of bitters
-Stir with cracked ice and strain into cocktail glass or on the rocks.

I'm dragging a little bit on this project because all the drinks I can make with my current ingredients sound either a) terrible or b) like a less exciting version of something I've already had. Oh well. Hopefully I'll be able to afford something new soon.

Until then, enjoy and bottoms up!

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Leap Year

Ah finally! A good way to do the martini! I really enjoyed this one, and if you can get your hands on some Grand Marnier, I highly recommend it.

Unlike the apple martini or crantini, this one still maintains the basic ingredients of a martini: gin and vermouth. However, it adds Grand Marnier and a little bit of lemon, which makes absolutely all the difference. It's still a strong drink, but there's enough sweet and tart to make up for the bitter and herby.

1 1/2 ounces gin
1/2 ounce sweet vermouth
1/2 ounce Grand Marnier
Squeeze of lemon juice
-Stir over cracked ice and strain into cocktail glass.

In other news, I had a lovely night out! I went with some people to the First Friday Art walk and watch some short documentaries made by local filmmakers. Afterward, we went to Cafe Perugino and split a bottle of pinor noir while having a nice chat about books, movies, and commercials. Then off to the Speakeasy for beer, food and dancing to local music. All that and I was home before midnight!

Enjoy and bottoms up!

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

New Fashion

For some reason, google images has not heard of this lovely little cocktail, so you are graced with another picture of a lemon drop, a very similar drink.

This version basically gives the lemon drop back some of its "martininess" by adding a bit of sweet vermouth, making for a slightly less sweet drink. When I made it, I put a little too much lemon juice in as I'd just gotten a juicer for Christmas (thanks Mush!) and got carried away, which made the drink on the too tart side of delicious. Otherwise a splendid drink and one worth mixing up:

2 ounces lemon vodka
1/4 ounce sweet vermouth
splash of simple syrup
3/4 ounce lemon juice
-Shake gently with cracked ice in cocktail shaker and strain into a cocktail glass.

So how were your holidays? Do any epic drinking (in either quantity or quality)?

Enjoy and bottoms up!

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Gin and It

I drank this "cousin" of the martini (more like identical twin, I'd say) with a few of my friends, and it was variously described as tasting like "cough medicine" "herby" and "something you might clean floors with." Apt on all counts.

One of us only kept drinking it because she would forget how awful it tasted and go in for another. By the end, I didn't totally hate it, but I'm pretty sure that's just because my taste buds were drunk and making poor decisions. Here's what you do:

1 1/2 ounce gin
1 1/2 ounce sweet vermouth
-Stir over cracked ice and strain into cocktail glass. Add dash of bitters if desired.

In other news, I got glassware for Christmas! As well as some additional bottles for my bar, including small bottles of cognac and Grand Marnier and larger bottles of lemon vodka and amaretto!

Enjoy and bottoms up!

Friday, December 4, 2009

Medium Martini

Ugh, it's official: I don't like martinis. Vodka martinis are only marginally offensive, but proper gin martinis are terrible. I don't know why anyone would choose to drink this if it weren't part of a year-long cocktail project.

I had this one after watching the Ducks beat the Beavers to go to the Rose Bowl!!! I was also celebrating my first day of training for my new job!! However, every time I took a sip, I made a reflexive "ick" face and it left a really bad taste in the back of my throat. I still have several versions of the classic martini to go, and I'm not particularly looking forward to it.

What I am looking forward to: people coming back for winter break! First up? Game night at my parents' house among their Christmas decor!

2 ounces gin
1/2 ounce dry vermouth
1/2 ounce sweet vermouth
-Stir over cracked ice and strain into cocktail glass.

Enjoy and bottoms up!

Monday, November 30, 2009

Manhattan

Another from the Classiques section of my book. I think I drank it after doing nothing all day, possibly while watching football. More interestingly, yesterday I went over to my parents house, watched White Christmas, basked in the glory of their Christmas decor, ate lots of food, and watched more football all before coming home and playing the roommie's new Wii for a bit (and eating ramen, of course). Today is a productive day though. It pretty much has to be.

The Manhattan was okay, but I liked the Metropolitan better -- maybe I should have the Manhattan with a dash of simple syrup to make it better.

1 1/2 ounce blended whiskey
3/4 ounce sweet vermouth
dash of bitters
-Stir over cracked ice and strain into cocktail glass.

Enjoy and bottoms up!

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Metropolitan


A+, 5 Stars, Two thumbs way up! I liked this drink so much! It did what I've been wanting a drink to do: it skirted the line between light, delicious girly drink and heavy, unsubtle manly drink (I'm looking at you, Old Fashioned). I don't know if this would be so good if I weren't the experienced drinker I am at this point (at least in comparison to the lightweights I know), but I'm going to recommend it anyway.

1 1/2 ounce brandy
1 1/2 ounce sweet vermouth
Splash of simple syrup
Dash of bitters
-Stir over cracked ice and strain into cocktail glass.

When I was looking for pictures to put on my post, I noticed that a fair few places on the internet had the metropolitan confused with the cosmopolitan. They share none of the same ingredients! I have yet to try the cosmo, but I think the metro has a lot more intrigue to offer!

On another note, I know not many people read this and even fewer comment. So I was hoping you would tell me your favorite cocktail, whether it be a frequent bar order or something you mix up at home! Do it to make me smile inside!