Great American Distillers Festival (4th Annual) - Portland
Since Jenny was working (yes, again), Robert headed to the Portland Armory Building in The Pearl to sample some fine and unique spirits at the Great American Distillers Festival. Highlights of Saturday's tastings include:
Sub Rosa Spirits (Dundee, OR): Saffron Vodka and Tarragon Vodka
Prichard's Distillery (Kelso, TN): Fine Rum and Sweet Lucy (Bourbon Liquor)
Indio Spirits (Cottage Grove, OR): Lemongrass Lime Vodka
New Deal Distillery (Portland, OR): Hot Monkey Vodka
Hangar One Vodka Craft Distillers (Ukiah, CA): Kaffir Lime Vodka
Integrity Spirits (Portland, OR): 12 Bridges Gin
posted by Robert Stankavish @ 12:15 PM
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1 Comments:
Hi you two. I'm glad you liked my two spirits. Here are some cocktails you might try this spring.
Sub Rosa Tarragon vodka has a slight note on anise, only lighter; almost delicate and herbal. A nice herbal licorice note combined with fennel and a bit of mint on the back of the palate makes this a great base for a sophisticated drink. Just a twist of lemon peel makes a great martini. A touch of Limoncello is nice too. Here are a few examples.
Oxymoron
1 1/2 oz. Sub Rosa Tarragon vodka
1/2 oz. ginger based simple syrup [steep grated ginger in simple syrup and strain]
1/2 oz. lemon juice.
Shaken in a mixing glass with ice and served up in a martini glass.
Firenze Twist
1/2 oz. Limoncello
2 oz. Sub Rosa Tarragon Vodka
Lemon peel
Rub the inside of a small rocks glass (8 oz) with lemon peel. Stir peel in a mixing glass with cracked ice, vodka and Limoncello. Strain into rocks glass and serve.
Hot Summer Night
1-1/2 oz Sub Rosa Tarragon vodka
1/2 oz fresh lemon juice
1/2 oz simple syrup
Fresh mint leaves
Fresh tarragon leaves
Squirt [or sparkling water]
Lemon twist and mint sprig garnish
Muddle a pinch of mint/tarragon leaves with the lemon juice, simple syrup in bottom of rocks glass. Fill the glass with ice, pour in the vodka, and fill with Squirt. Garnish with a lemon twist and mint sprig. [basically a tarragon mojito or smash]
Sub Rosa Saffron vodka is quite intense by itself, though it makes a memorable drink with little adornment. The toasted cumin and lemony coriander lends an exotic side to dozens of drinks plus it makes a killer Bloody Mary. The bold spices of Sub Rosa Saffron vodka benefit from the addition of some sort of juice. Mango is the best, but orange juice works fine.
Siam Sip
1 1/2 oz. Sub Rosa Saffron vodka
1/2 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
1/2 oz. fresh lime juice
1 oz. orange juice
1/2 oz. simple syrup
Shake vigorously in a mixing glass filled with ice. Pour over crushed ice in a short glass. Garnish with a sprig of fresh Cilantro. Very gingery and on the tart side, but quite nice.
Golden Orb [Saffron Cosmopolitan]
2 ounces Sub Rosa Saffron vodka
1 ounce Cointreau [triple sec]
1/2 ounce fresh squeezed lime juice or less, to taste for balance
dash of mango juice or orange juice
Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker with cracked ice. Shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass, and garnish with a long twist of lime.
Mexican Standoff
1 1/2 oz Sub Rosa Saffron vodka
3 oz pineapple juice
1/2 oz Cointreau or Patron Citronge orange liqueur
Chipotle powder
Pour the Saffron vodka and pineapple juice into a highball glass almost filled with ice cubes, and stir well. Drop the orange liqueur into the center of the drink, dust with chipotle powder and serve.
Kashmir
2 oz. Sub Rosa Saffron Vodka
3 oz. Apricot nectar [though mango juice works well too]
2 grinds Black pepper
1 oz. Riesling based simple syrup
Chill over ice, shake vigorously, serve up. Alternatively, build and serve on the rocks.
Bharat Mary
2 oz. Sub Rosa Saffron vodka
3 dashes Worcestershire
1 dash Peychauds bitters
3 dashes hot sauce (or more)
Tomato juice (to fill)
Celery salt (to taste)
Stir in mixing tin with ice. Strain into a Rocks or Old Fashion glass over ice. Garnish with Indian pickled carrots and peppers. This is basically a Bloody Mary without the horseradish.
Hard Mango Lassi
This is an alcohol smoothie inspired by the classic Indian beverage. I love making this cocktail for a group of friends be it 4 people or 15. Scale this to your taste and the tools at hand. If the ice cream is soft, you can make it in a shaker, otherwise use a blender. Can easily be scaled down to a single drink portion.
Mango ice cream - Start with a half pint.
Mango juice - I always have a six pack of 12 ounce cans in the 'fridge. Add half a can to make the smoothie as thin or thick as you like.
Lime juice - the juice of one fresh lime in a half pint of ice cream is fine.
1 cup Saffron vodka
Add ingredients in a blender. Taste it. Add more juice or ice cream. Make it so you can just taste the alcohol. If you want to get fancy, add a touch of triple sec. The creaminess of the ice cream and the sweetness of the mango are the perfect foil to the spiciness of the Saffron vodka.
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