Category: cocktails

Cocktail of the Week: Negroni

Negroni

Earlier this year I wrote about the precursor to the Negroni, the Americano, a cocktail with Campari, sweet vermouth, and club soda. I had originally intended to follow up that post with the Negroni but got distracted for about six months… So, here we are today with this classic cocktail. Simple, delicious, with a flavor profile anyone would love. Unless, you’re not a fan of herbal or bitter liquors… If that’s the case you should probably ignore any cocktail with Campari in it. I really think the Negroni is delicious though. It’s a delightful digestif.

Negroni
The ingredients

 Negroni

  • 1 oz. gin
  • 1 oz. Campari
  • 1 oz sweet vermouth

In an old fashioned glass half full of ice pour ingredients. Stir. Garnish with orange peel.

Negroni

I don’t know what I can add to the gallons of ink that has already been spilled in discussion of the Negroni. You don’t get labelled a classic for nothing. Smooth with a touch of bitterness at the end, this drink goes down easy. Though you don’t want to rush this one. Relax. Take your time. Enjoy the drink. Enjoy the moment. This too shall pass and there is nothing to guarantee that the future won’t be as delightful as this moment is.

Cheers!

Cocktail of the Week: The Godfather

The Godfather

At the beginning of last year I made a variation on the Godfather that swapped out the Scotch for bourbon. I was initially excited to try the drink but in the end I didn’t like it much, even after mellowing the cocktail down with some cream. My initial experience with the Godfather has kept me away from the cocktail since then. But, since I’ve picked up some Scotch I decided to give the drink another try. Relax, I didn’t use the Laphroaig for this drink. I’m positive I’d receive death threats from more than one of my friends if I did that…

The Godfather
The ingredients

The Godfather

  • 1 1/6 oz. Scotch whisky
  • 1 1/6 oz. Amaretto

Pour ingredients into a old fashioned glass filled with ice cubes. Stir gently.

The Godfather

It’s interesting to reflect on my thoughts about this cocktail and what I wrote in that link above almost a year ago. I wonder if my palate has become more discerning or if it’s the simple substitution of the Scotch and Bourbon that makes the difference but whichever it was I thoroughly enjoyed this cocktail. The smokiness of the Scotch works wonderfully with the nutty sweetness of the Disarrono to make this drink go down smoothly. Makes me wish I was in a cabin up in the Sierra Nevadas sitting outside watching the sunset sipping on this. Maybe someday.

Cocktail of the Week: Heavenly Orgasm

Heavenly Orgasm

On the recommendation of a co-worker I picked up a bottle of Frangelico this weekend. Frangelico is a hazelnut liquor with a sweet nutty flavor. She enjoyed it in a small glass of almond milk. That sounded delicious but I was looking for something with a little more oomph in it. Something that is more than the equivalent of chocolate milk for adults.

Heavenly Orgasm
The ingredients

Heavenly Orgasm

  • 1 oz. hazelnut liquor (Frangelico)
  • 1/2 oz. almond liquor (Disaronno)
  • 1/2 oz. Irish Cream (Baileys)

Combine ingredients into a shaker filled with cracked ice. Shake well. Pour over 1/3 filled rocks glass.

Heavenly Orgasm

This cocktail is basically candy. Nutty, sweet, creamy, delicious candy. Perfect for sipping on a warm night in the Summer. It probably has less calories than a bowl of ice cream too! It’s a shame the name for this drink is so terrible. I can’t imagine ordering this in a bar.

I look forward to trying out other drinks with Frangelico in them. Though its could enough to drink by itself. It’d make a wonderful digestif!

Cocktail of the Week: Trouble in Paradise

Trouble in Paradise

Ice cream floats were fun but after three weeks of experimenting ice cream, soda, and liquor I’m feeling a little bloated. A little heavy. Time to go back to the simple pleasure of cocktails. This week’s is a delicious mix of sweet, bitter, savory, and spicy: Trouble in Paradise.

Trouble in Paradise
The ingredients

Trouble in Paradise

  • 1 oz. bourbon
  • 1 oz. Campari
  • 3/4 oz. grapefruit juice
  • 3/4 oz. lemon juice
  • 1/2 oz. honey syrup
  • 2 basil sprigs
  • black pepper

Combine one basil spring, bourbon, Campari, grapefruit juice, lemon juice, honey syrup and pepper in shaker. Fill shaker with ice. Shake. Strain into rocks glass filled w ice. Granish with remaining basil sprig

Trouble in Paradise

When I saw this cocktail I was naturally apprehensive. Campari is not a liquor with trifle with. While the liquor has hints of cherry and citrus with an edge of spice the predominate taste is bitterness. The liquor is usually served as an aperitif with the herbal bitterness being used to prep the palate for the meal. The black pepper intrigued me though and lemon and grapefruit juice pack plenty of their own punch. So, I went ahead and tried it. I’m glad I did. Between the grapefruit juice, lemon juice, and honey syrup there’s plenty to counteract the bitterness of the Campari. The ground pepper? It adds a little kick and texture. This is a complex little cocktail that rewards slow sipping to capture all the subtleties and depths in this one!

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