Canteen Cocktail

I guess the 12 days of Christmas were clearly oversold as I didn’t get to 12.  I certainly made more than 12 drinks, I just got lost somewhere in the festivities.  Next year I will have to pick up with the remaining 9 cocktails of Christmas.

Speaking of the fat guy in the red suit, today’s drink comes from one of my Christmas presents from the wife – The Joy of Mixology.  This has the potential to be another great source of recipes, and is very highly regarded – so as we continue the adventure we will have to see.

So enough banter, the drink of the night is the Canteen Cocktail.  I have to say, looking at the contents, this is a drink I would not immediately be drawn to as I am not a fan of either Southern Comfort or amaretto, but I must continue on in the name of Dave Drinks.  Let’s see how the first drink of 2015 does…

• 1.5 ounces white rum
• 1.5 ounces Southern Comfort
• 0.5 ounce amaretto
• 0.5 ounce lime juice

Combine ingredients and shake over ice, serve in a chilled martini glass.

Dave’s Thoughts:

• Except for the rum, each element of the drink can easily be identified in the taste, and I actually have to say, the taste of both Southern Comfort and amaretto are both well received.
• A sweet drink, but far from sickly so, this has the potential to sneak up on you if you have a few.
• If I were to describe a sip – starts with amaretto, middle is SoCo and the end is tart  lime.  The white rum is forgotten.

Tasting Notes:

• Dave’s Rating: 8/10
• Strength: 6/10
• Sweetness: 7/10
• I am amazed how much I like this drink – I really was expecting this to be a solid 4/10, who knew!

Bali Lo

A new cocktail this evening to use up that Sweet and Sour Mix that your may have aging badly in your refrigerator.  This is actually a failed experiment of another drink that I was trying to make, but it ain’t half bad.

• 1.5 ounces gin (Bombay Sapphire)
• 1.5 ounces white rum (Bacardi)
• 3 ounces sweet and sour (make your own!)
• Splash of almond liqueur

Mix the ingredients in a rocks glass over ice, stir.

Dave’s Thoughts:

• Drink is definitely dominated by the sweet and sour – so if you are not making your own, be sure to use a good quality brand.
• The almond finish is  a nice unique touch, although it is just a hint.
• Probably using fine gin and run is a waste on this drink – stay with the midrange.

Tasting Notes:

• Dave’s Rating: 7/10
• Strength: 5/10
• Sweetness: 5/10 (it is sweet and tart all at once)
• For a screw up – it ain’t half bad!