Cool as a Cucumber 'neath a Sycamore Tree - Gini Hendrick's

I have my brother to thank for exposing me to the wonder that is Hendrick's Gin, a product of Scotland that tastes like no other Gin I have ever consumed.  A surprisingly crisp and clean "cucumbery" flavor that hints at rose water.  A far cry from the normal "London Dry" gin or "American" gin that tends to focus more on the Juniper Berry aspects which in some ways smells like Urine. (ick)   Don't get me wrong, I love gin, but it still smells funny.

I am aware that there is a cocktail out there referred to as a "Jimi" (named after Jimi Hendrix) which is constructed of muddled cucumber & lime with a dash of simple syrup and Hendrick's Gin all shaken over ice and served with a floating slice of cucumber (very Zen looking).  All designed to highlight the unusual cucumber laden quality of this particular distillate.  I however, feel that a little more simplicity is in order.

With the advent of "designer" soda, experimentation with flavors becomes a little easier.  Thus, armed with 2 cucumber sodas,  taste testing began.  I chose Mr. Q. Cumber and Dry's version of cucumber soda.  Now I have to tell you that I was a little leery in the beginning.  Most soda contains a ridiculous amount of sugar (39g per serving), though usually in the form of the "brain chemistry altering" substance known as High Fructose Corn Syrup, but I was relieved to see that Mr. Q contained a mere 22 g per serving (in the form of "sugar") with the Dry brand sporting a paltry 11g per serving (yet again, in the form of actual "sugar")   Yeah! 

The verdict - after making this drink a couple times I have come to the conclusion that the Dry Cucumber Soda is better, due to it's low sugar content.  The Mr. Q was good, but it was still just a touch too sweet.

So here it is. A simple, unassuming concoction of Cucumber soda and Hendrick's gin, to be sipped and enjoyed 'neath any tree you wish.

Gini Hendrick's

1 jigger (1 1/2 oz) Hendrick's Gin
Ice
4 oz Dry Cucumber Soda
1 Cucumber Slice
Fine Sea Salt
Cocktail Glass (large Martini Glass)

Fill a Cocktail Shaker with ice (Cracked ice works better), the add the Hendrick's Gin and Shake to chill (I usually keep my gin in the freezer next to the vodka)

Pour the chilled spirits into a equally chilled cocktail glass.

Top off with 3 1/2 to 4 oz of Dry Cucumber Soda or Mr. Q. Cumber Soda.

Sprinkle or dip a cucumber slice in sea salt

Hang the Cucumber slice from the side of the glass.

Enjoy!!

Crisp, clean and effervescent.  Your mouth will water after the first sip.

Cin Cin!!
~~

Ad 'Meyer' ing Ice - Meyer Lemon Drop

I suppose there are some things that are unavoidable. Taxes, car problems, & death are usually on the top of everyone's list, but I am speaking of the less tragic things. Like getting a bad hair cut, stubbing your toe when getting out of the shower or burning yourself on the stove. You know at some point it's gonna happen. Not that it's REALLY that big of a deal, but they are all unavoidable consequences of everyday living. So too is that fact that at some point, your gonna have to be served an alcoholic beverage in the infamous shee shee poo poo "cocktail glass".

Is there anything that could possibly be of a worse accident fostering design?

Seriously, it's like a miniature shallow bowl, balanced precariously on the end of a thin stem which is then filled to capacity with liquid, trusting surface tension to hold the contents in place, and indiscriminately handed to a customer who, unless it's the first one, has been imbibing a reflex dampening beverage. It's like flat out asking, "Please, allow me to dump this beverage down my front side" (sigh) Unavoidable...

Personally, I avoid such drinks that require the use of above said glass. Nope, no Cosmopolitan, Manhattan or Matadors for me. Nuh uh. However, there are 2 exceptions to this rule. Mainly because of the aromatic experience, which is what the glass is really designed for... (wet shirt aside) ...to direct the aromas of the drink towards your nose, creating a pleasing quaffing experience for your nasal passages. The 2 cocktails of which I speak are those citron laced classics known as the Side Car and the Lemon Drop.

I am going to focus on the Lemon Drop right now, because I am still trying to hunt down a good Armagnac for the side car (it can be made with bourbon, but it's best with Armagnac).

When I say Lemon Drop, I am not referring to the "shot" that has become popular of late. Though the preparation for that can range from a shot of Absolute Citron with a sugar coated lemon wedge to an actual mixed shot of Vodka and Sour mix (ick) with sugar on the rim of the shot glass. The actual cocktail is an inspired concoction for those in love with all things lemon, being modeled after the Old-Fashioned lemon drop candies, thus the combination of crystalline sugar and the intense lemon flavor. The only thing that can improve on the original is if you can get your hands on a precious Meyer Lemon.

The vodka I prefer for this is "Level", by the makers of Absolut, though it is distilled differently. I tend to avoid the prefab "infused" vodkas, because I don't really think they add any particularly stellar qualities in mixed drinks. OK, maybe the Absolut Peppar when preparing a Bloody Mary, but that is still pushing it. (Belvedere is better anyway) Level has subtle citrus & spice notes all on it's own without following the "Infusion trend", thus allowing it to truly stand out amongst other vodkas. Give it a go, you won't be disappointed.

Meyer Lemon Drop

1 Cocktail Glass (4 1/4 - 5 oz - Not the 10-12 oz over-sized ones)
1 Meyer Lemon Wedge (to rub on the rim, and to garnish)
Sugar on a plate, for rimming
2 oz Level Vodka
2 oz Meyer Lemon Juice
3/4 tsp Sugar (with regular lemon juice use 1 tsp)

Grab one of those dangerous cocktail glasses and place 2 TB of sugar on a plate.

Rub the rim VERY lightly with the wedge of lemon, don't get it too wet or you will have a gloppy mess on the rim.

Turn the glass upside down and set the rim into the sugar on the plate.

Voila, a perfect sugar rim.

Squeeze your Lemon juice and filter out the seeds (Meyer lemons have A LOT of seeds)

Place ice in glass part of the shaker

Add 3/4 tsp Sugar

Pour Meyer Lemon Juice over the sugar.

Then add Level Vodka. (preferably kept in the freezer, so it's nice and syrupy)

Pour into the metal shaker.

Shake vigorously.

Strain carefully, into your cocktail glass.

Garnish with a lemon wedge.

Lift the drink and experience the sweet/sour hit of the sugar, the floral smell of Meyer Lemon juice mixed with alluring citrus and exotic spices. mmmmm This is what a cocktail glass is for, with each sip, your nose goes deep into the glass.... breathing deep of the vibrant aroma.

And the best part, is that there is a luscious wedge of Meyer Lemon to consume at the end,

to cleanse the palate.

Cin Cin!!
~~

In the "Spirit" of German's Chocolate Cake

Normally I am not into sweet drinks, I tend towards raw liquors such as Crown rocks or Scotch and Soda, even Gin and Tonic (as long as there are no black lights around to cause the tonic water to glow). I have my sour moments filled with Grey Hounds, Salty Dogs, Amaretto Sour, Gin Fizz or any such concoction smacking of Lemon or Grapefruit. But for the most part, I avoid the "Tequila Sunrise", the "Sex on the Beach" shudder when anything ending in "-tini" goes by me, and run screaming from the "Fuzzy Navel" to hide behind an Aviation or Martini (you know, the real thing? with Gin & Vermouth not Vodka and Apple Pucker)

My philosophy has always been, "If you don't like the taste of alcohol, then you should be drinking a Shirley Temple" not a Cosmo that has been hit with several shots of grenadine to "sweeten" it up.

That may have changed... I was at Bev Mo a few days and found something I had never seen before.... Praline. A delightful, though sweet liqueur rendition of those lovely brown sugar coated pecan morsels from New Orleans. AWESOME!

More importantly was what it made me think of, since I had a pint of Godiva Liqueur at home, a cocktail that tastes like my favorite cake... German's Chocolate... YUM....!!!!

So here we go.

German Chocolate Cake

1 1/2 oz (jigger) Meyers Dark Rum (although I was out by the time I finished "testing" and had to use Bacardi Select Dark - Meyers was better)
1 oz Godiva Chocolate Liqueur
3/4 oz Praline
1/2 oz Coconut Jack or Malibu
1 TB light Whipping Cream (This gives the cocktail more body and a creamier mouth feel, more like the frosting)
Shred or slice of Coconut for garnish (I thought I had some in my freezer, but I was out - Darn it!!)
optional - Grated Chocolate for the rim
optional - Pecan to drip in the bottom of glass

Place your Cocktail glass in the freezer.
Fill your shaker with ice.

Add all the liquor.

Shake

and Strain into the chilled glass.

Float 1 TB Light Whipping Cream and stir lightly to swirl together.

I was bummed that I was out of Chocolate and Pecans too, cause I really wanted to garnish the cocktail nicely. But honestly, it still tasted like German Chocolate Cake which was the whole point, the rest it just fluff.. ;)

Cin Cin!!
~~