A Muddled Thought

I remember the first time I came across Bittermens Bitters, about a year and a half ago. I had just ordered a “Conference” at Death and Company as the ingredients had caught my attention. Comprised of Rittenhouse Rye, Buffalo Trace, Cognac, Calvados, Angostura and Bittermens Xocolati Mole Bitters, this has to this day never been topped as as my all time favorite drink. As a self-proclaimed cocktail geek, I have harassed the owner of Bittermens, Avery Glasser since that very day for a bottle.

Due to bitters not exactly being alcohol nor exactly falling into the category of food, a good portion of the delay in getting Bittermens to the masses as been obtaining approval from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms as well both the FDA. After getting approval for sale from both of these agencies, Avery then had to obtain approval at the state level.

As of today, June 18th, 2009 Bittermans has made their Xocolatl Mole and their Grapefruit bitters available for sale.Hopefully more flavors will follow in the near future.

To give you an idea of the potential for cocktails that these flavors open up I’ve included some recipes provided by Bittermens that showcase the bitters.

For starters here’s the recipe I mentioned earlier-

The Conference
A play on the Old Fashioned by Brian Miller at Death and Company, 2007. It’s one of those drinks that evolves as the ice slowly melts into the cocktail.

1/4 oz Demerara Sugar Syrup
1/2 oz Rittenhouse Bonded Rye (100 Proof)
1/2 oz Buffalo Trace Bourbon
1/2 oz Cognac
1/2 oz Calvados
2 Dashes Angostura Bitters
1 Dash Xocolatl Mole Bitters

Garnish
Orange Twist (wide)
Lemon Twist (wide)

Stir all the ingredients aside from the twists in an ice filled shaker glass. Strain into a double old fashioned glass over ice. Add orange and lemon twists.

And another drink courtesy of Death and Company showcasing the Xocolatl Bitters-

Latin Quarter
Joaquín Simó reinterprets the classic Sazerac with fantastic results. Death and Company, 2007.

2 oz Ron Zacapa 23 year old Rum
1/2 Bar Spoon Sugar Cane Syrup
1 Dash Angostura Bitters
1 Dash Xocolatl Mole Bitters
3 Dashes Peychaud Bitters
Lemon Twist

Rinse
Absinthe, Herbsaint or Ricard

Fill a double old fashioned glass with ice and a small amount of Absinthe, Herbsaint or Ricard. Stir the Rum, Sugar Cane Syrup and bitters in an ice filled shaker glass. Dump the ice from the old fashioned glass and rotate the glass to ensure that the rinse coats the entire inside of the glass. Strain into the glass. Twist lemon peel over the glass and discard (do not put the twist in the glass).

A drink created by a Ago Perrone of Montgomery Place that showcases both the Xocolatl and Grapefruit Bitters together-

45 ml Cabana Cachaca
20 ml Lillet Rouge
2 dashes Grapefruit Bitters
2 dashes Xocolatl Mole Bitters
5 ml Simple Syrup

Lemon Twist (discard after twisting)

Stir in a large beaker (like the one in the picture at the top of this page) and strain into a cocktail coupe. Twist and discard lemon and garnish with a fresh cherry.

And as the guys from Death and Company never stop creating masterpieces here’s another Xocolatl showcase recipe-

New England Daiquiri
A modification of a classic cocktail by Joaquín Simó at Death and Company, 2007.

2 oz Ron Zacapa 23 year old Rum
1/2 oz Lemon Juice
2 tsp Maple Syrup
1 Dash Xocolatl Mole Bitters

Shake and serve up in a cocktail glass.

And one final drink based around the Grapefruit bitters-

Bob McCoy of Eastern Standard Fame created the Diablo Azul-

3/4 oz Siembra Azul Blanco Tequila
3/4 oz Lime Juice
3/4 oz Yellow Chartreuse
3/4 oz Cointreau
Dash Bittermens Grapefruit Bitters

Shake and serve up with no garnish.

Bittermen’s Xocolatl and Grapefruit Bitters are available for order from The Bitter Truth.

With Fathers day coming up, A Muddled Thought decided to put together a list of suggestions for those looking to get Dad something other than a tie or a shirt he’ll never wear. Something that he can enjoy after a long day at work or share with friends or if you’re lucky you, who after giving him one of these spirits will be his favorite kid.

We’re going to start from the top price point and work our way through to around the $30 mark.

First up, something that’s a bit on the rare side, A bottle of Partida Elegante Extra Añejo Tequila.

With one of the most unique and complex flavor profiles of any tequila we’ve tasted or reviewed, this makes great gift for that dad that appreciates aged bourbons and scotches but is looking for something different, while retaining that same aged complex taste.

Partida Elegante features a flavor profile that never stops surprising you, with tastes ranging from a deep chocolate, notes of banana, ripe fruit, touches of cinnamon and even a bit of orange zest.

Partida Elegante retails for $350 and is limited to a release of 1200 bottles.

Next up we have a bottle of Dalmore King Alexander 1263 Scotch. Just as the Partida Elegante holds a unique place within the tequila market, the Dalmore holds a unique place among scotches.

Using a combination of scotch aged in French cabernet sauvignon barrels, Mediterranean Madeira drums, Matusalem Sherry butts from Spain, Marsala barrels from Sicily, Port pipes from the Douro and sweet Bourbon barrels hailing from Kentucky, the process behind Dalmore 1263 takes scotch from each of these batches and melds them together to create a one of kind taste.

As you sip King Alexander 1263, you begin to notice the flavors that each differently aged scotch brings to the table. Featuring flavor tones of caramel, an occasional light coffee taste, hints of sherry,

As the final product is a combination of several differently prepared batches that’s intertwined into the final product of, Dalmore King Alexander 1263 is a barrage of flavors, each subtle yet managing to stand out and make for a one of a kind experience.

King Alexander 1263 retails around $200.

If your father happens to appreciate and enjoy fine champagnes rather than dark spirits, the next item on our list would make a great choice.

The name Charles Heidsieck is synonymous with fine champagne. As the founder of one of the five grand champagne houses (Marques), Heidsieck has been creating champagne since 1851. Allowing his products to mature in 2,000 year old roman chalk cellars, he was able to turn out some of the finest champagnes available during his time.

Fast forward to more modern times, and these same chalk cellars are being used to create Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millénaires 1995. The name “Blanc des Millénaires” originates from these same cellars. The name when translated means “white of the thousands year old” . Each bottle is aged in these chalk cellars for a minimum of ten years, making the latest available vintage that of only 1995.

With a clean finish, and notes including spices and fruit, this will make any father’s day even more memorable for the dad that likes champagne.

As our first three products were standouts in each of their categories, we continue that trend with Nouvelle Orleans Absinthe. While Absinthe has only been available in the United States for the past two years, it’s popularity has continued to grow, as has the amount of choices. One standout has been Nouvelle Orleans Absinthe. Created by Viridian Spirits, the company also behind Lucid Absinthe, the first absinthe to hit the US after the ban was removed, Nouvelle is based on a recipe that originated in New Orleans back in the mid 19th century.

When nosing this absinthe, you pick up a balance of anise as well as mild vanilla. Due to its higher than normal 136 proof it’s best to add water via the traditional way, until it louches(becomes a milky white liquid). Once water has been added, the end result is a slightly sweeter than most absinthe, with defined tastes of anise, mint and still a touch of vanilla.

The first bottle of absinthe we’ve come across that’s actually corked, it seems to stand alone among absinthes.

Nouvelle Orleans retails between $95-$110. It’s uniqueness among absinthes, makes it the perfect gift for the dad whose into all sort of spirits and is looking to try something new.

Also along the same price range as the Nouvelle Orleans, is Mount Gay Rum’s 1703 release. A limited release, Mount Gay 1703 is a complex creation consisting of a blend of Mount Gay’s finest rums varying in age from ten years to thirty years allowed Mount Gay to create a very unique flavor profile. As you begin to sip the 1703 you feel the tinge of sugar cane hit your tongue, a cornucopia of tastes including toffee, ripe bananas and mild spice follow this initial sensation. Put down the muddler, this is not a rum to be used in mojitos but rather to be enjoyed on it’s own, either with an ice cube or two or neat.

And what a Father’s Day review be without a single malt scotch?

Aged 14 years, in a distillery that dates back over two hundred years, Oban gets it’s singular character from a process that uses a light peat smoke to dry the barley. This results in a taste that incorporates notes of vanilla, caramel and after adding a splash of water some and corn, all the while also featuring a mild smokiness.

Oban is priced at $54.99 and is available at most spirit resellers.

While the next product, isn’t exactly a spirit, it does go great with some of our other suggestions. So picture this, your trying to enjoy a nice single malt scotch or small batched bourbon, and you prefer it to be chilled but rather not dilute the taste with 2-3 ice cubes. What’s the solution?

Well the inventor of “Sippin on the Rocks” , Dan Boyd ran into this very same problem, which gave him the idea for this amazing product. Sippin on the Rocks consists of two polished granite rocks that after being placed in the freezer for four hours, chill the spirit of your choice without diluting it. As shown below they come in storage box, along with sipping glasses, and the option for a personalized nameplate.

Sippin on the rocks is available at http://www.sippinontherocks.com

Just to keep this list as comprehensive as possible, we’ve included one more tequila that might be worth introducing to Dad this year. Corzo Añejo, Tequila. Originating from the highlands of Los Altos, the agave plants are often sweeter in this area of Jalisco, Mexico. Following up the plant selection process, Corzo incorporates classical music throughout the course of fermentation. These unique touches, result in an añejo, that’s incredible smooth as you sip it, with flavor tones of pineapple, agave, a spicy vanilla and honey.

And just in time for father’s day Corzo is offering an engraving option for each bottle. So with each sip, dad can be reminded on how you feel about him.

More information about the free labeling process from Corzo is available at http://www.corzo.com/labels/

A bottle of Corzo Anejo retails for $56.99

For the Dad who enjoys cognac, we have something that might fit the bill, a bottle of Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal. Comprised of a blend of 65 % grande champagne grapes with the other 35% made up of petite champagne grapes and aged between 4-20 years, it’s different from your usual cognac, as it’s reminded us of a bourbon in it’s flavor profile which consisted of notes of cinnamon, chocolate, orange zest and berries with a very smooth finish.

When we initially tried this it caught us by surprise as we weren’t prepared for all these flavors showing themselves in a cognac. It was a very pleasant surprise that any cognac aficionado and even some bourbon fans will appreciate.

Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal retails for $50

What spirits gift list wouldn’t be complete without at least one gin?

Citadelle, who happens to be part of the Cognac Ferrand , makers of cognacs, such as Pierre Ferrand, Landy, and Claude Chatelier among other products such as plantation rums produces a limited and numbered variety of it’s gin dubbed Citadelle Reserve. Taking Citadelle gin and then aging it in cognac barrels for a period of six months, allows the gin to develop new flavor nuances such as notes of cinnamon, and chocolate. The aging process also adds a bit of spice, and a tinge when hits the tongue. As the process is complex to create each bottle of Citadelle Reserve, only a small batch of about 5600 bottles is produced each year. Each bottle is numbered and only available at limited locations.

Citadelle Reserve retails for $36.99 and is available for purchase from Astor Wines and Spirits of NY.

And to go along with Sippin on the Rocks we have, two more brown spirits that would work with the rocks, if you like your scotch and bourbon chilled.

And for something else a bit different, how about a bottle of single malt scotch that retails for under $40 and still manages to have interesting and enjoyable flavor notes? Originating from Dufftown, Scotland which also happens to be the whisky capital of the world, it’s positioned as an introductory scotch, though it’s anything but that. With hints of vanilla, honey and occasional orange it balances the flavors to create just the right amount of sweet when opened up with a splash of water. Aged at 12 years and priced at $35.99, it makes a great gift for any dad, whether there an old or new scotch lover.

First, there’s Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon. A bourbon that incorporates a mashbill comprised of 60 % corn, 35% rye, and 5% barley malt and is combined with another recipe that contains 75% corn, 20% rye, and another 5% barley malt. Using these two mashbills in conjunction with two secret yeast formulas create a bourbon that’s both full of fruit notes as well as spice notes. These provide Four Roses with an end product that has both spicy texture and allows it to feature a flavor profile that includes mild notes of coffee, cocoa and hints of vanilla. With a splash of water the flavors expand to incorporate notes of caramel, nuttiness and some mild spice as it hits your tongue.

Four Roses Small Batch retails for $27.99.

While creating this list, our goal was to include as many unique spirits and categories as possible that any father would enjoy and appreciate, and with each sip think of that child that gave this gift.

This article is dedicated my Dad, Howie Wolin who passed away in 2007.

Let me introduce you to Zipang, a sparkling sake that’s sold in 250ml bottles. Flavor wise, think of a cross between champagne and beer. While beer’s made using barley, sake is made using fermented rice which is where its flavor originates from.

With it’s mild refreshing flavor base, we decided to try and see how Zipang plays against watermelon and adding another interesting twist, both recipes that have been attempted with Zipang also feature Lucid Absinthe.

The Rum Rum Pang-

2 Oz Gosling Rum
¾ Oz Lucid Absinthe
2 Dash Peychaud
Watermelon
Champagne Flute
Top with Zipang Sparking Sake

A Melon Zip-

2 oz Partida Blanco
1 oz Lucid Absinthe
2 Dash Grapefruit Bitters
Muddled Watermelon
Old Fashioned Crushed Ice
Top with Zipang Sparkling Sake