the Gin is IN

Gin from an American perspective, since 2009.
Cocktails

Cocktails for Christmas:the Pine Needle Press

Dec
24
Posted in Cocktails 0

Sorry, no video for today’s cocktail. But bare with me: this is a good one. Chris Grant of the now closed Belly in Portland, Oregon created the Pine Needle Press. 2 1/4-inch thick cucumber slices, one diced and one reserved as a garnish 1 1/2 ounces gin (I used Schlichte again) 3/4 ounces Douglas fir eau de vie 1/2 ounce lemon juice 1 ounce (barely) simple syrup Soda water This may sound crazy, especially as someone who drinks a lot of gin and tonics in the summer (especially garnished with cucumber), but this cocktail comes out strong on the cucumber [...]

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Cocktails for Christmas: Cascadia Fizz

Dec
21
Posted in Cocktails 1

Christmas is nearly upon us, and if you’re drinking like we are, you likely still have a half full bottle of Douglas Fir Eau De Vie to help you get in the Christmas spirit. Today’s recipe I’ve seen floating around the internet and can be attributed to King Ferstein at Park Kitchen in Portland, Oregon.   The Recipe 1 ounce Douglas fir eau de vie 1/2 ounce absinthe (or pastis) 1/2 ounce gin 1 ounce pasteurized egg whites 1 teaspoon simple syrup Its a nice looking cocktail with one difficult ingredient: the pasteurized eggs. I didn’t have any on hand, and [...]

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Cocktails for Christmas: The Douglas Fir Gimlet

Dec
19
Posted in Cocktails 0

I recently reviewed Clear Creek’s Douglas Fir Eau De Vie, and declared it “a perfect drink for the holidays.” So for Christmas 2011, we’re going to look at a few ways that other mixologists have put this liqueur to work.  Today’s Christmas cocktail is the Douglas Fir Gimlet as featured in the New York Times, as created by Audrey Sanders of New York’s Pegu Club. The original recipe: Douglas Fir Gimlet 1½ ounces Tanqueray gin ½ ounces Clear Creek Douglas Fir eau de vie ¾ ounces Fresh lime juice ½ ounces Simple syrup ½ ounces Homemade grapefruit syrup Now this [...]

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Variations on the Aviation: Moonlight Cocktail

Dec
16
Posted in Cocktails 0

Maybe I was a bit harsh on Gary Regan’s Aviation without Creme De Violette. But here is my favorite variation, and a cocktail that I actually like better than the Aviation in general. The cocktail recipe comes from a Gary Regan piece in the San Francisco Gate. 1.5 oz gin .5 oz. Cointreau .5 oz.Creme De Violette .5 oz. Fresh squeeze lime juice This is an exquisite cocktail. The lime is sharper than lemon and I think a more complimentary flavor with gin in the first place. The Cointreau provides a more focused counterpoint. Where I think the cherry flavor [...]

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Variations on the Aviation: Blue Moon Cocktail

Dec
15
Posted in Cocktails 0

The Blue Moon cocktail is from Ted Haigh’s Vintage Spirits and Forgotten Cocktails 2 oz. dry gin (I used Bulldog Gin) 1/2 oz. Crème Yvette or crème de violette 1/2 oz. fresh lemon juice This variation leaves out the Maraschino, Definitely tastes a bit more violet like than the regular aviation, but I think the Lemon was a bit overpowering.  

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Aviation Cocktail w/ Spring 44 Gin

Dec
14
Posted in Cocktails 2

2 oz. gin 1/2 oz. Maraschino 1/2 oz. Lemon Juice 1/4 oz. Creme De Violette Stir, serve straight up in a martini glass. On this Cocktail: It deviates a bit from my “preferred” Aviation, but let me talk through this one for a second. Spring 44 Gin is a nice balancing point between New American and London Dry style. Enough Juniper and hints of floral notes.  I added more Maraschino in this case, hoping to balance the floral notes in the gin. I also didn’t shake it, because it let the Creme de Violette fade a bit more into the background. [...]

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Cocktails by Consensus: The Aviation

Dec
13
Posted in Cocktails, Cocktails by Consensus 2

The first thing to address when discussing the Aviation is Creme de Violette’s absence from the market. This led to the creation of an Aviation variation that lacked the floral notes and balance that the Violet brings to the cocktail. Gary Regan’s variation is an admirable try, but it doesn’t come close to the cocktail as originally envisioned. Tasting Notes: Regan’s variation is rather strong. The lemon is a bit overpowering, and its a difficult to balance cocktail. The Maraschino adds a perceived strength to the cocktail. Although a Liqueur and only 32% alcohol- it tastes stronger than its proof. [...]

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Aviation Week!

Dec
12
Posted in Cocktails 2

Its the holidays. Perhaps you were expecting a holiday gift guide, or maybe the construction of some elaborate gin themed holiday staple (like a gin tree? like a gin-vent calendar?). I’m sorry to disappoint, but instead- bare with me here. I thought, let’s take a look at one of the most fabulous cocktails in the gin lover’s repertoire: the Aviation cocktail. The Aviation is a fantastic cocktail for a few reasons. One, although its a gin drink, the violet + lemon combination is such a far cry from the bitterness of Gin and Tonic, that often times people are surprised [...]

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The Vesper w/ Bombay Sapphire East

Dec
01
Posted in Cocktails 1

This is a stunning cocktail that highlights the strong flavors of Bombay Sapphire East. The peppercorn is nicely complimented by the subtle bitterness of the Lillet. The particular reason why I chose to make this with east is because Bombay Sapphire excels at making a drinkable martini. The Vesper is rather close to a martini, but is somewhat diluted by the addition of the vodka. The Penn 1681 vodka* is smooth, so it makes a nice compliment and maintains the drinkability of the gin-but the East has the power to stand out still even when somewhat “watered**” down. Overall, the [...]

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Cocktails by Consensus: Vesper

Nov
27
Posted in Cocktails, Cocktails by Consensus 0

Many cocktails have disputed origins. Bartenders, authors, historians all argue over where a drink came from- what the quantities were and what they should be now. Cocktailologists get out their slide rules and star converting pony glasses into ounces. But other cocktails have obvious origins, such as the Vesper. It was created by Ian Fleming’s James Bond character in his first novel Casino Royal. Tru to Flleming’s vision the version of the Vesper that most cocktail expert prescribe is identical to the one that Bond ordered. As we see in the table below, there truly is some sort of consensus [...]

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