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Recent discussions on Difford’s Guide
Jack Rose Cocktail
In his 1948 The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks, David Embury says, "a Jack Rose is nothing but a Pink Apple Car", and when made with just calvados, lemon juice...
Frederic D.
27th September at 23:05
After reading/watching Greg from How To Drink and Darcy O'Neil's opinion that the original grenadine was note pomegranate syrup, but had more of a spiced (spec. clove) flavor, I tried the basic 3 ingredients with Lairds 7 1/2, lemon, and Portland Syrups' True Cola. It's obviously a very different profile, but one that I like quite a lot better than the pomegranate based. Apple and spices is obviously a traditional combination, and the lemon brings in much needed brightness. It may not be everyone's cup of brandy, but I recommend it as an experiment if nothing else.
Fumosa Rosa
A bittersweet mezcal-based sour, which, as the name suggests, is pink, and depending on your mezcal, delicately smoky
27th September at 20:31
First impressions - spectacular. Might improve with practice.
Italian Chocolate Martini
There may be some chocolate in your coffee liqueur and perhaps cocoa beans play a role in the amaro, but like the Coffee Cocktail (which has no coffee)...27th September at 20:08
Very tasty with Mr. Black coffee liqueur and cool espresso (I used Nescafe Gold instant).
Coffee liqueurs run the gamut on sweetness from the very dry St. George Nola to the slightly sweet Mr. Black to the sweet Borghetti and Grind to the very sweet Kahlua, and thus people may want to adjust the amount of espresso to balance.
Coffee liqueurs run the gamut on sweetness from the very dry St. George Nola to the slightly sweet Mr. Black to the sweet Borghetti and Grind to the very sweet Kahlua, and thus people may want to adjust the amount of espresso to balance.
Amarita
The name of this bitter bittersweet and sour Margarita riff references amaro (meaning bitter) and the use of an Italian bitter liqueur. Many will want...27th September at 19:46
Found this absolutely delicious (5+), although we used Fee Bros Grapefruit Bitters, and so 4 dashes rather than drops, so perhaps we ended up with a more citrus-forward recipe? We also used smoked salt. Just found this a wonderfully complex and harmonious drink. (Our tequila is Don Fulano, and made it without the agave syrup suggestion.)
Mad Monk Monkey
Originally created using Monkey 47 Gin, hence the name. Gin leads this herbal sour with a mad list of ingredients, including a monastic liqueur, which...27th September at 19:06
Too sweet and busy for me. Wish it had a bit more intrigue with all these nice ingredients.
Homely Smoke
Honey and amaretto's rich almond flavours brilliantly balance and marry with cognac and Islay single malt whisky27th September at 16:58
Very good. Went a littler earlier on it calendar wise, but will revisit as the nights draw in.
Toschi Nocello liqueur
Nocello is a walnut and hazelnut-flavoured liqueur from Italy produced by the Toschi Vignola, its packaging is made all the more distinctive by the walnut...
27th September at 15:19
Agree with been that by far the best part of this is the aroma, primarily very pleasing toasted walnut. The flavour is noticeably sweet with a lot of vanilla. Prob not awful for mixing with, def less good for sipping.
Last Word
Traditionally made with equal parts gin, Green Chartreuse, maraschino liqueur, and lime juice but, like like many others, (when using a 40%-43% alc./vol...
27th September at 14:34
One of the best cocktails ever, it has a reason there are so many variations. Today I tried a split base of lemon and lime which I can suggest to try. Usually I reduce the Maraschino a bit accodring to my personal liking.
For all people with difficulties to get hold of a bottle Chartreuse vert I suggest Boomsma Klosterlikeur. It is not as strong, but the most similar I could find until now.
For all people with difficulties to get hold of a bottle Chartreuse vert I suggest Boomsma Klosterlikeur. It is not as strong, but the most similar I could find until now.
El Avioncito
A bittersweet, maraschino-influenced riff on Sam Ross' Paper Plane27th September at 13:16
I had seen this on Difford’s a few weeks ago while looking at things to use Luxardo in, and I starred it. We had a cocktail night with some good friends last night with the guy who had introduced us to the Paper Plane a couple of years ago. I had told him about it and he said “let’s do it!” I made it with Four Roses Single Barrel and Nonino. We all really enjoyed it!!
X Rated Fusion
The screen printed bottle proclaims this to be, “A sensuous fusion of ultra premium French vodka & Provence blood orange mingling with mango & passion...27th September at 11:08
no cocktail with x-rated yet?
Godfather Cocktail
Scotch diluted and delicately sweetened with added almond notes - simple but tasty. Proportions range from equal parts (45ml scotch to 45ml amaretto) to...27th September at 08:19
With Luxardo, Amaretto di Saschira its wonderful
The 100
The salt can be exchanged for saline solution if preferred27th September at 08:15
Thanks, Rob! Much appreciated
Right Word
The Last Word meets the Corpse Reviver in this floral cocktail, originally made with London dry gin, but is better with old tom gin
27th September at 08:13
Looks great. A new combo of ingredients. Thanks for sharing.
Concorde's Atlantic crossing anniversary
Oh Concorde! How we miss you. On this day in 1973, Concorde slashed the transatlantic air-crossing record, making the journey between Washington and Paris...
27th September at 04:03
I didn’t say it was first, just the best.
Macouba Old Fashioned
Orange influences this Old Fashioned but it's the aged agricole rum that dominates and shines
27th September at 03:35
Wow. The flavours from this is great and strong. Used a Clairin from Haiti. Wonderful hit of agricole rum funk with the slight rum sweetness of the Creole Shrub. Not for the whimpy drinker. Strong agricole taste. Perfect for an evening sipper.
Beelzebub
Whoever created this bittersweet drink is clearly in league with Beelzebub himself – it's devilishly good. With rich bourbon, a hint of smoky mezcal...27th September at 03:24
Pretty good, overall vaguely reminiscent of a Penicillin, somehow, probably because of the smokey, sweet, lemon and general whisky direction. But, IMO, more herbal and complex. Really growing on me as I sip.
Right Hand
This rum-based Negroni may make you wonder why you've been drinking gin Negronis all these years. The Right Hand is usually served straight-up in a coupe...
27th September at 03:00
May I humbly suggest OFTD?
Rasp Sureau
. 1. Select and pre-chill an Old-fashioned glass; 2. Prepare garnish of orange zest twist; 3. STIR all ingredients with ice; 4. STRAIN into ice-filled...27th September at 01:52
I know that I tend to specifically enjoy the flavor of elderflower liquor, so I made mine with a full ounce, highly recommend if you also enjoy that. If not, I believe the 5/6 oz is the perfect ratio. Great creation!
Smoky Martini
A Vesper-style Dry Martini smoked with a spoon-full of Speyside whisky
27th September at 00:36
Agreed. Though, I enjoyed it much more than a vesper.
I tried both with and without the vodka (ok… I made it without vodka, then had a sip, and then added the vodka), and I think you could make the case for either depending on how much you like peat. I also upped the peat to 1/4oz. I just assumed 1/6 was some sort of type-o, or perhaps an accommodation for someone with unfathomably short arms such that they could not hold their whiskey bottle to pour a sufficient amount.
I suppose if you don’t like peat then a little vodka and gin isn’t going to address that.
I tried both with and without the vodka (ok… I made it without vodka, then had a sip, and then added the vodka), and I think you could make the case for either depending on how much you like peat. I also upped the peat to 1/4oz. I just assumed 1/6 was some sort of type-o, or perhaps an accommodation for someone with unfathomably short arms such that they could not hold their whiskey bottle to pour a sufficient amount.
I suppose if you don’t like peat then a little vodka and gin isn’t going to address that.
Concorde's Atlantic crossing anniversary
Oh Concorde! How we miss you. On this day in 1973, Concorde slashed the transatlantic air-crossing record, making the journey between Washington and Paris...26th September at 23:46
MS Excel was release in 1985. Lotus 1-2-3 was released 2 years earlier in 1983.
Alpine Negroni
A beautifully balanced and complex alpine-influenced riff on a White Negroni26th September at 21:23
Very nice flavor with Suze, but beware that you'll end up with something with a color akin to Mountain Dew--and these mountains aren't the Alps. Still, I prefer Suze to Salers, so I'm sticking with it!
Marsala Negroni (Sicilian Negroni)
Rich marsala replaces sweet vermouth in this Sicilian-influenced Negroni26th September at 21:05
Try this variation called a Negrharry!
1.5 oz Malfi Grafefruit Gin
2/3 oz. Sweet Vermouth
2/3 oz. Campari
2/3 oz. Averna Amaro
2 dashes of Orange Bitters
2 dashes of Grapefruit Bitters
Stir with Ice and strain in DOF glass with large ice cube.
Enjoy!
1.5 oz Malfi Grafefruit Gin
2/3 oz. Sweet Vermouth
2/3 oz. Campari
2/3 oz. Averna Amaro
2 dashes of Orange Bitters
2 dashes of Grapefruit Bitters
Stir with Ice and strain in DOF glass with large ice cube.
Enjoy!
Iron Negroni
Deep mahogany in colour and with a flavour that's recognisably part of the Negroni family but with a flat Coke-like ferro china mellowing note that makes...26th September at 20:18
Concur with this. Some Amari are kind of interchangeable but the Ferro Amari are very special and not really easily replaced. It's kind of like replacing gin with vodka — it's *technically* possible, since the cocktail will remain similarly balanced, but you'll lose an entire dimension of flavour.