Science Of Drink

Today I want to toy with one of three classic variations of the Manhattan – the Perfect Manhattan. As we know, the Manhattan Cocktail has three well-known varieties – the Sweet Manhattan (basically a Manhattan. Actually, nobody names the Manhattan as the ‘Sweet’ Manhattan), the Dry Manhattan (with dry vermouth instead of sweet one) and the Perfect Manhattan. The pivotal point of the Perfect Manhattan lies in using an equal proportion of both vermouths instead of sweet vermouth. Incidentally, the name of the Perfect Manhattan seems open for debating and your approving depends upon preferable sweetness of the Manhattan.

I have paid attention to today’s first cocktail at Cheri Loughlin’s Blog – The Intoxicologist. The concept of the Rat Pack Manhattan is to improve the Manhattan with a help of the legendary French liqueur – Grand Marnier. It sounds quite interesting. In average Ukrainian conditions we have only two or, well, three cut-and-dried vermouths for the regular mixing. Thus an idea to support my regular Cinzano with one of my favorite aged liqueurs attracted me at first sight. It had made my mouth water and I went to surf (unfortunately, Cheri’s recipe is quite inaccurate, she avoids bitters, but as we know, the Manhattan always contains bitters). The appropriate recipe was founded at the diffordsguide.

The Rat Pack Manhattan sounds not quite delicious (or, frankly speaking, absolutely inedible). But really, rats have nothing to do with the Rat Pack Manhattan. Actually the Rat Pack was a group of American movie stars originally centered on Humphrey Bogart. The Rat Pack existed since 1950-s and in different time included among the partakers a number of famous actors and singers – Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Peter Lawford, and Joey Bishop. After the Bogart’s death the leader of the Rat Pack was Frank Sinatra (who was a notorious Dry Manhattan lover, by the way).

The Rat Pack Manhattan was created in 2000 by Wayne Collins at High Holborn, London, England. Forsooth all members of Rat Pack (apart from Joey Bishop) were dead by that time. Probably Wayne liked the Rat Pack and named the cocktail after it. As Simon Difford supposes, originally Wayne used different whiskies to represent each of the Rat Pack crooners. The wash of Grand Marnier was for Sammy Davis, the wild card of the bunch.

The Rat Pack Manhattan is a Perfect Manhattan with a little French twist.

Rat Pack Manhattan

15 ml Grand Marnier (for washing)
45 ml bourbon
20 ml vermouth sweet
20 ml vermouth dry
3 dash Angostura bitters
Coat a chilled cocktail glass with the liqueur and discard. Stir whiskey, vermouths and bitters with a lot of ice. Strain into the prepared glass and garnish with an orange twist and a maraschino cherry.

Admittedly, I should say that it is simply the Perfect Manhattan with bourbon. The minor savor of an orange is barely noticeable. Thus it is so restrained variation of the Manhattan. Perfect. In a true English style, you know.

More recently I decided to taste another Manhattan-like cocktail with Grand Marnier liqueur – the Boulevard (pretty often called as the Boulevard Manhattan). Actually the Boulevard Cocktail is rather similar to the Perfect Manhattan with Grand Marnier instead of sweet vermouth.

I have found a recipe of the Boulevard Cocktail at the diffordsguide also. As Simon supposes the Boulevard is an old classic cocktail with an unclear origin.

Boulevard (aka Boulevard Manhattan)

50 ml bourbon
25 ml dry vermouth
10 ml Grand Marnier
1 dash orange bitters
Stir all ingredients with a lot of ice. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a twist of an orange peel (discarded) and two maraschino cherries.

Crikey! The Boulevard is indeed a stunning cocktail! It’s like a harmonious jazz band of well-coordinated jazz stars. All ingredients – the whiskey, the vermouth, the liqueur and the bitters – play a perceptible role. The Boulevard Cocktail is a perfect citrus Manhattan. One of the most interesting things is an amazing play of two well-aged spirits – Grand Marnier and Makers Mark bourbon. The liqueur adds more noble notes of ageing to the bourbon. The notes of vanilla, candied fruits, especially orange, orange cake prevail in the nose and palate of the cocktail. The main palate of the cocktail is slightly dry with a lot of warm sweet savors. Undoubtedly, the Boulevard is an amazing cocktail though isn’t a Manhattan. The herbal part of the taste is so simple and too light as for the true Manhattan.

[Read more →]

This cocktail I found in Michael Jackson’s Pocked Bar Book (I have Russian edition of this book). The story and origin of the Louisiana Lullaby Cocktail are unknown. In my book are remark from author – “Louisiana Lullaby is an american cocktail for Francophils”. Not so informative…

Recipe of the Louisiana Lullaby Cocktail is so rare in a cocktail books. It is noticed in Complete Bartender Guide by Bob Sennett (1984) early.

First I try the Michael Jackson’s recipe:

Louisiana Lullaby

45 ml dark rum
10 ml Dubonnet Rouge
1 dash Grand Marnier
Stir well with a lot of ice. Strain into cocktail glass and garnish with lemon sliver.

My first Louisiana Lullaby Cocktail I mix with Appleton Estate V/X Jamaican Rum. The Louisiana Lullaby are truly great cocktail. It has main taste or rum with rich and complex palate. The Louisiana Lullaby is gorgeous drink.

Second version of the Louisiana Lullaby I found in Salvatore Calabrese’s book Complete Home Bartender’s Guide.

Louisiana Lullaby #2

40 ml dark rum
10 ml Dubonnet Rouge
10 ml Grand Marnier or Mandarine Napoleon
Stir well with a lot of ice. Strain into cocktail glass and garnish with lemon sliver or lemon twist.

It is another cocktail. Very good and interesting cocktail but different. This version of Louisiana Lullaby Cocktail has so sweet citrus taste with great palate of aged rum. Actually is admirable cocktail too.

[Read more →]

My first recipe of Yellow Daisy Cocktail was found in one of my favorite cocktail book – The Cocktails and Mixed Drinks by Anthony Hogg. The cocktail has simply and elegant composition – gin, vermouth and Grand Marnier.

The inventor of Yellow Daisy Cocktail, as Savoy Cocktail Book specified, is Richard William Clark aka Deadwood Dick – quintessential cowboy, Indian fighter, express guard for Black Hills gold shipments and literare hero.

Yellow Daisy (Anthony Hogg)

40 ml gin
20 ml vermouth dry
20 ml Grand Marnier
Stir. Cocktail glass.

Also I try another recipe of Yellow Daisy Cocktail which was found on Cocktail DB.

Yellow Daisy (Cocktail DB)

45 ml gin
15 ml vermourh dry
7 ml Grand Marnier
7 ml pastis
Stir. Cocktail glass, garnish with a cherry.

I use Bombay Sapphire London Dry Gin (my best gin, undoubtedly), Cinzano Extra Dry vermouth, Grand Marnier and Pernod.

This cocktails are different. Both cocktails are strong, sweet and herbal. Both cocktails has admirable light sushine yellow color.

The Anthony Hogg`s version has strong and sweet taste with orange palate of Grand Marnier. The CocktailDB`s version has comples herbal flavor with strong anise palate.

Also I tested the old version of this cocktail from Savoy Cocktail Book:

Yellow Daisy (Savoy)

30 ml gin
30 ml vermouth dry
15 ml Grand Marnier
few drop absinthe (Pernod)
Shake. Cocktail glass.

Actually I use Pernod instead absinthe. This cocktail has strong, sweet and herbal taste too. The Yellow Daisy Cocktail is admirable drink for long winter evening.

Grand Marnier is unique old European liqueur based on best oranges and cognac. Grand Marnier is pure pleasure in a glass and I love this liquor in a cocktails. This interesting cocktail with simple but very inviting composition was found on Esquire Drink Database. I read very interesting story about this cocktail by Wondrich :)

Batiste

50 ml white rum
25 ml Grand Marnier
Shake. Cocktail glass.

Batiste Cocktail has rich strong and sweet taste. It is gorgeous cocktails! This cocktail is my symbol of La Dolce Vita.

This elegant cocktail was found on Esquire Drinks DB (D.Wondrich). Red Lion Cocktail consist of gin, Grand Marnier and two citrus juices – fine and intriguing composition.

Red Lion

30 ml gin (I use BOMBAY SAPPHIRE London Dry Gin)
30 ml Grand Marnier
15 ml fresh orange juice
15 ml fresh lemon juice
Shake. Strain into cocktail glass with sugar rim.

This cocktail has rich, smooth and sweet taste. It is great afterdinner drink. As for me, it is real symbol of luxury.