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Recent discussions on Difford’s Guide
The Slope
Stirred and spirit-forward and Manhattan / Brooklyn-like. Rye whiskey-based with aromatised wine complexity and apricot brandy adding flavoursome fruity...
Chris Dimal
31st March at 16:22
I do need to make the Difford's Guide version. Still didn't get to it.
Succulent Blood
Mezcal and blood orange juice with sweet spice added with cinnamon syrup and clove-rich falernum31st March at 16:14
Holding on.
Succulent Blood
Mezcal and blood orange juice with sweet spice added with cinnamon syrup and clove-rich falernum31st March at 16:14
I knew that already. I was particularly aware of VIDA (the recommended Mezcal on Difford's Guide) and its smoky, burning tire, cost-cutting reputation. This is why I decided to splurge a tiny bit for this Mezcal. I have a feeling that it is all about getting used to it, as I can find the appeal of drinks made with it. It still is not a massive favorite, however.
Coronation G & Tea
Overproof gin provides the flavoursome backbone to this honeyed pineapple and Chia tea-flavoured cocktail, with bone-dry fino sherry balancing the rich...31st March at 16:10
Read the article. Thanks for the name change for the ingredient.
Te Anaka
Reminiscent of a Honeysuckle Daiquiri with salty sherry notes. The rum, fino sherry, honey and lemon juice combine brilliantly, smoothed and made frothy...31st March at 16:09
Indeed. I will say that with Amontillado, it becomes a different drink. The Fino Sherry is what makes this drink so much more compelling, as it has salty, savory characteristics that contrasts the honey. This is also why I didn't get a toasted coconut note, on recollection.
Vesper Dry Martini
Yes, yes, it's a spirituous drink without fruit juices that best shows its crystalline beauty when stirred rather than shaken. However, it's the one Martini...31st March at 16:06
Possibly. Cocchi Americano is great in a standard martini, split with some dry vermouth.
Pear Sidecar
Pear and cognac liqueur adds a luxuriant touch to an otherwise classic Sidecar31st March at 15:49
I did use a pear-cognac liqueur, but this review checks out.
Neon Knight
Sherry-based, with bittersweet gentian, mezcal, pineapple and orange
31st March at 15:35
✌️
April Fool
To quote Karen Fick, one of the Discerning Drinkers on hand when this 'cocktail' was created, "you can't beat a glass of water". Hence we have foolishly...31st March at 15:31
Very Nice Recipe.
Old Cuban Highball
A tasty bite-sized alternative to a Mojito
31st March at 12:53
Make sure to use a decent prosecco, made the mistake of a cheap one that was canned and it drowned out the taste of everything else, in my defense I don't drink it unless its in a cocktail so I didn't want to be wasteful.
Anyway still nice and refreshing, next time I'll get a proper bottle and give it a crack!
Anyway still nice and refreshing, next time I'll get a proper bottle and give it a crack!
French Blonde
Lemon bitters and zestyness, along with tart grapefruit, add crucial balance to this gin-laced, delicately herbal floral cocktail31st March at 12:37
Very nice!
I heeded previous commenters' warnings about the FB lemon bitters and used a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, and definitely included the lemon twist.
Doubling the gin did not upset the balance of flavors ;)
You don't have to be a Swiftie to appreciate this!
I heeded previous commenters' warnings about the FB lemon bitters and used a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, and definitely included the lemon twist.
Doubling the gin did not upset the balance of flavors ;)
You don't have to be a Swiftie to appreciate this!
Neon Knight
Sherry-based, with bittersweet gentian, mezcal, pineapple and orange
31st March at 12:25
Thanks, Andy. For the benefit of others, I've referenced Black Sabbath above.
Pink Panther
Adapted from a recipe created in 2022 by our friends at Bellaventura Brands, the folk behind Adriatico Amaretto Bianco31st March at 06:09
Hi Karl. This cocktail is made with Adriatico Bianco, white almond milk amaretto that's quite unique and different from dark amarettos such as Adriatico Amaretto.
Perfect Regent
Fruity and easy, perhaps not what you would expect31st March at 02:15
A bit dry and a bit one-dimensional. Added 2 dashes of Angostura bitters which helped.
Pink Panther
Adapted from a recipe created in 2022 by our friends at Bellaventura Brands, the folk behind Adriatico Amaretto Bianco31st March at 01:50
Since I can't get a hold of Adriatico amaretto, I added a few drops of saline. I also added two dashes of Fee Brothers Foam. If you like a Godfather, this is a neat alternative: serve dirty (with the shaken ice) in an old fashioned glass with fresh ice.
Neon Knight
Sherry-based, with bittersweet gentian, mezcal, pineapple and orange30th March at 19:00
Just came here to commend you for the Sabbath reference. Fortunately I don't have all the ingredients to try it.
Zuzu's Petals cocktail
Bittersweet with fragrant bison grass vodka and fruity Maraschino cherry flavours supported by bitter gentian, rich elderflower and lime juice30th March at 16:44
I’ve been making this regularly with vodka as I don’t have bison grass vodka but today I used Rhum clement blanc and O Purist tsipuoro to try and substitute for the grassy, peppery flavours. Definite improvement on straight vodka and a good use of some of my more unusual acquisitions. I always omit the sugar syrup is its plenty sweet enough for us without it.
Poet's Dream
Honeyed and herbal with an assertive dry gin backbone. I find the original equal-parts formula a little overly rich, so I cut back the liqueur to as little...30th March at 16:42
I did equal parts as the original recipe indicates, and it was wonderful! However, if I'd made it according to this recipe, it would be off balance.
Comte de Sureau
Sprays of oils from both orange and lemon zest twists aid the fine balance of this bittersweet aperitivo, which fittingly has become known by many as an...
30th March at 13:48
Select is a great call for this
Bijou Cocktail (Difford's recipe)
It is not uncommon to see Bijou recipes with equal parts gin, Chartreuse and rosso vermouth, as called for in Harry Johnson's Bartender's Manual. Indeed...30th March at 13:42
Yeah the Jamie Gordon keeps catching me unawares with how intense it is! LOTS dilution or a healthy splash vodka seem yo help. Or just enjoy the ride! Made this ‘regular’ version this evening with Dolin rouge rather than something more full bodied and enjoyed the delicacy. And 25 ml gin was in fact enough in this instance, giving room for its glassmates (®️) 😉.
Cornwall Negroni
A Negroni-style cocktail served up. Heavy on the gin and relatively light on bitter liqueur and vermouth. It's a formula that works but like us, you may...30th March at 13:10
Haven’t had one of these in a while and it was great! Served on a Rock with a slice of Orange. Def a gin lovers’ special, and the reduction in Campari will make it more approachable to many. To be strictly ‘balanced’ you could reduce the gin, maybe as far as 50, but I enjoyed the robustness of two full slugs of four pillars Rare Dry. Also a good way to finish off some less than perfectly fresh sweet vermouth, as I was doing. 😘
Barbary Coast
Cream and a touch of rich chocolate smooth scotch whisky and gin without smothering them. This may be a creamy drink but it remains 'serious' and far from...30th March at 10:13
It's not super complex but it's interesting enough. I'm generally hesitant about scotch in cocktails because they tend to give off a malty note that sticks in your throat, but in this it really worked well. I think the cream especially helped keep it all together. Gin and scotch is a combination that is kind of underrated honestly.
Jockey Club
Reddy-pink coloured with a sweet and sour, almondy, amaretto-like flavour fortified with gin botanicals
30th March at 03:56
Got the Tempus Fugit Crème de Noyaux. Glad to have a bottle. Verrry tasty!
Purgatory
Too many and you're in it! This is a punchy, spirit-forward cocktail that was apparently created as a pick-me-up but is perhaps better suited as a (put-you-down)...
30th March at 02:13
Attended a convention in St Louis this weekend and while there I Googled “St Louis Cocktails” and Kilgore’s Purgatory was among the first results. I went to the hotel bar and was pleased to see both Benedictine and Green Chartreuse on the back bar, so I ordered a Purgatory. The bartender said he’d be happy to make it if I’d tell him the build. What a delightful concoction this is! Sweet, boozy, peppery, herbal… Absolutely loved it.