Monday, December 04, 2006
CHEERS!
3 Comments:
Yes indeed. My new winter drink is a Sidecar but the Warrior Monk has not yet applied himself to the task.
I looked up the Sidecar. Looks delicious, but kind of complicated to make at home. Do you make them at home? What kind of brandy do you use?
I recently read a WSJ "How's Your Drink" essay about the "negroni" -- apparently Christopher Buckley's favorite drink -- and tried to make it at home. Has some stuff called Campari in it. It turns out that Campari is disgusting. I tried a second batch, greatly reducing the proportion of Campari, figuring the taste of the sweet vermouth would dominate. Still disgusting.
After a brief flirtation with the rusty nail, I've completely switched back to Manhattans with Addison's old recipe, but my new bourbon is W.L. Weller special reserve. It's 7 years old, 90 proof, really delicious, and amazingly only $13. Really great stuff, I think even better than the pricier stuff like Knob Creek or Makers Mark, or the boutique whiskies. W.M. should try it.
We have not tried it at home yet. I think different bars take great liberties with it because it tastes very different from place to place. But you can't go wrong with brandy when it's cold out, in my opinion.
I actually like Campari (I usually drink it with tonic and a lime -- very pretty) but I haven't tried a Negroni. Something about it worried me, but I can't remember what.
