That's right, hands on! You will get a chance to sling back the shaker in the kitchen at the Astor Center, as you learn from Dr. Dave how to make drinks from the best recipes of the Golden Age of Cocktails (1820-1920.) Folks, this is a once in a lifetime chance to learn from the best, to stand side by side with the expert on cocktails and their history, and have him teach you to make drinks that haven't seen the light of day in over a century. Two hours of shaking, stirring, muddling, mixing, and of course tasting the results. Please make sure you have a designated driver or taxi for afterwards. I predict it's going to get drunk out.
I can't think of anything better to do on a Sunday afternoon in late March. Can You? As a special bonus from Slashfood and the Astor Center, we offer you a special 15% discount. Just use code SF033008 when you sign up for the course online. See you there.
Irish Whiskey sales in the US are a drop in the glass compared to American whiskey and bourbon, but that's changing fast. Sales in the past year have increased 20% and has been one of the fastest growing spirits categories the past five years.
Part of this is that more and more is being sent to the US, with new premium bottling's joining the fray. Besides the whiskey blends, you have Single Malts, Single Grains, and the unique Pure Pot Still whiskeys. Jameson has started shipping some of these and sales are through the roof. You may see Jameson "Gold Reserve go for $60 and the top-end Rarest Vintage Reserve at $250 and up" Every now and then I get offered a taste of these treats and Faith and Begorra, it makes me glad to be an honorary Irishman for the day today, just so I can toss one back. Of course most of the Irish whiskey isn't drunk on St. Paddys Day, but year round, as one of the premium whiskey styles in the world. So have a taste of the Irish, Sláinte!
Zuidam Genever Gin is 40% abv. / 80 proof and is a Genever or Holland style gin that is very different from the London Dry style of gin since it is based on malt liquor rather than neutral spirits. Genever is considered the original style of gin and is heavier and sweeter. Zuidam Genever can be considered the beefier cousin to Zuidam Dry Gin that I reviewed a few years ago, although it is much lighter and more refined than typical Genever's.
The aroma is big, warm, malty; with a solid juniper base overlain with a variety of herbs and spices like juniper, licorice root, vanilla, aniseed and marjoram which are some of the botanicals used in this gin.
The taste starts out with the malty, almost whiskey-like base rapidly followed by juniper, licorice, and aniseed. Spicy, big, but not over the top. This is very different from both London Dry styles and other Genever's I've tried. it's somewhere in the middle, but leaning more towards the musky complexity of the Genever family. Genever is usually drunk ice cold in small, short stemmed shot type glasses (or occasionally on the rocks) and served with food. This is very much in the Scandinavian Aquavit or Russian vodka style of drinking it ice cold during the meal. if you love gin, but are looking for something different, then I recommend you try a Genever, and start out with Zuidam.
Tuaca Liquore Italiano is 35% abv. 70 proof and the color is a beautiful amber gold.
The aroma starts off with a big, smooth, rich hit of vanilla and buttery notes; followed by a subtle orange/citrus with hints of spices that puts you in mind of the aroma of an adult version of a creamsicle orange/vanilla ice cream pop. One that has been dunked in a fine, aged brandy. As it sits more of the vanilla comes out buoyed up with honey tones.
The taste is slightly sweet and warm, complex, with the same flavors as the aroma but with the vanilla downplayed, but more of the spices coming through, balanced by the medium light body. I first tasted this liqueur in Tim Love's Lonesome Dove Western Bistro in NYC after watching him win on Iron Chef America during the taping a few hours prior. He and his crew had tossed back cold shots every 15 minutes during the competition. So I was curious and ordered a icy shot. I sipped it slowly, rather than tossing it back and very much enjoyed the liqueur. So much so that I have had a bottle in my collection ever since. Tuaca is great sipped in a snifter or on the rocks, in a highball with seltzer, or in the many Tuaca based cocktails.
Gilbey's London Dry Gin is 40% abv. / 80 proof. Although it says "London Dry Gin" this refers to the style, and the gin is made in the US according to the original British recipe.
The aroma is a nice, light and floral juniper base, a hint of sweet orange zest and earthy angelica root floats along on top of a melange of other spices and herbs. This is a classic London Dry style gin. Very aromatic and complex, but clean and dry. Gilbey's is a very pleasant smelling gin; and you can tell that it's well made just from the aroma that must contain at least 8-10 botanicals. I tried to research what the actual botanicals are, but to no avail.
The taste is clean, light, dry, and very smooth. Juniper, spices, citrus, all blended well together so that they don't overwhelm each other. This is one of what I consider the trademarks of a classic London Dry style. This is a gin that can play all the bases; on the rocks, cocktails, highballs. Not expensive, but a great bang for the buck, you can't go wrong; and you could do much worse.
Irish Mist liqueur is 35% abv. / 70 proof and supposedly dates back to a thousand year old recipe for "Heather Wine.'
The color of Irish Mist is a medium amber gold. The aroma is that of fine whiskey, honey, herbs, baking spices, and vanilla notes. It's very full, complex, warm, and enjoyable.
The taste is of sweet Irish whiskey, tempered with honey, vanilla, and baking spices. Like the aroma the taste is warm, complex, and full. I like this straight in a snifter, on the rocks, or in cocktails. It's a perfect after dinner sipper, especially on these cold winter nights when you are snuggled up on the couch gazing into the fire. It's guaranteed to warm you up and mellow you out.
Here are some Rehorst Premium Milwaukee Gin Cocktails created by Jason Neu of Eddie Martini's in Wauwatosa, WI. I love that name Wow Wa To Sa! It sounds like a toast in Native American. (Actually it means "The Great Walker", A noted Indian Chief from the area.)
Maple Gin Fizz Jason's twist on a gin fizz
2 ounces Rehorst gin 1/2 ounce amaretto 1/2 ounce cream 1 egg white ½ ounce pure maple syrup 1 ounce lemon juice Dash of bitters Seltzer Shake with ice for at least one minute. Strain into a champagne flute and top with a splash of seltzer.
Rehorst Premium Milwaukee Gin is 44% abv. / 88 proof and is made in Milwaukee, WI by Great Lakes Distillery. I shot off an email to Guy Rehorst and asked him about the botanicals used in his gin and he got back to me immediately. He says it is made with nine botanicals: Juniper, Coriander, Cardamom, Saigon Cassia, Lemon peel, Orange peel, Anise, and two additional botanicals which it seems have never been used before to make a gin; Wisconsin Ginseng and Sweet Basil. Premium Wisconsin Ginseng is considered the finest ginseng in the world and eagerly sought after in Asia.
The aroma is big, really BIG. It instantly makes me think of some of the other new American style big gins out there like Bluecoat, Aviation, Back River, No. 6, etc. but it definitely has its own thing going on when it comes to the specifics. The base aroma is juniper, covered by a blanket of herbs and citrus, earthy roots, floral notes, you name it, but all so well blended that none rises too much above the rest. It's a bewitching and beguiling aroma. This is another one folks. A gin that grabbed me by the nose and I spent minutes just absorbing it all without even taking a taste. I love that the cardamom is present, but not overwhelming, and the hints of anise balance it out. I place this in my top five for best aroma, out of the many gins I have tried over the years.
The taste is very herbal, with the juniper again as a base note. Citrus winks through, a dash of sweetness, followed by a pleasantly sharp, lip tingling tang from the anise and cardamom. My mouth and then sinuses filled up with a burst of botanicals flooding through my head. I added a bit of ice and even more of the big botanical presence came through, a splash of water increased it even more so.
This is a big, big gin. One that says, "Here I am guys... Whatcha gonna do about it!"
Seagram's Distiller's Reserve Gin is 51% abv. / 102 proof and like the Seagram's Extra Dry Gin is aged in oak barrels for a period of time. Seagram's Gin is the only barrel aged gin on the market. Seagram's Distiller's Reserve is the combination of the best of the barrels as selected out of hundreds by Seagram's Master Distiller. The ones that have the richest character and most distinctive aroma and taste are blended at barrel proof strength to create this gin. The higher strength of the spirit is definitely noticeable when sipped straight.
The color is a very pale straw yellow from the barrel aging. The aroma is similar to the Extra Dry, but much more so. The blend of citrus, spices, and juniper is strong, but well balanced. Juniper takes the forefront with citrus holding it up, and the spicy and herbal notes floating along pleasantly behind. Not as bold as some of the new, big, in your face, American gins, the Seagram's Distiller's Reserve sets a new standard in gin as a classically styled, American dry gin.
The flavor is also bolder than the Extra Dry without being too bold. Elegant; mild citrus, juniper, and herbs. This gin will add its input to any cocktail or highball it is in, without demanding the primary role. It makes an excellent G&T where it expresses itself enough to stand up to the tonic, without being brash about it.
Pusser's British Navy Rum is 42% abv. / 84 proof. Pusser's was the official rum of the British Navy. From 1655 until 1740 sailors were issued their ration, called a 'tot' of a pint a day, with a double tot before and after battle. Then the tot was cut to 1/2 a pint a day and then it was mixed with water, and sometimes sugar and lime juice, to make grog. it wasn't until July 31, 1970 that the British Navy finally stopped issuing a daily tot to their sailors. The brand went out of business for a few years and then an enterprising business man bought the recipe and started production of Pusser's rum for the general public in 1979, for which I'm grateful.
The color is a lovely medium coppery gold. The aroma is full of caramel, tropical fruit, floral note, hints of baking spices and faint peppery notes, and sweet and dry comes through. I really like the aroma of Pusser's and I can just sniff it for minutes on end.
The taste is a semi-dry melange of everything in the aroma, caramel, tropical fruits, spices, and more. Complex, long finish, aromatic, yum! I keep a stainless steel hip flask full of Pusser's for when I go out tobogganing and on long winter walks to keep the chill off. I wish I could track down some of the other Pusser's rums to try. Until then I am making do with some of their t-shirts and their colognes.
Stir the vodka, vermouth and ice cubes in a cocktail shaker. Strain into a cocktail glass and dribble the Curaçao Blue over the cocktail. Xellent Heaven is refreshingly heavenly. More recipes after the jump.
Xellent Swiss Vodka is 40% abv. / 80 proof and is distilled and bottled in Switzerland using pure glacier water. It's won numerous awards and mention over the past few years. Xellent is made from 100% Swiss, alpine grown rye.
I really enjoy rye based vodka. No matter how well rectified it is, the character of the grain comes through. The aroma is medium light, spicy, fragrant, with a hint of floral tones. Underneath you have a hint of grains and light bready notes. An interesting combination of warm and cool sensations in the nose. I find the aroma very enjoyable.
The taste is slightly spicy and breadlike, light, complex. It develops character as it sits on your tongue and smoothly trickles down your throat. This is one of the first vodkas I had where I said to myself "this actually has flavor to it!" Which led me to finally getting over my prejudice about vodka. Xellent works great straight cold in shots with dinner, on the rocks, and in cocktails of all types.
Depaz Blue Cane Rhum Agricole is 45% abv. / 90 proof from the Depaz Estate on French Martinique. I have been trying to locate Depaz for quite awhile and finally a friend gave me one tiny little 50 ml. mini-bottle. But I'm not greedy, that's all I need for quite a few sips.
The color is that of light, fresh hay. The aroma is lush, earthy, and redolent of fresh crushed sugar cane. just from the aroma I can instantly tell that not only is it a rum agricole made from fermented cane juice and not molasses, but that it is from Blue Sugar Cane. Every other rum agricole that I have tried made from the Blue Cane has had a similar aroma. It is unmistakable. Add on hints of toffee, grassy and herbaceous notes, followed by tantalizing tropical floral tones. I instantly fell in love with the aroma of this rum.
The taste is dry, earthy and herbaceous, full and intense, spices follow along quickly, almost too much to grasp. Stretching out into an exceptionally long finish that continues to cycle through different flavor notes.
This is a fine sipping rum for when you want to relax and focus on your drink. Dry as can be, full flavored, straight in a snifter or on the rocks. It's even better than I had expected. This is another rum that I am anxiously hoping to have the chance to try more in their lineup.
Cockspur Bajan Crafted 12 Year Old Rum is 40% abv. / 80 proof and made in Barbados. It is made from a select blend of the oldest rums reserved at the Cockspur distillery. The color is a pronounced coppery gold that grabs your attention immediately.
Just like the color, the aroma grabs your attention forcefully. Not overwhelmingly strong, but deep and aromatic. it starts dry and then develops a dash of sweeter notes. Complex as I have ever experienced in an aged, molasses based rum, and like it's baby brother the Cockspur Five Star, unique and unusual in the nose. This is one of those spirits which I had to keep thrusting my nose into the glass and smell deep and say to myself, "What the hell are those spices? What's happening here!" So much is going on that I was completely confused at first. Mace, banana, cinnamon (not cassia), dark toasted brad, sweet purple plums, fine molasses, bourbon, hints of vanilla that became stronger over time, and a woody oakiness that balanced it all.
The taste is light, dry, and fine. This is definitely a sipping rum meant for a snifter or on the rocks. Mixing this with anything would be a shame, no a crime. The flavors are those of the aroma but muted, a dash of water or on the rocks brings them out more, but it still stays nicely dry with just enough sweetness in the background to keep it from being too dry. this is a rum for when you want something elegant, without it being too overwhelming. A perfect after dinner dram to wind down a long day.
Here are a few cocktail recipes for Rehorst Premium Milwaukee Vodka
Rehorst Raspberry Smash Created by Jason Neu
7 fresh raspberries ¼ oz simple syrup ½ oz DiSorrano Amaretto 2 ½ oz Rehorst Premium Milwaukee Vodka Lemon twist
-Muddle 6 raspberries and simple syrup in the bottom of a mixing glass. Add DiSorrano and Rehorst Vodka, fill shaker with ice. Shake well and double strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with 1 raspberry and a lemon twist.
Dave Wondrich is one of the leading mixologists and experts on cocktail history in the world and author of Imbibe!: From Absinthe Cocktail to Whiskey Smash, a Salute in Stories and Drinks to "Professor" Jerry Thomas, Pioneer of the American Bar. On March 30th at the Astor Center in NYC he will be leading a hands on workshop called Resurrecting Historic Cocktails (And Drinking Them With the Professor). 
Irish Whiskey sales in the US are a drop in the glass compared to American whiskey and bourbon, but that's changing fast. Sales in the past year have increased 20% and has been one of the
Zuidam Genever Gin is 40% abv. / 80 proof and is a Genever or Holland style gin that is very different from the London Dry style of gin since it is based on malt liquor rather than neutral spirits. Genever is considered the original style of gin and is heavier and sweeter. Zuidam Genever can be considered the beefier cousin to 
Tuaca Liquore Italiano is 35% abv. 70 proof and the color is a beautiful amber gold. 
Gilbey's London Dry Gin is 40% abv. / 80 proof. Although it says "London Dry Gin" this refers to the style, and the gin is made in the US according to the original British recipe.
Irish Mist liqueur is 35% abv. / 70 proof and supposedly dates back to a thousand year old recipe for "Heather Wine.'
Here are some Rehorst Premium Milwaukee Gin Cocktails created by Jason Neu of Eddie Martini's in Wauwatosa, WI. I love that name Wow Wa To Sa! It sounds like a toast in Native American. (Actually it means "The Great Walker", A noted Indian Chief from the area.)
Rehorst Premium Milwaukee Gin is 44% abv. / 88 proof and is made in Milwaukee, WI by 
Seagram's Distiller's Reserve Gin is 51% abv. / 102 proof and like the 
Xellent Swiss Vodka is 40% abv. / 80 proof and is distilled and bottled in Switzerland using pure glacier water. It's won numerous awards and mention over the past few years. Xellent is made from 100% Swiss, alpine grown rye.
Depaz Blue Cane Rhum Agricole is 45% abv. / 90 proof from the Depaz Estate on French Martinique. I have been trying to locate Depaz for quite awhile and finally a friend gave me one tiny little 50 ml. mini-bottle. But I'm not greedy, that's all I need for quite a few sips.
Cockspur Bajan Crafted 12 Year Old Rum is 40% abv. / 80 proof and made in Barbados. It is made from a select blend of the oldest rums reserved at the Cockspur distillery. The color is a pronounced coppery gold that grabs your attention immediately.
Here are a few cocktail recipes for Rehorst Premium Milwaukee Vodka
A fraking amazing Battlestar Galactica cake
Iced Tea 101
Pierogies + cheese + onions + kraut = Parmageddon!
