October 2010 – Page 2 – Science Of Drink

October 18, 2010October 12, 2017

Pousse Cafe and some modern derivatives

In this post I describe real cock tail – amazing multicolor drink – Pousse Cafe. The Pousse Cafe cocktail is so old creation. This drink was invented in the Europe (France), probably. But we can found suggestions that this cocktail was invented in New Orlean, USA. The first print recipe with illustration I was found in the great How to Mix Drinks, or the Bon-Vivant’s Companion by Jerry Thomas in 1862. Layered cocktail with name Pousse l’Amour consist of brandy, two liqueurs and egg yolk. The real fancy drink! The Gary Regan in yours The Joy of Mixology specify that Pousse Cafe are drinks made by floating one ingredient on top of another, or several others, to create a multilayered effect.

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October 16, 2010October 17, 2010

Tequila Mai Tai

This entry was inspired by one of my new bottle of tequila – the OLMECA Altos Reposado – one of my new free sample.

Olmeca is a brand of tequila in Pernod Ricard`s spirits list. Now this company launch a new positions – premium tequila 100% de agave in medium price category – the OLMECA Altos. Altos in name of this brand means that agave for productions of this tequila harvested in best regions of the Jalisco – Los Altos (Highland). The point of ALTOS tequila is in using the ancient and authentic Tahona method in producing of this tequila. Tahona is a big millstone for pressing the juice (called tahona liquide) from cooked agave. This tahona liquid added to juice on fermentation. The OLMECA Altos tequila is result of unique partnership between well-known British bartenders Henry Besant and Dre Masso (from Worldwide Cocktail Club) and Olmeca’s own Maestro tequileros Jesus Hernandez. You may get some interesting facts about this tequila, it history ant productions from very interesting short-films.

The OLMECA Altos Reposado produced from 100% blue agave pressed in the Tahona way, distilled in traditional copper pot-still and rested for 6-8 month in small white oak ex-bourbon cask.

Actually the OLMECA Altos Reposado is an interesting and quality product. It is so good tequila with pleasant nose and right tequila taste. The nose of this spirit is complex and so sweet with note of cooked agave and pear and bright citrus note like orange and lemon peel. The taste has medium body with agave notes with a hint of vanilla and some wood in the aftertaste.

This tequila is great cocktail ingredient. I try the OLMECA Altos Reposado in the some my favorite tequila-based cocktails like Margarita or Silver Amour-a-Rita or Tequila Sunrise Straight Up with good results. But the OLMECA propose me one interesting cocktail for familiarity with this tequila. This cocktail is Tequila Mai Tai in fancy trend version with fresh passion fruit.

Tequila Mai Tai

50 ml tequila OLMECA Altos Reposado
15 ml fresh lime juice
10 ml fresh lemon juice
10 ml Orgeat syrup
5 ml grenadine
fresh passion fruit
Shake with a lot of ice. Strain into double rock glass over crushed ice. Garnish with an orange slice.

In original version this cocktail has interesting tropic sour taste. For best results I decrease the amount of fresh passion fruit and grenadine and balance drink with simple syrup.

The Tequila Mai Tai is great tropic drink with sweet and sour fruit and tequila taste. It is admirable cocktail!

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October 12, 2010October 31, 2010

Harvey Wallbanger

The most cited story about Harvey Wallbanger Cocktail is about California surfer Harvey, who, after losing important competition one day visited his favorite Duke’s Blackwatch bar. He consumed a lot more of the special Screwdrivers (aromatized with Galliano) than he should have and it is causing to bang against the wall. Some people suggest that the idea of adding Galliano into Screwdriver was Harvey’s invention. Than drink and its name born.

Another story of creation the Harvey Wallbanger Cocktail was founded in The Joy of Mixology by Gary Regan (also you may read this story on his site – Ardent Spirits.com). The Regan wrote “According to an article in Bartender magazine, by Brooks Clark, the Harvey Wallbanger was created at a party in the mid-1960s in Newport Beach, California. The host of the party was a certain Bill Doner, then a sports editor for a small newspaper, and he found that the only potables he had available to him were vodka, frozen orange juice, and a bottle of Galliano, so he simply mixed them all together. In the early hours of the morning one of the guests, by the name of Harvey was found banging his head against the wall, and blaming Doner’s concoction for his misery. A drink was born.“

Actually seems that both story is advertising tool of Galliano owners in USA. Really Harvey Wallbanger is one of the most famous and popular cocktail of the 1970-s. This drink has own National Day which celebrated November, 5.

Harvey Wallbanger is to similar to one of the famous highballs – the Screwdriver. It consist of vodka, orange juice with float Galliano liqueur on top. The key ingredient of the Harvey Wallbanger Cocktail is italian vanilla and liquorice flavored liqueur Galliano. Now new owner of this brand – Lucas Bols Company – renewed original taste of Galliano in Galliano l’Autentico Liqueur. But I use old Galliano Vanilla for my cocktails.

Harvey Wallbanger

30 ml vodka
60-90 ml fresh orange juice
15 ml Galliano
Build vodka and juice in tall glass over ice. Stir briskly and float Galliano on the top. Garnish with an orange slice or wheel and maraschino cherry (optional).

One of my secret of good Harvey Wallbanger Cocktail is using of “normalized” orange juice. The taste of fresh orange juice is so different time to time but I add some simple syrup in the fres juice for optimal sweet and sour balance.

The Harvey Wallbanger Cocktail is great so sweet citrus refreshing drink with smooth vanilla flavor. It is amazing drink for summer or beach or nightclub.

Harvey Wallbanger has Mexican cousine – Freddy Fudpucker, this cocktail contain tequila blanco instead vodka.

Freddy Fudpucker

30 ml tequila
90 ml fresh orange juice
15 ml Galliano
Build tequila and juice in tall glass over ice. Stir briskly and float Galliano on the top. Garnish with an orange slice.

The Freddy Fudpucker Cocktail has very interesting flavor and taste. The Galliano liqueur enlarge taste and flavor of tequila and it result great drink. It is admirable cocktail.

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