Sorry for the long delay in between posts, guys and gals. In the last two months, there were so many things happening I have neglected this ol' blog of mine. So, while I sip on a lovely Guinness and have the soothing sounds of Bison BC playing in the background we can catch up.
First, as of November 7th, I am officially a married man. She is my reason for being and the reason I stepped up my game in this lovely world of cocktails. During a random trip to Baltimore to watch my beloved Red Sox take on the Orioles, she gave me a pep talk which served me well. Next time you're enjoying a manhattan made by yours truly, thank the Mrs also.
Second, my restaurant has expanded almost doubling its size. New bartenders to train, new drinks, new staff, some responsibilities, and more hours. It's challenging and difficult, but it makes me happy knowing all the hard work has paid off. We're rocking it and hopefully you'll enjoy it too.
Another opportunity came about when the fine folks at Eat More Drink More stumbled across the blog and asked me to write an article for them about Thanksgiving Day cocktails. It's an ongoing gig, so check them out. They have a great site going and are great people as well. You can check out my Thanksgiving post here.
Finally, I am honored to say I have been inducted to the DC Craft Bartenders Guild which is so mind blowing to me for being included with those talented people. All of them inspire me and humble me at the same time. I look forward to the years ahead when I can learn anything and everything I can to get better at the profession I've chosen. It's really hard to believe how far I've come since my days down on U Street. From making horrible "signature" drinks which centered around flavored vodka to slinging beers and shots a couple of doors down to the Guild. As Vince Vaughn said, "Our baby's all grows up!" Well, maybe not yet...but I'm getting there.
Now, enough with the personal life. Let's check out one of my new favorite spirits: Ransom Old Tom Gin. It's made in Oregon from Ransom Spirits in cooperation with the wonderful Dave Wondrich. Originally a wine producer, Ransom started distilling spirits in 1997. They've slowly grown their products to include whiskey and gin. This brings us to their version of Old Tom. Ransom Old Tom starts with a malted grain mash which is mixed with a neutral distillate that is flavored with the usual suspects associated with gin (juniper, citrus, etc). Here's where it gets interesting. The spirit is then aged for up to 9 months in used pinot noir barrels where the old tom pulls its color from. It's the perfect marriage for someone like me who loves both whiskey and gin!
When I first tasted it, I knew immediately it was something I wanted at my bar. There's juniper on the nose, but it's softer than your standard English gin. My first sip brought whiskey to mind in terms of mouth feel. It's heavier than what you would expect. This was my first experience with old tom, and I expected a sweeter taste. While there is some sweetness to it (cardomom, perhaps?), the flavor and feel could easily be mistaken for whiskey. Let it linger in the mouth, and juniper will come through. It was love at first taste!
While Ransom Old Tom is great neat, my favorite cocktail to use it in is my version of the Martinez. Add 1.5 oz of Ransom Old Tom, 1.5 Carpano Antica Vermouth, and .25 oz of Luxardo Maraschino with a dash of Regans Orange bitters together in a glass. Throw in some ice, stir for 20-30 seconds, strain into a chilled cocktail glass, add a lemon twist, and you'll have happiness in front of you.
Until next time (not two months!)....
Cheers.
No comments:
Post a Comment