In the freezer now, i currently have two vodka-infusions going on. The first is a carawawy-infused vodka (using some not-so-great-tasting Luksusowa vodka) - it's a simple infused vodka with a tiny bit of sugar-syrup added to it. The second is a double-infused vodka. I started out with a bottle of Smirnoff vanilla and added a finger of fresh ginger - sliced and crushed to help bring out the juices.
Why double-infuse in the first place? Well, it might seem like a silly idea, depending on what kind of double-infusion you're doing. (1) Double-infusion could simply consist in infusing the vodka once - and then infusing it again using different ingredients after you've infused it the first time. (2) Then again, it could also involve re-infusing the vodka in the same type of ingredients (replacing it with fresh ingredients of the same type) to achieve a more pronounced flavor. (3) The kind of double-infusion i seem to be going for is one in which you take a pre-bottled infused vodka (Smirnoff Vanilla) and then infuse it with a new flavor that you pick out yourself (in my case Ginger).
Method one has problems because (depending on the ingredient are using) you can sometimes end up adding too much water weight to the infused vodka - thus bringing the proof down too much. Especially if you're infusing in fruit, you might end up with a product that is weaker than you'd like. Of course you could just go for some higher-proof vodka, but that can sometimes mean (if you're not rich) that you end up going for cheap vodka. Method two has the same type of problem. Method three seems perfect i suppose in the case that you want to make a two-flavored vodka - and a flavored vodka already exists that has one of the components (and you like how it tastes). I guess that's what has happened with this ginger-vanilla infused vodka that i'm storing in the freezer at the moment. (Of course, you could try and make a SUPER-INFUSED vodka by taking a flavored vodka and then infusing it again with the same flavor!)
Of course, why not make a ginger-infused vodka and then mix it in with Smirnoff vanilla in a shaker? Or why not simply just put french ginger AND a vanilla bean into a bottle of plain vodka? Good questions. I guess i just didn't like the idea of a solely ginger-infused vodka - i just don't see the point of it. Ginger-vanilla on the other hand just sounds more appetizing. I suppose there's also the oft-cited claim that flavors need time to "marry" together. I don't know how much I believe that, but sure it sounds possible. Regarding the other question - i just don't have enough money to spend on vanilla beans - so taking a pre-bottled vanilla vodka seemed like a good idea. Another reason is that you get to control the ratio of flavors if you infuse flavors separately. After all, once you've stuck the vanilla bean and ginger into the bottle, the flavor ratio will remain the same no matter how long you let it sit. Infusing in stages lets you control the ratio better - and infusing using a pre-prepared infused vodka means that one of the elements is already set. So, you can see why it might make sense. Anyway, i think the concept of double-infusing - using pre-infused store-bought vodka sounds like a fun idea, so we'll see how it comes out.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Brandied Cherries - Maraschino Cherries
So, a few days ago, i tried making a few different ingredients for my home bar - ingredients that i could use in cocktails that go in my home bar menu. (I'll try and post on that later). One of the ingredients was brandied cherries. Brandied cherries (at least the recipe that i half-followed from Saveur) take about 6 weeks to prepare, so i won't be able to taste them for a while, but i wanted to post some thoughts about them and maraschino cherries before i try them out. Of course, i'm interested in both, because both of them make fabulous additions to Manhattans.
Maraschino cherries are now technically sweet cherries that are produced by a process of brining which leeches the cherry of its color - they are then soaked in food coloring and flavorings to produce the bright red cherries that you see in the bottle. Of course, since the food coloring provides the main color to the cherry, you can basically have maraschino cherries of any color you want (and they do - although i forgot the maker). The name "Maraschino" actually derives from Croatia, where the people there use the Marasca cherry to make a liqueur called "Maraschino" (although there is another company called Marasca that makes a similar cherry-liqueur as well). This is interesting in part becase Marasca cherries are considered a type of sour cherry (actually they are described as kinda bitter) whereas the cherries used in maraschino cherries are a type of sweet cherry.
The difference between sweet and sour cherries is significant. One of the differences is obviously the taste. Another is sexual - sweet cherries are not self-fertile (capable of self-pollinating) whereas sour cherries are. Texture is another issue - apparently sweet cherries remain firmer when macerated in alcohol whereas sour cherries have a tendency to mush up. Last, sweet and sour cherries have different color characteristics - sour cherries have more of a habit of turning brown when exposed to light. I suspect it is these characteristics of sour cherries that probably led to the brining process for maraschino cherries - and then ultimately the switch to sweet cherries.
Brandied cherries are, basically, cherries that have been soaked in brandy. They are very different from maraschinos - and there are quite a few different recipes that i've found. One method of making them is more of a "cook's" method of making them - it involves simply cooking cherries in sugar syrup and then adding a small amount of brandy to give them an extra kick. On the complete other end of the spectrum (i suppose i mean the "bartender's method") is Gary Regan who simply suggests soaking cherries for a significant period of time in a mixture of brandy and a little vermouth. Of course, other version can involve using an alcohol other than brandy (say Maker's Mark - sold in stores). Then again, there is something special about the combination of brandy and fruit. The version that i saw - and am trying out - calls for marinating a pound of cherries for six weeks in a mixture of 2 cups brandy to 1 cup sugar. The nice thing about THIS recipe that you don't get from other recipes is that you ALSO get a nice batch of cherry-flavored brandy - a brandy that they say you can serve in glasses with the cherries.
Now, I never tried this recipe - in part because i'm suspicious of sugar's ability to dissolve in that little brandy (at least without cooking). So, i'm trying out a slightly different recipe - and i'll let you know how it turns out:
1 pound cherries
2 cups alcohol (preferably brandy - i used a mix of brandy and vodka)
1 cup simple syrup (1/2 sugar and 1/2 water)
So, hopefully at the end of this, i will have a nice batch of brandied cherries AND a nice batch of cherry liqueur as well.
Maraschino cherries are now technically sweet cherries that are produced by a process of brining which leeches the cherry of its color - they are then soaked in food coloring and flavorings to produce the bright red cherries that you see in the bottle. Of course, since the food coloring provides the main color to the cherry, you can basically have maraschino cherries of any color you want (and they do - although i forgot the maker). The name "Maraschino" actually derives from Croatia, where the people there use the Marasca cherry to make a liqueur called "Maraschino" (although there is another company called Marasca that makes a similar cherry-liqueur as well). This is interesting in part becase Marasca cherries are considered a type of sour cherry (actually they are described as kinda bitter) whereas the cherries used in maraschino cherries are a type of sweet cherry.
The difference between sweet and sour cherries is significant. One of the differences is obviously the taste. Another is sexual - sweet cherries are not self-fertile (capable of self-pollinating) whereas sour cherries are. Texture is another issue - apparently sweet cherries remain firmer when macerated in alcohol whereas sour cherries have a tendency to mush up. Last, sweet and sour cherries have different color characteristics - sour cherries have more of a habit of turning brown when exposed to light. I suspect it is these characteristics of sour cherries that probably led to the brining process for maraschino cherries - and then ultimately the switch to sweet cherries.
Brandied cherries are, basically, cherries that have been soaked in brandy. They are very different from maraschinos - and there are quite a few different recipes that i've found. One method of making them is more of a "cook's" method of making them - it involves simply cooking cherries in sugar syrup and then adding a small amount of brandy to give them an extra kick. On the complete other end of the spectrum (i suppose i mean the "bartender's method") is Gary Regan who simply suggests soaking cherries for a significant period of time in a mixture of brandy and a little vermouth. Of course, other version can involve using an alcohol other than brandy (say Maker's Mark - sold in stores). Then again, there is something special about the combination of brandy and fruit. The version that i saw - and am trying out - calls for marinating a pound of cherries for six weeks in a mixture of 2 cups brandy to 1 cup sugar. The nice thing about THIS recipe that you don't get from other recipes is that you ALSO get a nice batch of cherry-flavored brandy - a brandy that they say you can serve in glasses with the cherries.
Now, I never tried this recipe - in part because i'm suspicious of sugar's ability to dissolve in that little brandy (at least without cooking). So, i'm trying out a slightly different recipe - and i'll let you know how it turns out:
1 pound cherries
2 cups alcohol (preferably brandy - i used a mix of brandy and vodka)
1 cup simple syrup (1/2 sugar and 1/2 water)
So, hopefully at the end of this, i will have a nice batch of brandied cherries AND a nice batch of cherry liqueur as well.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
The Prairie Oyster - Cowboy Bebop
There was an episode of a Japanese Anime called Cowboy Bebop that features a drink called a "Prairie Oyster" - a drink that is used as a hangover cure. The drink is special in that it features a raw egg-yolk - obviously meant as a way to provide nutrition to the hungover person to make them feel better. Anyway, i've been looking for official versions of the recipe and have found only four(one which i have tried to determine by watching the Anime). Obviously, for whatever version you try, you should always make sure to use FRESH eggs. (Especially for the Chow.com version that uses a WHOLE egg - as salmonella is more a problem for egg whites than egg yolks). Methods for drinking the prairie oyster also seem to differ.
For a slightly safer version, you can do what i would do, and take the Schumann version of the prairie oyster, and simply poach the egg yolk in simmering water (you can use a slotted spoon) for about 10 seconds (or to your liking). Then dig in with the spoon and enjoy!
From Drinkstreet.com:
1 tsp worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp tomato juice
1 whole egg yolk
2 dashes vinegar
1 dash pepper
Pour in order given into a wine glass, taking care not to break the yolk.
(Drinkstreet commentators suggest taking the entire drink in one gulp).
From American Bar - by Charles Schumann:
olive oil
1-2 tbsp tomato ketchup
1 egg yolk
salt, pepper
tabasco
worcestershire sauce
vinegar or lemon juice
Rinse a cocktail glass with olive oil, place ketchup in glass, carefully add egg yolk, and season. (Serve with a small spoon and a glass of ice water).
(Assumedly, Schumann is suggesting that you eat the concoction with the spoon).
From Cowboy Bebop:
1 egg yolk
tabasco
worcestershire sauce
pepper
1 oz of clear liquid (a bottle of gin is in the background, but he pours what appears to be bottled water).
layer the ingredients in an old-fashioned glass in order given. hold your nose and swallow in a single gulp. (of course, the clear liquid may be gin - so i suppose you could make it with any liquor at all).
From Chow.com:
1 whole egg
1 oz vodka
2 dashes vinegar
1 tsp worcestershire
1 tsp ketchup
2 dashes tabasco
pinch of salt and pepper
layer in order in an old-fashioned glass and drink in one gulp.
From Esquire Magazine:
1 whole egg
1 tsp worcestershire
salt and pepper
dashes tabasco
layer in order in an old-fashioned glass and drink in one gulp.
For a slightly safer version, you can do what i would do, and take the Schumann version of the prairie oyster, and simply poach the egg yolk in simmering water (you can use a slotted spoon) for about 10 seconds (or to your liking). Then dig in with the spoon and enjoy!
From Drinkstreet.com:
1 tsp worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp tomato juice
1 whole egg yolk
2 dashes vinegar
1 dash pepper
Pour in order given into a wine glass, taking care not to break the yolk.
(Drinkstreet commentators suggest taking the entire drink in one gulp).
From American Bar - by Charles Schumann:
olive oil
1-2 tbsp tomato ketchup
1 egg yolk
salt, pepper
tabasco
worcestershire sauce
vinegar or lemon juice
Rinse a cocktail glass with olive oil, place ketchup in glass, carefully add egg yolk, and season. (Serve with a small spoon and a glass of ice water).
(Assumedly, Schumann is suggesting that you eat the concoction with the spoon).
From Cowboy Bebop:
1 egg yolk
tabasco
worcestershire sauce
pepper
1 oz of clear liquid (a bottle of gin is in the background, but he pours what appears to be bottled water).
layer the ingredients in an old-fashioned glass in order given. hold your nose and swallow in a single gulp. (of course, the clear liquid may be gin - so i suppose you could make it with any liquor at all).
From Chow.com:
1 whole egg
1 oz vodka
2 dashes vinegar
1 tsp worcestershire
1 tsp ketchup
2 dashes tabasco
pinch of salt and pepper
layer in order in an old-fashioned glass and drink in one gulp.
From Esquire Magazine:
1 whole egg
1 tsp worcestershire
salt and pepper
dashes tabasco
layer in order in an old-fashioned glass and drink in one gulp.
On Bottled Cocktails
So, i've read in a few places about the concept of the bottled cocktail. After seeing the concept written about in Gary Regan's great book "The Joy of Mixology" i decided to try it out myself at a cocktail party that i hosted a few months ago.
The basic idea behind the bottled cocktail is that you mix a larger batch of a particular drink (say a Manhattan) and then add a certain amount of water to the batch to account for the amount of water that would have melted in the shaker had you mad it the traditional way. After this, the bottled cocktail is then chilled in the freezer (or in the back part of the fridge) to the temperature it would have been at had it been made the traditional way. After you've accomplished all this, all you need to do is present the bottles in a chilled bin of ice and accompany it with a set of pre-chilled glasses for enjoyment. The guests can pour drinks themselves, and instead of spending all your time mixing drinks, you can mingle with your guests.
Each 750 ml bottle should hold roughly 5 drinks. So in order to make the bottled cocktail, you take any cocktail recipe that serves 1, multiply all of the ingredients by five, and then add water. How much water? Gary Regan states that "the amount of water in the recipe should be approximately equal to one-third of the sum of the other ingredients". So, say that the ingredients in the recipe add up to 15 oz. In this case, you simply add 5 oz of water and VOILA! you have a bottled cocktail.
Sounds pretty easy, doesn't it? But there are a few suggestions that might help you if you ever try to pull off a bottled cocktail party.
Before i get to that, first an observation about the concept itself. One of the oft-overlooked problems with bottled cocktails are that they are decidedly a lot more frumpy than individually made cocktails. Not only do you miss out on the presentation-flair aspect of making each cocktail individually, but the concept itself is one that can turn off your patrons. They have (and will) think that these bottled cocktails just aren't the same thing as the "real thing" that they got at the bar (or would've gotten if individually made). A lot of this can be dealt with - at least to a degree - by choosing which cocktails you decide to bottle. You should never bottle cocktails that cocktail aficionados would order - and you should never bottle cocktails that usually involve making the drink to taste. So, you should never try bottled martinis (gin or vodka) or bottled manhattans. Not only do they take all the perceived class out of the drink, but you won't be able to make them to everyone's taste.
Some other suggestions:
(1) Use clear bottles. Don't do what i did and use a set of dark green Pellegrino bottles. They can't see what's inside and it makes them less comfortable trying it out.
(2) Provide paper-towels. This sounds odd, but bottled cocktails (when stored in ice) will drip a LOT of water. Make sure to wipe the bottles before you pour to prevent excess water from getting into the drink. Otherwise it can be quite messy.
(3) Only make more popular drinks - preferably ones that they've heard of before. This is not the time to try making some new drink - unless you're sure that its of a type that your patrons will enjoy. You don't want to do what i did and end up with a whole bottle-full of some chocolate-coffee-banana concoction that your friends wouldn't touch.
(4) Have beer on-hand. Wine drinkers will be more likely to try cocktails, but beer drinkers won't touch the stuff no matter how you make it. Keep something around for them to drink so they don't die of thirst.
(5) Make a variety. Don't make drinks that are too similar to one another. Of course, on the other hand, don't make too many different types of drinks either - otherwise you'll be left with a lot of extra. Plan ahead to make sure you're making the right amount.
(6) Clearly label each drink and the ingredients that go into it. Labeling everything clearly will make them less suspicious of what's in the drink. If you used specialty ingredients, that's even better. It helps to combat those people who automatically will think that the same drink at the bar is superior.
That's all i can think of - at least from the experience that i had with a bottled-cocktail party. That said, bottled-cocktails ARE useful for the home bar when you want to entertain the occasional guest. Bottled-cocktails KEEP FOR A LONG TIME IN THE FRIDGE, and so they are perfect for pouring yourself (or a friend) a drink every now and again. Unlike serving bottled-cocktails for parties, you don't have to deal with a bin of ice and the mess that goes with it.
The basic idea behind the bottled cocktail is that you mix a larger batch of a particular drink (say a Manhattan) and then add a certain amount of water to the batch to account for the amount of water that would have melted in the shaker had you mad it the traditional way. After this, the bottled cocktail is then chilled in the freezer (or in the back part of the fridge) to the temperature it would have been at had it been made the traditional way. After you've accomplished all this, all you need to do is present the bottles in a chilled bin of ice and accompany it with a set of pre-chilled glasses for enjoyment. The guests can pour drinks themselves, and instead of spending all your time mixing drinks, you can mingle with your guests.
Each 750 ml bottle should hold roughly 5 drinks. So in order to make the bottled cocktail, you take any cocktail recipe that serves 1, multiply all of the ingredients by five, and then add water. How much water? Gary Regan states that "the amount of water in the recipe should be approximately equal to one-third of the sum of the other ingredients". So, say that the ingredients in the recipe add up to 15 oz. In this case, you simply add 5 oz of water and VOILA! you have a bottled cocktail.
Sounds pretty easy, doesn't it? But there are a few suggestions that might help you if you ever try to pull off a bottled cocktail party.
Before i get to that, first an observation about the concept itself. One of the oft-overlooked problems with bottled cocktails are that they are decidedly a lot more frumpy than individually made cocktails. Not only do you miss out on the presentation-flair aspect of making each cocktail individually, but the concept itself is one that can turn off your patrons. They have (and will) think that these bottled cocktails just aren't the same thing as the "real thing" that they got at the bar (or would've gotten if individually made). A lot of this can be dealt with - at least to a degree - by choosing which cocktails you decide to bottle. You should never bottle cocktails that cocktail aficionados would order - and you should never bottle cocktails that usually involve making the drink to taste. So, you should never try bottled martinis (gin or vodka) or bottled manhattans. Not only do they take all the perceived class out of the drink, but you won't be able to make them to everyone's taste.
Some other suggestions:
(1) Use clear bottles. Don't do what i did and use a set of dark green Pellegrino bottles. They can't see what's inside and it makes them less comfortable trying it out.
(2) Provide paper-towels. This sounds odd, but bottled cocktails (when stored in ice) will drip a LOT of water. Make sure to wipe the bottles before you pour to prevent excess water from getting into the drink. Otherwise it can be quite messy.
(3) Only make more popular drinks - preferably ones that they've heard of before. This is not the time to try making some new drink - unless you're sure that its of a type that your patrons will enjoy. You don't want to do what i did and end up with a whole bottle-full of some chocolate-coffee-banana concoction that your friends wouldn't touch.
(4) Have beer on-hand. Wine drinkers will be more likely to try cocktails, but beer drinkers won't touch the stuff no matter how you make it. Keep something around for them to drink so they don't die of thirst.
(5) Make a variety. Don't make drinks that are too similar to one another. Of course, on the other hand, don't make too many different types of drinks either - otherwise you'll be left with a lot of extra. Plan ahead to make sure you're making the right amount.
(6) Clearly label each drink and the ingredients that go into it. Labeling everything clearly will make them less suspicious of what's in the drink. If you used specialty ingredients, that's even better. It helps to combat those people who automatically will think that the same drink at the bar is superior.
That's all i can think of - at least from the experience that i had with a bottled-cocktail party. That said, bottled-cocktails ARE useful for the home bar when you want to entertain the occasional guest. Bottled-cocktails KEEP FOR A LONG TIME IN THE FRIDGE, and so they are perfect for pouring yourself (or a friend) a drink every now and again. Unlike serving bottled-cocktails for parties, you don't have to deal with a bin of ice and the mess that goes with it.
The Home Bartender's Vodka Challenge
I think everyone has a few friends that claim to be aficionados of "top-shelf" vodkas. If you are in the know, you probably have also read that article in the New York Times which designated Smirnoff (an American vodka) as being the tastiest vodka in town (over such vodkas as Grey Good and Belvedere). Since then, there's been some debate between my friends and i regarding whether top-shelf vodkas really are in fact top shelf. The problem is that most top-shelf aficionados are quite scared of one thing - doing a blind taste test which might reveal their pretense. This fear i think is what has driven a number of horribly designed faux-blind taste-tests that i've seen on the internet - the idea i think is that top-shelf aficionados will only do a blind taste-test if it's not really blind.
Can these alleged aficionados really tell the difference between top-shelf and non-top-shelf? Perhaps. What makes the question more difficult is that vodka itself is supposed to be partly defined as a liquor that has had virtually all of the taste sucked out of it. This is why you can have vodkas made from a variety of different materials (voignier grapes, various kinds of wheat, rice, corn, potatoes, etc...). As long as you've distilled and filtered the living shit out of the alcoholic liquid that you have (thus removing almost all of the taste), you have vodka. It makes things difficult, because it's not clear how these aficionados could easily tell the difference between top-shelf and non-top-shelf vodka. On top of this, i should note that it's the lack of taste in vodka that allows external factors such as marketing and price to affect the tasters impression of the quality of vodka. Vodka (in some sense) is specifically designed to be that drink for which marketing and price has its maximum impact!
Of course, there's the question of "burn". People who like top-shelf vodkas say that their vodka of choice has no "burn". This statement by itself is a little silly, in part, because there are lots of different kinds of "burn" when it comes to any alcohol. Some vodkas will have a "smooth" burn, while others will have a "rough" burn. Moreover, liquors will burn in different ways depending on how desensitized you have been to high-octane drinks. If you aren't used to high-octane drinks, then everything will "burn" - if you are used to them, then only your really horrible vodkas will "burn" in the rough sense. On top of this, some vodkas are preferred specifically because they have a kind of burn. A friend's mother claims that she wants to "taste vodka" when she drinks vodka - not taste water.
Why do i care so much about the observations that i've made so far? Part of it has to do with the fact that I have a number of top-shelf vodkas in my liquor cabinet and the people that do drink from my stash always want to drink the top-shelf vodkas. Now, i know what some of you will be thinking. Of course, the guest is always right, and as the host i should always be putting my top-shelf stuff on display. I think this is right to a point. One reason for not using top-shelf stuff is that one is making a mixed drink with strong flavors. Why does one not use top-shelf liquor in this case? Well, the idea, i take it, is that you can't tell the difference between top-shelf and non-top shelf once you mix Grey Goose in with Hawaiian Punch and Jagermeister. It's a waste of money and good liquor. Of course given this, you can see that this reasoning should also apply to serving top-shelf liquor by itself or in vodka martinis. If they can't tell the difference between top-shelf and non-top-shelf stuff when chilled, then you shouldn't pour them top-shelf stuff in these cases either. It would be JUST LIKE mixing Grey Goose with Jagermeister.
Keeping this in mind, i care about the above observations because i don't like it when expensive vodka goes to waste. Now, i'm not one to be horribly snobby and assume that my guests aren't able to tell the difference. Nor am i such a sucker for marketing that i'll assume that there is an actual difference between top-shelf and non-top shelf. What i am going to do is force all of my patrons to take a vodka taste test - a taste test that they must pass in order to reserve the right to order top-shelf liquor from my home bar.
Here are the rules:
(1) $5 entry fee to take the vodka taste-test. $5 will not be refunded upon one's passing the test.
(2) 6 vodkas will be chosen - each consisting of 1 shot of vodka. 5 of the vodkas will be chosen by the home bartender and will be of the non-top-shelf variety. 1 of the vodkas will be chosen by the test-taker and will be of the top-shelf variety.
(3) Taster will be required to rate each of the vodkas on a scale of 1 to 10 - 10 being vodka perfection and 1 being rubbing alcohol.
(4) Prior to tasting the taster can (at his discretion) choose to down one shot of Jim Beam to reduce the higher "burn" that normally accompanies the first shot of vodka.
(5) Vodkas will be poured in shot glasses of the same variety and coded with a numbering system to help the home-bartender identify each vodka. This is to say that the home-bartender will not know which vodkas are in which glass without looking at the numbering system. (the test will be double-blind).
(6) Vodkas will be chilled in the freezer for a period of 5 minutes prior to the tasting (i.e., they will not be chilled over ice).
(7) "Top-shelf" vodka will be defined as vodka that costs over 25$ per 750ml (based on the price of a standard 750ml bottle).
(8) "Top-shelf" vodkas that have a distinctive taste (such as Ciroc, or some potato vodkas) cannot be chosen as the top-shelf vodka, unless a similar list of 5 other vodkas can be found.
(9) Passage of test results in one's ability to order top-shelf vodka for a period of 3 months. Passage of test will also result in documentation of one's passing.
(10) Test is passed when the tester gives the "top-shelf" vodka the SOLE highest rating of all the vodkas imbibed.
(11) Test results will be published for the viewing of all.
(12) Passage of the test 4 times in a row will result in one's license being renewed indefinitely.
If anyone would like to modify or suggest rules, comment below.
Can these alleged aficionados really tell the difference between top-shelf and non-top-shelf? Perhaps. What makes the question more difficult is that vodka itself is supposed to be partly defined as a liquor that has had virtually all of the taste sucked out of it. This is why you can have vodkas made from a variety of different materials (voignier grapes, various kinds of wheat, rice, corn, potatoes, etc...). As long as you've distilled and filtered the living shit out of the alcoholic liquid that you have (thus removing almost all of the taste), you have vodka. It makes things difficult, because it's not clear how these aficionados could easily tell the difference between top-shelf and non-top-shelf vodka. On top of this, i should note that it's the lack of taste in vodka that allows external factors such as marketing and price to affect the tasters impression of the quality of vodka. Vodka (in some sense) is specifically designed to be that drink for which marketing and price has its maximum impact!
Of course, there's the question of "burn". People who like top-shelf vodkas say that their vodka of choice has no "burn". This statement by itself is a little silly, in part, because there are lots of different kinds of "burn" when it comes to any alcohol. Some vodkas will have a "smooth" burn, while others will have a "rough" burn. Moreover, liquors will burn in different ways depending on how desensitized you have been to high-octane drinks. If you aren't used to high-octane drinks, then everything will "burn" - if you are used to them, then only your really horrible vodkas will "burn" in the rough sense. On top of this, some vodkas are preferred specifically because they have a kind of burn. A friend's mother claims that she wants to "taste vodka" when she drinks vodka - not taste water.
Why do i care so much about the observations that i've made so far? Part of it has to do with the fact that I have a number of top-shelf vodkas in my liquor cabinet and the people that do drink from my stash always want to drink the top-shelf vodkas. Now, i know what some of you will be thinking. Of course, the guest is always right, and as the host i should always be putting my top-shelf stuff on display. I think this is right to a point. One reason for not using top-shelf stuff is that one is making a mixed drink with strong flavors. Why does one not use top-shelf liquor in this case? Well, the idea, i take it, is that you can't tell the difference between top-shelf and non-top shelf once you mix Grey Goose in with Hawaiian Punch and Jagermeister. It's a waste of money and good liquor. Of course given this, you can see that this reasoning should also apply to serving top-shelf liquor by itself or in vodka martinis. If they can't tell the difference between top-shelf and non-top-shelf stuff when chilled, then you shouldn't pour them top-shelf stuff in these cases either. It would be JUST LIKE mixing Grey Goose with Jagermeister.
Keeping this in mind, i care about the above observations because i don't like it when expensive vodka goes to waste. Now, i'm not one to be horribly snobby and assume that my guests aren't able to tell the difference. Nor am i such a sucker for marketing that i'll assume that there is an actual difference between top-shelf and non-top shelf. What i am going to do is force all of my patrons to take a vodka taste test - a taste test that they must pass in order to reserve the right to order top-shelf liquor from my home bar.
Here are the rules:
(1) $5 entry fee to take the vodka taste-test. $5 will not be refunded upon one's passing the test.
(2) 6 vodkas will be chosen - each consisting of 1 shot of vodka. 5 of the vodkas will be chosen by the home bartender and will be of the non-top-shelf variety. 1 of the vodkas will be chosen by the test-taker and will be of the top-shelf variety.
(3) Taster will be required to rate each of the vodkas on a scale of 1 to 10 - 10 being vodka perfection and 1 being rubbing alcohol.
(4) Prior to tasting the taster can (at his discretion) choose to down one shot of Jim Beam to reduce the higher "burn" that normally accompanies the first shot of vodka.
(5) Vodkas will be poured in shot glasses of the same variety and coded with a numbering system to help the home-bartender identify each vodka. This is to say that the home-bartender will not know which vodkas are in which glass without looking at the numbering system. (the test will be double-blind).
(6) Vodkas will be chilled in the freezer for a period of 5 minutes prior to the tasting (i.e., they will not be chilled over ice).
(7) "Top-shelf" vodka will be defined as vodka that costs over 25$ per 750ml (based on the price of a standard 750ml bottle).
(8) "Top-shelf" vodkas that have a distinctive taste (such as Ciroc, or some potato vodkas) cannot be chosen as the top-shelf vodka, unless a similar list of 5 other vodkas can be found.
(9) Passage of test results in one's ability to order top-shelf vodka for a period of 3 months. Passage of test will also result in documentation of one's passing.
(10) Test is passed when the tester gives the "top-shelf" vodka the SOLE highest rating of all the vodkas imbibed.
(11) Test results will be published for the viewing of all.
(12) Passage of the test 4 times in a row will result in one's license being renewed indefinitely.
If anyone would like to modify or suggest rules, comment below.
About Me
I am by no means a professional bartender. Of course, when you live in the city of Columbus, Ohio, that is probably a good thing. I won't say much about myself aside from the fact that i have a growing collection of alcohol and a wee bit of free time on my hands. That, and I want to document some of my experiments and observations for my own use - so this is as much a blog for my own purposes as it is for anyone else who cares to read it.
Why did i end up collecting all this liquor? Well, contrary to what someone might believe, I actually don't drink that much - the collection was built mostly to entertain other people. Unfortunately, since i don't drink that much and my friends (it turns out) don't drink very much either, the collection has grown larger and larger and now i have a bunch of alcohol that i could do a lot of things with, but i haven't yet. So part of the point of the blog is to figure out what to do with it - another related part is to figure out how to make my friends drink my alcohol.
A list of the liquors I have collected can be seen (link provided - probably on the side, if i did things correctly). I'm also doing an ongoing vodka experiment that I will be updated occasionally after it gets started.
Why did i end up collecting all this liquor? Well, contrary to what someone might believe, I actually don't drink that much - the collection was built mostly to entertain other people. Unfortunately, since i don't drink that much and my friends (it turns out) don't drink very much either, the collection has grown larger and larger and now i have a bunch of alcohol that i could do a lot of things with, but i haven't yet. So part of the point of the blog is to figure out what to do with it - another related part is to figure out how to make my friends drink my alcohol.
A list of the liquors I have collected can be seen (link provided - probably on the side, if i did things correctly). I'm also doing an ongoing vodka experiment that I will be updated occasionally after it gets started.
Friday, February 15, 2008
List of liquor by Category
Vodka:
Belvedere
Boru
Fris
Grey Goose
Ketel One
Kutsksova
Luksusowa
Monopolowa
Pearl
Reyka
Skyy
Smirnoff
Soyuz-Victan
Stawski
Stolichnaya
Svedka
Taaka Platinum
UV
Flavored Vodka:
Absolut - Mandrin
Absolut - Pears
Pearl - Plum
Seagram's - Citrus
Skyy - Melon
Smirnoff - Vanilla
Smirnoff - Blueberry
Smirnoff - Strawberry
Smirnoff - White Grape
Stoli - Blueberry
Stoli - Vanilla
Gin:
Beefeater
Bluecoat
Bombay Sapphire
Gordon's
Hendrick's
New Amsterdam
Plymouth
Seagram's Extra Dry
Tanqueray
Rum:
Appleton Estate VX (Jamaica)
Bacardi White (Puerto Rico)
Bacardi Gold (Puerto Rico)
Bacardi Reserve (Puerto Rico)
Cruzan Black Strap (Virgin Islands)
Malibu Coconut (Caribbean)
Malibu Mango (Caribbean)
Malibu Pineapple (Caribbean)
Malibu Passionfruit (Caribbean)
Mount Gay Eclipse - Gold (Barbados)
Pyrat XO (British West Indies)
Ten Cane (Trinidad)
Brandy:
Laird's Applejack
St. Remy VSOP
St. Remy XO
Whiskey - Canadian:
Canadian Club
Crown Royal
Whiskey - Bourbon:
Bulleit Bourbon
Jack Daniel's
Jim Beam - Regular (Bowling Pin)
Jim Beam - Green
Maker's Mark
Whiskey - Rye:
Old Overholt Rye Whiskey
Wild Turkey Kentucky Straight Rye
Whiskey - Scotch - Blended:
Chivas Regal
Whiskey - Scotch - Single-Malt:
Glenlivet 10 year - Highland, Speyside
Laphroaig 10 year - Islay
McCellalands (young) - Highland
Speyburn 10 yr - Highland, Speyside
Tequila:
1840 Silver
Patron Anejo
Vermouth:
King Eider - Dry
Lillet - Blanc
Martini & Rossi - Dry
Martini & Rossi - Sweet
Martini & Rossi - Bianco
Noilly Prat - Dry
Noilly Prat - Sweet
Vya - Extra Dry
Liqueurs - Proprietary:
Bailey's Irish Cream
Barenjager
Benedictine
Citronge - Patron
Cointreau
Copa de Oro Coffee Liqueur
Disaronno
Drambuie
Frangelico
Galliano
Goldschlager
Grand Marnier
Hypnotiq
Jagermeister
Kahana Royale - Macademia
Kahlua
Kahlua - French Vanilla
Luxardo Maraschino
Pama
Praline - Pecan Liqueur
Romana Sambuca
SOHO Lychee
Southern Comfort
Southern Comfort 100
St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur
Tiramisu - Italian Liqueur
Liqueurs - Other:
Colonial - Creme de Banana
Colonial - Sloe Gin
DeKuyper - Blue Island Pucker
DeKuyper - Bluesberry
DeKuyper - Cherry Pucker
DeKuyper - Creme de Cassis
DeKuyper - Creme de Cacao, Dark
DeKuyper - Creme de Menthe, Green
DeKuyper - Ginger Flavored Brandy
DeKuyper - Pomegranate
DeKuyper - Raspberry Pucker
DeKuyper - Thrilla Vanilla
DeKuyper - Watermelon Pucker
E&J - Cask and Cream
Hiram-Walker - Creme de Noyaux
Hiram-Walker - Grapefruit
Hiram-Walker - Pear
Hiram-Walker - Pomegranate
Paramount - Apricot Brandy
Paramount - Pomegranate
Mr. Boston - Amaretto
Mr. Boston - Black Raspberry
Mr. Boston - Creme de Cacao - White
Mr. Boston - Creme de Menthe - White
Mr. Boston - Melon Liqueur
Mr. Boston - Peach Schnapps
Mr. Boston - Sour Apple
Bitters - Potable and Other:
Angostura Bitters
Averna
Campari
China Martini
Fee Brothers Grapefruit Bitters
Fee Brothers Lemon Bitters
Fee Brothers Orange Bitters
Fee Brothers Peach Bitters
Fee Brothers Rhubarb Bitters
Orange Flower Water
Peychaud's Bitters
Yokaichi Mugi Shochu
Syrups:
Homemade Simple Syrup
Torani Raspberry Syrup
Other:
Feta-stuffed olives
Black oil-cured olives
Maraschino cherries
Belvedere
Boru
Fris
Grey Goose
Ketel One
Kutsksova
Luksusowa
Monopolowa
Pearl
Reyka
Skyy
Smirnoff
Soyuz-Victan
Stawski
Stolichnaya
Svedka
Taaka Platinum
UV
Flavored Vodka:
Absolut - Mandrin
Absolut - Pears
Pearl - Plum
Seagram's - Citrus
Skyy - Melon
Smirnoff - Vanilla
Smirnoff - Blueberry
Smirnoff - Strawberry
Smirnoff - White Grape
Stoli - Blueberry
Stoli - Vanilla
Gin:
Beefeater
Bluecoat
Bombay Sapphire
Gordon's
Hendrick's
New Amsterdam
Plymouth
Seagram's Extra Dry
Tanqueray
Rum:
Appleton Estate VX (Jamaica)
Bacardi White (Puerto Rico)
Bacardi Gold (Puerto Rico)
Bacardi Reserve (Puerto Rico)
Cruzan Black Strap (Virgin Islands)
Malibu Coconut (Caribbean)
Malibu Mango (Caribbean)
Malibu Pineapple (Caribbean)
Malibu Passionfruit (Caribbean)
Mount Gay Eclipse - Gold (Barbados)
Pyrat XO (British West Indies)
Ten Cane (Trinidad)
Brandy:
Laird's Applejack
St. Remy VSOP
St. Remy XO
Whiskey - Canadian:
Canadian Club
Crown Royal
Whiskey - Bourbon:
Bulleit Bourbon
Jack Daniel's
Jim Beam - Regular (Bowling Pin)
Jim Beam - Green
Maker's Mark
Whiskey - Rye:
Old Overholt Rye Whiskey
Wild Turkey Kentucky Straight Rye
Whiskey - Scotch - Blended:
Chivas Regal
Whiskey - Scotch - Single-Malt:
Glenlivet 10 year - Highland, Speyside
Laphroaig 10 year - Islay
McCellalands (young) - Highland
Speyburn 10 yr - Highland, Speyside
Tequila:
1840 Silver
Patron Anejo
Vermouth:
King Eider - Dry
Lillet - Blanc
Martini & Rossi - Dry
Martini & Rossi - Sweet
Martini & Rossi - Bianco
Noilly Prat - Dry
Noilly Prat - Sweet
Vya - Extra Dry
Liqueurs - Proprietary:
Bailey's Irish Cream
Barenjager
Benedictine
Citronge - Patron
Cointreau
Copa de Oro Coffee Liqueur
Disaronno
Drambuie
Frangelico
Galliano
Goldschlager
Grand Marnier
Hypnotiq
Jagermeister
Kahana Royale - Macademia
Kahlua
Kahlua - French Vanilla
Luxardo Maraschino
Pama
Praline - Pecan Liqueur
Romana Sambuca
SOHO Lychee
Southern Comfort
Southern Comfort 100
St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur
Tiramisu - Italian Liqueur
Liqueurs - Other:
Colonial - Creme de Banana
Colonial - Sloe Gin
DeKuyper - Blue Island Pucker
DeKuyper - Bluesberry
DeKuyper - Cherry Pucker
DeKuyper - Creme de Cassis
DeKuyper - Creme de Cacao, Dark
DeKuyper - Creme de Menthe, Green
DeKuyper - Ginger Flavored Brandy
DeKuyper - Pomegranate
DeKuyper - Raspberry Pucker
DeKuyper - Thrilla Vanilla
DeKuyper - Watermelon Pucker
E&J - Cask and Cream
Hiram-Walker - Creme de Noyaux
Hiram-Walker - Grapefruit
Hiram-Walker - Pear
Hiram-Walker - Pomegranate
Paramount - Apricot Brandy
Paramount - Pomegranate
Mr. Boston - Amaretto
Mr. Boston - Black Raspberry
Mr. Boston - Creme de Cacao - White
Mr. Boston - Creme de Menthe - White
Mr. Boston - Melon Liqueur
Mr. Boston - Peach Schnapps
Mr. Boston - Sour Apple
Bitters - Potable and Other:
Angostura Bitters
Averna
Campari
China Martini
Fee Brothers Grapefruit Bitters
Fee Brothers Lemon Bitters
Fee Brothers Orange Bitters
Fee Brothers Peach Bitters
Fee Brothers Rhubarb Bitters
Orange Flower Water
Peychaud's Bitters
Yokaichi Mugi Shochu
Syrups:
Homemade Simple Syrup
Torani Raspberry Syrup
Other:
Feta-stuffed olives
Black oil-cured olives
Maraschino cherries
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