Floral Absinthe Frappe

As I mentioned in a previous post, I am a big-time absinthe dork. While I will be saving the in-depth absinthe education for another post, I wanted to share a simple absinthe drink for those of you who live in an area where absinthe is readily available at your local drinking and dining establishments.

Oftentimes, well-meaning bars and restaurants, eager to jump on the absinthe bandwagon, will lack the equipment and knowledge to make a properly louched absinthe for customers. Enter the absinthe frappe. Armed with this simple recipe, you can order a properly diluted and sweetened absinthe drink from any establishment that has the requisite main ingredient--absinthe.

As an aside, this particular absinthe frappe recipe uses orange flower water and Peychaud's Bitters, which can be omitted if one desires only a basic absinthe drink, and uses no ice in the glass, as is traditional for a louched absinthe. One may always add ice to this drink, but I would suggest decreasing the amount of water in the shaker if this is the case, as the ice will melt as you imbibe, further diluting your absinthe.

Judy's Floral Absinthe Frappe
1-1.5 oz absinthe (My recommendations for US available absinthes include Marteau, Pacifique, Walton Waters, and Meadow of Love.
3 oz water
1 tsp simple syrup
1 scant tsp orange flower water
2-3 dashes of Peychaud's bitters
Shake in a cocktail shaker with plenty of ice and strain into a highball glass.

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