Archive for Mixology
Joe Bartender’s Guide To Brandy
Brandy is an alcoholic drink produced by boiling wines which has been made from grapes, apples, olives or any other fruit. The amount of alcohol in a brandy is variable and ranges from 40-60%. Brandy is typically and after meal drink at social events. The majority of brandy available is dark colored- the dark signifies that the drink has been aged. In most cases, only the brandy made from grapes is aged. When one uses the term brandy, the drink usually has been derived from grapes.
Brandy is made in many parts of the world including the USA, France, Portugal, South Africa. Germany, Mexico, Greece, Italy, Cyprus and Spain.
The most well known of all the brandy is that made in France called Cognac. It is the gold standard and all other brands are compared to it. Some of the best grapes in France are used to make cognac. The grapes are not always great for eating but still make a superb brandy. The brandy is aged in special casks made from limousine oak. The majority of cognac is aged for several years before use
When one buys a bottle of cognac, there is a label which indicates how old the drink is. Most people prefer to buy Cognac which is more than 2-4 years old
Make Me A Martini!
A martini is a cocktail made with a combination of gin and dry white vermouth. Some people may choose vodka instead of the gin. Martini is a favorite drink for many social gatherings. Once upon a time, when people drank martini it signified higher education, social status and power.
Martinis are simple to make. The 1:5 ratio includes using half an ounce of sweet or dry vermouth and 2.5 ounces of gin or vodka. The drink is usually served cold and may be garnished with an olive or a slice of lemon.
Today, martinis have undergone a few changes. Flavored martinis are commonly available for a new breed of drinkers. Bartenders constantly add juices, fruits, various creams and chocolates to the martini.
Even the garnishes have also been changed lately. Instead of the traditional olive and lemon, now one can add stuffed olives, anchovies, sun dried tomatoes and marinated capers. In some parts of the USA, the cocktail is made of margarita on the rocks with olive juice. Martini is a drink usually enjoyed at the same time as having dinner.
Bizarre Liqueurs From Around The World: Kefir
Kefir is a milk based drink from Eastern Europe and Russia which is fast catching on in North America. The drink is prepared by fermenting cow’s or goat’s milk with kefir grains. Kefir grains are a mixture of yeast, bacteria and various other nutrients and minerals.
Once the milk is fermented with the kefir, a sour alcoholic beverage is produced which resembles yogurt in consistency. The longer the milk is fermented, the higher the alcohol amount. The amount of alcohol is usually about 1-2%.
While many people can make the kefir drink at home, there is commercially available kefir in most grocery and health food stores.
One reason why kefir has caught on as a favorite drink among athletes, is that it is postulated to have a lot of health benefits. There are claims that unlike milk, kefir is better tolerated and does not produce any symptoms of lactose intolerance. There is also some evidence that it can decrease blood pressure and reduce cholesterol levels.
Kefir is best consumed by adding a variety of fruits, juices or sweet syrup to it. one can blend the drink with ice cream, frozen yogurt and a variety of fruits. One can even drink kefir with cereals and add a variety of nuts, cashews and granola to it. Russians have used kefir as an ingredient in soups (borscht and okroshka).
What is Fenny? Add Some Indian Spice To Your Mixes!
Almost every country has its own speciality alcoholic drink and India has not been left behind. Fenny is an alcoholic drink made from either coconut or juice of the cashew apple. The drink originated from the Southern Indian state of Goa and now is widely produced in many other parts of India. Fenny from both coconut or the cashew apples are easy to drink and both can make you intoxicated very fast.
Preparation of the Fenny involves collection of the juices of the cashew or the coconut and boiling it (distilation) in specially designed pots. Once the water has evaporated, a strong concentrate of the juice remains which has a very strong aroma.
The distilled product of the cashew or the coconut has an alcohol content of about 40%. The raw drink is very intoxicating and one should never drink excess of it. The best way to enjoy the Fenny is as a cocktail.
One can drink the Fenny in combination with tonic water, or a beverage like coca cola or and citrus juices (lime, lemon, orange) .
The Best Methods For Open Wine Preservation.
Many of us have run in to the dilemma of not knowing what to do with a half finished bottle of wine. If the wine is not finished, it usually goes bad. Whenever a bottle of wine is opened, two things make it go bad. One is the air and the second is the heat. Heat is the number one factor which will rapidly oxidize the wine making it unsuitable for drinking within 24-48 hours. To slow the oxidation process, one has to cork the bottle and place it back in the fridge.
However, the majority of us who open wine bottles always destroy the cork. So for proper storage of wine, it is best to get a wine stopper and pump from a wine store. This is essential if you are a frequent wine drinker and always have wine remaining in a bottle. The stopper is placed in the top of the bottle and the air can be removed with the use of the pump. The airtight seal prevents further breakdown of the wine.
There are other methods to remove the air from the wine bottle. A variety of sprays containing C02 are available. The foams are inserted into the wine bottle through a small plastic tube and the air is evacuated.
The cork or stopper is then quickly placed in the top of the bottle. This method is very messy and does not always work.
Another method to preserve the half empty wine bottle is to place it into a smaller bottle, place a stopper and refrigerate it.
The only sure way of avoiding the wine from going bad is to drink it as soon as possible.