…but it turned out I was mistaken.
So tonight’s mea culpa is that I had a miscount on my days. I’ve actually been off by two days, and it’s two days the wrong way, meaning I have 2 less days to complete my journey. Fortunately I was ahead of the count in terms of cocktails, so all is well. However, I’m sure Andy will have something to say about all this!
Now, back to the fun stuff – the cocktails! I did two last night, the first a recipe from Dale Degroff’s “The Craft of the Cocktail” that I selected for its ease of mixing and cool sophistication.
Black Rose
- 2 oz bourbon
- 2 dashes Peychaud’s bitters
- 1 dash grenadine
Combine the ingredients in a mixing glass with ice and stir to chill and combine. Strain into a rocks glass over an ice ball. Garnish with a flamed lemon peel.
For this drink I used Knob Creek bourbon and it was a winner! The deep, charcoal flavor of the bourbon was mellowed ever so slightly by the grenadine and Peychaud’s. It was reminiscent of a Manhattan, but without the sweetness and allowed the bourbon to still be the star. I really liked this drink and will definitely be having it again!
Unfortunately, Gwen didn’t really appreciate the Black Rose. She asked me to make something with cucumber, so here’s what I put together for her.
Cucumber Mule
- 2 cucumber slices, about 1/4″ thick
- 1/8 oz bar syrup
- 2 oz Cazadores tequila
- 1/2 oz lime juice
- 1-1/2 oz Old Ballycastle ginger
- Seltzer water
Muddle the cucumber and bar syrup in the bottom of a collins glass. Add the tequila, lime juice and ginger and stir. Fill the glass with ice and top with seltzer water.
Mmmm, a nice variation of the Monterrey Mule that lets the hint of cucumber compliment the ginger and tequila. I thoroughly enjoyed this refreshing cocktail and can’t wait to have it on a warm summer evening – assuming summer does show up around here sooner or later….
Cheers!