Shopping Spree

Scored a bunch of goodies today.
Yellow Chartreuse
Creme de Violet
Cherry Heering
Clear Creek Slivovitz
Creme de Cassis
Fernet-Branca
Flor de Cana 7

Catalina Cocktail #2

Did you know that a vodka soda with a splash of cranberry was called a Catalina cocktail? I didn't either, and to think I used to get persnippity that people asking for vodka crans with a lime were technically asking for a cape cod.

So night before last I got to work and the first three seated asked me to make a drink that had St. Germain and Absinthe. I was happy about the following mix. Two ounces of gin, a quarter ounce of St. Germain, Creme de Violet, and lemon shaken and poured into an absinthe rinsed glass. I told them they needed to name it and they dubbed it the Catalina.

This is an official post.

So last night before work I decided to have dinner at Union as its Keith from Moving at the speed of life's last weekend before moving on to the ghetto, and was asked, "So are the rumors true?"

I've decided to leave Spur.

I put my notice in last saturday and sunday the 30th of November will be my last day at the pub. I gave it a solid 4 months and have learned a ton about molecular mixology and have had to sell some of the most amazing food I've ever seen, but regrettably, it's just not the spot for me. I could go into details but (after realizing that there are a few readers out there) dirty laundry best not be aired on the interweb, besides, I firmly believe its one of the best new places in town.

I've just been working too much and need some time off. There have been countless times over the past 8 months(even before Spur I was working too much) where I haven't been able to do things I've really wanted to do. I still will be every Monday at Sun Liquor and covering an extra few shifts here and there. I'm big into facebook now and updating when I work so feel free to look me up and add me. I just want to take it easy over the holidays, Is that so bad???Plus after the cat came out of the bag due to This story broke about the WSBG I really want to spend some time in the treasurer role I'm in.

Imbibers 100

Imbibers One Hundred

Darcy O'Neil :: November 13, 2008 11:23 PM
While I was reading an article, by Stephen Beaumont, he linked to the “Omnivores 100”, which is a list of 100 foods the author of Very Good Taste thinks you should try at least once in your lifetime. Well, I thought it was such a good idea that I made one for “Imbibers”. This list isn’t all encompassing, nor is it a “good stuff only” list. There are a few things that may make you pause. In most cases the list is not brand specific, but for certain things it is, because of the world wide popularity. Feel free to participate, or not, but it is a good exercise to see what you are missing in life.

Remember, this is just a list of things you should try. I’m sure a few scotch addict’s, vodkaphiles and beeroholics will recommend a particular brand, but in most cases, this list is style specific, instead of brand specific. But please feel free to make recommendations.

Instructions:

1) Copy this list into your blog, with instructions.
2) Bold all the drinks you’ve imbibed.
3) Cross out any items that you won’t touch
4) Post a comment here and link to your results.

My compy2000 is being a brat and not bolding like it should so I'm going with a plus for that which I have tried, and a minus for that with I have not imbibed

OR

If you don’t have a blog, just count the ones you’ve tried and post the number in the comments section.

List of Drinks You Must Try Before You Expire

+Manhattan Cocktail
-Kopi Luwak (Weasle Coffee)
+French / Swiss Absinthe
+Rootbeer
+Gin Martini
-Sauternes
+Whole Milk
+Tequila (100% Agave)
+XO Cognac
+Espresso
-Spring Water (directly from the spring)
+Gin & Tonic
-Mead
-Westvleteren 12 (Yellow Cap) Trappist Ale
-Chateau d’Yquem
+++Budwieser
+Maraschino Liqueur
+Mojito
+Orgeat
+Grand Marnier
+Mai Tai (original)
+Ice Wine (Canadian)
+Red Bull
+Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice
+Bubble Tea
-Tokaj
-Chicory
+Islay Scotch
-Pusser’s Navy Rum
+++++Fernet Branca
+Fresh Pressed Apple Cider
+Bourbon
-Australian Shiraz
-Buckley’s Cough Syrup
+Orange Bitters
+Margarita (classic recipe)
-Molasses & Milk
+Chimay Blue
-Wine of Pines
+Green Tea
-Daiginjo Sake
+Chai Tea
+Vodka (chilled, straight)
+Coca-Cola
+Zombie (Beachcomber recipe)
+Barley Wine
-Brewed Choclate (Xocolatl)
+Pisco Sour
+Lemonade
+Speyside Single Malt
-Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee
+Champagne (Vintage)
+Rosé (French)
+Bellini
+Caipirinha
+White Zinfandel (Blush)
+Coconut Water
+Cerveza
+Cafe au Lait
+Ice Tea
-Pedro Ximenez Sherry
+Vintage Port
+Hot Chocolate
+German Riesling
+Pina Colada
+El Dorado 15 Year Rum
+Chartreuse
-Greek Wine
+Negroni
+Jägermeister
-Chicha
+Guiness
+Rhum Agricole
-Palm Wine
+Soju
-Ceylon Tea (High Grown)
+Belgian Lambic
-Mongolian Airag
-Doogh, Lassi or Ayran
-Sugarcane Juice
+Ramos Gin Fizz
+Singapore Sling
+Mint Julep
+Old Fashioned
-Perique
+Jenever (Holland Gin)
+Chocolate Milkshake
-Traditional Italian Barolo
-Pulque
+Natural Sparkling Water
-Cuban Rum
+Asti Spumante
+Irish Whiskey
-Château Margaux
+Two Buck Chuck
-Screech
+Akvavit
+Rye Whisky
-German Weissbier
+Daiquiri (classic)

What I made tonight!

1oz. Sobieski
1oz Voyager Gin
1/2 oz. Maraschino
dash absinthe
one dropper of de la tierra bitters

MxMo : Mailing it in.

Made from scratch eh?

I'm lucky enough to do this at both of my jobs. One is a scratch classic cocktail lounge where we juice and make cocktails to order, the other is a gastropub where we are making our own bitters and tinctures as well as making our own syrups from scratch. For those that are new to the making things from scratch I highly recommend adopting the practice as the end results are usually better.

There's examples of making things from scratch I've written about, so instead of writing about making things, I decided to post a cocktail using a few of the made from scratch items I have at the homebar.


I give you the Mailing it In.:
2oz. Sobieski Vodka (oh snap, I'm using vodka - I got it in the mail, get it???)
one capful Rosa Roja
one capful maraschino
one barspoon Erik Chapman Clementine bitters ( Somehow after the bitter meeting I ended up with the boss' bottle and haven't returned it yet, whoops!)

stir and enjoy sans garnish.

Obligatory Product Reviews v1

First off, my apologies to Sobieskii vodka. I am not a paid spokesperson, and have never reviewed a product before, so here goes.

I dislike vodka. I very rarely drink it and order it even less. Granted it is the popular thing to dislike these days as far as being a bartender, but I had a three year stretch of nothing but vodka tonics, so I've just had enough. Sobieski was nice to send out a bottle and some schwag.

Sidebar to promotional campaigns:
If you are going to send T-shirts out you should try to find out what size would be worn. Not everyone will wear a 2XL.

"You could say we're the anti-vodka."
I wouldn't go that far. I had a conversation discussing the theory in brewing beer is to make the least offensive, most acceptable to the general public product in order to be successful and I think a similar theory can be applied to the vodka market. The most common response after forcing shots on my friends was "it tastes like vodka" That kinda summed it up for me. Sobieski is vodka flavored vodka. Very distinct flavor that doesn't have any harsh undertones. I am going to keep an eye out for it and will try to order it when I see it.