Absinthe, For Your Entertainment

I just finished watching Adam Lambert's official video for his first single, For Your Entertainment. Regardless of what you think of Lambert, he is clearly a showman, and he works that angle fiercely in his first video. The song is a sly combination of enticing grooves paired with lyrics that insinuate that Lambert is both in complete control and at the same time simply here for our entertainment. The video's visuals are replete with symbolism, including a forbidden underworld along with snakes and apples at every turn evoking connotations of the Garden of Eden and partaking of forbidden fruit. At minute 2 in the video there is a brief shot of two nubile women drinking glasses of a green clear liquid, which appears to have been poured from the fountain shown at minute 2.30. And just what are these ladies drinking? Absinthe, of course.

As a Wormwood Society member and absinthe connoisseur (I've been drinking absinthe for over 3 years, have sampled over 40 absinthes, and am a member of the Wormwood Society's advisory board), I consider myself to be somewhat of an expert on the myths and facts about absinthe. Given my passion about the subject of absinthe, whenever I see absinthe being misrepresented or abused, I feel an obligation to speak out. In the case of Adam Lambert's video, there is both good and bad in the way that absinthe is portrayed.

Let's start with the good...
No fire. I can't tell you how grateful I am and how glad my heart is that in this video no absinthe is set on fire. True absinthe that is properly distilled should never be flamed. Doing so is damaging to the delicate flavors of absinthe (Would you set an expensive Pinot Noir on fire before you drink it?), is dangerous (Absinthe is highly flammable; more so than most spirits which are distilled to a lower proof.), and only serves to perpetuate false notions that absinthe is a drug and tastes terrible (Czechsinthe tastes terrible, to be sure, but true absinthe is a wonderful beverage).

On the other hand...
The absinthe fountain is incorrectly filled with absinthe. The video depicts a proper absinthe fountain being used; however, the set-up is all wrong. Rather than filling the fountain itself with absinthe, the fountain should be filled with ice water. The spigots of the fountain are then used to slowly drip cold water over a sugar cube that is held over the absinthe glass by a slotted absinthe spoon. This process of diluting the absinthe in the glass and the resultant clouding of the absinthe and water mixture is called louching. In the video it appears that the fountain is being used as an absinthe dispenser. If this were the case, the resulting drink would be undiluted and therefore undrinkable. Absinthe should always be louched before drinking, if one is interested in enjoying the beverage, as opposed to just getting drunk and forgoing any pleasure that is to be had.

My assumption is that no one filming the video has ever used an absinthe fountain before. It's an easy mistake to make, if you don't know what the equipment is for; however, this is no excuse for the improper preparation displayed in the video.

In the future I'll be writing more about absinthe and sharing my knowledge and opinions in this blog. For now, let's wrap up with today's take-home messages:
1) Friends don't let friends burn absinthe.
2) Always louche to a ratio of 1 part absinthe to 3-5 parts cold water before you drink.
3) Just say no to Czechsinthe.

Cheers! ~Dr. Cocktation

A Post-Thanksgiving Ramos Gin Fizz

I'm having my second Ramos Gin Fizz of the evening, and I realized that this is one of the most healthy beverages anyone can have. What other cocktail provides you with protein (from egg whites), calcium (from half-and-half), and plenty of vitamins (from lime and lemon juices)? Indeed, this drink is more like a healthy breakfast than a cocktail. The recipe I use is that of New Orleans bartender, Chris McMillian, from the Ritz-Carlton's Library Lounge.

Ramos Gin Fizz
1.5 oz gin (G'vigne or Plymouth is my recommendation)
2 oz half-and-half
one very fresh egg white
1/2 oz lemon juice
1/2 oz lime juice
1/8 oz orange flower water
2-3 drops Vanilla extract
1 oz simple syrup

Shake all ingredients vigorously in a shaker tin with NO ice for 1-2 minutes. Then add ice and shake again until it's so cold your hands hurt. Strain into a tall glass with no ice and add about 3 oz of sparkling water and stir. The resultant beverage should taste like a frothy, creamy sip of heaven.

Cheers! ~Dr. Cocktation

Highway 40/64 Grand Reopening Celebration Cocktail

Nearly every St. Louisan knows that for the past 2 years (or nearly that long) our beloved Highway 40 (or 64/40 as the powers that be are trying to get us to call it) has been closed for major repair and reconstruction. But on Monday, December 7th, 2009 the new highway will re-open. Thus, on the preceding Sunday, December 6th, there will be a grand celebration on the new stretch of highway, including a 5K race, and people will be permitted to walk and ride bikes on the highway before the ribbon cutting ceremony at 3pm.

For those planning to rise early next Sunday and brave the cold winter weather for the 5K, I believe a hot toddy is in order. Therefore, I have put my creative cocktail juices to work on a 40/64 toddy befitting of this chilly, yet momentous occasion. The following recipe lists ingredients and proportions for a single one-cup serving, but I recommend making it in larger batches and keeping it hot in a thermos. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you my 40/64 toddy! [insert applause here]

Highway 40/64 Toddy
3 oz camomile tea
4 oz apple cider
Simmer both for a few minutes with a cinnamon stick, a few allspice berries, a few cloves, and one small piece of candied ginger. Then add...
1.5 oz Applejack
1 tsp honey
1/4 oz Marteau absinthe (you could also use Duplais, Pacifique, or Clandestine)
Serve in a mug with a touch of freshly grated nutmeg on top, or if necessary to stave off freezing temperatures, drink directly from a thermos.

If you see me next weekend at the 40/64 Grand Opening, I will neither confirm nor deny that this beverage is in my thermos.

Cheers! ~Dr. Cocktation

Thanksgiving Wines

With Thanksgiving a mere 3 days away, it's time to clean the house, finish up the grocery shopping, and put the finishing touches on your menu. At my house, wine is always in integral part of the Thanksgiving meal. This year, I will be serving 3 wines with dinner--a red, a white, and a rose.

First, a note about rose wine. Forget the white Zinfandel or sweet blush wines. Dry rose has made its comeback, so if you tend to turn up your nose when you see pink in someone's wine glass, you may want to familiarize yourself with what today's roses have to offer before passing judgment.

For the red wine, I'll be serving the Evesham Wood 2008 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir. Pinot Noir is a classic Thanksgiving pairing, and the Evesham Wood is a value-driven pinot that really delivers, and I expect it to match well with the turkey itself and the mushroom and wild rice casserole I'm making.

The Trimbach 2005 Pinot Blanc is a white wine from Alsace that packs a lot of fruit (think tree fruits like apricot, peach, and pear) with good weight and acidity that makes for a good food wine. For guests who like whites, but need to branch out beyond oak-heavy Chardonnay, the Trimbach Pinot Blanc is a great option that will keep them coming back for more.

Don't let the stelvin closure (eek, a screw cap) on the aptly-named Turkey Flat 2007 Rose fool you. There is some serious Barossa Valley juice inside this bottle. Flavors of fresh, juicy strawberry with a spicy backbone and good acidity mean that this wine is the perfect choice for those who can't decide between red or white with dinner. If the idea of serving and/or drinking a pink wine makes you apprehensive, I encourage you to take a risk this Thursday and make Turkey Flat the second turkey on your Thanksgiving day table.

Cheers! ~Dr, Cocktation

Apple Brandy Old Fashioned & A Twist on the Caipirinha

I seem to enjoy making cocktails in twos, and tonight is no exception. First I created a variation on the Caipirinha, and decided to quickly name it...

Not Your Mama's Caipirhina
1/8th wedge of lemon, lime, and orange, muddled in a large shaker tin
1/2 oz Orgeat syrup
2 oz Leblon Cachaca
Fill shaker 1/2 full with ice
Shake and pour out all contents (fruit shells and ice) into a lowball glass

Using multiple citrus fruits, rather than just lime came from the Leblon room mixing lesson at 2009 Tales of the Cocktail. I also decided to substitute orgeat for the sugar, and found its flavors worked beautifully with the mix of citrus.

The Apple Brandy Old Fashioned is just a tweak of the Applejack Old Fashioned I discovered somewhere on the net last weekend. This Fall I have become enamored with Applejack, Calvados, and Apple Brandy and have been substituting with these spirits in a variety of whiskey and bourbon-based cocktails.

Apple Brandy Old Fashioned
1/8 wedge of orange muddled in a mixing glass
1 tsp of maple syrup
2 oz Clear Creek Eau de Vie de Pomme
3 dashes Fee Bros Old Fashioned Bitters
Stir with plenty of ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass

The apple flavor of the brandy pairs very well with the maple, hint of orange, and spiciness of the bitters. To put it simply, to me, this cocktail tastes like Fall.

Cheers! ~Dr. Cocktation

Something Old and Something New

Tonight, as I embark on a glorious 9-day-stretch of freedom from my day-job, I am working on both an old standby and a new creation. The old standby is the Brandy Alexander, and tonight's new creation is the Purple Haze. Both are creamy cocktails utilizing half-and-half. Although I tend to eschew the use of such indulgent ingredients in my day-to-day drinks, there is something about entering into the Holiday Season that almost grants me permission to throw my usual fat-conscious cautions to the wind.

Let's begin with the time-tested favorite--The Brandy Alexander
1 oz of Camus Cognac
1 oz creme de cacao
1 oz half-and-half
2 dashes Fee's Chocolate Bitters
Freshly grated nutmeg
Shake all ingredients over ice, and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with nutmeg.

Although I initially started with Robert Hess' recipe that calls for 1/2 oz more of brandy, I discovered that the equal balance ratio that I found in Harry and Wynn's Barflies and Cocktails: 300 Recipes(1927) more to my liking. The addition of the chocolate bitters happened just because I have them and thought, "What the heck." And you know what, it works.

Moving on to my new creation for this evening--The Purple Haze
1 oz Absolut Los Angeles vodka [Acai, Acerola, Pomegranate & Blueberry]
1 oz half-and-half
1/2 oz Chambord
2 dashes of Fee Bros Chocolate Bitters
3 dashes of Fee Bros Old Fashioned Bitters
1 coffee bean
Shake all ingredients over ice and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a dark cherry.

The inspiration for this cocktail was a co-worker mentioning her love of cocktails made with Chambord. I initially started this cocktail using Stoli Blakberi vodka, which gave the drink an odd, metallic taste. I found the Absolut LA worked much better in the drink and echoed the smooth, rich dark berry fruit flavors of the Chambord. I added the bitters to spice things up (literally and figuratively) and to add another dimension to the drink. And the coffee bean? I threw one it (locally roasted Kaldi's coffee to be exact) because I wanted to add a bit of a coffee oil note to the whole shebang.

Cheers! ~Dr. Cocktation

Simple Festive Holiday Drink (for those who aren't liquor snobs)

A good friend of mine recently asked for a simple cocktail suggestion that she could offer to family and friends for Thanksgiving to round out her holiday beverage offerings. Knowing that she lives in a state that has limited liquor available, and that she would like something that is simple (not a lot of cocktail shaking, lemon zesting, ice crushing etc), approachable (for guests who don't normally drink gin martinis and Sazeracs), and festive, I set aside my penchant for snobbery and complexity, and instead looked towards the simple option of mixing a flavored vodka with a sparkling juice.

I know that many classic cocktailers tend to turn up their noses at the word vodka, but in my individual opinion, well-made (i.e. Charbay, Square One, Hangar One) flavor infused vodkas can play a role in making a delicious yet simple drink that anyone can enjoy (if pretensions are laid aside).

Now that I've worked through my defensiveness, let's move on to the drink itself. For the sparkling juice, Trader Joe's sparkling Pomegranate, Blueberry, and Cranberry are great, flavorful, inexpensive options. When I first tested various flavor combinations I was surprised to find that like doesn't always mix well with like. For example, cranberry vodka mixed with cranberry sparkling juice is not delicious, but if you use pomegranate or blueberry juice, you've got a winner. I'm sure that some of the better sparkling apple ciders and grape juices would also work well with a well-made fruit vodka. Use your imagination, and don't forget the garnish. For those who aren't so adventurous, I'll recommend the following combination as an example:

1 oz Charbay Pomegranate vodka in a champagne flute
top with Trader Joe's sparkling Cranberry juice
drop a fresh cranberry in the glass

Cheers! ~Dr. Cocktation