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05/01/09: Derby Week Day Five
Since this Saturday, May 2nd, is Derby day I am offering variations on the official drink of Churchill Downs; the Mint Julep. I like to make my Mint Juleps with Cognac; this is really called a Brandy Smash. Of course, as I mentioned in the beginning of the week, you can make them with any Spirit you want. So, be sure to use at least VSOP; I like Hine. Enjoy the drink and the race!
The Brandy Smash:
-3oz. VSOP Cognac
-1/2 Tablespoon Sugar
-1 Tablespoon Water
-3 Sprigs Mint
In the bottom of a mixing glass dissolve the sugar in the water. Take 2 sprigs of mint and place them leaf side down in the sugar water. Press the mint leaves with the bottom of a spoon to grind out the flavor. Pull the mint sprigs out of the water and press them against the side of the glass with the back of the spoon to drain out all of the liquid; discard the sprigs. Add the Cognac & ice and stir. Strain the drink into an ice filled highball glass and garnish with the remaining mint sprig.
04/30/09: Derby Week Day Four
Since this Saturday, May 2nd, is Derby day I am offering variations on the official drink of Churchill Downs; the Mint Julep. Today’s is one I came up with, but I am sure it existed all ready under another name. I call it a Sazerac Julep because it is mostly a mix between the two.
The Sazerac Julep:
-3oz. Rye
-1 Bar Spoon Absinthe
-1/2 Tablespoon Sugar
-1 Tablespoon Water
-3 Sprigs Mint
In the bottom of a mixing glass dissolve the sugar in the water. Take 2 sprigs of mint and place them leaf side down in the sugar water. Press the mint leaves with the bottom of a spoon to grind out the flavor. Pull the mint sprigs out of the water and press them against the side of the glass with the back of the spoon to drain out all of the liquid; discard the sprigs. Add the Rye and ice and stir. Pour the Absinthe into a highball glass and roll it around to coat the inside of the glass; discard excess. Fill the glass with ice and strain the drink into it. Garnish with the remaining mint sprig.
04/29/09: Derby Week Day Three
Since this Saturday, May 2nd, is Derby day I am offering variations on the official drink of Churchill Downs; the Mint Julep. Today I’d like to riff on the idea that the Julep was once used as medicine. This recipe comes from 1857 and is called the “Prescription” Julep. According to David Wondrich it is the tastiest he has ever made; you be the Judge. (Be sure to use at least a VSOP Cognac)
Prescription Julep:
-1 1/2 oz. Cognac
-1/2 oz. Rye Whiskey
-1/2 oz. Superfine Sugar
-1 oz. Hot Water
-7 Mint leaves and 1 Sprig
In the bottom of an old-fashioned glass dissolve the sugar in the water. Add the 7 mint leaves and press lightly with a spoon. Add spirits, fill glass with finely crushed ice and stir. Poke a straw and the mint sprig into the Julep and serve.
04/28/09: Derby Week Day Two
Since this Saturday, May 2nd, is Derby day I am offering variations on the official drink of Churchill Downs; the Mint Julep.
And how did the Mint Julep become the official drink of the Kentucky Derby? The answer to this question also hints at how it came to be primarily made with Bourbon. As I mentioned yesterday Julep’s were initially made with a choice of spirits; but, naturally, once Americans started making their own Whiskey preferences shifted in this direction for both price and patriotism. Being the cradle of Whiskey in the U.S. the farmers of the south east were known to take Julep’s in the morning like coffee. Through this the drink became intertwined with the region and the Mint Julep became Churchill Downs’ signature drink in 1938. Below is the official Early Times recipe and the official recipe of the Derby and Churchill downs. All though it doesn’t vary much from yesterday’s there are some subtle differences that I feel make this recipe less refreshing.
Mint Julep:
-2 oz. Early Times Bourbon
-1 Tablespoon Simple Syrup
-1 Tablespoon Water
-2 Sprigs Mint
Crush a few mint leaves in the bottom of a glass. Add Water and Syrup and stir. Fill with ice and add spirits. Stir gently until glass frosts and garnish with a mint sprig.
04/27/09: Derby Week Day One
Since this Saturday, May 2nd, is Derby day I am offering variations on the official drink of Churchill Downs; the Mint Julep. The Julep as a concoction dates back to Egypt in the 900′s. Originally a name for an elixir with medicinal powres it maintained this guise all the way up to the early 1900′s. All though by this time it was definitely being served in bars as an early cocktail. The early Mint Julep’s were offered with different kinds of spirits, whiskey, gin or brandy, as opposed to today’s which are made with bourbon. Below is your basic Mint Julep Recipe, but I have left the spirit option open with the disclaimer that I have not tried it with gin.
Mint Julep:
-3oz. Spirit (Whiskey, Gin, Bourbon, Brandy)
-1/2 Tablespoon Sugar
-1 Tablespoon Water
-3 Sprigs Mint
In the bottom of a mixing glass dissolve the sugar in the water. Take 2 sprigs of mint and place them leaf side down in the sugar water. Press the mint leaves with the bottom of a spoon to grind out the flavor. Pull the mint sprigs out of the water and press them against the side of the glass with the back of the spoon to drain out all of the liquid; discard the sprigs. Add the spirit and ice and stir. Strain into an ice filled highball glass and garnish with the remaining mint sprig.
04/24/09: The Kingers
The association between writers and drinking is long and dubious, so this week I present literary reference cocktails. Friday’s cocktail comes from the most unabashed of all alcoholic writers: Kingsley Amis. In addition to fiction Amis wrote prolifically on drinks and drinking. The cocktail below he designed and named for himself, enjoy.
The Kingers:
-2 oz. Montilla
-1 oz. Orange Juice
-1 dash Angostura Bitters
Combime ingredients over ice and stir. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
04/23/09: Moby Dick
The association between writers and drinking is long and dubious, so this week I present literary reference cocktails. However, I did not find any connection between Melville and alcohol (this is probably a good thing). But I did want to include the Moby Dick, because it is a little different. This drink was created for the cocktail list at the 2nd incarnation of a Swedish restaurant in my neighborhood. They have just opened and it is still a work in progress; so I’ve made some changes that I think will help it a long.
Moby Dick
-2oz. Aquavit
-1oz. Sambuca
-1 Anchovy, for garnish
Combine spirits in a shaker over ice. Rim a chilled cocktail glass with sugar. Pat the anchovy as dry as possible to remove all fish oil from the outside. Strain into rimmed glass and present anchovy across the top on a long toothpick.
04/22/09: The Fitzgerald
The association between writers and drinking is long and dubious, so this week I present literary reference cocktails. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s prohibition era novels are booze soaked and he and Zelda were know to get good and tight. Gin was the popular spirit of the day and makes many an appearances in a novel and a Martini.
The Fitzgerald:
-1 1/2 oz. Gin
-1 oz. Simple Syrup
-3/4 oz. Lemon Juice
-2 Dashes Angostura Bitters
Combine ingredients in a shaker over ice. Strain into a chilled rocks glass and garnish with a lemon.
04/21/09: The James Joyce Cocktail
The association between writers and drinking is long and dubious, so this week I present literary reference cocktails. James Joyce was said to have an addictive personality and may have battled the bottle up until his death. This drink fittingly features Irish Whiskey.
The James Joyce Cocktail:
-1 1/2 oz. Irish Whiskey
-3/4 oz. Sweet Vermouth
-3/4 oz. Triple Sec
-1/2 oz. Lime Juice
Combine ingredients in a shaker over ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.</p
