The Intoxicologist

Tales of the Cocktail publicized the 2010 Welcome Reception as the place where spirits live, but the life of the party truly begins at the core of the gathering; friends, food and the ever present cocktail.  Beefeater Gin rolled out the red carpet and infused spirited life into the party with a mix of creative cocktails, delightful entertainment and costumed characters on parade (and those were just the guests). 

Click on photos for larger images.

Read about the Lapsang Martinez and 24 Martini both crafted with Beefeater 24 and the Perfect Lady, a variation on the classic White Lady cocktail. Find recent review of the Beefeater Gin Generations: Beefeater, Beefeater 24 & Summer Edition.

More tastings and mentions from Tales of the Cocktail include a few modern spins on classic cocktails from Chairman’s Reserve Rum and Martini & Rossi’s newest offering; Martini Rosato.

Find The Intoxicologist on Twitter, Facebook, StumbleUpon or Email: str8upcocktails@gmail.com

www.discus.org – Distilled Spirits Council of the United States

Copyright 2010 Cheri Loughlin – The Intoxicologist – All Rights Reserved

All opinions, reviews and spirits’ coverage contained within are the personal opinion and decision of Cheri Loughlin, The Intoxicologist.

Beefeater Gin once again welcomed friends from around the country and world to common ground in celebration of the almighty gin cocktail.  The magical fete was accomplished through gin cocktail galore, a Wonderland approach and enticing vials of “Drink Me” potions which were all but irresistible.  A few notable drinks caught this Intoxicologist’s eye and quenched more than a few thirsty taste buds.

Served straight up and garnished with lemon peel the Lapsang Martinez created by Beefeater Brand Ambassador Tim Stone contains Beefeater 24, Lillet Rouge stirred with homemade Lapsang Souchang tea syrup. 

The Taste: Smoky sweet, beautiful. Almost meaty.  This one put me in the mood for a hearty meal such as rare steak.  Rose tone to this concoction along with richness factor.  Well balanced.  Deeply full.  Nourishing. 

The second cocktail to catch my eye is near and dear to my heart for various reasons to be sure.  The Perfect Lady is a stretch of the imagination in the real world, but to the adventurous soul willing to take the risk on high heels, stylish ways and wily spirit the White Lady becomes perfectly blended by modern mixologists. Tweaking the classic with a touch of peach liqueur brings a little flamboyance to the lady.  Just enough to stir the soul, trip the springboard and oil the cogs so to speak.  Find the Perfect Lady and just maybe you’ll find the ideal woman. Just saying…

Nothing spells out perfect in cocktail speak better than the word martini.  This isn’t martini in the ‘tini’ sense, but rather martini in the classic rendition.  The only difference is Beefeater places a small twist on the vintage gin martini by using Beefeater 24 Gin, Lillet and a dash of Bitters; excellent for the classically inclined gin drinker.  Serve this one up or on the rocks.  Nice rocks please.

Find recent review of the Beefeater Gin Generations: Beefeater, Beefeater 24 & Summer Edition by following the link.  More Beefeater Gin favorite cocktails include the delicious Monkey Gland which indulges the senses with Pernod Absinthe and the White Lady cocktail from which the Perfect Lady used as a model recipe.  Be sure to take a look at a few of the Beefeater Tales of the Cocktail 2009 party photos.  More Beefeater 2009 Welcome party photos on The Intoxicologist Facebook page.  More photos from this year available now.  Find more information about Tales of the Cocktail online or follow the hashtag #TOTC on Twitter where many writers and attendees are tweeting live from the event.

Find The Intoxicologist on Twitter, Facebook, StumbleUpon or Email: str8upcocktails@gmail.com

www.discus.org – Distilled Spirits Council of the United States

Copyright 2010 Cheri Loughlin – The Intoxicologist – All Rights Reserved

Beefeater welcomed the arrival of warmer months with the inclusion of Summer Edition Gin.  This limited edition offering includes elderflower, black currant and hibiscus to sweeten the deal for new generation gin enthusiasts.  Its appearance to the cocktail scene comes shortly after the release of Beefeater 24 with its infusion of Japanese Sencha tea and Chinese Green tea not long ago.  Gin has made great strides with consumers as mixologists have worked diligently to bring classics to the forefront and contemporary cocktails with extraordinary flavor to the bar scene.  Consumers no longer think of gin as the stodgy spirit of their ancestors.  It’s the cool, hip to sip cocktail spirit of happy hour everywhere. 

Beefeater Summer Edition

Aroma: Only vague variation in aroma between Summer Edition Gin and the usual formulation of Beefeater Gin.  Summer Edition carries a hint of sweetness in the aroma that the regular formulation does not. 

Taste: Summer Edition contains all the characteristics usual to gin.  Possibly Summer Edition begins gentler with floral notes, but some bitterness shows through in the middle ground and finish.  Sweetness rises with faintness just after the first taste.  Due to Summer Edition’s bitterness on the back end regular Beefeater Gin wafts a bit gentler in the final flow through.  It’s the memory that sticks.  Beefeater Gin begins with typical gin sting, but concludes with the formula perfection one has grown accustom to over the years.  There is a bit of rolling sweetness in its body that the Beefeater Summer Edition does not retain.  A small note of vanilla or buttery softness perhaps. 

The floral of Beefeater Summer Gin consumes the roundness of this particular note and whisks it away leaving the hint of bitterness intact.  Possibly that is the crux of cranberry as Beefeater Summer Edition’s mixer of choice.  Cranberry juice contains a slice of sharpness to it that would perhaps balance well with the floral tone.  Sharp notes of bottled or brewed teas would perhaps also complement this particular spirit.

Beefeater Gin recipes to consider include the classic White Lady and Hanky Panky, Ramos Gin Fizz and Summer Gin Punch for summery afternoons and the Cowboy Hoof Martini for a little minty fresh in your glass.  Muddle up fresh goodness with the Bramble or go fresh and easy with Beefeater’s Ginger & Apple Cocktail.  A recipe to consider for Beefeater Summer Edition conversion is the Beefeater Cranberry Cocktail since cranberry is said to go well with this particular flavor offering.  The Vesper is always a favorite as is the Red Snapper, Cosmopolitan with gin and raspberries and every cocktail menu essential; the Negroni.  Try Beefeater Summer Edition and Beefeater 24 with the Classic Collins recipe for taste comparison.

Beefeater 24

Aroma: Retains much more traditional aroma even with its Japanese Sencha tea and Chinese Green tea infusion.  Solid foundation aroma without coming across flat or sharp like tea sometimes can.

Taste: Keeps in line with original Beefeater Gin with rolling bountiful lushness.  Gentle sweetness with hint of peppercorn.  Sharpness of black tea without drying bitterness.  Fine hint of vanilla along the outer edges.

Of the three Beefeater Gin selections, Beefeater 24 outshines the others by far.  Though this infusion varies from traditional it does not veer too far from the beaten track.  There is just enough flavor variety to create distinctive cocktails, yet keep in line with classically styled martinis for those wishing for a more traditional approach to enjoying gin.

The Waterloo Sunset, Red Pilot, Corner Store and Burrough’s Punch all use Beefeater 24 as the foundation cocktail spirit.  Shifting Sands, the 24 Martini and Triple Citrus 24 & Tonic were all created around the time of Beefeater 24’s original release. Philadelphia’s Square 1682 in the Hotel Palomar serves the London Calling cocktail with chamomile infused Beefeater 24, apricot liqueur, orange bitters and grapefruit juice.  Cocktail Virgin gives the lowdown on the Malted 24 Shrubb created by Corey Bunnewith from a Beefeater 24 industry event at Russell House Tavern.  Four more Beefeater 24 libations from London can be found by following the French Connection.

Beefeater 24 sample for review courtesy Access Communications.  Beefeater Summer Edition sample for review courtesy Brand Action Team.  All opinions, reviews and spirits’ coverage contained within are the personal opinion and decision of Cheri Loughlin, The Intoxicologist. 

Find The Intoxicologist on Twitter, Facebook, StumbleUpon or Email: str8upcocktails@gmail.com

www.discus.org – Distilled Spirits Council of the United States

Copyright 2010 Cheri Loughlin – The Intoxicologist – All Rights Reserved

Halloween can’t slip by without mention of the classic cocktail – Corpse Reviver.  The Corpse Reviver could be called the Corpse Reviser with its many variations.  The name sounds eerily distasteful, but the drink itself flavors out quite lovely.  The color resembles that of a corpse with an almost opaque yet not quite clear coloring giving it a bone-like quality.  A maraschino cherry garnish dropped dead center of the drink finishes this sinister, yet delicious cocktail with blood-curdling appeal. 

Corpse Reviver #2

1 part Beefeater Gin

1 part Cointreau

1 part Lillet Blanc

1 part Fresh Lemon Juice

1 to 3 drops Pernod Absinthe

Maraschino Cherry Garnish

Wash martini glass with drops of Pernod Absinthe.  Discard or leave in the glass according to preference.  Place maraschino cherry in bottom of martini glass.  Combine remaining ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice.  Shake to blend and chill.  Strain into martini glass over cherry garnish.  Enjoy with ghoulish delight!

Corpse Reviver #2 is a wonderful classic cocktail recipe anytime of the year.  The name may cause one to be skeptical, but this cocktail contains exquisite flavor.  Light sweetness with the perfect balance of tartness. 

Classic Cocktails – Cocktails – Drink Recipes & Photos

Halloween Drink Recipe & Party Idea Guide

Top 10 Classic Cocktails – Absinthe Classic Cocktail Recipe: Monkey Gland

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www.discus.org – Distilled Spirits Council of the United States

Copyright 2009 Cheri Loughlin – The Intoxicologist – All Rights Reserved

Often the process of getting to the drink is just as fun as sipping it.  I had the pleasure of sampling the White Lady cocktail at Tales of the Cocktail 2009 at the Welcome Reception hosted by Beefeater 24 this summer.  At some point it had to make its way to the site by way of my own mixing tin.  Yet, the cocktail recipe’s inclusion of egg whites makes my stomach do these crazy little flip flops due to the raw factor.  It isn’t fear of poisoning.  It’s the icky, sticky slick factor that wrenches at my gut.  My solution has been Egg Beaters.  Yes, mixologists the world over are cringing at the thought.  However, if it is truly the only way someone can ever enjoy a cocktail with eggs whipped in, I say go for it.  Pasteurized eggs will never be the same as cracking open a fresh one and slipping it in a cocktail tin, but go for a carton of egg white just to try a few eggy drinks once in a while. 

White Lady – adapted by Peter Dorelli

2 parts Beefeater London Dry Gin

1 part Cointreau

1 part Lemon Juice

1/4 part Simple Syrup

1 Egg White

Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice.  Shake until frothy.  Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. 

More photos from the Beefeater 24 Welcome Reception found in the Photos section of The Intoxicologist Facebook page.