“Give me the coffee to deal with the things I can control, give me alcohol to deal with the things I can’t”
I heard that phrase late last week. While I find it amusing, it also serves as a reminder that there are, in fact, a lot of things that are beyond our control. I keep telling myself that every few days or so, just to make sure I stay somewhat sane. So far it seems to be working rather well.
Enough seriousness, now on to better things. This week I did some searching to find more simplistic drinks, mainly to ensure that the liqueurs and other mixers I currently have in bar last as long as they can, keeping restocking trips to the liquor store to a minimum. I came across an article in New York Magazine espousing the simplicity of the sour ratio. Before you go there, yes, I have done a sour before. However this week we’re going in a slightly different direction. I’m switching the base spirit to gin, and omitting the egg. The latter because I feel like I should probably save those for breakfasts and the like. Anyway, here is the Gin Sour:
2 oz. Gin
.75 oz. Lemon juice
.75 oz. Simple syrup
Combine all ingredients in a shaker filled with ice. Strain into a “cocktail glass (or rocks glass or jelly jar or whatever the hell you’ve got in the cupboard.)”
Good to see the author has reached the “glassware no longer matters” phase of lockdown. Anyway, to the drink! Right off the bat, there is no discernible aroma to speak of, and the look is a bit cloudy from the shaking emulsifying the acid and the sugar mixers into the base.
The taste is very smooth. The sour hits you up front, but the gin takes over and mellows the sour, while the lemon doesn’t let the flavors of the gin get out of hand. Meanwhile the simple syrup adds a touch of underlying sweetness throughout the sip. No flavor particularly dominates, which is a good thing.
A noticeable difference between the whiskey sour I made before, and this gin sour is the lack of egg. The froth that the egg white adds might be a bit too much to this. I like how light the whole thing turns out to be. The only additive I would add is a few drops of angostura bitters. Which, coincidentally turns the gin sour into a Fitzgerald.
Stay healthy, stay sane, and make some sours.
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I love these posts and everyone chatting about booze. Yes I was drinking while working today. I had 4 confrerence calls and was on the phone for over 5 hours today.
Good man. I had a couple early afternoon as well
Had my first “telemedicine” check up this am. The doctor asked how my drinking was going.
I told him to fuck off.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=5&v=R21zaeesVGQ&feature=emb_logo
That’s not a fair question now
Its going great! The winery ships right to my house. How’s your drinking Doc?
“It’s a real problem, doc”
How so?
“Two hands and only one mouth”
“No problem.”
-Sasha Grey
Looks complicated. Mrs. Fozz has been churning out some excellent vodka tonics. When I get drunk she thinks I’m sexy. Ok, that’s a lie. When I get drunk she tells me to sleep on the couch.
Gin works! Well done.
Ok, I give up. I’m finally getting on the gin bandwagon!
Now, what would y’all recommend as a starter gin to buy to start making some of these drinks? Or should I buy more than one? I do know there are different types with different flavor profiles. Any advice will be greatly appreciated.
I used Gordons, Good gin for the price point, Definitely a solid mixer. Same as Beefeater
Hendricks is a cucumber gin. You can mix that or muddle a cucumber and drink it straight
Higher ends I usually go with are Bombay Sapphire, and Tanquray. Both options good to mix, or drink either straight or in a martini.
Thanks!
One Screaming Viking please
Slightly bruised cucumber?
Yep, I used to be a Beefeater consumer. Solid profile and a good mixer.
Normally when you start with “Ok, I give up” you’re getting on the Popov bandwagon.
OMG, Popov was the reason for the Night Of The Seven Pukes…
Just so so bad.
I keep forgetting which gins are in which category (London dry, etc.). I use Plymouth as my gin for most cocktails, and St. George’s for martinis or other drinks that are predominately gin.
I would echo Sharky’s recommendations of Bombay Sapphire and Tangueray. And Hendrick’s is quite nice. Haven’t really had any others in a while.
Thanks!
Also, if you’re at all inclined to go the gin and tonic route, I hate to quote somebody’s ad campaign, but in this instance it’s spot-on: “if 2/3 of your drink is tonic, shouldn’t it be a good one?” Don’t buy good gin and then mix it with bargain tonic water. Canada Dry is passable; Fever Tree is preferable. (There’s another premium brand I’m forgetting at the moment.)
Second Fever Tree. When I was in the UK last summer that was the de-facto tonic sold with G&Ts. They also have some flavored tonics that pair well with different gins you can finf. They are a bit pricey though. If youre making one for youself, use Fever Tree. If youre pouring a bunch, stick with Polar or Schwepps
Fever Tree also makes a fantastic ginger beer.
Not a gin guy. Makes me want to throw up. But Mom digs the Seagrams with the lime and some tonic water.
I love Hendricks of Scotland. Cucumber based and doesn’t taste like sucking on a tree.
Add some club soda and you’ve got yourself a Tom Collins. Most of the time I’d go with the sour, but sometimes you want a little fizzy refreshment.
I’ve been drinking margaritas lately from Stone Cold Steve Austin. 3 oz. Patron Silver, 1.5 oz. triple sec, 1 oz. Grand Marnier, (optional, but I tried one w/o it and it’s really not), and one 1 oz. +/- of lime juice.
They’re really good.
Patron is fine but there are many tequilas just as good for much cheaper. Then again, I don’t know what your local liquor purveyor offers in that genre.
Cazadores is a good example of that. Great buy if you can find it.
YES. Plus it has a majestic animal on the bottle.
THESE GUYS GET IT!
That’s my feeling and the next time I do this I will definitely downgrade on the price. I like good tequila, but when you’re mixing it into a margarita you can generally afford to do whatever the opposite of splurge is.
?itemid=5663846
I have 3 bottles of the stuff on my bar and have only used 1 of them as it was for margs. I won a btl of Hornitos Black and that looks cheap and I am afraid.
On a related note: from my boys right down the street.
Ummm, all alcohol already comes in a convenient dispensing container…