Back to Basics

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                                       Back to Basics

I am barely on day 3 of my recent unemployment/quarantine due to the Corona Virus and here I sit thinking about what to write about for my monthly article.  I am unfortunately not unique in this predicament…..just about everyone in my industry is also without a job, scrambling to figure out ways to make money and keep ourselves busy.  Something unique about the bartending world is that we really love what we do! We are not like many Americans who count down the days till retirement…..we truly look forward to going to work every day, making lasting relationships with our guests, and having the ability to be creative every day.   That being said, I have been thinking a lot about all the rest of the quarantined people around the globe who find themselves unable to make a delicious, balanced cocktail, yet have ingredients around the house. That is why I decided to go back to the basics with this article, and give you some easy, but fantastic cocktail options to enjoy during these dark and uncertain times.   Stay healthy and safe, everyone. 

                                                DAIQUIRI

The Daiquiri is one of the most classic rum cocktails in history.   It requires only three ingredients and has the ability to incorporate hundreds of variations, depending on what you have in the house.   I am going to give you my recipe for the standard version, but remember you can also do the following to switch it up and make that recipe your own. 

Ingredients:

  1. Muddle any fruit in the shaker first to add another level of flavor.  Berries, peaches, kiwi, apple, melons, apricots, etc…
  2. Muddle fresh herbs in the shaker.  Mint, thyme, basil, rosemary, cilantro.  Make sure to double strain them out after shaking so you aren’t chewing them!
  3. Add a few dashes of your favorite bitters to add complexity and flavor.  angostura, Peychaud’s, orange, grapefruit, lemon, peach, etc…  
  • 2 oz. Your favorite rum (keep in mind all rums are unique so a clear unaged rum will make a totally different daiquiri vs. an aged rum or a funky Jamaican rum. They all work, though!)
  • .75 oz. fresh lime juice
  • .75 oz. simple syrup (equal parts of sugar and water, heated lightly till sugar dissolves.   This will keep in your refrigerator for up to 10 days!

Directions:

Shake all ingredients well with ice, and strain into a martini glass, coupe, wine glass, or even a rocks glass if that is all you have. Garnish any way you like, a lime peel, a piece of fruit, or fresh herbs.     Want to get really creative? Put all of these ingredients in a blender and make it a frozen daiquiri! 

                       RUM OLD FASHIONED

This is my go to cocktail after a long night at work, it is so easy to make and requires very little in the way of ingredients and effort.  This works with any rum but preferably one that is aged. If you are stuck in the house and only have an unaged rum, not to worry, it will still work!

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz. Your favorite aged rum
  • .5 oz. simple syrup (if you have brown sugar in the cabinet, use it to make your simple syrup.  It will add wonderful maple notes to this cocktail)
  • 2 heavy dashes of Angostura Bitters

Build this in a rocks glass and add the peel of lemon or orange, zested over the top and then dropped in.  Add ice.  

                      RUM MANHATTAN

If you have both rum and sweet vermouth in your home cocktail bar this is another one that is very easy to make and very delicious to drink.  

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz. Your favorite rum (much like the Old Fashioned, an aged rum is going to be ideal for this)
  • 1 oz. sweet vermouth (any brand will work, although they do all have unique flavor profiles, so if you happen to have more than one, you can experiment with which one you like best)
  • 2 dashes Angostura Bitters (if all you have is orange, that works too!)

Stir this with ice until cold, do NOT shake!  You don’t want to dilute it, you simply want to get it cold.  If you have a cherry, that is the traditional garnish. If all you have is an orange, the peel zested over the top will add bright citrus notes.   I actually prefer both the cherry and the orange.

Cris