Agree and disagree with your post. Vodka is not a great cocktail ingredient if it is the one that is featured. The oderless, flavorless, alcohol elements makes it characterless primary ingredient, see vodka "martini". The key to using Vodka as a cocktail asset is not to use it as a primary element but rather a vehicle for other flavors. We all know about the bloody mary, and that works because the vodka open alcohol soluble flavors in the tomato juice that cannot be released with other liquids and it does not and other flavors to get in the way of the tomato-spice concoction.

Likewise, vodka can be a way to try cocktails, or get other to try, with Mixoligest love affair ingredients. Have a friend who has never had yellow chartreuse? Instead of a shot or on the rocks of that liquor, which may be to intense to appreciate, try a 2 parts Vodka, 1 part yellow chartreuse, 2 dashes lemon or orange bitters in order to properly focus on the liquor. Same idea with other "geek" ingredients. Cynar, Fernet, "your amari of the day", whatever! Vodka, if used right and sporadically can be your friend. Just don't make a vodka-dry vermouth concoction and call it a Martini! That will surely end you up in cocktail purgatory, if not worse.

Definitely in the fridge. Put it on the bottom in the back to keep it fresh the longest. I would say 3 months is pushing it. For best flavor, drink a lot of Sweet Vermouth cocktails or straight on the rocks with an orange twist and try to use it within a month. Cheers

You could make a Jack Rose variant with Apple Brandy, Vodka, lemon juice and homemade grenadine. Vodka with cranberries and sparkling wine could be a good seasonal and festive drink. How about a French 75 redux, say a Polish 75 with Sobieski Vodka (my go to value brand bc of its Rye component, flavor and price point). Lemon, simple syrup, and sparkling wine.

What do you mean Sal? Pappy? Bullit or something else?

Perhaps instead of messing up a good bourbon one should use a cheap and high proof rye and make some intense homemade bitters and then you can add a few dashes to change a cocktail's ( or neat bourbon) flavor. This will give you cocktail versatility. Plus you can give some as gifts in neat small bottles.

Ok authentic to central American ingredients may have been a better statement and oxacan sidecar a better name for the "original" creation when the bartender ran out of Cognac and had no lemons, so used limes instead. I would recommend saving the brandy based orange liqours for other base spirits and try the Brown version if you like the orange flavor or skip the orange and just go with the lime component, kinda like Tommy's Margarita for the PDT cocktail book. Maybe just name it La Nueva Margarita.

Maybe try mixing up a mule(or buck): your vodka + ginger beer+ lime juice and shell. Or how about a Julup variation with a little of the vodka with sugar, mint, bitters and bourbon. On an aside, when infusing Vodka, always they to do small amounts while experimenting so you do not have to throw too much out if it is horrid.

Don't buy a mix please, it is affront to proper cocktail culture. Try to search for the Alton Brown Margarita recipe for an authentic taste, and not just a sidecar with Mexican ingredients. This version has blanco Tequila, fresh lime juice, fresh orange juice, agave necter and some muddling involved.

I thought a Martinez has to have Sweet Vermouth? Maybe Degroff's version is different or you just missed adding "sweet". Also, a proper Aviation cocktail needs to have a creme de violet element to make it the right color, i. e. the sky color.

Nothing like a Martini discussion or a spirit post about "what bourbon should I try next" to release the hounds out of the woodwork! I'll list my 2 cents after reading all this and hope it is informative.

1. A martini must have gin. 2. A martini must have dry vermouth, and I have found Dolins dry to be the best. 3. The vermouth used must be either new or refrigerated less then a month. 3. Orange or lemon bitters makes it better. 5. Please stir this drink vigorously until it is damn cold, 45-59 seconds. 6. Plymouth is by historical reference the gin used in the first Martini. 7. That said, for other gins, Brokers is a good value gin for a London dry style and if you have not tried Deaths Door Gin from Wis, go find it now! It is citrus and floral and if you like Plymouth, you will like this one too.

I believe "Napoleon" for brandy means the youngest part of the blend is at least 4 years old. I could be mistaken, Mis-remembering, or mislead by research. Cheers.

Glad you liked it. Think the original proportion were 2 of tea, 1 of scotch, and equal parts honey syrup and lemon, both .75. Defiantly a late fall and winter tipple! Evergreendan, maybe we need to now theorize on a Dr. James Waston variant and call it a Watson. What would a Englishman who serveved as a doctor in Afganistan and then join Holmes drink?

Please try Hankey-Bannister if you can find it, as it pretty much cannot be beat from a value standpoint for you low end blended scotch. Multiple sources site Winston Churchill and King George V as fans so it will make great repartee for your cocktail conversations. Costs about $13-15 and tastes like twice the money.

Any Spirit Hounds out there who have used Don's mix #2 or Don's Spices in and cocktails, Tiki or other wise? Were they a good investment?

If you like smoke and cocktails, not just Scotch neat or with a cube of ice, then try a PX lounge cocktail called the "Sherlock Holmes". You can find the Lapsang Souchong tea online. This is a cocktail for the Islay fan and is like smoking without smoking. At PX, I think they added a dash or two of homemake lemon bitters.

http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/sh...

If you want to go "American", give E&J X.O. a try at $13-16, depending where you are. Works well in cocktails such as the Sidecar and a Brandy Old Fashioned. Fine neat unless your guests are Brandy snobs and want Martell or better.

Try paring with Armagnac to compliment the raisin notes. Also note that Almond notes are found in cherries so anything with say Maraschino (Luxardo) or cherry herring may pair well or just a cherry garnish in whatever drink you do. Or how about Rum? Think Rum Raisin bread! Death & Co. has a couple rum drinks with sherry on their currant online menu and also a Rye drink. No proportions are given so you will have to play and keep in mind that the Sherry in playing 2nd chair to the Rum or Whisk(e)y. Happy Cocktailing!

Just stay on Islay for a peaty substitute. Along with yarm's recommends, maybe Lagavulin 16 year.

This cocktail was probably fro the PDT cocktail book, as Maddow wrote a back dust jacket praise. The proper credit should be sited as Jerry Thomas in the 1876 Bar-Tenders Guide, according to Jim Meehan and PDT.

Death's Door out of Wisconsin! Both because of its quality and If you going to have a CR#2, death must have Preceded it. :). It is about $32 per 750 ml.

...Or maybe in SC near Charleston as I have Friends there?

Another idea. Maybe a Blended Scotch. A good obscure, inexpensive one is Hankey- Bannister that works neat, on the Rocks, or in cocktails and is purportedly the favorite of Sir Winston Churchill. Make for a great story with the gift. Around $15-22!

Maybe melon liquor and Gin? Color is orange so maybe some organogenesis spirits or liqueurs? Another thought is from food. Cured Ham and Melon is a classis paring so may think of savory/ Salty thins to go with it. Aquavit? Salt cocktail glass ring?

Did not want you to go with no replies. Never had it. Web search says it is rum like and it good on the rocks or used with coffee. Any bottle less than you most expensive liquor purchase is always worth trying. Take to you favorite best bartender and give her/him a taste and you can get recommendations.

Here's what you do. Go to a farmers market or the grocery store and find a pickling recipe you like (may have to experiment) and then can it in pints. After doing this, keep some for home and the go to you 2-3 favorite bars/Speakesies and tip the bartender a pint of tomatoes and tell him or her how you use them. This may lead to you getting your order as you like it. Try so Gin sometimes too, for it has Flavor and is the original.

Anyone tried or found Deau Artisian XO Cognac? It is there lowest one but gets very high Quality to Value marks from reviewers. I live in ABC controlled VA and ordering it did no good. Anyone close(VA, MD, WV) seen it? Thanks Chowhound Spirit Advisors!