Orange Liquor Tasting

Not long ago, I had a number of friends over to celebrate Orange Liquor month!  "What is Orange Liquor month?" you say?!  “Oh my gracious goodness!” I say!  How did you not know?!

Well Mom, it’s a very personal holiday.  You could call it a Holiday Of One… because I’m pretty sure it’s only me giving it celebratory status.  In keeping with my strategy of doing through The 12 Bottle Bar one chapter a month (so I’m a slow reader…started reading Tom Saywer in the third grade and am still going) I’m gaining a more rounded picture of various spirits, as the authors focus on one type of liquor each chapter.  Having reached orange liquor, I began to learn there was much more too it than just it being the third ingredient in a margarita.  

To speak very generally, you have two different types of orange liquor: those that are brandy based (a la Cognac), and those that are neutral spirit based (a la Vodka).  The former is generally showcasing a much more brown color and boozy smell, while the latter is more specifically orange (orange peel, generally) and clear.  Both are great though in various capacities and with many to choose from.

As I was originally saying, I gathered a number of friends (won’t say any names except for Carey Andrew Amanda Chandima…) together to essentially have an Orange Liquor tasting, which included the *following:

• Gran Gala
• Grand Mariner
• Cointreau
• Bols Triple Sec
• Arrow Triple Sec
• DeKuyper 03

*Canada Dry and 1800 are NOT Orange Liquor examples… but through in a lime and you could have an interesting take on a margarita

What follows are our impressions of all of them as well as what we thought made the best mixer and the best standalone spirit.  At first I had the group start by measuring the following criteria (couldn’t be that hard):

Aroma

Taste

Texture

But the evening eventually descended into madness… or at least I forgot to actually make the group follow through with their tasting requirements.  In the end I obtained the following notes, starting from arguable bottom shelf of triple sec and finish:

Arrow Triple Sec

This bright smelling, clear looking liquor could certainly qualify for bottom shelf of the bunch.  The aroma was immediately one of artificiality, and a similar taste with a low alcohol point of 15%.  Believe it or not… I actually enjoyed it.  This had to be in no small part due to the Tang/Sunny D nostalgia factor (seriously).  Andrew did say it smelt better than it tastes… take that with a grain of salt. 

Bols Triple Sec

The WORST of the bunch.  However one has to take into consideration that it has been sitting out for some time, so that may need to be discounted.  The smell was similar to Arrow, just shittier (i.e. more oxidation maybe).  However when we drank, all agreed there was more citrus here, but much less desired than Arrow: orange but not as much flavor, and slightly bitter/sour.  Again… it was an old bottle.

Cointreau 

So much better than triple sec!  Smells of orange, but what’s different here is that it is real yet complex, and slightly pungent.  "Tastes like a real orange was allowed to ferment in Natalie Portman's mansion,” said someone (though no one can claim to recall).  Without any brandy and being neutral spirit based, the general consensus is that this might be the best of the category.  Carey said it was “…multilayered and had depth, with a clear smell of essential oils of the peel."

Gran Gala

Heralded as a brandy based liquor from Italy, it certainly smelled like Brandy as opposed to the previous orange liquors, though it jdoesn’t populate right away.  Pretty sweet at first with mainly brandy, but orange too.  What was really surprising was the bitter finish as the rest almost tasted like dessert (Amanda specifically mentioned “Plum Pudding”).  Someone else said that is was “like an old Italian house owned by George Clooney with Robert Redford has a house guest,” (might have been me… and it still makes sense!).

Grand Mariner

Most people are familiar with the name, though I’m not sure many would jump to nominate it as a brandy-based orange liquor.  However they would claim it to be expensive.  Appropriately so?  Possibly based on everyone’s reaction.  The smell was much like Gran Gala before it, but less of the almost sickly sweetness (i.e. less George Clooney).  When it finally touched our collective lips, it was determined unanimously that it was in fact less sweet, and very welcome. The Cognac (still brandy, just arguably more legitimate) comes through exceptionally well without overpowering the desired orange, which itself was appreciated for tasting real.  Cognac flavors surprising came up strong at finish, so it depends if you like that or not.  There is a spicy, almost exotic nature to the whole thing (the label does say "essence of wild tropical oranges”).  Andrew finished our discussion by adding that it was “well rounded” (probably could’ve saved me from typing this whole thing up!).

DeKuyper 03

The final test was a strange find at an Idaho liquor store in Coeur D’Lane of all places.  This bottle stood out with it’s square stature and numerical branding: all that was visible was the number 03.  Upon further research I realized it was DeKuyper, thee of dank liquor fame!  However this was something high quality at a discount to comparable neutral spirit based products (looking at you Monsieur Cointreau).  The first sensation however: stinging! Perhaps this was due to the origin of the oranges being Brazilian?  It is possible orange pith contributes to this, but at the times this was just end-of-tasting speculation.  Some mentioned the smell was consistent with ethanol, but once you tasted everything was orange and wonderful.  Overall many suggested it was similar to Cointreau, but the group was split over which was better.

Overall

The group was tired and mixed (in more ways than one) by the end of this trial excersice.  Before I untied them from this activity however, I was able to determine that Bols, Arrow and Gran Gala were not cared for too much.  The bottom shelf triple secs lacked the quality we later enjoyed, while Gran Gala was just too sweet.  Otherwise, they were undecided on what was the ultimate best, but everyone agreed Cointreau and DeKuyper 03 had best potential as versatile mixers in margaritas, or straight.  Grand Mariner would be of equal potential save for the fact that they would prefer it straight over the other two.  

Neat or on rocks: three way tie between Cointreau, DeKuyper 03, and Grand Mariner!

Note: we really didn’t try any mixed with these drinks… will have to work on that

What is your favorite orange liquor?  Favorite orange liquor in a margarita?  A side car? In cereal?  Let me know your experiences/desires!  Thanks Mom!

Drink Battle: PDT Moscow Mule vs 12 Bottles Moscow Mule

A new, and much less interesting month is upon us as I continue traveling through The 12 Bottle Bar cocktail book: VODKA month.  In this case, we’ve got a spirit I’ve never associated with much, except for cleaning wounds, taking shots with my Russian friends, and cleaning wounds they received from actions they took after taking too many shots (gets complicated, I know).  No flavor except ethanol make it hard for one to see beyond the fact it essentially is an “alcohol delivery device,” a fact the good people at The 12 Bottle Bar have recognized.

Still, I celebrate… cause it’s necessary.

First fight: The Moscow Mule!
 

Now this is an interesting fight.  In one corner is the simple, middle-weight champion of the world: the 12 Bottle Moscow Mule!  However this is not evocative of just one variation on this drink; it’s similar to all that I’m use too with vodka, topped with ginger beer and lime… pretty simple.

The PDT cocktail however, uses much less ginger beer (1 oz) and 1 oz simple syrup.  The cocktail is much lest in content, but also much sweeter and much more aftertaste of ethanol because of it.  The former drink has plenty of ginger beer in it to mask the taste.  Another big difference here also includes that PDT uses a house ginger beer without club soda; fairly post modernistic.  

PDT Cocktail

• 1.5 oz. Smirnoff Black Vodka
• 1 oz. House Ginger Beer
• 1 oz. Simple Syrup
• .75 oz. Lime Juice

The 12 Bottle Bar

• 1.5 to 2 oz vodka, to taste
• 1/2 lime
• 4 to 6 ounces ginger beer

As you can see in the photo I used Stolichnaya Vodka from Lativa (though not 100 proof as recommended by 12 Bottles) and Fever Tree Ginger Beer (recommended by no one, but truly potent/delicious).

I created, I imbibed, and I discovered...

The PDT version was much more of fine cocktail, with a smaller amount of ginger beer and an addition of simple syrup.  This led to a welcome sweetness though a slightly unwelcome clear taste of vodka.  

The 12 Bottles version is much more like the refreshing collins drink that you’d expect, with the added bonus of throwing in the shell of the lime after squeezing.  In this I did not taste the vodka and it was slightly more desirable.  However it did lack the sweetness that the PDT version had...

In all honesty, I’ve noticed that if I’ve made two drinks together (only for these Drink Battles of course…) and they disappear, is one really better than the other?  This, among a few other tastes led me to the following conclusion:

Winner: DRAW 

It’s just not fair as not everything was similar enough… and I did appreciate the differences in both. Sometimes variations just help to keep things from getting boring, and when you think about a drink as arguable simplistic and omnipresent as this, change is just what the boozehound needs. Watch out:  Cosmos might be next (dear God this month needs to end)

Drink Battle: Original Blood And Sand vs PDT Blood And Sand

Note: This is just too good to be true, and probably the only type of drink I ever need to write about on this website: it’s a drink named after a movie!!!  Get it?!  Cinebriated = drunk on film, but this drink gives one the potential to actually drink while watching a film it’s been directly inspired by!  Granted I still haven’t watched the whole movie (travesty I know) but if you’re interested, it’s right below for your viewing pleasure.  If you like this, they even remade it as a talkie (which you can also find below)!  But I digress...

In celebration of both #NationalScotchDay (yesterday) and #WhiskeyMonth (all July), I needed to have a Scotch cocktail (I’ve got all month to drink different Whiskeys; only 1 DAY to focus on Whisky without the e).  Penicillin is one I’ve loved at #EtsiBravoBar, as well as #BlackCypress for some time.  However, one that I couldn’t recall having recently was a wholly different beast: Blood and Sand.

What makes this wonderful:  it’s named after a movie (apologies: I just can’t stop being excited about this). This drink completely encompasses a solid combination of what we originally set out to do with this site.

Ingredients:

• Monkey Shoulder Blended Malt Scotch Whisky - special thanks to Joe here, this Whisky is named after a condition stirrers of the malt (I’m going to start searching for that when looking for a job on LinkedIn) obtained, until better work practices came into play
• Orange Juice - fresher the better (though this unfortunately had an expiration date of April 2014...)
• Cherry Liquor - what I’ve read to be recommended everywhere has been Cherry Heering Liquor is the standard in the drink, but I happened to recently invest a good deal of coin in Luxardo Maraschino and used this instead, though I’ve since learned that it’s much more herbal than the recommended spirit from this guy (which was a great site to uncover in general): 
  discovering dionysus
• Carpano Antica Formula Vermouth - some good stuff recommended by PDT, and I happened to still have it!  - note if you’re my roommate (I’m looking at you Joe), and you see a shot full of this sitting on the counter, it isn’t for you...

Blood and Sand PDT

• Smell it and the scotch comes right through, though I’m not complaining; it’s the prime ingredient.  Did someone say this was a   Why drown a good thing (assuming you can handle it) in all that nonsense.  
• taste has bite, and you might be able to tell about orange juice right off, but everything else isn’t clear which is exactly how you want it to be.  Plus that look… daymn

Blood and Sand - Savoy

• Original recipe supposedly had equal parts of the drink, which create for a sweet and tasty drink, but the scotch is gone.  Plus, cherry overpowers this way to easily.  Where’s the titular “Blood and Sand”? Only in the color I think
• Smell - pretty delicious.  I think I’m getting a cool fast cocktail, which could be worth pursuing in the first place.  

Winner - PDT!!!

At first I thought they might be crazy for changing a classic drink like this, but now I’ve realized they made such a good choice.  Now I may be way off base for using Luxardo vs. Heering, but I’d still recommend this drink in particular.  

Now I need to try and find time to watch that silent film...

Drink Battle Royale: Algonquin vs The Benchley

For something different here at Cinebriated (…is there actually enough to show what “different” is? Or maybe its just that someone actually posted here!) I’ve taken it upon myself to indulge you with my month to month libation exploration.

Inspired by the book The 12 Bottle Bar, I’m devoting anytime I spend mixing/drinking to one specific spirit per month.  This is dictated by whichever chapter I might be on in said book (the whole purpose of the book is to provide standards for just having 12 bottles in you home bar, along with very wonderfully colorful commentary, history, and recipes for drinks as well as syrups and other ingredients).  As there is so much information in each chapter (and trying each drink quickly might easily lead to forgetfulness via more paths than one) I decided to devote a whole 30 +/- 2 days to each.  Great lessons have been learned through the introductory chapters of Brandy, Genever, Gin, Amber Rum, White Rum, and now Rye Whiskey (specific variety of whiskey is dictated for many reasons; bourbon lovers just need to chill and open up).

To keep you on top of my adventures during this #WhiskeyMonth, you can follow us on Twitter @Cinebriated.  As for now, you can see my first ever Drink Battle Royale, and that is:

Algonquin vs The Benchley*

*note: this is not about some sort of fictional battle between Vicious Circle's Robert Benchley and the city of Algonquin, IL… it’s just drinks people**

 **note:  too bad, because that battle could be (weird) awesome

The Algonquin is a supposedly famous drink from the Manhattan hotel of the same name according to The PDT Cocktail Book, which some have referred to as their “Bartending Bible.”  The recipe here is as follows:

• 2 oz Rittenhouse Rye (also recommended by The 12 Bottle Bar)
• .75 oz Nolin Prat Dry Vermouth
• .75 oz Pineapple Juice 

The 12 Bottle Bar however believes this drink has a missing component.  Instead of the previous measurements and pineapple juice, they recommend a unique twist in what they call “The Benchley” (after… you guessed it): 

• 1.5 oz Rye Whiskey
• .75 oz Dry Vermouth
• .75 oz Pineapple-Sriracha Syrup

The final ingredient is made with equal parts pineapple juice and sugar (1/2 cup in this case), with an addition of Sriracha Sauce to taste.  Mixed over low heat, the result is inspired.

I made both to try together and see the difference.  Each was made according to its specifications except that Cinzano Extra Dry Vermouth was used, as was Old Overholt Rye (neither of which was instructed according to PDT, but Old Overholt is recommended by The 12 Bottle Bar, and for good reason).

I created, I imbibed, and I discovered...

The Algonquin was fine, but truly did taste watered down and lacking: like a high class beverage requested in an alley bar that didn’t understand the term “Manhattan.”  It wasn’t bad, but pineapple aftertaste wasn’t exactly inspiring either.

The Benchley, however, was truly welcoming.  It may have to do with the fact that actual sugar was involved, and I have to wonder how I would judge the drink having just Pineapple syrup without Syracha, but overall it was uniquly flavored as such.  Between the two, there was almost no chance for me to go with the original. Just to confirm, I had Joe check both as well.  He agreed the latter was better.

Winner: The Benchley!

Even if this wasn’t a competition, The Benchly would receive high marks from me while the Algonquin might be relegated to something you’d get at a Denny’s bar.

Watch out:  I hope to have more parings in the near future.

World Traveler: Ksarak

Having grown up in the US of A, I understood there to be a number of standard libations all the adults partook in: Whiskey, Vodka, Tequila, etc.  However as I grew, I began to question how there could only 10 or so options.  In a world as big as ours, surely there had to be more?  

And so began my obsessive and continuing interest in discovering all the other countries and cultures of the world has created.  I have already ventured extensively into Italy with Fernet and Amaro travels, but there is so much more to see.  

Case in point - I present Ksarak, a pure grape alcohol from Lebanon with a similar taste to other concoctions like Sambuca and Absinthe (strong licorice flavor)