Tag Archives: Martini

Classic Cocktails at The Peninsula Chicago

Posted on April 9, 2013 | Comments Off

One of the drawbacks of working with cocktails and spirits on a daily basis is deciding what to order from cocktail menus when I go out for drinks. I know; sounds like a horrid problem. But it really is difficult. Often the same handful of classic cocktails appear on the menu with a variety of either way too sweet or way too outlandish signature drink recipes on the opposite side.

Two weekends ago I was fortunate enough to visit one of my favorite Chicago hotel bars; The Bar at The Peninsula Chicago. The Bar is a chosen favorite due to the superior quality of service, its intimate, yet dynamic atmosphere and the attention to detail that goes into the cocktails offered on the menu as well as the manner in which they are served. The Bar’s staff is superb for their cocktail knowledge, skill and the manner in which they regard every guest with special attention.

Though I’ve enjoyed the Vieux Carré cocktail before, I usually enjoy this classic cocktail served up in a martini glass. The Bar serves the Vieux Carré on the rocks as it was originally intended. This 1930’s classic cocktail was the creation of Walter Bergeron and named after an old French term in relation to New Orleans’ French Quarter (le Vieux Carré) meaning, “the Old Square.”

Vieux Carré Cocktail

3/4 ounce Rye Whiskey

3/4 ounce Cognac

3/4 ounce Sweet Vermouth

1 Barspoon / 1 teaspoon Benedictine

2 dashes Angostura Bitters

2 dashes Peychaud’s Bitters

Lemon Twist

Combine liquids in cocktail shaker with ice. Stir or shake to chill. Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice. Garnish with lemon twist.

How appropriate the Vieux Carré cocktail continues to make an appearance on hotel bar cocktail menus as it was originally created at what now is the Hotel Monteleone in New Orleans. Its hotel bar, Carousel Bar, sometimes substitutes dry vermouth for sweet vermouth. Try the Vieux Carré drink recipe both ways to see how you prefer it.

Though the Martinez cocktail comes up often in social media chatter, I rarely see this particular drink recipe on cocktail menus. It’s also a cocktail recipe I’ve never personally stirred up and poured for myself. When I saw it on The Bar cocktail menu it was an immediate must-try.

The Martinez

2 ounces Carpano Antica Formula (Sweet Vermouth)

1 ounce Ransom Gin

1 Tablespoon Luxardo Maraschino Cherry Liqueur

Dash Angostura Bitters

Lemon Peel Garnish

Combine liquids in cocktail shaker with ice. Stir to chill. Strain into chilled martini glass. Garnish with fresh lemon twist.

The Martinez is fairly sweet with a unique flavor combination achieved with the inclusion of the Luxardo Maraschino Cherry Liqueur. This classic cocktail is a predecessor to the classic Martini. Once dry vermouth became plentiful, the Martinez took a back seat to the Martini and bar goers hardly looked back from their Gin Martinis. They just began adding a wider variety of garnish. If you take a closer look at the ingredients you’ll see the Manhattan in its early stages.

Ironically I just talked about the inclusion of the Champs Elysées classic cocktail on another restaurant’s bar menu last week. This is another cocktail I’ve sipped martini style, but The Bar serves on the rocks. I sampled this drink recipe martini style and on the rocks at The Bar in Chicago to test a theory; would it taste differently if it were made exactly the same, yet served differently? The answer; yes it did and I will most likely sip this one on the rocks from here on out. It was that much better in my opinion.

Champs Elysées

1-1/2 ounce Cognac

1/2 ounce Green Chartreuse

3/4 ounce Lemon Juice

1/2 ounce Simple Syrup

1 dash Angostura Bitters

Lemon Twist – Optional

Combine liquids in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into chilled martini glass. Garnish with lemon twist.

The Champs Elysées recipe I posted last week is a little different than the one here. Last week I modified the classic to my taste preference. This week the recipe appears as it is most often referenced by authorities in classic mixology. This version produces a bit sweeter cocktail than my adjusted variation.

The Bar at The Peninsula Chicago also served another favorite; the Corpse Reviver. This cocktail is often thought of around Halloween time due to its name, but the Corpse Reviver is a refreshing cocktail ideal for leisurely summertime sipping. It’s lightly tart with an almost sparkling lilt to it with its faint absinthe inclusion. It’s a drink recipe that should make every classic cocktail enthusiasts “must-try” list.

There really is something for everyone at The Bar at The Peninsula Chicago. Scotch flights for the whisky enthusiast, signature cocktails for the adventurous cocktail lover, wine and champagne and of course an array of delicious menu items from the hotel’s wonderful restaurants. Be sure to stop in at The Peninsula Chicago whether it’s for an evening’s stay, dinner or for a drink before evening plans. You’ll be treated well.

Thank you to The Bar’s manager, James, and bartenders, Erik, Tim and Loran for magnificent service, entertaining conversation and delicious cocktails while dining and sipping at The Bar at The Peninsula Chicago.

Cheri Loughlin Beverage Consultant & Photography Services

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Posted in Classic Cocktails, Corporate Mixology, Whiskey Cocktails

Tagged Angostura Bitters, Bartender, Benedictine, Carpano Antica Formula, Champs Elysees Cocktail, Chartreuse, Classic Bitters, Classic Cocktails, Cognac, Corpse Reviver, Fresh Lemon, Gin, Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur, Manhattan, Martini, Mixology, Peychaud's Bitters, Ransom Gin, Rye, Simple Syrup, Sweet Vermouth, The Bar, The Bar at The Peninsula Chicago, The Martinez, The Peninsula Chicago, Vieux Carre, Whiskey

Review: EPIC Classic Vodka

Posted on March 22, 2013 | Comments Off

Epic Classic Vodka 051 photo copyright Cheri Loughlin

Made with vodka imported from France. Imported by Sazerac Company, Louisville, KY. Product of Canada.

Triple distilled vodka with natural flavors. Epic is crafted with hand-selected wheat harvested from the Champagne region in France and distilled in the Cognac region.

80 Proof / 40% alcohol

Suggested Retail Price: $12.99 / 750ml

Availability: Epic began shipping to approximately 30 US states in February with the goal to become nationwide as the year progresses.

EPIC Vodka will be available in Peach, Whipped Cream, Kiwi Strawberry, Cherry, Cake and Coconut flavors at 70 proof / 35% alcohol. More flavors projected at a later date.

EPIC Classic Vodka Tasting Notes

Color: Clear Epic Classic - Peach Vodka 045 photo copyright Cheri Loughlin

Aroma: Faint vanilla. Little to no burn.

Tasted Neat: Slight burn. No metallic taste which is sometimes the case when tasting vodka neat. Roundness. Soft vanilla. Faint pepper.

Mouth Feel: Medium. Nice weight to this one.

Possible Uses, Pairings and / or Cocktails: All the usual vodka cocktail suspects really. I would definitely sip this on the rocks with a lime or lemon twist.

Epic suggests an EPIC Martini using 1-1/2 ounce EPIC Classic Vodka and 3/4 ounce Dry Vermouth with Olive Garnish. They also veer toward James Bond style; shaken rather than stirred.

Epic embraces the ‘here and now’ lifestyle. The life you’re living right now; it’s the life that matters most with the people who matter most. Significant moments aren’t just identified by milestones such as birthdays, graduations, promotions and weddings. Memories are built upon some of the most minor occurrences; backyard barbeques, impromptu neighborhood gatherings, tailgate parties and unexpected guests. The most memorable, most epic experiences aren’t always the scrapbook events.

These everyday events taking place in your life; these are the Epic moments to embrace as THE “real” life. Let Epic be the brand that brings easy mixing, affordability and simplicity to your gatherings.

Review sample courtesy representatives of representatives of EPIC Vodka & Sazerac – @EPICVodka on Twitter – EPICVodka on Facebook

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Posted in Reviews

Tagged Classic Cocktail, Dry Vermouth, EPIC Classic Vodka, EPIC Martini, EPIC Vodka, Martini, Sazerac

Golf Cocktail

Posted on April 5, 2012 | Leave a comment

Cross your fingers for sunshine, fair weather and barely there breezes if outdoor activity is on your weekend agenda. Get out and enjoy spring like nature intended and then settle in at the bar for tall tales and chilled cocktails.

Golf Cocktail

3 ounces Gin

1 ounce Dry Vermouth

3 dashes Classic Bitters

Combine liquids in mixing glass with ice. Stir to chill. Strain into chilled cocktail glass.

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Posted in Cocktails

Tagged 3 Ingredient Cocktail, Classic Bitters, Dry Vermouth, Gin, Golf Cocktail, Martini

Auntie Mame Inspired Happy Hour

Posted on October 7, 2011 | 1 Comment

Do you ever watch old movies, some of which used to be in black and white and are now colorized? They are still classics, but never quite the same as the first time around. The same may be said for timeless cocktails. The first time we taste them they are marvelous on our taste buds. Every time thereafter, a bit of their mystique fades away. Yet, updated liquors and modernized recipes revamp cocktails to tantalize fading attention.

When I was a young teenager my mother took me to an old fashioned theater to see the production of Auntie Mame starring Rosalind Russell. It was just a film showing at the theater, but it was complete with an intermission where we left our seats to go get popcorn in the basement area. Even the smell of the popcorn seemed different from regular theaters where butter is slathered on in grease loads. As a teenager the experience with my mother was more memorable than Auntie Mame in all her peculiar grandeur on the big screen. But as an adult my children gave the DVD to me for Christmas this past year. It was wonderful watching it again. Was it the same as the experience in that theater with my mother so many years ago? No. But it brought back distinct memories that can never be experienced again.

There was something else I discovered in watching this classic movie; it is fascinating to discover the fashionable drinks of the time in movies that remain timeless in our memories.

Rosalind Russell plays Auntie Mame, a flapper from the roaring 20’s, who lives a carefree, eccentric sort of life. She enjoys life to the fullest even when she is charged with the care of her orphaned nephew, Patrick. Auntie Mame endeavors to save him from the stuffy, conventional executor of Patrick’s father’s estate by teaching him the wild and zany ways of an avant-garde world. Along the way, there are four cocktails I took notice of. I am not so sure that was really the intent of the producers. At any rate, the movie is a must see in my opinion and the cocktails are of course classics any way you look at them.

The rage in the movie was a Daiquiri with honey which Auntie Mame did not like at all. In my opinion a Daiquiri with granulated sugar is absolutely awful since the sugar does not dissolve properly and there is a perfectly good cure for that all; Simple Syrup – 2 parts sugar dissolved in 1 part water.

The Daiquiri (the way it’s supposed to be – according to 10 Cane)

2 measures 10 Cane Rum

1 measure Fresh Squeezed Lime Juice

1 measure Simple Syrup

Lime Wheel Garnish

Place liquids in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with lime wheel.

Bacardi Daiquiri

1 measure Bacardi Superior Rum

1 measure Lime or Lemon Juice Freshly Squeezed

1/2 teaspoon Sugar

Place ingredients in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend. Strain into chilled cocktail glass or strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.

Oronoco Rum is highlighted in this next Daiquiri recipe as found on theBar.com.

Oro Daiquiri

1-1/2 measure Oronoco Rum

1 measure Fresh Lime Juice

1 measure Simple Syrup

Lime Wedge Garnish

Combine liquids in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with lime wedge.

And of course, my personal favorite Daiquiri recipe which follows a standard 2:1:1/2 ratio for base liquor, tart or juice, and liqueur or syrup add in.

Daiquiri

2 measures Rum

1 measure Fresh Lime Juice

1/2 measure Simple Syrup

Lime Twist Garnish

Combine liquids in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with lime twist.

Autie Mame was fond of champagne. While champagne is marvelous on its own, why not in a cocktail?

Champagne Cocktail –International Bartender Association

4-1/2 measures Chilled Champagne or Sparkling Wine

1/2 measure Brandy

1/2 Sugar Cube

2 Dashes Angostura Bitters

Maraschino Cherry & Orange Slice for Garnish

Add two dashes Angostura Bitters to chilled champagne flute and half sugar cube. Pour brandy over sugar cube. Top with chilled champagne. Garnish with orange slice and maraschino cherry.

Picon Whiskey Cocktail – Cocktail Data Base

1-1/4 measure Rye or Bourbon Whiskey

1-1/4 measure Amer Picon

1/4 teaspoon Sugar

Lemon Twist Garnish

Place liquids and sugar in mixing glass with ice. Stir to blend and chill. Strain into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with lemon twist.

Lastly there is the Martini that young Patrick learned to make and serve proficiently. While every cocktail under the sun on a drink menu seems to qualify under the term of “martini” these days, the one Patrick served in Auntie Mame was shaken with no olive.

“CEO” Martini – Chopin Extra Olives

2-1/2 measures Chopin Vodka

3 Extra Large Bleu Cheese Stuffed Olives

Place vodka in mixing glass with ice. Stir to chill. Strain into chilled martini glass. Garnish with olives. Optional: Olive brine to taste for Dirty CEO.

Belvedere Classic Martini

2 measures Belvedere Pure Vodka

Dash Lillet Blanc

Lemon Twist, Olive or Cocktail Onion Garnish

Place ice in mixing glass. Add Lillet Blanc. Swirl and discard liquid. Add vodka to prepared ice. Stir to chill. Strain into chilled martini glass. Garnish as desired.

Pravda Perfect Martini

2 measures Pravda Vodka

1 measure Pure Water

Combine liquids in mixing glass with ice. Stir to chill. Strain into chilled martini glass. No need for garnish. It’s perfect.

Cheri Loughlin is a leading cocktail and photography resource for beverage companies, event planners, businesses and individuals. High resolution cocktail and beverage stock photography images are available in downloadable digital format in the newly redesigned Stock Photography Gallery at www.cheriloughlin.com.

Twitter, Facebook, StumbleUpon – str8upcocktails @ gmail.com – ©2011 Cheri Loughlin-The Intoxicologist, All Rights Reserved. All opinions, reviews and spirits’ coverage are the personal opinion and decision of Cheri Loughlin.

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Posted in Classic Cocktails

Tagged 10 Cane Rum, Amer Picon, Auntie Mame, Bacardi Rum, Belvedere Vodka, Bourbon, Brandy, Champagne, Chopin Vodka, Classic Bitters, Daiquiri, Fresh Lemon, Fresh Lime, Martini, Movie Cocktails, Oronoco Rum, Pravda Vodka, Rosalind Russel, Rum, Rye, Simple Syrup, Vodka

Keeping Holidays Low Calorie with Classic Cocktails

Posted on November 19, 2010 | 1 Comment

The holiday season typically means more festive occasions for tempting treats and delicious cocktails. Each liquid delight that passes the lips means extra curve to the girlish hips. All those holiday nips and sips add up by the time the New Year’s Eve ball drops. Enjoy a few figure friendly classic cocktails during the holiday season and the word diet won’t ever reach your New Year’s Resolution list when January rolls around.

Most bars serve typical four ounce or more martinis. Scale down the classic vodka or gin martini to two ounces for smaller portion. This serves as added bonus in keeping the cocktail chilled throughout the entire sip time and fewer calories in the glass.

Classic Martini

2 parts Gin or Vodka

Dry Vermouth

Lemon Twist

Place ice in a martini glass with 1/2 ounce dry vermouth. Set aside. Place Gin or Vodka in mixing glass with ice. Stir or shake according to preference. Swirl vermouth and ice in glass. Toss from martini glass. Strain vodka or gin into prepared chilled glass. Zest lemon twist garnish over glass and insert into martini. Notation: Keep in mind that dirtying a martini with olive juice and olives as garnish adds extra calories to the glass.

The Tonic is one of the easiest drinks of all to mix and complete with your spirit of choice. Most bars use tonic from a gun which is disappointing at best, since gun tonic comes across decidedly flat most often. A beautiful feature of purchasing diet tonic water for parties is there are a variety of flavored diet tonic waters now available on the market.

Tonic

1 part Gin, Rum, or Vodka

3 parts Diet Tonic

1/2 Fresh Lime

Place ice in highball glass. Add base spirit of choice. Top with diet tonic. Squeeze in fresh lime and drop into drink. Stir.

Perhaps one of the most widely recognized drinks by its generic name of Vodka & Cranberry, the Cape Cod or Cape Codder is easily converted into a lower calorie drink without sacrificing taste. While one could go with the diet version of cranberry juice, my recommendation is to stick with the light version and keep the extra couple of calories. Those few calories really are worth the flavor since diet cranberry juice really does taste “diet.”

Cape Cod

1 part Vodka

3 parts Light Cranberry Juice

Lime Wedge

Build liquids over fresh ice in Collins glass. Garnish with squeeze of fresh lime.

The Caipirinha is an easy drink to order out and keep low calorie if you plan ahead. Ask the bartender to make this drink with limes and Cachaca only, leaving out all sugar. Make sure you’ve tucked a sugar substitute packet (such as Truvia or Splenda) with you for on the go travel and stir it in the drink once it has been delivered front and center upon your bar napkin.

Caipirinha

2 parts Cachaca

1/2 Fresh Lime – quartered

1 packet Truvia or Splenda

Cut half fresh lime into four wedges. Muddle lime and sugar substitute in mixing glass. Add Cachaca and ice. Shake to blend and chill. Pour into rocks glass adding extra ice if needed.

If tequila is your spirit of choice, skip the margarita and move onto something a little more glowing. Opt for the Tequila Sunrise with orange juice inclusion rather than triple sec. Tropicana makes Trop50 lower calorie orange juice and pomegranate blueberry.

Tequila Sunrise

1-1/2 ounce Tequila Blanco

3 ounces Trop50 Orange Juice

1/2 ounce Trop50 Pomegranate Blueberry

Orange Slice Garnish – optional

Place tequila and orange juice in highball glass over fresh ice. Stir. Pour pomegranate blueberry over top as floated sunrise. Garnish with slice of orange if desired.

The low down on liquor calorie counts according to information found at CalorieKing and the USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference.

Gin 80 proof – 1 ounce: 64 calories

Gin 90 proof – 1 ounce: 73 calories

Vodka 80 proof – 1 ounce: 64 calories

Tequila 80 proof – 1 ounce: 64 calories

Bourbon 80 proof – 1 ounce: 66 calories

Rum 80 proof – 1 ounce: 64 calories

Twitter, Facebook, StumbleUpon or Email: str8upcocktails@gmail.com. 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.

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Posted in Holidays, Low Calorie

Tagged Cachaca, Caipirinha, Calories in Liquor, Cape Cod, Classic Cocktails, Cranberry Juice, Figure Friendly, Fresh Lime, Gin, Martini, Orange Juice, Pomegranate Blueberry Juice, Rum, Splenda, Tequila, Tequila Sunrise, Tonic, Truvia, Vodka

Kindred Spirits & Blue Cheese Mingle for an Extraordinary 801 Special Martini

Posted on May 26, 2010 | Leave a comment

A recent outing to neighborhood restaurant and bar, 801 Chophouse, gleaned an interesting martini combination I would otherwise have never sampled. The 801 Special consists of Ketel One Vodka, Bombay Sapphire Gin served with house stuffed Blue Cheese olives. Ordinarily I have an aversion to blue cheese. There is just something about the weave of blue cheese mold through food along with the pungent flavor that sort of twists and turns my stomach before the flavor leaves my tongue. Dirty martinis aren’t necessarily my favorite either. The salty overtones bury too much of the martini for my palate preference as well. Simply put, I love to taste the particular subtleties of the spirit whether it is vodka or gin. The martini description of this particular house special sounded rather encouraging; No vermouth, no olive juice and the olives were stuffed with a mix of blue cheese, fresh garlic and Tabasco. Curiosity won out.

801 Special – 801 Chophouse, Omaha NE

1-1/2 ounce Ketel One Vodka

1-1/2 ounce Bombay Sapphire Gin

Blue Cheese Stuffed Olives*

Combine vodka and gin in mixing tin with ice. Shake or stir according to preference (801 Chophouse shakes vigorously). Garnish with two skewered Blue Cheese olives. In my opinion this cocktail needs at minimum three olives, but would do exceedingly well to have four to make it truly ‘special’.

Though I did not get the exact recipe for the hand-stuffed Blue Cheese Olives, I played with a recipe loosely based upon one found on Food Network by Emeril Lagasse.

Hand Stuffed Blue Cheese Olives – adapted by Cheri Loughlin

Original recipe from 801 Chophouse, Omaha NE

24 to 30 Large Green Olives – pitted

1/4 cup Blue Cheese

3 Tablespoons Garlic Paste

3 Tablespoons Tabasco Sauce

Drain green olives, reserving the brine for later use. Combine ingredients in food processor or mash mixture together well by hand. Place completely blended mixture in pastry bag. Begin stuffing each olive individually, being careful to keep outside of olives free of blue cheese residue. Return olives to jar or plastic container in single layer if possible. Pour brine in layer over olives and store in refrigerator until ready for use.

Tasting Note:The 801 Special definitely left me deliciously surprised. For those who believe gin is not of their particular flavor variety, perhaps try this combination. The vodka washes over the gin, softening it a bit in a way vermouth does not. The two spirits dance agreeably in the glass; kindred spirits if you will. The hand stuffed Blue Cheese Olives become the meal topper. It is a must that these olives marinate in the martini for a moment or two before the first taste. A lingering bite here and there between sips is the exceptional highlight of the 801 Special.

Twitter, Facebook, StumbleUpon – str8upcocktails @ gmail.com – ©2012 Cheri Loughlin-The Intoxicologist, All Rights Reserved. All opinions, reviews and spirits’ coverage are the personal opinion and decision of Cheri Loughlin.

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Posted in Classic Cocktails

Tagged 801 Chophouse, Blue Cheese Olives, Bombay Sapphire Gin, Classic Cocktail, Gin, Ketel One Vodka, Martini, Vodka

Savoring the Flavor of Hendrick’s Gin Classic & Contemporary Cocktail Recipes

Posted on November 9, 2009 | Leave a comment

Hendrick’s Gin ventures toward the side of the unusual with its cucumber tones, medicinal shaped bottle and off the cuff sense of humor in marketing. But this rather curious Gin begs to be reckoned with among more ‘traditional’ styled Gins consumers might be more familiar with in classic martinis and cocktails. The flavor settles upon the palate with much the same juniper tone conventional Gin contains, but then lovely flora sneaks up behind giving Hendrick’s wonderful kick. Some find it all cucumber, but there is a certain amount of floral or perfume to this one making it perfect for tweaking an ordinary cocktail into something extraordinary.

Unusual Negroni

1 ounce Hendrick’s Gin

1 ounce Lillet Blanc

1 ounce Aperol

Orange twist

Combine ingredients and shake well with ice. Serve up and garnish with an orange twist.

Delightful. Light rather than heavy, most likely due to the Lillet Blanc rather than sweet vermouth. I like this one very much. If the Classic Negroni ranks high on your list of cocktail loves, the Unusual Negroni should rank high on your list of ‘must try’ cocktail recipes. Two more must try Negroni cocktails on your list this season; Naughty Negroni using a champagne topper and Art’ Negroni with Cynar Artichoke Liqueur/Aperitif. All three of these twists on the classic Negroni make excellent choices for holiday gatherings this season with their classic style and flair for the unique. The Negroni cocktail is a quick build mixed drink, low on the difficulty factor.

Fairy Belle

1-1/2 ounce Hendrick’s Gin

1/2 ounce Apricot Brandy

1/2 ounce Fresh lemon juice

1/4 ounce Grenadine

1/4 ounce Simple syrup

Lemon twist

Combine ingredients and shake well. Serve up in a martini style glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.

Fairy Belle contains this tart/perfumed twist to it that is intriguing. The flavor causes me to sip, roll the liquid around and mull the thought of its unusualness over my taste buds. This mixed drink plays up the floral tones of Hendrick’s Gin more than the previous cocktail recipe. Fairy Belle is an excellent example of contemporary style drinks created from base spirits that are sometimes thought of as ‘old fashioned’ or those only consumed by an older generation. Not so. Gin might have been the spirit of an older generation, but it is also seeing the dawning of a new age.

Hendrick’s Martini

1-1/2 ounce Hendrick’s Gin

3/4 ounce Dry Vermouth

Stir Vermouth and Hendrick’s Gin over ice cubes in mixing glass. Strain into martini glass. Serve with cucumber slice.

Of course the gold standard of practically any gin is the martini. Hendrick’s served up phenomenal gin martinis at the Hendrick’s Enchanted Portal to the Peculiar party at Tales of the Cocktail 2009. I am not so sure this particular recipe is the same proportion followed for what was served then or possibly the vermouth I used is not the same. Play with the proportions a little. Personally I like a little more gin shine through than vermouth. With Gin as extraordinary and unique as Hendrick’s; savor the flavor.

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Posted in Classic Cocktails, Reviews

Tagged Aperol, Apricot Brandy, Classic Cocktail, Dry Vermouth, Fairy Belle, Fresh Lemon, Gin, Grenadine, Hendrick's Gin, Lillet Blanc, Martini, Negroni, Simple Syrup, Unusual Negroni

Ultimate Ketel One Martini

Posted on June 22, 2009 | Leave a comment

Shake or stir is always the question. Mix it how you like, but always enjoy.

Ultimate Ketel One Martini

3 ounces Ketel One Vodka

Olive Garnish

Place liquid in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into chilled martini glass. Garnish with olive or lemon twist if you prefer.

Recipe provided by representatives of Ketel One Vodka

Cheri Loughlin is a leading cocktail and photography resource for beverage companies, event planners, businesses and individuals. High resolution cocktail and beverage stock photography images are available in downloadable digital format in the newly redesigned Stock Photography Gallery at www.cheriloughlin.com.

Twitter, Facebook, StumbleUpon – str8upcocktails @ gmail.com – ©2012 Cheri Loughlin-The Intoxicologist, All Rights Reserved. All opinions, reviews and spirits’ coverage are the personal opinion and decision of Cheri Loughlin.

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Posted in Classic Cocktails

Tagged Classic Cocktail, Martini, Vodka

42BELOW Vodka: Creative Mixer to the Extreme

Posted on March 1, 2009 | Leave a comment

Tasted neat, delicate sweetness initially shines through with barely any aroma in the nose. There is slight silkiness in the texture, but not slippery oiliness that some vodka leans towards. I notice a faint residual edge to it in the finish just at the back of my tongue. 42BELOW Vodka is thin while retaining a fair amount of body making this a high quality mixing vodka. If it makes sense to imagine, 42BELOW lies somewhere between velvet in texture with a slight abrasiveness in the nap so to speak to let you know there is something significant in its nature not to be ignored or considered one of the crowd.

I am a sucker for lemon about now as the winter weather is getting the best of me and wishful thinking will hopefully hurry spring up a little. The Lemon Sorbet Cocktail seemed just the ticket. This is a nice little pucker me up sipper, but I “dashed” a little too much on the sugar syrup. Which begs the question; how much is a dash exactly?

Dash or Splash

Universal terms for miniature amounts. There are roughly 36 dashes in one ounce. When a recipe calls for a flexible amount of dashes, for example 2 – 4 dashes bitters, this denotes you are seasoning to taste. A splash is faintly larger than a dash, but considered to be less and 1/2 ounce.

Lemon Sorbet Cocktail

1-1/2 measure 42BELOW Vodka

1/3 measure Limoncello

1 dash Fresh Lemon Juice

1 dash Simple Syrup

Lemon Zest Garnish

Combine liquid ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Grate lemon zest on the surface of the cocktail or as 42BELOW suggests “a white orchid if feeling ostentatious.” – Notation: If you prefer tart over sweet, lean a little heavier on your lemon juice dashes and weaker on your sugar syrup dashes.

As a Straight Up Martini with hint of vermouth and lemon twist the 42BELOW fills out with a little more body. The vermouth fine tunes the edges to a much better degree than consuming the vodka neat. 42BELOW Vodka is worthy used in a straight up martini, but preferable as a mixer. The reason is the little after taste in the finish that lingers at the back of the throat. It is not off-putting, but with so many choices on the market tailor made for different purposes, why not use vodka geared more toward what it is best suited for? Use 42BELOW to get creative. Heck, get wild and crazy if you must. The guys at 42BELOW certainly do. One need only look at their Cocktail World Cup competition to see that. They have required participants to parachute out of an airplane and shake their first cocktail upon landing for pity sake. Now that is extreme!

The next Cocktail World Cup will take place early 2010. Keep checking in for details. (And hey 42BELOW…Can I go? Just to photograph, write about it you know and taste the Feijoa and Passion flavors since you play keep away from the USA.) Find more 42BELOW recipes (Summer Breeze, Fresca, Flame of Love to name a few) on their website.

42BELOW Vodka sample for review courtesy representatives of 42BELOW Vodka representatives.

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Posted in Reviews

Tagged 42Below Vodka, Cocktail World Cup, Dry Vermouth, Fresh Lemon, Lemon Sorbet Cocktail, Limoncello, Martini, Simple Syrup, Vodka

JMXO Vodka: Learning New Things Is Luxurious Experience

Posted on November 14, 2008 | Leave a comment

One of the things I love about writing this blog is discovering new things. When readers write in to ask questions, I usually end up learning something, too. Anne N. wrote in to ask how to make an XO Martini. That in turn led me to the Jean-Marc XO website and a survey sponsored by JMXO Vodka regarding the perfect martini. Anne found out the sophisticated XO Martini is sumptuous, yet basically easy to make. While the JMXO Vodka is not new, it is to me.

Yesterday I finally had the chance to sample “The World’s Perfect Vodka” known as JMXO. With vodka so prevalent on the market there must be something distinctive and remarkable to separate one from another beyond the obvious bottle décor. JMXO Vodka establishes the extraordinary within the spirit and encases it with a sleek exterior.

There is no alcohol burn on the nose even when taking the scent of JMXO in fully. A slight sweetness with the roundness of almonds shines through in the aroma. JMXO is incredibly silky with delicate sweetness and hints of luscious coconut and almond. It plays beautifully on the tip of the tongue and smoothes to perfection over the back. This is exactly how JMXO Vodka tastes when sipped neat.

I chose my martini chilled with lemon twist, no vermouth. Perfection in a glass.

For the survey mentioned above: Is There Such Thing As a Perfect Martini? Jean-Marc XO’s Survey Says… To learn all about JMXO: the ingredients, how it is crafted, the history and where JMXO receives its fabulous flavor…take a look at the website and enjoy the music while you roam on your own or allow the guide to take you on a tour.

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Posted in Reviews

Tagged Jean-Marc XO Vodka, JMXO, JMXO Vodka, Martini

Tag Archives: Martini

Classic Cocktails at The Peninsula Chicago

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Tag Archives: Martini

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