A while ago I got a book called The Bartender’s Best Friend by Mardee Haidin Regan, because I’ve always wanted to learn more about mixing drinks, and find some things I liked, but I’m too cheap and anti-social to go to bars. (My parents don’t really drink. My mom doesn’t drink at all. My dad likes cheap beer and really sweet wine, but will drink almost anything. So I have no standards of quality to go off of. )
As you can see, it was all of 20 bucks. I think I got it Bed Bath and Beyond, or something like that. I’ve gone through it and marked every recipe that I think sounded good (and I keep finding more). I’ve also lately put tags on the ones that I can make with the stuff I have. I’ve tried a few, but I think I’ll make it a semi-regular feature here at Curiously Lydean.
So for the first Cocktail of the Night, I tried a Blue Mountain Bronx.
A friend said Appleton was a good rum (and it must be, because it’s one of only maybe five that is specifically called for in recipes in the book). So I bought some. And found that at very least, I don’t like it straight. (I think I like spiced rums better.)
So would I like this?
2 ounces Appleton Estate V/X rum
1/4 ounce sweet vermouth
1/4 ounce dry vermouth
1 ounce orange juice
3 dashes Angostura Bitters
Pour all ingredients into a shaker 2/3rds full of ice cubes. Shake well. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
As you can see, I don’t have cocktail glasses. I have rocks glasses, and various tumblers and juice glasses. Unless I wanted to try a custard cup as a cocktail glass, but I don’t think it’ll quite work. I also didn’t have enough ice to fill the shaker 2/3rds full, because my freezer is full of cooler packs for RenFaire next week. I had enough ice for the liquid to be level with it, which I think was more than enough (it’s a big shaker).
So how was it?
Well, I think I added more than 3 dashes of bitters, because it smelled good. And I accidently sloshed a little more sweet vermouth into the jigger than it called for, but it also smelled good. Taking that into account, the rum was a bit stronger than I liked. I added a little bit more orange juice and then it was really good.
8 stars out of ten. It’s a bit strong; I think two or three would put me down, but since I don’t drink to get buzzed one is fine. Actually, I can feel it, just a little. I don’t feel buzzed; I’m skipping straight to sleepy, unless that’s from something else (it’s not late enough that I should want to go to bed). And I’m a little warm, which can happen a quarter of the way through a hard lemonade (I don’t like beer, so Mike’s or Wyder’s Raspberry Cider are my go-tos when I want something out of a bottle).
And standing up suddenly, I can feel it. Not drunk, just a bit light-headed. And very warm. One is definitely enough for me.
And this is why I don’t drink to get drunk. I could go to bed right now, and it’s only 9:15. I’m pretty sure it’s the booze at this point. Yay, booze. This is a good one if I need something to put me to sleep at night. Or in the middle of the day. Or something.
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