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John CARR

John CARR

Australia

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Three of a Kind
6 Comments
Calvin Grant

A bit too sweet might be putting it mildly but it's such wonderful combination of flavors! I'll be making this again plus the additional gin.

The flavour combination really is excellent! I think halve the Luxardo and she’ll be right (as Australian tradesmen say). I also tried 50 gin, 20 Luxardo, but preferred 40, 30, 15.

Three of a Kind
6 Comments

40 Edinburgh Gin, 30 americano,15 Luxardo, 8 drops BT grapefruit bitters and I thought this was excellent. Very moreish and delicious; in the style on a white negroni.

House of Payne
4 Comments

24 hour steep was superb. Drew out some of the more savoury/vegetal flavours from the raspberries. Did a double measure of the liquid to roughly two tablespoons of raspberries smooshed up. Pure raspberry-sloegroni bliss! Payneful it certainly was not.

Could definitely batch this for summer parties. When you’re ready to serve, add roughly 10ml water per serving and pour straight over a Rock. I’m guessing that leaving undiluted for the steep will improve extraction.

House of Payne
4 Comments

24 hour steep was superb. Drew out some of the more savoury/vegetal flavours from the raspberries. Did a double measure of the liquid to roughly two tablespoons of raspberries smooshed up. Pure raspberry-sloegroni bliss!

House of Payne
4 Comments
John CARR

My ordered raspberries failed to arrive, so changed course and made a Baltic-inspired House of Hansa instead, referencing the Hanseatic League. 45 gin, 20 Campari, 20 Gustav lingonberry liqueur (Finland) and 15 Moe Handsa sour rowanberry vodka (Estonia). Read as a berry-infused, dry leaning, easy drinking negroni. Orange twist. Campari could be bumped back up to keep it more traditional negroni style.

John CARR

Just noticed this is by Phil Ward. No wonder it’s so bloody delicious!

Steep overnight and this would be extra special.

House of Payne
4 Comments
John CARR

My ordered raspberries failed to arrive, so changed course and made a Baltic-inspired House of Hansa instead, referencing the Hanseatic League. 45 gin, 20 Campari, 20 Gustav lingonberry liqueur (Finland) and 15 Moe Handsa sour rowanberry vodka (Estonia). Read as a berry-infused, dry leaning, easy drinking negroni. Orange twist. Campari could be bumped back up to keep it more traditional negroni style.

John CARR

Revisiting with actual raspberries (!). Absolutely delicious and love how the acid from the berries cuts the richness of the Campari and sloe gin. Could easily Chuck in several more to taste. I created a little pyramid of raspberry goodness on my Cube. Tanq 10 made this extra special and quite boozy. Could easily add 5-10ml lemon juice and convert this to a shaken version as well.

Perfect Pal
7 Comments
Tuber Magnatum

I struggled a bit with the first few sips trying to decide too sweet, not enough bitterness, etc. Rereading Difford's description and recipe thinking about how I might modify, I realized I had forgotten to express oils from an orange garnish. Doing so for the rest of the drink was a revelation. This drink requires this and definitely elevates it. Having said that, I'm not sure I will add it to my "Favourite Collection" until I contrast this with the more bitter Old Pal version.

John CARR

Agreed, I was wavering over adding a dash of angostura, but left well alone in the end and added an extra zesty spray instead. I think vermouth di Torino and high abv rye are key here for those of us who are used to and appreciate a heavy duty Manhattan etc.

Perfect Pal
7 Comments
Calvin Grant

Just made this with Cappelletti, did not disappoint. The bitter-sweet was well balanced, negroni like. Look forward to trying this with a proper orange-red aperitivo, perhaps Luxardo if I can find it. As Tuber and Simon suggest, do express the orange zest onto the drink albeit it's not in the recipe per se.

John CARR

Yes agreed re the oil spray bring essential here (fell off the instructions seemingly, Simon). Even lighter and fruitier this evening with. Melbourne-based Gospel solera rye and Dolin rouge. Distinct vinous notes also.
Calvin, having tried Luxardo apperitivo against Aperol, I definitely favour the original. Bumps it up the extra, all important half star which the Discerning such as ourselves appreciate 😉😝🤣

Daisy Buchanan
9 Comments
John CARR

Agreed summertime Manhattan it is. VERY easy drinking; deceptively not boozy. My cupboard was unaccountably batter of rye, so created a Frankstein combination Vulson unaged rye, wild Turkey 101 and Canadian club, which was pleasantly not completely offensive. Will revisit with actual rye.

Royal Sovereign
4 Comments
John CARR

Uncle Monty quote of the day: There is, you'll agree, a certain 'je ne sais quoi' oh so very special about a firm, young carrot. - Withnail and I. See: Camberwell Carrot, also available on this website😉

John CARR

Second version slightly less zingy but I may have over poured the bourbon slightly. Would def make again.

Royal Sovereign
4 Comments
John CARR

Uncle Monty quote of the day: There is, you'll agree, a certain 'je ne sais quoi' oh so very special about a firm, young carrot. - Withnail and I. See: Camberwell Carrot, also available on this website😉

John CARR

Carrot colour certainly, but my first making of this and what stood out for me was that it’s almost spritz like, in a very good way, which may have been a particularly fresh lemon? Really fizzing on the tongue. In this style I’d be tempted to serve up in a coupe. I wasn’t sure about the PX but it blended seamlessly, provided rich nutty back notes to support the bourbon.

Royal Sovereign
4 Comments
John CARR

Uncle Monty quote of the day: There is, you'll agree, a certain 'je ne sais quoi' oh so very special about a firm, young carrot. - Withnail and I. See: Camberwell Carrot, also available on this website😉

Ad Astra
10 Comments
Astrid Welch

You're almost certainly correct, thank you for the response, it's always a good day when I get to learn some interesting cocktail lore!

John CARR

Same! Love the history and cultural part!

Chris Dimal

It kind of did, but not in the way you think! I unfortunately couldn't find Carpano Antica, but I do have Carpano Classico and I think it is the best overall sweet red vermouth. It does all jobs perfectly and makes for a delightful Manhattan.

John CARR

I’ve never actually seen that for sale in Australia! Haven’t looked online tho..

The Astor
7 Comments
John CARR

Classy and sophisticated. Ran short on the sloe gin, topped up with lingonberry liqueur and a dash of Luxardo; look forward to retrying when restocked. Giffard mente pastille. Delicious and could happily increase serve by 50% for me. If you like the vintage flavour bombs (Last Word, Aviation, Corpse reviver no.2 etc) you should like this.

Byrrh Cocktail
2 Comments
John CARR

Like a Manhattan bit much lighter and brighter. Wonderfully flavourful and I’m surprised at the lack of traffic here. In the absence of Canadian Whisky split the basebetween Jameson black barrel and Elijah Craig bourbon. One for the album, Gromit

John CARR

Revisiting with Canadian club - albeit local import version at diluted abv - which I consequently bumped up to 50ml. Lovely barley sugar, vanilla, spice and rye offering the groundwork for the fruit and floral of the wines. Excellent!

Canadian Club whisky
Not yet rated
4 Comments
John CARR

Interesting. The image looks almost identical to the bottle in front of me, other than the word ‘oaky’ has been replaced with ‘refreshing’ and 37% abv.

John CARR

And it’s a plastic screw cap rather than metal. Rear label says bottled in USA, includes Au and NZ import details.

Canadian Club whisky
Not yet rated
4 Comments
Chris Dimal

Which version of Canadian Club is this? I have never ever seen this bottle even in internet searches!

John CARR

Interesting. The image looks almost identical to the bottle in front of me, other than the word ‘oaky’ has been replaced with ‘refreshing’ and 37% abv.