John McTague avatar
John McTague

John McTague

  • Commenter #178
  • Appreciated Commenter #177
  • Conversation Starter #79
Paper Plane
79 Comments
John McTague

I've made this with both Amaro Nonino and Amaro Nonino. Maybe I have a terrible palate, but the difference between the two resulting drinks is minor. As I don't use Nonino for much else, I'll probably stick to Montenegro in future and save some money, as Carol Smith suggests. Will definitely try this with rye next time too.

Enzoni
35 Comments
John McTague

Enzonis are great. Also really like the Fall Enzoni (made with rye whiskey, red grapes - and a bit more lemon & syrup - look it up!)

Picon Amer
Not yet rated
11 Comments
John McTague

Thanks Simon. Sorry, being a bit stupid but do you mean that the original Amer Picon is still available from Belgium, as well as the Bière and Club versions? I've seen contradictory info around e.g. some people saying that the Bière version is the same as the Picon Amer but others disagreeing.

John McTague

Thank you Simon - just ordered some, hopefully (my Flemish isn't very good!)

Picon Amer
Not yet rated
11 Comments
John McTague

Thanks Simon. Sorry, being a bit stupid but do you mean that the original Amer Picon is still available from Belgium, as well as the Bière and Club versions? I've seen contradictory info around e.g. some people saying that the Bière version is the same as the Picon Amer but others disagreeing.

Picon Amer
Not yet rated
11 Comments
John McTague

Is the original Amer Picon no longer produced, and replaced by the Biere and Club versions? If so, which is the better one to get for cocktails such as the Brooklyn?

London Calling
15 Comments
John McTague

I found this cocktail fairly average, surprisingly. However, the Fino I used had been open for a few days so that might explain it. Also, the colour is nothing like that in the picture here - is that the 'other' London Calling with sloe gin?

Fumata Bianca
2 Comments
John McTague

I like all the components, but this didn't work for me. Might try with slightly less mezcal or maybe the same spec but with a little grapefruit or lemon juice.

Boozy Suzie
4 Comments
John McTague

The second time I made this I doubled the grapefruit to 15ml and increased the egg to 10ml. I might play around with it further, bit better think a splash more grapefruit worked, maybe.

Jungle Bird
43 Comments
John McTague

I forgot to add the sugar syrup and it was of course very bitter. Before checking the ingredients I added about 10ml of grenadine and it was really good! Will try the actual recipe next time.

Corn 'n' Oil
22 Comments
John McTague

This is a great cocktail but I like some more lime than just a garnish, so add approx 15ml lime juice. I used gosling's as the dark rum as that's what I had.

Elder Sour
4 Comments
John McTague

This is delicious. Possibly a little too sweet for me, might experiment with more lime, or try adding some lemon instead of / as well as.

Little Italy
22 Comments
John McTague

Wasn't sure which cocktail to post this on, as couldn't see anything similar. Tried this recipe (1/3 cognac, 1/3 cynar, 1/3 punt e mes) and it's nice - although sweeter than I expected. Might play around with punt e mes and cynar with gin to make some kind of more negroni-esque drink, but did enjoy this.
httpss://www.blossomtostem.net/popinjay-cynar-cognac-punt-e-mes/

Last Flight
21 Comments
John McTague

I wasn't sure that I'd like this, but it really works. Not easy to describe, almost sweet and sour but still balanced. Did 1.5 the volume of all ingredients so it wasn't quite so tiny.

John McTague

I have made this version once like this and once with a splash of pineapple juice. Is it intentionally left out here? This is a nice drink but very different from the Difford or Dale DeGroff versions and I think a small amount of pineapple juice improves it.

De Kuyper Cherry Brandy Liqueur
Not yet rated
1 Comment
John McTague

Will this be a good subsistute for cherry heering, or are they quite different despite now both being produced by Dr Kuyper?

John McTague

Thanks Simon. I'll probably just get a bottle of cherry heering then - I don't need two bottles! Was just wondering if there was much difference as both are now De Kuyper products.