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I drank every cocktail

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Re: I drank every cocktail

#121

Post by kenanfyi »

ReptileMan wrote: post #100
antognini wrote: post #77

If anyone is interested in getting into cocktails I really can't recommend Cocktails with Suderman enough. The early posts are free and go into the theory of how cocktails are structured and why they work. Once you start to understand the structure of the major cocktails it makes it a lot easier to understand how you can play with the ingredients and make something new. For instance, tons of cocktails fall into the "…

My rule of thumb for cocktails is - they were created to mask the flavors of shitty base liquors so this is what should be used. The best old fashioned comes from jim beam white label. Unless you use some really strong medicinal smoked whiskeys you probably won't be able to pick up much of the delicate flavors from the good stuff with so much syrup and bitters in it. and if you want to add complexity - just make a mo…

Wasn‘t it Woodford Reserve? I think I never used Jim Beam for an old-fashioned.

Re: I drank every cocktail

#122

Post by matsemann »

jansan wrote: post #119
matsemann wrote: post #111

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hehe. But where I'm from (Norway) it's only allowed to serve drinks with 40 cl (edit, I meant 4 cl heh) of liquor (with exceptions for international recognized cocktails). So if you were to get less ice you wouldn't get anything more for your money anyways. Except more soda water and a diluted taste.

International recognized cocktails must be quite popular in Norway. I remember when going to Norway for a friend's wedding and they explicitly asked all guests to bring the maximum allowed limit of liquor with them. I understood this after I saw the ridiculous high prices at those liquor stores, which they shamelessly call "wine monopoly" and have higher security than bank buildings. You guys sure have a special rela…

Yeah, strict rules. But the Wine Monopoly is great and quite beloved. For more expensive wines/liquors where the alcohol tax is a small amount of the total price, it's actually reasonably priced. The monopoly get good prices due to the volume they purchase of stuff.

And the selection is great. In Denmark for instance, every store has a selection of alcohol, but it's quite limited and always the same everywhere. You have to hunt for specialty stores. But the monopoly has everything even in smaller cities.

Re: I drank every cocktail

#123

Post by gpderetta »

userbinator wrote: post #83
jamestimmins wrote: post #9

Such a fun and entertaining read. I'd never suggest someone give up a software career to become a food writer, but I'd love to read more of OP's writing as he pursues these goals.

He wouldn't be the first to go from software to alcoholic beverages: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Pietrek

Arguably, jwz counts as well.

Re: I drank every cocktail

#125

Post by microtherion »

Nursie wrote: post #50
BSOhealth wrote: post #7

Very cool motivation around personal “lists” generally! Gin took me the longest to “get” and subtle cocktails that play to its strengths seem to have had the most lasting appeal. Whiskey drinks are great but I’d usually just rather have a nice whiskey straight, versus diluted with sugar. Whiskey+wine has some good combos. Likewise with tequila. Rum/rhum I still don’t get the sipping side, so cocktails is still the go…

> Rum/rhum I still don’t get the sipping side There's a vast variety and some is great, some not so much. There are very sweet, delicious rums like Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva, which is tasty but a little bit on the syrupy side. Then there are delicious but less sweet rums like Appleton Estate, Flor de Cana, Havana Club, Mount Gay, El Dorado etc. Ron Zacapa is very sippable too, and very approachable, and I think t…

A few years ago, I discovered Rhum agricole (Made directly from freshly squeezed sugarcane, instead of molasses), and it's my preference now.

Re: I drank every cocktail

#126

Post by mgaunard »

octo888 wrote: post #117
mgaunard wrote: post #115

The trick to having a good time at a cocktail bar is sitting at the bar and talking to the bartender. Tell him what kind of things you like and he'll be happy to make recommendations and even have you taste some unusual ingredients he recommends for a twist on any of the classics. There are a lot more good addresses in London than the ones he listed, it's clearly a hot spot worldwide for this kind of thing. In NYC th…

Any particular recommendations for London? I feel a thirst coming on!

Happiness Forgets is one of my favourites for a classic experience.

Discount Suit Company has a cool vibe, a bit more party-like, I remember dancing a few times there (despite it being tiny).

Waltz is a new one that's a bit different, Japanese-style, their creations are quite unique and masterfully delivered.

Shapes is also very popular for some reason, though I don't really see the point of places that only do bottled cocktails.

In Shoreditch and adjacent areas there are many other ones.

Re: I drank every cocktail

#127

Post by d3ckard »

yojo wrote: post #62
azhenley wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you have a ranked list of items that pay off to spend a bit more versus doesn’t matter?

General rules for cocktails: - Avoid the big brands for Tequila and Rum (Cuervo and Bacardi). There are exceptions, but it’s easier to skip. - Cheap gin can be good or bad. Gordon’s is a reasonable entry. The step up is Beefeater or Tanqueray. There are a bajillion craft gins and you can skip them until you’re ready to go deep. - Tequila should always say 100% puro de agave on the bottle. If it does not say this, do…

On vodka: Sobieski is not a good brand and "Luksusowa" is fine, but it's made of potatoes.

Personally, I strongly prefer vodkas made of wheat, they tend to be smoother and sit better (and the hangover is anegdotically less of a problem).

Also, people who think vodka quality doesn't matter clearly never drank a lot of vodka.

Re: I drank every cocktail

#128

Post by octo888 »

mgaunard wrote: post #126
octo888 wrote: post #117

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Any particular recommendations for London? I feel a thirst coming on!

Happiness Forgets is one of my favourites for a classic experience. Discount Suit Company has a cool vibe, a bit more party-like, I remember dancing a few times there (despite it being tiny). Waltz is a new one that's a bit different, Japanese-style, their creations are quite unique and masterfully delivered. Shapes is also very popular for some reason, though I don't really see the point of places that only do bottl…

Thanks :) Happiness Forgets is right next to where I was going to grab some pizza later. Sorted

Re: I drank every cocktail

#129

Post by elygre »

matsemann wrote: post #122
jansan wrote: post #119

Earlier quoted context omitted.

International recognized cocktails must be quite popular in Norway. I remember when going to Norway for a friend's wedding and they explicitly asked all guests to bring the maximum allowed limit of liquor with them. I understood this after I saw the ridiculous high prices at those liquor stores, which they shamelessly call "wine monopoly" and have higher security than bank buildings. You guys sure have a special rela…

Yeah, strict rules. But the Wine Monopoly is great and quite beloved. For more expensive wines/liquors where the alcohol tax is a small amount of the total price, it's actually reasonably priced. The monopoly get good prices due to the volume they purchase of stuff. And the selection is great. In Denmark for instance, every store has a selection of alcohol, but it's quite limited and always the same everywhere. You h…

The two revelations of the wine monopoly. The first is «you have a monopoly???», and then later «and you actually like that?????»

Re: I drank every cocktail

#130

Post by microtherion »

addaon wrote: post #8

Did you, though? Many great cocktails (including ones on the IBA list) are really show cases of a very specific liqueur or spirit... and when that product dies, you may have something similar, or something inspired by, or something attempting to recreate... but you haven't had the classic cocktail. For example, unless you stir up a new-old-stock bottle of Kina Lillet (and its flavor has held up over time), I'd argue…

I sort of understand the motivation to get the exact flavor of the cocktail recipe (especially with an ingredient like Kina Lillet), but for the most part, I find ingredients specified by brand name somewhat annoying, especially for home bars.
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