Not even close.

Excellent job Matt. Alcohol good!

The Derby

1 oz Blanton's Bourbon

1/2 oz Cocchi di Torino sweet vermouth

1/2 oz Senor Curacao

1/2 oz lime juice (recipe called for 3/4 oz but I like it this way)

Should garnish with a spring of mint but I didn't have one.

This is a nice drink but would probably be better with a better orange liqueur. I tried to stick with a "true" curacao but the Senor Curacao just doesn't hold up to any of the other orange liqueurs I have in the house. Still a nice drink.

Funny you mention that. I bartended over the weekend and probably make 20 of those. That, and the Communist were by far my most popular drinks.

I did some playing around with the Derby and found that the Napoleon works well in it, in fact that's the only drink I really prefer it in so far. For bourbon, most people preferred Blanton's, compared to the other things I had on hand. Anyways, I was surprised it was so popular, in fact a few people asked to taste the ingredients seperately, and they said that the Cocchi and PeM was the subtle flavor that they really liked in the drink.

Sounds fun Mark. I want to have a cocktail party (I certainly have enough booze).

I don't know how many of you can get Sweetwater beers but they've been cranking out a few interesting new brews in their Dank Tank series. Popped a Crank Tank Rye'd Ale last night. Awesome west coast style IPA, very comparable to Hop Rod. Picked up a bomber for $6, I think I'm going back soon to work out a deal on a case.

I don't know how many of you can get Sweetwater beers but they've been cranking out a few interesting new brews in their Dank Tank series. Popped a Crank Tank Rye'd Ale last night. Awesome west coast style IPA, very comparable to Hop Rod. Picked up a bomber for $6, I think I'm going back soon to work out a deal on a case.

I'm looking forward to the bomber of ghoulash black IPA. I'm hearing that it is very hoppy.

Elderfashioned

Two Brothers Reprieve Schwarzbier Lager...

I'm hoping we get the latest round of their artisan bottlings...last go-round they had a braggot & an alt that were pretty good...

How is that John?

Victory Otto...

rauch malt in a dubbel...

smoked beers aren't for everyone, but they are for me:)...

Burton Baton

this is such amazing beer. And i don't even LIKE IPAs.

I'm having a Vesper to honor Debbie and Mike's loss and their memory of the Mike they knew. RIP Mike

Dinner wine

Clarendon Hills - 2004 - Syrah - Bakers Gully

Opened one bottle and the cork was saturated and wine was oxidized -- bummer.. This bottle is doing okay... still had fruit - decanted for hour so far.

The Avenue

1 oz Blanton's bourbon

1 oz Daron Calvados XO

0.75 Passion Fruit syrup (sub for 1 oz passion fruit juice)

1 dash pomagranate juice (sub for Grenadine since I was using p.f. syrup)

1 squeeze of lemon juice (to cut the sweetness of the p.f. syrup)

1 dash Fee Bros orange flower water

Tripel Karmeliet. All the TK I've found locally up till now has been in green bottles - it's skunked well before it hits the shelf. But this was fresh on tap, and man, it's good. Quite a spicy and multi-layered tripel.

Rochefort 10 not long before.

FFF Lord Admiral Nelson...then sleep...glorious sleep...

well...some glorious sleep...don't wanna forget the Bruery Black Tuesday sale...

I'm having a Vesper to honor Debbie and Mike's loss and their memory of the Mike they knew. RIP Mike

We thank you Al.

How is that John?

Pretty tasty. The St. Germain elderflower taste is pretty subtle next to the bourbon, but it's just enough to make it interesting. I used the recipe on their web site; I think next time I'll increase the St. Germain just a bit.

Edited October 25, 201114 yr by jvlgato

Crap, I'm drinking a Cuba Libre with dark Bacardi (the only thing it is good for) and it has a strange iodine aftertaste. Got to switch to the spiced/golden Captain Morgan.

Btw, has any of you guys tried the soapstone cubes for cooling drinks? Do they alter the taste in any way? I might get some of those for Christmas to my friends.

Are those the only two rums you can get? Yuck.

I have used Whiskey Stones and they do not impart any flavor. I like the glasses in this gift set too (which I received as a gift).

Edited October 25, 201114 yr by Voltron

Yea, as I said, drinking in Iceland is not too wallet friendly. Tax politics are used to decrease alcohol consumption and I can't say that the choice of rums is really good. But Bacardi/Cpt. Morgan/Old Captain are okayish when mixed with coke and lime, though I immensely prefer Havana Club for that.

And I didn't came here to get drunk! I came here drink from the chalice of wisdom, but it mixes very good with wines unfortunately.

Mullineux Straw Wine 2008.

Wine! It's what's for dessert!

Looks tasty. Does it taste like an ice wine or Sauternes or something?