Homeskillet

California is awesome.  After a conference meeting today in Orange County I got to ride down the coast in the wife’s convertible with the top down on a beautiful spring day.  This is why I live here and why I never want to leave.  A perfect sunny 7o degrees – ahhhh.

On another note, today is V-E Day in both America and England.  One of the holidays that both countries can get behind – unlike the 4th of July, where England quite unfairly celebrates the relief of the burden of the United States on its economy.  For the uninformed. V-E Day is Victory in Europe Day, which occurred on May 8, 1945.

After those two unrelated facts, on to the drink of the day.  One of my recipe books has a section for “What to drink if you are tired of…”, and this one comes from that very section.  Not that I could ever tire of them, but this is a drink for when you;ve had one too many Manhattans (not all in one evening).

• 3 ounces Canadian whisky (Crown Royal)
• 1 ounce of sweet vermouth
• 0.5 ounce maraschino liqueur
• 2 dashes of bitters
• maraschino cherry for garnish

Shake over ice and serve into a chilled martini glass.

Dave’s Thoughts:

• I am really impressed – an unassuming name but it has great flavor.
• The nutty maraschino flavor comes through, but is never overpowering.
• The vermouth, bitters and Crown Royal balance together in the background to complete the flavor.

Tasting Notes:

• Dave’s Rating: 10/10 (whoa – what’s going on here?!?!)
• Strength: 6/10 (but stronger than it tastes)
• Sweetness: 6/10
• I didn’t expect this, but I would drink this one anytime.  Well, if all the Makers and Coke runs dry.

New York Cocktail

It’s a New York celebration today!  Not just because the New York Giants just won the Superbowl… not because my wife is living her bi-coastal life right now with a week in New York City… and not because on this day in 1985 “New York, New York” became the official anthem of New York City… but because I found a recipe for a “new” cocktail.  What more perfect a cocktail then than the New York Cocktail?  Time to see if I can truly say that “I heart [a] NY [cocktail]”!

• 2 ounces Canadian whiskey (Crown Royal)
• 0.75 ounce lime juice
• 0.5 ounce simple syrup
• 1 tsp grenadine
• orange peel for garnish

Shake all the ingredients together over ice, strain and serve either up or over ice, your choice.  Garnish with an orange peel.

Dave’s Thoughts:

• First taste, and this is a nice drink, very smooth.
• A little on the sweet side, but not overly so.  It is pink too, so its got that.
• This is a keeper and will be added to my regular bar list for friends – it tastes great and is made of common stuff that I generally always have in the house!

Tasting Notes:

• Dave’s Rating: 8/10
• Strength: 5/10
• Sweetness:  7/10
• I thought New York earnerd a reputation as being full of unfriendly people, ’cause if that is true, this drink does not belong.