So what makes a good margarita? Purists argue about everything, including the inclusion of the salt rime. For me I like one of two versions: Juice a lime, add a shot of reposado, either add a 1/3 shot of triple sec/cointreau/grand marnier OR twist a section of sweet orange into the drink. Shake over ice.… Continue reading The Perfect Margarita?
Category: Cocktails
Cocktail recipes, classic cocktails as well as new concoctions and libations
John Gormley Bellinis
The key to summer cocktails should be ease of prep. Who wants to spend hours in the kitchen when the party is on the deck? Two ingredient cocktails are best. Also you want low alk. Highballs and sunshine are a road to an early evening hangover, sunburn etc. Champagne cocktails meet both of the above… Continue reading John Gormley Bellinis
Like all good cocktails, the Manhattan has a je ne sais quoi, an insouciance, a devil-may-care attitude about it. (It really was a great pick as the Mad Men cocktail.) It is also infinitely variable.
The traditional recipe is:
1 oz Rye or Canadian
2 oz sweet red vermouth
a couple of dashes of Angostura
garnish with a maraschino cherry.
Alas the maraschino cherry in America, outside of NYC and Joisey is not the animal of the hinterland. I therefore avoid it, unless I can get the real Italian maraschino, which is more flavourful, less sweet and has a poignant bitter finish.
I also tend to make mine with closer to the whiskey lover version 1:1 whisky to vermouth.
Note that Alberta Premium is a pure, 100 per cent rye. No barley, no corn, no wheat, no artificial additives of any sort. And if you’re my kind of drinker, you’ll use the 30 year old to make the drink.
There’s nothing like a real mixed drink made with the best ingredients.
Lately I’m a convert to Stock red vermouth.
Spicing it Up
I’m told the most popular drink of the moment is Captain Morgan Spiced Rum. I’m not much impressed by this drink – an amber rum sweetened with a lot of vanilla. There are huge numbers of competitors leaping into the market including the Kraken pictured at right. (In the background you can see a new… Continue reading Spicing it Up
Introducing the JG – a cocktail named for John Gormley
Allow me to introduce the cocktail I created in honour of John Gormley, the eponymous host of John Gormley Live. It’s sweet! It’s sour! It’s full of flavour! It’s intoxicating! And most of all it’s Canadian! 50 mls White Owl Whisky Juice of half a lemon Juice of half a lime 30 mls. simple syrup… Continue reading Introducing the JG – a cocktail named for John Gormley