A Muddled Thought

In the late eighties, Absolut Vodka brought to life its city campaign, with offerings representing the history and personalities of several major cities. In 2007, they relaunched this series with Absolut New Orleans, and in 2008, Absolut LA.
In 2009 they followed up these first two releases with the limited offering, Absolut Boston.
Combining Absolut Vodka, with black tea and elderflower creates a spirit that starts off with notes of black tea, that is balanced out with the mild sweetness of elderflower and ends with an extremely smooth finish.

Absolut’s Boston offering is a perfect gift for any fan of vodka or any spirits enthusiast that is always looking to try something different.
With winter approaching in a few weeks, here are a few recipes that might work well during these last few weeks of Fall.

The Tea Leaves are Falling
2 oz Absolut Boston
1 oz of Fig Juice
¾ oz Cinnamon Syrup
½ Lime Juice
Serve in Martini Glass
Garnish with Lime Wedge

Apples are Absolut
2oz of Absolut Boston
¾ Apple Cinnamon Syrup
¾ Lairds Apple Jack
2 Dashes Whiskey Barrel Bitters

Fizz and Berrys
2 oz Absolut Boston
3/4 oz Simple Syrup
3/4 Lime Juice
3 Muddled Strawberries

Top with Club Soda
Garnish with Whole Strawberry

Scotch fans, please allow me to introduce you to a very good friend of mine.
The Macallan Fine Oak 17, the lesser known sibling of the Macallan whisky family. You’re always hearing people mention the Macallan 12 year bottle as a nice, “go-to” scotch or a nice introductory scotch. People rave about the bliss and perfection that the Macallan 18 year bottling is.

But how often do you hear someone make mention of the Macallan 17 Fine Oak offering?

At a recent Macallan tasting, this question came up in conversation with a close friend, who happens to also be a fan of brown spirits.
Over the course of this tasting, we both sampled The Macallan, 12, 15,17 and 18-year varieties. At the end we both went back for a second taste of the Macallan 17 Fine Oak. Our conclusion it was our favorite out of all four Macallan’s we tasted that night.
So I started thinking why?

The Macallan Fine Oak 17 starts off with a nose filled with hints of figs, raisins, and chocolate.

That first sip is bliss. As you bring the glass to your mouth, that elegant perfume of chocolate, raisins and figs continues to sneak its way to your olfactory nerves.
Once you taste that first drop, your hooked. Hints of smoke caress the taste buds and offer just a glimpse of the next reveal. Nuances of chocolate show themselves, followed up by orange zest, minute glimpses of cinnamon, nuts, and finishes with just the right balance of seasalt, and sweet caramel.

Macallan 17 is like that middle child that no one notices until they surpass the success level of both their older and younger siblings. Keep an eye out for this one, its one of those rare overachievers that doesn’t brag as much as it should.

Final Score: 10/10

Books, Bitters and Bar Tools oh my. Where can you find all those eccentric and interesting bitters, and all that cool barware your favorite cocktail den uses?

How about Cocktail Kingdom? Started five years ago, by Greg Boehm a children’s book publisher, and avid vintage cocktail book collector as a side project to reprint several of his favorite vintage cocktail books for some friends in the mixology community, Cocktail Kindgom has since expanded to a source for all your cocktail needs.

Whether it’s for reprints of vintage cocktail books from the 1800 and 1900’s such as “Harry Johnston’s Bartender Manuel” or imported barware from places such as Japan, and hard to find bitters such as Bittermen’s Xocaltl Mole Bitters, Cocktail Kingdom has it all.

A few of our favorite picks from Cocktail Kingdom’s constantly expanding catalog:

Books-
Harry Johnson’s Bartenders Manual(Pictured Above)-

A look inside the rules and conduct of how a bar was run in the late 1800′s. In addition to covering the in’s and outs of how to properly run a bar from inventory, to mixing drinks to how to hire, Harry’s book also gives the reader an in-depth look at how cocktails were created during this time period and how some of the now classic recipes came to be.

The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks By David Embury(Pictured Above)

Essentially the 1948 equivalent of Dale DeGroff’s “The Art of the Cocktail”, David Embury was the everyday business man who just happened to enjoy cocktails so much he decided to create a book that details the hows, and whys of creating a cocktail. This book covers everything from glassware to why one type of rum works best in a drink and all techniques you need to properly give birth to a cocktail.

Bar Tools and Bitters:

Naranja Japanese Metal on Metal Two Piece Shaking Tins(Pictured Above)
Sold as a two separate pieces, with the bottom retailing for $9.95 and the top retailing for $8.95, the metal of the tins enable the ice to get the liquids inside slightly colder than if you used a glass boston shaker. They metal on metal tins are also significantly lighter weight than metal and glass combinations and are very easy to snap together and pull apart.

Bartools:

With a wide range of different style barspoons from Japan, the UK, and Germany Cocktail Kingdom offers you a variety of unique styles including styles with a built in fork(pictured above), or a removable muddler as well lengths ranging from 32cm all the way up to 50cm .

Cocktail Kingdom also stocks Strainers such as the Bonzer Hawthorne Strainer imported from the UK.

As well as mixing glasses such as the Yarai Mixing Glass and the WMF Mixing Glass from Germany.

Bitters:

As a favorite ingredient of bartenders, Bitters often help balance out a drink.

Cocktail Kingdom stocks a wide range of bitters including the The Bitter Truth’s line.

The Bittermens Xocalti Mole Bitters-

Taking inspiration from classic Mexican Chocolate Mole Sauce, this bitter has been a favorite of cocktail lounges such as Death and Company, PDT, and Milk Honey for several years before finally being released to the retail market in July of 2009.

With notes of spice and chocolate this can give a unique new spin on many a cocktail.

Between reprints of vintage cocktail books, imported barware and unique bitters, Cocktail Kingdom stocks enough to make your favorite cocktail and spirits enthusiast happy this holiday season.

The first thing anyone who knows Gaz (formerly Gary) Regan thinks of when they hear the man’s name is that he’s probably had more gin throughout the course of his lifetime, than has gone through the Plymouth Distillery.

This along with an extensive history going back to the late seventies bartending in many an establishment throughout both the states as well as in England makes Gaz a bit of a resource when it comes to all things juniper based(the main component required to call something gin).

To top off this oh so short list of qualifications, Gaz has also published several other books regarding all things boozy and cocktail related. This includes The Joy of Mixology, and The Martini Companion: A Connoisseur’s Guide.

So when Gaz Regan released the “Bartenders Gin Compendium” earlier this year, the bartender and mixology community let out a big sigh of release.

This book should have been called “Gaz’s Bible o’ Gin for the Shaker crowd”. Anything you ever wanted to know or probably didn’t even think of has been covered in this book. Do you want to know what the difference is between Plymouth, Beefeater, Citadelle, Bombay and G’Vine are? What makes one taste more spicy, soft, or why you taste a bit of fruit in one of your favorite gins. Well Gaz has you covered. Besides giving the reader a look into his life behind the bar creating all sorts of gin based libations, Gaz breaks down how over sixty gins are made, including what herbs and botanticals are used, what each gin should taste like(based on notes from the distillers themselves) and over 250 recipes from some of the worlds most talented and creative mixologists.

This makes a great addition to any bartenders book collection for reference, or anyone who is interested in knowing more about why gin is what it is and what other options are there besides a Gin and Tonic or a Martini.

The Bartenders Gin Compendium- By Gaz Regan

Retail Price:$23.99 for Soft Cover or $30.99 for Hard Cover

Available at Xlibris.com

While we looked at Tanteo Tequila’s Chocolate offering, earlier this year, we decided with the holidays coming up, to take another look at it both as a stand alone spirit as well as in some new cocktails.

Tanteo Chocolate Tequila starts off with a nose of smokey cocoa.
This nose is followed up with a spirit filled with characters of milk chocolate coupled with slight hint of smokiness, creating a balanced flavor of a melted milk chocolate, with occasional hints of hazelnut.

With being the only chocolate flavored Tequila on the market, Tanteo makes for an interesting gift for anyone who enjoys a different kind of spirit or tequila.

While it can sipped neat, Tanteo’s Chocolate really begins to show its talents in cocktails. Here’s a few new ones to try …

The Great Daze
2oz Tanteo Chocolate Tequila
3/4 oz Aperol
1oz Espresso Syrup
2 Dashes Grapefruit Bitters

Not Your Pappy’s Eggcream

2oz Tanteo Chocolate Tequila
¾ Creme De Cacao
¾ Navan Vanilla Liquor
2 Dashes Bitter Truth Mole Bitters
Egg White
Shake Dry with Eggwhite
Shake with Ice
Serve in Collins Glass
Top with Club Soda

Nog Nog Whose There?

2 oz of Tanteo Chocolate Tequila
1 Whole Egg
1 oz of Cinnamon Syrup
1 oz of Heavy Cream
¾ of Maraska Maraschino Liquor

Are you a bartender looking to take your skills to the next level? Or are you a cocktail geek looking to push your geekiness further?

Then maybe BarSmarts WIRED is just what your looking for.

After the success of the five day BAR (or Beverage Alcohol Resource) Program led by cocktail luminaries such as Dale DeGroff, Dave Wondrich, Steve Olson, Paul Pacult and Andy Seymour, this same group created the Bar Smarts Advanced Program. This is a one-day program that consists of lectures, a hands-on practical exam in which the student is required to prepare three cocktails for one of the BAR instructors and a one hundred question exam including a blind tasting portion. Students prep prior to this one-day event with four weeks of study that include four online quizzes.

Bringing this concept one step closer to home and making it even easier to access, Pernod-Ricard and the BAR Instructors created BarSmarts WIRED, an online version of the BarSmarts Advanced Class.

Through BarSmarts WIRED, participants complete assignments, take exams and gain certification at home or in their work environment during the specified two-month window.

This online version of BarSmarts covers the same topics that the live version does, only allowing the participant to take part from the comfort of their own home. Making it easy for any bartender or spirits enthusiast to expand their spirits knowledge and learn how a spirit is made and how to properly pick apart flavor notes in a spirit, as well as expand and gain new insight into classic recipes and bar techniques.

The cost of the program is $45 and includes a BarSmarts branded bag and bar tools, which will be sent to all registered participants. While not currently open for sign-up, BarSmarts WIRED will be re-opening on February, 1st 2010.

So if you have someone in the family that’s a bartender or appreciates the craft of cocktails, think about getting them a late holiday gift in BarSmarts WIRED.

For additional information, visit http://www.barsmarts.com

Glenlivet, normally known for their subtle but elegant whiskys, decided to create an unfiltered series of bottlings known as the Nadurra Collection.

The Nadurra collection is available in both a 16 year offering as well as a bottling from 1991. We decided to take a look at the 16 year Nadurra.

Glenlivet chose to age the Nadurra line in American Oak barrels as they do with the rest of their offerings, though with the Nadurra line they bottle at natural cask strength.

Nadurra, when translated in Gaelic means “natural”. This process of bottling the Nadurra unfiltered definitely shows itself in the spirit. Nadurra is not your typical example of Glenlivet, with most of my experiences with Glenlivet having been of the softer varieties such as their twelve year bottling, the Nadurra took me by surprise.

As I took my first taste of the Nadurra I was blindsided unexpectedly with minor notes of peat. This was followed up by hints of cocoa, and a slightly sweet orange cream, that played along side the palate with hints of ginger.
Upon adding water, notes of caramel seem to begin to jump out leading to a perfectly balanced finish of light peat and baked apples.

For anyone whose a whisky fan or who holds Glenlivet in a special place in their heart or on their shelf, take a look at the Nadurra offering. You’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Final Score: 9.0/10

The biggest testament I can give to J.A. Henckel’s Twin Cermax knives is they survived two months of heavy use and transportation in my bar kit.

My goal with taking a look at these knives was to find a set of two knives that would cover all the needs of today’s bartender or mixologist. With the set of the Twin Cermax 6 inch Utility Knife and the 8 inch Chef’s Knife I found just that. With both knives built so well you’ll never have to worry about reaching for someone else’s knife or being unprepared for any normally difficult to cut ingredient such as a pineapple, watermelon.

With that said and done, these two Henckel knives have survived the following memorable experiences with me.

The Bar Smarts Live Class

Prep for several hundred cocktails to be served at Whiskeyfest NY 2009

A book launch party for Brian Van Flandern’s new cocktail book, Vintage Cocktails.
(In which several hundred drinks were served over the course of three hours. This involved a great deal of prep at which time the knives did not fail me once.)

Several United States Bartender Guild Events

Prep for several hours and several dozen bartenders creating on the fly cocktails at a “Cocktail Jam” at Astor Center.

And of course several months of becoming my go to knives for any prep work needed prior to testing out recipes for A Muddled Thought

Throughout each of these events and experiences, neither of these knivesever failed me.

The quality and build of everything from the blade down to the very handle of the knives is built to last and to survive anything thrown at them.

J.A. Henckel Twin Micro Pairing Knife 6inch Pairing Knife-Retail Price:$169.99

J.A. Henckel Twin Micro 8 Inch Chef’s Knife-Retail Price:$189.99

Cocktail Jam Pictures Courtesy:Leo Borovskiy of Lush Life NY.

How can you go wrong with giving that whisky-loving friend or family member a four-bottle selection of some of the most unique whisky bottlings currently available?

This holiday packaging of Glenmorangie includes the Glenmorangie Original, aged at ten years, the Nectar D’Or aged in casks previously used to age Bordeaux wine, the Lasanta aged in Sherry Casks, and the Quinta Ruban, aged in barrels previously used to age Ruby Port in Portugal. Instead of packaging four 750ml bottles to create a offering that would be priced at around two hundred dollars, Glenmorangie decided to create a four pack of 100ml samplers that is priced at around $59.95. A full bottle of each spirit ranges between $49.95-$59.95.

Glenmorangie Original:

To age its original line, Glenmorangie uses American white oak casks that were previously used by American bourbon distilleries for up to four years before it begins to rest its whiskey in the casks.

This creates a spirit that starts off with light hints of smoke. The spirit then makes the journey across your taste buds from something that started with characters of smoke to introducing notes of fig, the heavy presence of orange zest, subtle hints of vanilla coupled with dried raisins, and nutmeg. As you finish that sip, those notes of orange zest come back for a second visit.

Final Score- 8.5/10

Glenmorangie Nectar D’or:

By aging its Nectar D’or in barrels once used to age Bourdeaux barrels, Glenmorangie creates a bottling that starts with a nose of sweet sherry. Following up this impressive sweetness filled nose are flavors of vanilla bean, that are joined by characters of nutmeg, hints of spice, nuances of orange cream, and lemon zest.
The lemon zest plays with the rest of these flavors in an almost whimsical way. All these flavors combine to create a spirit that ends with a sweet, yet light sugary finish. Whereas some whiskies are known for harshness, the Glenmorangie Nectar D’or falls on the other side of the spectrum.

Final Score: 9/10.

Glenmorangie Lasanta:

As the Glenmorangie offering that’s aged in casks used to age Spanish sherry, Lasanta starts with a nose of mild cocoa, that’s just a mere tease of the flavors that are hidden within each sip.
Once you began to taste this spirit your palate is welcomed with hints of cinnamon, an almost black and white combination of cocoa and vanilla joined by nuances of espresso, with a creamy hazelnut finish.

Final Score: 9/10

Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban:
Surprise is the first thing that comes to mind when you first taste Quinta Ruban. As a spirit that starts off with aromas of sweet mint chocolate, it throws your taste buds for a spin. Quinta Ruban is a spirit that’s very straightforward in characters of chocolate mint that are joined by hints of ginger, pecans, and a sweet finish.
Quinta Ruban, is a spirit of sheer Brilliance… Ultimately a different breed of whiskey than I’ve come across before.

Final Score: 9/10

With such an impressive selection of different whiskies in the Glenmorangie four pack, it would make a great gift for any whiskey lover that you’re looking to surprise this holiday.

With the holidays approaching, we decided to take a look at some items that if we received we’d be very pleased with.

This list covers all range of spirits and mixology fans, whether your looking for a gift for your favorite bartender such as Japanese barware, a book to get a friend started exploring and learning how to make cocktails at home, or a unique spirit that you’d think would make a great gift for that spirit enthusiast in the family, we’ve got everything covered here.

So over the next 12 days, we’ll be posting a new gift recommendation each day.