Mixology is a wonderful hobby, pastime or way to enjoy adult beverages. But we can't always have everything on hand. Here are several short cuts to save you time (or money).
Sour mix: While not a fan of sour mix (I'd rather make my own, from scratch), it does save time. But what if you're OUT of sour mix? Crystal Light fills the bill. Take a good, rounded teaspoonful for each drink, place it into the shaker or blender, along with about the same amount of water for each. Add your spirits and blend, stir, or shake. Voila! A Crystal Light Tom Collins, for example: 1 tsp Crystal Light Lemonade powder, a tsp of water, 2 oz gin, and shake. Pour into a highball glass and add a splash of club soda.
Pernod/Absinthe: I once ran out of Pernod, after promising myself a Sazerac. But I did have a bottle of anisette liqueur on hand. So my ersatz (substitute) Sazerac was made this way: 1 tsp anisette liqueur, 2 oz rye whiskey, and a dash of Peychaud's Bitters.
Good bartenders (home and professional) need to be good at having a "Plan B," as well. Out of Peychaud's Bitters? Use Angostura - not as good, but it works.
Rose's to the Rescue: I wanted to make a daiquiri but had no fresh (or bottled) lime juice, nor did I have any simple syrup. However, I did have a bottle of Rose's Sweetened Lime Juice. My Rose's Daiquiri was 2 oz Bacardi Superior Rum, 2 oz Rose's Lime Juice, a dash of lemon juice (for acidity). . .and it worked!
You get the idea: In a pinch, be resourceful. Be creative. I'm a cocktail purist, by nature - and experience - but when I'm in a bind, I get creative. And who knows? You might discover something new.
I was wondering one day, what rum and orange juice would taste like. Here I was, thinking I had created something new. . . then I found that I rediscovered a drink called the Scurvy Medic (also the Cuban Screw). I wasn't let down - I felt pretty good about it.
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
Sunday, August 3, 2014
The Cubanita
When I think of rum, I think of summer. Not sure why, but perhaps it’s the image of
fields of sugar cane, waving in tropical breezes, and enjoying some of my
favorite cocktails on my deck, as the summer sun slowly sinks low over my
neighbor’s newly shingled roof. . .
Kidding aside, rum isn't just daiquiris or colorful umbrella
drinks. It’s a really refreshing
variation on some of our favorite classics. One of my favorites is the Cubanita.
The Cubanita
The Cubanita is the rum variation of the Bloody Mary. Because rum is a flavorful spirit, keep this
variation simple.
2 oz Bacardi Superior (white rum)
4 oz Tomato juice
Dash Tabasco (or
cayenne pepper)
Dash Worcestershire
sauce
Dash Lemon juice
Pinch of black pepper
and salt
Place the ingredients in tall glass with ice, and stir. I’ve purposely omitted the horseradish, but
that’s a personal preference. Instead of
making this from scratch, feel free to use your favorite Bloody Mary mix, for
convenience. Try to choose one that’s
balanced and not overly spicy. Garnish a
Cubanita any way you like. My personal
preference is a nice wedge of lemon or lime, a slice of bacon, or a spicy,
crunchy pickled okra.