Archive for the ‘Drink’ Category
Blue Hawaiian
The Blue Hawaiian, at Wikipedia.
“The Blue Hawaii was invented in 1957 by Harry Yee, legendary head bartender of the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki, Hawaii when a sales representative of Dutch distiller Bols asked him to design a drink that featured their blue color of Curaçao liqueur. After experimenting with several variations he settled on a version somewhat different than the most popular version today, but with the signature blue color, pineapple wedge, and cocktail umbrella.â€
Here’s the recipe we used.
1oz Malibu Rum
1/2 oz blue curacao
3 oz pineapple juice
1 oz lime juice
Pineapple, Maraschino cherry garnish w/umbrella
Other resources:
Blue Hawaiian Cocktail – About.com
Blue Hawaiian – Cocktail Times
Video:
Mai Tai
The Mai Tai, at Wikipedia.
“The Mai Tai is an alcoholic cocktail purportedly invented at the Trader Vic’s “Polynesian-style” restaurant in Oakland, California in 1944. Trader Vic’s rival, Don the Beachcomber, claimed to have created it in 1933 at his then-new eponymous bar (later a famous restaurant) in Hollywood. Don the Beachcomber’s recipe is more complex than that of Vic and tastes quite different.”
In researching the Mai Tai, I found literally dozens of different recipes. Common elements include rum (usually both light and dark) combined with almond, and another sweet (often pineapple juice or simple sugar) and a sour (sour mix or lime juice.)
Here’s the recipe we used.
1/2 oz light rum
1/2 oz Grand Marnier
1/2 oz amaretto
3 oz pineapple juice
1 oz lime juice
pineapple garnish
Shake the mixture vigorously with ice for 5-10 seconds, and pour the drink over ice. Garnish with pineapple.
If you like your drinks a little less sour, maybe go 1/2 or 3/4oz on the lime juice.
Other resources:
Mai Tai Recipe – Drinksmixer
Kevdo’s Collection of Mai Tai recipes
The Perfect Mai Tai – All Recipes
Mai Tai – About.com
Video:
Getting itchy for some kayaking
Diane, Lauren and I went to the NJ Paddlesport Expo yesterday in Somerset, NJ. We sat in on a couple of the seminars, but we were mostly there for the vendors. Lauren of course loved test driving all the boats:
Diane and I picked up a couple pairs of Keen sandals. I chose the Newport H2 in black. Very comfortable…should be a great shoe for Kayaking this summer.
We also purchased a standing kayak rack from “Suspenz” for our two boats.
We finished the day by visiting “Stuff Yer Face” in New Brunswick, NJ. It’s pretty close to my workplace and I’d been there before, but this was the first time for Diane and Lauren.
Their specialty is Stromboli, and true to the name, we all left stuffed.
“Man vs Food” filmed an episode at the restaurant. Check it out here:
They’ve also got a really great selection of beer for a small college town restaurant, so naturally I joined the “75 Beer Club.” On this trip I added the St. Bernardus 12 and the North Coast Pranqster Both were delicious!
Whiskey Sour
The venerable Whiskey Sour is the newest “Drink of the Week!”
A simple entry in a family of classics, sours are basically some form of alcohol, with some sort of sour (lemon or lime) and a sweetener sugar, simple syrup, fruit juice, etc. Wikipedia’s article on the Sour can be found here.
Here’s the recipe I used:
Whiskey Sour
2 oz blended Canadian whiskey
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1/2 oz simple syrup (or to taste)
2 oz cold water
Shake with ice, strain into a sour glass filled with crushed ice. Garnish with lemon and cherry.
I typically go with a double, because you have to fill that glass, you know? The drink can also be acceptably prepared with sour mix, if you’re out of lemons (but why would you let that happen?)
Other resources:
Whiskey Sour Recipe – Drinksmixer.com
Whiskey Sour - Emeril Legasse
Whiskey Sour – Epicurious
Video:
Gin and Tonic
Drink of the week. Obviously the photo doesn’t display the drink in an appropriate glass, but it tasted the same.
According to Wikipedia, this cocktail was introduced by the army of the British East India company.
See also: The history of the Gin and Tonic.
And: A simple summer drink with a history.
Gin and Tonic
2-3oz Gin
4-6oz Tonic
1 Lime Wedge.
Fill highball glass with ice. Add gin and tonic (to taste.) Stir. Run a wedge of lime around the rim of the glass, and garnish with said lime.
Drink.
Other Resources:
Gin and Tonic Recipe – Drinksmixer.com
Long Island Iced Tea
The Drink of the Week this week certainly packs a punch. The Long Island Iced Tea features 5 different types of alcohol. Not for the faint of heart, unless you’re a heavy hitter you’ll be feeling one of these.
The Long Island Iced Tea
1.5oz Vodka
1.5oz Tequila
1.5oz White Rum
1.5oz Gin
1.5 oz Triple Sec
2.5oz Lemon Juice
Tablespoon Simple Syrup (to taste)
Splash of Coke
Mix and serve over ice. Garnish with Lemon
Other Resources:
Long Island Iced Tea Recipe – Drinksmixer.com
Lemon Drop Martini
This one was suggested by one of my friends, Mike Kohary.
Wikipedia suggests that the origin of this cocktail/shooter is “Henry Africa’s” in San Francisco. Key components are vodka, lemon juice and sugar. After a decent amount of research, the version I made was as follows:
Lemon Drop Martini
1.5 oz Vodka
.5 oz Triple Sec
1 teaspoon simple syrup
3/4 oz fresh lemon juice
Shake with ice, serve in a chilled, sugar rimmed martini glass. Garnish with slice of lemon.
My wife approved of this drink. If I were to make these again, I’d probably mix enough to make 12, because it goes so quickly.
Other resources:
How to make a Lemon Drop Martini
Lemon Drop Cocktail
Johnnie Martini’s Lemon Drop Martini Recipe
Vegas Lemon Drop Martini – Drinksmixer.com
Lemon Drop
How to make the perfect lemon drop martini
