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Post by lagatta on Dec 19, 2021 1:59:53 GMT
Rules have good reasons (nobody wants to be a gutter drunk) but they are also made to be broken, for example in the interest of gastronomy.
Cheers!
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Post by bixaorellana on Dec 19, 2021 3:01:38 GMT
Thank you, Lagatta ~ cheers!
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Post by mickthecactus on Dec 19, 2021 7:41:38 GMT
I like to have a Martini Two at the very most After three I'm under the table After four I'm under my host
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Post by bixaorellana on Dec 19, 2021 8:51:28 GMT
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Post by bixaorellana on Dec 21, 2021 1:03:07 GMT
Tonight's treat is a Roku martini. I'm a minimalist when it comes to martinis, wanting the overriding impression to be cold purity before getting to the appreciation of subtleties. The *glasses I use have a base that functions as an ice cube if the glass is well frozen before making the drink. Also, I don't care for garnishes in the drink itself, as they continue to alter the taste if you're sipping the drink slowly, as one should. Anyway ~ Into a shaker put several ice cubes and @three small shavings of fresh ginger root. Pour on 15 ml of chilled Dolin Blanc Then @50 ml of Roku gin. Swirl gently in the shaker, then pour in 30 ml of chilled soda water. Another swirl, then strain into a frozen martini glass. Resist the temptation to drink immediately, instead let the drink repose for five minutes or so. The flavors meld and mellow and the essential rather thick & slightly oily nature of the Roku can be better appreciated. *
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Post by bjd on Dec 21, 2021 7:50:19 GMT
Even though I don't drink cocktails and hate gin, I read your recipes with interest, Bixa. Are you planning to do a side line in mixology?
I just got a notice that the champagne I ordered will be delivered tomorrow. 4 cartons of 6 bottles -- two to give my kids, two for us. We order from a small producer in Champagne area whose name we got from someone else. They don't sell in shops, their champagne is good and reasonably priced, even after adding in shipping costs.
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Post by bixaorellana on Dec 21, 2021 13:39:32 GMT
Thanks, Bjd. It's a satisfying way to tinker in the kitchen without making a big mess but winding up with a little treat as the end result.
That's a very thoughtful and special gift for your kids & for yourselves.
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Post by fumobici on Dec 21, 2021 16:13:41 GMT
Not compared to my grandfather who, once home after work, would pour some chilled gin into a glass, wave a dusty bottle of vermouth ritually over the glass, and then enjoy his martini.
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Post by bixaorellana on Dec 21, 2021 18:41:45 GMT
That could work! We're having our big taste-a-thon today. The trick will be to taste & judge without getting snockered. There will be ample snacks and lots of water.
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Post by kerouac2 on Dec 21, 2021 18:53:01 GMT
No bucket for spitting instead of swallowing?
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Post by mich64 on Dec 21, 2021 20:52:07 GMT
I think I would like your martini Bixa! Your martini party sounds really fun too!
I bought my husband a FUN Christmas present. I am usually quite practical when buying gifts but when I saw this by chance on-line I knew it was a perfect gift for him. It is a counter top ice maker machine. Yes, it just makes ice cubes. Full disclosure, there has been a sort of competition between the men on always having lots of ice cubes on hand for when we meet each other on our docks for afternoon drinks. We all have freezer bags full of ice cubes made from those freezer trays for when company arrives! We are indeed a silly group of friends.
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Post by bixaorellana on Dec 22, 2021 19:15:39 GMT
Mich, he must have been overjoyed with that gift. And you were willing to give counter space to it, making you a double-good wife!
The tasting yesterday went off beautifully. No martinis or any other mixed drinks, as the purpose was to judge the merit of the various gins. We first sampled five, ultimately agreeing that Tanqueray No. 10 was the nicest of the five for sipping. After that we circled back to the first one tried, Beefeater 24. This was at my insistence, because my friend was initially eager to try it because of the red bottle, but then was disappointed & compared it unfavorably to his favorite, Roku. My feeling was that he did not enjoy the 24 because he tried it on an empty stomach, whereas I'd made sure to eat something a couple of hours before the tasting. Sure enough, he deemed 24 quite nice on the second try. After that we added a sixth gin, Roku, so we could do a side-by-side comparison of the Tanqueray No. 10 and the Roku. I liked them both equally, even though they're extremely different from each other. My friend, though, was shocked and somewhat crushed that his loyalty and love for Roku had been so diminished by his new love, the Tanqueray No. 10.
We managed to taste our way though all that liquor without winding up face down on the floor because we took it very slowly and sampled the minimum possible of each. There were a lot of snacks and we made sure to drink water throughout the afternoon. We used plastic 1 oz/29.5 ml cups, filling them no more than a quarter to a third full for each sample of gin. That said, we both definitely felt a buzz by the end of the evening.
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Post by kerouac2 on Dec 22, 2021 19:35:09 GMT
I used to buy Tanqueray regularly in duty free on my innumerable flights. Then I switched to Bombay a lot of the time, but I confess that it was probably just because I thought the bottle was prettier. Since I nearly always mix gin with tonic, it probably pretty much destroys the particular flavour.
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Post by whatagain on Dec 22, 2021 20:29:22 GMT
Sauternes 1999. Excellent.
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Post by mickthecactus on Dec 22, 2021 20:44:02 GMT
I’ve been having gin with water only for a couple of years now.
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Post by mich64 on Dec 23, 2021 0:20:18 GMT
Mich, he must have been overjoyed with that gift. And you were willing to give counter space to it, making you a double-good wife! It is still wrapped under the tree! He has been trying to guess what it could be! I will not have to give up kitchen counter space, it will sit above the fridge by the bar downstairs and when he needs to use it he can plug it in and place it on the bar. I am now sourcing a variety of new ice buckets! Your party sounds like it was a fun experiment themed event! I really enjoyed Shortcross gin when I was in Ireland. You can mix it with elderflower tonic water and they recommend an orange peel and sprig of mint.
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Post by bixaorellana on Dec 25, 2021 1:03:51 GMT
Yaaay ~ that's going to be a great surprise! It's going to get lots of use, too.
Thanks for the tip about Shortcross. I'll keep my eye out for it.
And now for some Christmas cheer ~
Put a thick slice of cucumber, cut into three pieces into a shaker. Top with several ice cubes.
Pour in: 45 ml of Bombay Sapphire 15 ml of Campari 15 ml of Lillet Blanc 45 ml of Schweppes Soda Water
Stir thoroughly but not violently, then strain into a chilled glass.
This is a lovely drink with some body to it. As there is both sweet and bitter present, you can customize it by adding either a cherry or a wedge of cucumber to the glass.
Happy holidays!
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Post by casimira on Dec 25, 2021 17:56:57 GMT
Bixa, your gin tasting party sounds like so much fun! Wish I could have been there.
Years ago, a group of friends did something similar with a blind tasting of several brands of vodka. There were 6 different vodkas that we sipped. In the end, surprisingly enough Smirnoff won out over the other 5. Absolut, Finlandia, Sky, Grey Goose and Chopin. Shortly after we did this, I read a piece in some magazine where they compared vodkas and Smirnoff came out on top.
Speaking of which, T. and I are presently drinking Bloody Mary's with Absolut.
Mich, your gift for your husband is so thoughtful, brilliant and practical. Please report back to us on his reaction.
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Post by kerouac2 on Dec 25, 2021 18:56:05 GMT
For some reason both vodka and gin (no matter which brand) are sold at only 37% alcohol in France. The other hard liquors go from 40 to 55%.
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Post by htmb on Dec 25, 2021 22:24:56 GMT
My ex makes wonderful limoncello and I was given a fresh bottle today. It’s something I need to be in the mood to drink, but I’ve put it into the freezer for when the mood strikes me.
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Post by casimira on Dec 26, 2021 16:26:50 GMT
We received a bottle of limoncello too. Our contractor's wife made it with a giant bag of Meyer lemons that we had given them. A good friend also makes it annually. Hers is always superior to any I've ever had. She insists that most people who make it don't let it ferment long enough. She distributes it on January 6th and has different artist friends of hers design a label for the bottle. Each one is unique, and we always look forward to each year's design. She calls it EPIPHANY (January 6th) and indeed it is.
I know what you mean HTMB about having to be in the mood to imbibe.
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Post by mich64 on Dec 26, 2021 16:36:48 GMT
I think this week I am going to be enjoying all of your recent suggestions! Bixa, the cucumber sounds refreshing! In the summer I put slices of grapefruit. Casi, I have been craving a Bloody Mary since an earlier post from Bixa so I think that is going to happen soon, maybe we will have a few friends over for New Year's Eve. htmb, I really enjoy limoncello too! Lucky you for having a bottle in the freezer for the moment when the mood strikes you.
My husband was absolutely delighted and shocked with the ice maker! His expression was priceless as he toar away the gift wrap and it took a couple of seconds for him to realize what it was. He had no idea there was such an appliance available either! He is eager to make his first batch of ice. It was such fun finding a gift that had him guessing for weeks and even for seconds after opening it!
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Post by htmb on Dec 26, 2021 16:46:50 GMT
What a great gift idea for your husband, Mich. Sounds like it was a big hit! Perfect!
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Post by casimira on Dec 26, 2021 16:49:38 GMT
That's so cool Mich! I am thrilled to read about his reaction. To see an adult loved one behave in a childlike way is priceless.
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Post by bixaorellana on Dec 26, 2021 16:51:11 GMT
My husband was absolutely delighted and shocked with the ice maker! His expression was priceless as he toar away the gift wrap and it took a couple of seconds for him to realize what it was. He had no idea there was such an appliance available either! He is eager to make his first batch of ice. It was such fun finding a gift that had him guessing for weeks and even for seconds after opening it! What a total triumph of gift-giving, Mich! You must be as pleased with his reaction and he is with that perfect gift.
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Post by mich64 on Dec 26, 2021 19:21:49 GMT
Thank you ladies! Indeed, it was so enjoyable to surprise him! He loved it so much that I can see him supplying all the neighbours this summer and our cottage friends putting in orders for pick up!
We only buy gifts for each other at Christmas, we never bothered with giving on our birthday or even Valentine's Day, cards always but not gifts. So at Christmas time we try to fool and surprise each other, even after all these years.
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Post by mich64 on Dec 26, 2021 19:44:18 GMT
He surprised me with a Yeti wine tumbler. It is an insulated tumbler to keep my wine or cocktail drink cool in the summer.
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Post by kerouac2 on Dec 26, 2021 20:43:38 GMT
I am finishing some white wine (something I rarely drink). Unfortunately, there is a bit too much left, but I am being stoic.
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Post by casimira on Dec 27, 2021 18:09:03 GMT
He surprised me with a Yeti wine tumbler. It is an insulated tumbler to keep my wine or cocktail drink cool in the summer. Also, very cool indeed. I have never heard of a Yeti wine tumbler, but I definitely am going to explore procuring one for myself. During the summertime I drink white wines and some rose's and I have to swill it in teensy Duralex glasses because it otherwise becomes lukewarm in fairly short order. If it's a cocktail with ice, the ice melts and the cocktail ends up being watered down Having one of those tumblers would be perfect. Thanks for the inspiration and recommendation Mich.
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Post by mich64 on Dec 27, 2021 18:32:32 GMT
to explore procuring one for myself Casi, sporting goods stores stock them here. If you search Yeti wine tumbler you will see how popular they are. Of course they are probably on Amazon as well. There are also taller tumbler models more so for beer or iced tea, also mugs for tea/cofee. Quite a few different options/applications actually. I think they originated making camper coolers. I hope you find something you like!
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