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Know Your Ingredients: Applejack

YumSugar — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 05:50:04 -0700

With apples and artisanal apple cider replacing peaches and melon agua frescas at the local market, my thoughts have turned to applejack, one spirit that truly captures the essence of Fall in a bottle. But what exactly is it and is it really made of apples?

First enjoyed over 300 years a go, applejack is an alcohol beverage made by concentrating hard cider. It was extremely popular among early settlers of North America, including Johnny Appleseed and George Washington, and was thought to have originated from the French apple brandy known as Calvados.

Today, commercially produced applejack - like the one produced by New Jersey's Laird & Company, America's oldest family-run distillery - is composed of apple brandy diluted with grain spirits.

Much like the name implies, the tipple relies heavily on apples: a single bottle is produced with six pounds of the fruit, which imbues the spirit with a natural apple flavor. Have you ever had applejack? How did you enjoy it?

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Know Your Ingredients: Pimm's

partysugar — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 16:15:37 -0700

A couple of weekends ago, for FabSugar's technicolor luau, I made a batch of Pineapple Pimm's Cup. Created by Duggan McDonnell of Cantina, this punch recipe consisted of pineapple vodka, Pimm's No. 1, ginger beer, ginger syrup, and fresh-squeezed lemon and lime juice.

The refreshing and unexpected cocktail was a major hit and everyone was inquiring about the ingredients. While I was able to tell them what was in the drink, I wasn't able to answer when they asked, "What's Pimm's?" My lame reply, "Oh it's a liquor popular in England." But really, I had no clue what it was!

Until now. Pimm's, an aperitif, is a brand of alcoholic beverages that was created in London in 1840, with the most popular being Pimm's No. 1 Cup. Each number of Pimm's has a different base spirit; No. 1 is a gin-based, No. 2 is scotch-based, and No. 3 is brandy-based (only No.1 still exists). Other elements (spices, citrus, etc.) are added to the base spirit to achieve a characteristic floral flavor and rich tea color. Pimm's is often mixed with soft drinks or as in the classic Pimm's Cup, with lemonade, cucumber, and fresh fruit. Do you enjoy Pimm's?

Yummy Links: From Avec Eric to The Gorbals

partysugar — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 09:00:40 -0700

Chef Eric Ripert brings his cool cuisine to PBS. - W
Top Chef season two winner Ilan Hall has finally opened The Gorbals, a restaurant in Los Angeles. - Eater LA
Meet Brooklyn's new backyard farms. - Serious Eats
Moving past the burn: how to taste spirits. - Chow
The chairman from Iron Chef America will compete in the upcoming season of Dancing With the Stars. - Eat Me Daily
Tips for cooking on college campuses. - The Epi-Log

Happy Hour: Appleton Estate Jamaican Rum

partysugar — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 16:15:51 -0700

In my continuing quest to think outside the spirit box, I have developed not only an appreciation for gin, but also one for rum. Well not just any rum, Jamaica's finest Appleton Estate rum. Earlier this week I was invited to an tasting at Spruce restaurant in San Francisco, and I got to sample the rich caramel-colored liquor neat in four different cocktails.

Appleton is Jamaica's oldest producer of rum and they've got rum-making down to a science. The sugar cane is environmentally estate grown and distilled and blended in small batches by Joy Spence, the industry's first female master rum blender. Spence describes Appleton as a "playful, but serious rum" that "should never see the inside of a blender." Instead we were instructed to "sip it up!" Spence, who was on hand at the tasting, guided us through the four steps to properly enjoy fine rum. To find out what they are, keep reading.

Happy Hour: Canadian Club 30-Year Reserve Whiskey

partysugar — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 16:15:37 -0700

This Father's Day why not surprise dad with a premium, limited-edition bottle of whiskey by Canadian Club ($200)? In celebration of their 150th anniversary, Canadian Club has released a 30-year reserve whiskey in a special collector's bottle. I was lucky enough to get a bottle and was wonderfully surprised by the smooth, rich tasting spirit. It has a smoky nose with hints of honey, vanilla, and caramel on the tongue. Unlike other whiskeys, there is no biting aftertaste: the finish is lush and subtly spicy. This whiskey is very easy to drink and although I enjoyed it after dinner on the rocks, it would make a lovely Manhattan. Since my dad is a whiskey drinker, I plan on sharing the bottle with him. Do you drink whiskey? What's your favorite label?

Happy Hour: Casa Noble Tequila and Cheese Tasting

partysugar — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 16:00:38 -0700

In my quest to become more educated on the world of spirits, I've taken a liking to high-end tequilas. Beyond Patron, there's a huge variety of wonderfully complex tequilas that are perfect for sipping solo or shaking into a classic margarita. One brand, Casa Noble, produces an amazing collection of authentic tequilas. Packaged in a traditional yet sexy bottle, Casa Noble's tequilas are uniquely modern because they're triple-distilled and naturally produced in French wine barrels. Recently I attended a tequila tasting hosted by the founding partner of Casa Noble, David Ravandi. To illustrate the fact that his tequilas are distinct from anything else on the market, Ravandi paired them with cheese. To find out what I thought of the unexpected combination of cheese and tequila, read more.

Although the idea of tequila and cheese together is shocking, I was pleasantly surprised by the duo. Ravandi paired Casa Noble Crystal (the brand's easy-drinking, award-winning silver) with a creamy goat cheese. The lingering finish of the cheese eliminated the usual bite of tequila.

The delicate Casa Noble Reposado (aged for 364 days in French oak barrels) was my favorite of the three tequilas. Fruity and floral, it has a peppery finish. Paired with roquefort, the reposado was rich, layered, and smooth.

The third pairing - the Casa Noble Anejo and stilton - was the least pleasing to my palate. While I enjoyed both alone, together the powerful spirit and pungent cheese canceled one another out.

After the cheese tequila tasting was finished, Ravandi invited me to sample Casa Noble Crystal in a vibrantly hued cocktail. Created by the bartender at the Fifth Floor, the tequila mockingbird was an interesting, almost salad-like concoction of celery juice, lime juice, and bitters. Rimmed with a mixture of cayenne and celery salt, the drink was refreshing, and the tequila blended flawlessly with the other ingredients. I enjoyed my experience with Casa Noble so much, I plan on adding a bottle of the reposado to my liquor cabinet.

How about you? Do you enjoy tequila? What's your favorite premium offering?

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Definition: Mezcal

partysugar — Mon, 04 May 2009 13:00:50 -0700

Mezcal or Mescal
A Mexican distilled spirit that's made from the fermented juice of the agave plant's core. The core is roasted underground over pits of hot rocks. This technique gives mezcal a characteristic smokiness. The difference between mezcal and tequila is the plant (tequila is made from the blue agave only) and the roasting method (for tequila, the agave core is cooked in an oven). Although it's produced throughout Mexico, the Oaxacan region is best known for its production and consumption of the potent liquid.

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Virgin Takes Flight With the Green Fairy

partysugar — Mon, 04 May 2009 11:45:32 -0700

While other airlines are cutting back on in-flight services, last Friday, Virgin America added a new alcohol to its menu. Absinthe, the once illegal "hallucinogenic" spirit, is now available on all flights. The strong green liquor can be enjoyed on the rocks or mixed into the Mile-High Cocktail, a "tormenting and satisfying blend of Le Tourment Vert Absinthe, sprite, and lemons shaken and served over ice." Porter Gale, the vice president of marketing at Virgin, is very excited about the partnership. He said:

We couldn’t be more pleased to partner with Le Tourment Vert to become the first airline to offer guests absinthe in-flight. Virgin America is reinventing the typical flight experience with beautiful design, touch-screen entertainment, and an innovative food and cocktail menu – and the addition of Le Tourment Vert absinthe is sure to be a hit with our discriminating guests.

For those sitting first class or main cabin select, the absinthe cocktails are complimentary; in the main cabin, Le Tourment Vert is available for purchase. Although I'm not boarding Virgin America anytime soon, I normally enjoy a cocktail when traveling. It's nice to know that absinthe is an option. How do you feel about the news?

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Meet 901, Justin Timberlake's New Tequila

partysugar — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 11:30:44 -0700

He's already a pop singer, fashion designer, and restaurant owner, but Justin Timberlake's latest job title? Spirits maker. Yesterday the young entrepreneur announced the launch of his new line of tequila, 901. The brand has been in development for over two years and plans to hit liquor store shelves in May.

A spokesperson for Timberlake explains that "901 is that time of night when your evening is ending, but your night is just beginning." The number also happens to be the area code for Memphis, TN, Timberlake's hometown. With more and more celebrities getting into the food industry, 901 isn't a surprise to me, and I look forward to tasting the tequila when it arrives.

What do you think of Timberlake's latest endeavor? Are you interested in sipping his tequila?

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How to Taste Fine Whiskey

partysugar — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 13:00:47 -0700

While downing green drinks or beer cocktails is a fun way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, sipping a fine, Irish whiskey is a low-key way to mark the occasion. Like wine, there is a special technique to enjoy the potent caramel-colored spirit.

Here's how:

Make sure the whiskey is at room temperature. Pour into a clear glass with a narrow mouth and wide bottom.
Examine the color of the liquid. The darker the whiskey, the longer it has been aged.
Warm the glass with your hands and smell the whiskey's aroma. Note any fruit, spice, or other flavors, like butterscotch.
Before tasting, add a tiny bit of water to dilute the concentrated spirit. You will be able to better taste the whiskey without a harsh burn from the strong alcohol.
Finally, sip the whiskey like you would a wine, and be aware of its body and flavor.

Do you enjoy whiskey? Have you ever been to a whiskey tasting?

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