Go West

Tonight’s drink comes from the “Around the World in 80 Drinks” and the country of choice is our neighbors in the great white north – Canada.  Seemed like a great place to celebrate, what with the Stanley Cup Finals in full swing… oh wait… there are no Canadian teams left, better think of some other reason.  Easy – it’s the Canadian Grand Prix this weekend – go Ferrari!

Speaking of Quebec – what is up with those students?  Protesting because they are raising your tuition rates that are lower than damn near anywhere else in the world?  Really?  I can’t even begin to understand.  Let’s drink.

• 0.75 ounces Frangelico
• 1.5 ounces Limoncello
• 1.5 ounces dry white wine
• 0.75 ounce simple syrup
• 0.75 ounce lemon juice

Shake everything over ice and strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with a lemon twist.

Dave’s Thoughts:

• This is all sweet, with added sweet for extra pleasure.  Might as well do the dew!
• After you get past the sweet, the flavors of lemon and hazelnut are a surprisingly good combination.
• Not exactly sure why simple syrup is in here, I have to believe that it would be sweet enough without it.

Tasting Notes:

• Dave’s Rating: 3/10
• Strength: 3/10
• Sweetness: 10/10
• Don’t even touch this thing until after dessert!

Honolulu Lulu

I’m seventy or so posts in, and today I am having a bout of writers block.  What’s a blogger to do?  Maybe it’s because it’s Blah Blah Blah Day, maybe it’s because I just wrote a check to Uncle Sam, I dunno.  Instead of wasting your time with more words, let’s just focus on the drink – the Honolulu Lulu.

• 1.5 ounces dark rum (Myers)
• 1 ounce light rum (Bacardi)
• 1 ounce Frangelico
• 0.5 ounce Kahlua
• 3 ounces pineapple juice
• 1 ounce lime juice
• 1 tablespoon simple syrup

Mix everything over ice and shake, serve in a tall collins glass over ice.  Garnish with a lime wedge if desired.

Dave’s Thoughts:

• An interesting drink, nice and sweet flavor of pineapple, and the interesting taste of coffee in the background, like rum punch meets Columbia.
• The rum disappears, although I am sure it helps the enjoyment…
• More writers block, let’s just say its good.

Tasting Notes:

• Dave’s Rating: 8/10
• Strength: 6/10
• Sweetness: 8/10
• Try this as a great summer cocktail – you will not regret it.

Russian Quaalude

The wife is home!!! I can start drinking again.  Serious drinking.  Forget where I am drinking.  Help me drinking.

It’s not really that bad, but I have to say that it is so much more fun to make a cocktail and talk about it.  Time for a fun one – the Russian Quaalude.  This one can be made three ways – a pousse-cafe, served up or on the rocks.

• 0.75 ounce Frangelico
• 0.75 ounce Irish creme liqueur (Baileys)
• 0.75 ounce vodka

For a pousse-cafe, layer everything carefully in a shot glass and wow your friends with your skills.  Otherwise be an everyman and shake everything over ice and serve either in a rocks glass over ice or straight up in a martini glass.

Dave’s Thoughts:

• This is liquid desert, unfortunately I had it right before dinner.
• Basically a Nutty Irishman with the added benefit of vodka to warm the belly.
• Tastes like Baileys, with nuts.  The ladies will love it.

Tasting Notes:

• Dave’s Rating: 8/10
• Strength: 6/10
• Sweetness: 9/10
• Maybe next time I will have this AFTER dinner as it should be served.

Blue-Eyed Blonde

It’s a birthday!  Today we celebrated my sister’s birthday with a family dinner at PF Changs.  It’s always great to get the together with the family, but when done with a family dinner I could always use a drink!  When everyone was enjoying their deserts served in shot glasses the choice seemed obvious – time for a first on davedrinks – shooter!

• 0.5 ounce Frangelico
• 0.5 ounce creme de banane
• 0.5 blue curacao

This is a “pousse-cafe” drink – so you have to careful making this.  Start with a clean shot glass, and pour in the Frangelico.  Next slowly pour in the creme de banane over the back of a spoon, being careful not to mix the ingredients.  Finally add the blue curacao over the same way and you have a Blue-Eyed Blonde!

Dave’s Thoughts:

• It’s a family soother.
• Nutty, bannana-y with a hint of orange.
• This would be a great alternative to a sweet treat after dinner!

Tasting Notes:

• Dave’s Rating: 8/10
• Strength: 6/10
• Sweetness: 8/10
• Theis is a great shooter – looks fun and tastes that way too!

Nutty Martini

It’s time to get back to some serious martini’s.  You know, the ones that are straight liquor can be dangerous to drink in pairs.  I have made a lot of the sweeter martini’s over the past few weeks, but there is no juice, no soda and no sweeteners in this one beyond the lemon twist.  Drink this one with care.

• 3 ounces of vodka (Grey Goose)
• 0.75 ounces of Frangelico
• lemon twist

Shake the vodka and Frangelico vigorously over ice, strain into a chiller martini glass and garnish with a lemon twist.

Dave’s Thoughts:

• This is a strong one, a martini in the true sense.
• The name is surprisingly appropriate, it’s nutty, it’s a martini.
• While there is no question this is strong, it’s very drinkable.

Tasting Notes:

• Dave’s Rating: 8/10
• Strength: 9/10
• Sweetness: 4/10
• This a great way to enjoy a flavorful drink and get a little tipsy at the same time!