Cold Weather, Hot Cocktails

[elleng]

https://cooking.nytimes.com/68861692-nyt-cooking/714221-cold-weather-hot-cocktails?

P.S. I've looked for a good Irish Coffee around here.

NSFW: MANY years ago, was 'seduced' by friend of a friend who plied me with a GREAT one, setting the stage for a long-term 'relationship.' AHA.

[bettyellen]

1. I used to get some lovely Spanish coffee at the Algonquins old bar....

David would wipe the rim w fresh orange, dip it in sugar and caramelize it w flames from the lit brandy. And the cream was fresh but only half whipped and plopped on top, so it was drinkable. Amazing man, David Grinstead
was.

[longship]

2. I can recommend a simple Manhattan.

Yes, it is best served very cold. However, it warms the tummy.

Recipe:
1 part bourbon
1 part Rosso vermouth (sweet, red)
Dash of bitters

Assemble incredients in a pitcher of very cold ice. Stir (never, ever shake a Manhattan or a martini )
It's okay if the ice melts some while one stirs. You're not going to easily water this one down. Plus alcohol and water are miscible. The idea is to suitably mix and chill the drink.

Strain off into a stemmed tapered glass.

Garnish, if you desire, with a maraschino cherry, one with a stem on it.

Toast! Sip! Enjoy!
Skäl!
🍸 well, there is no Manhattan icon.

On edit: the bourbon doesn't need to be fancy, but the vermouth is what makes this drink special. Forget Gallo or Martini & Rossi. Buy an Italian vermouth, just not M&R, and you'll be fine. My choice is Lionello, formerly Stock. My choice of bourbon is Old Taylor when I can get it, reasonably priced and quite good. For bitters, there is only Angostura.

I'll have to post my martini recipe here some day before the New Year.

[elleng]

3. My Dad's drink. hold the fruit!

[longship]

4. Changed the recipe, to accommodate your father.

I have one, hold the fruit, right now.

Always nice to see you around.

[elleng]

5. Thanks, longship.

[MontanaMama]

6. I'm all about a shaken

gin martini so I'll beg to differ on that point. However, your Manhattan recipe sounds lovely.

[longship]

7. The shaken, not stirred was started by James Bond author Ian Fleming.

The rule is simple. When the drink is all booze, one only stirs. Shaking it adds bubbles to a drink which should always be served crystal clear.

But some folks think that they are James Bond and order it shaken, not stirred. Ian Fleming was a spy, and wrote about spies. But he knew squat about martinis. His "shaken, not stirred" was supposed to add color to the Bond character. Instead, it showed that neither Fleming nor his character knew what a martini is. Plus, vodka? Really, vodka? The queen would remove any knighthood!

Just ask Sir Winston. Never, ever shake a martini. And if you shake, do not call it a martini. Call it maybe a "martini fizz". Might as well add club soda to it. Or possibly 7-Up.

Martinis are not shaken.

My best to you.


Sorry for being a pedant about martinis. But I am rather particular about them.