Robert Spain avatar
Robert Spain

Robert Spain

  • Commenter #34
  • Appreciated Commenter #35
  • Conversation Starter #117
Peligroso
6 Comments
Robert Spain

I really liked it, mainly because of all the bitter flavours playing together. I usually find citrus juice to spoil some cocktails when it's too tart, but egg white mellows the result. And that's why I enjoyed that much.

The Italian Job
5 Comments
Robert Spain

A delicious cocktail. If it can help someone, I used Lillet blanc instead of Americano, I also run out of OP Jamaican rum, so I mixed Myers's and OFTD and it worked nicely.

Clover Club
12 Comments
Robert Spain

I like it very much and I've tried several gins: Tanqueray, Roku, and Nordés. The latter was a surprise, because it has notes of bay leaves and the base spirit is destilled from white wine. So, for the record, it worked very nicely.

The Book of Kells
7 Comments
Robert Spain

I used Jameson and Duque de Alba, so my brandy took over my weak whiskey. On the positive side, brandy and Peychaud's go along nicely. So I guess this cocktail works with the right choice of spirits.

Scotch Neg
4 Comments
Robert Spain

Delicious cocktail. I used half and half Laphroigh and Lagavulin. Everything was perfectly balanced. Smoky and sweet, but never too much of any.

Obituary
14 Comments
Robert Spain

This is a very good cocktail. Next time I will probably reduce the amount of absinthe so that the botanicals in the gin may shine brighter.

Cantinflas
3 Comments
Robert Spain

It must come from the mexican actor. I've checked the official on-line Spanish dictionary, and all words sounding like that (cantinflear, cantinflada,...) derive from Mario Moreno's stage name, Cantinflas. So, there's not a previous meaning for that word. The cultural impact of Cantinflas in Spanish-speaking countries between 1940 and 1980 was huge.

Robert Spain

Just tried today. This is an excellent cocktail. I don't have Meletti, so I combined Averna, Lucano, and Ramazotti. I also combined Cointreau and Curaçao. It mostly tastes like a mezcal and tequila Manhattan, with those spirits being the most prominent flavours.

Cantinflas
3 Comments
Harry Grainger

I'm interested to know where the name of this cocktail derives from.
Is it from the Mexican acrobat/actor Cantinflas who is probably most famous in the English-speaking world for his appearance as Passepartout opposite David Niven in Around The World In 80 Days (1956 - jeeps, it's older than I am!)?
Which could lead on to the other cocktail, Cantinflas Moustache...although in the closing credits Niven was represented as a clockface, Cantinflas as a Penny Farthing and, I think, Robert Newton's Detective Inspector Fix by a moustache...

Robert Spain

It must come from the mexican actor. I've checked the official on-line Spanish dictionary, and all words sounding like that (cantinflear, cantinflada,...) derive from Mario Moreno's stage name, Cantinflas. So, there's not a previous meaning for that word. The cultural impact of Cantinflas in Spanish-speaking countries between 1940 and 1980 was huge.

London Sour
15 Comments
Robert Spain

Pretty good for an orange juice cocktail. As for the whisky, I used 45 ml of Vat 79, and 15 ml of Glengoyne 12. It's amazing what a bit of quality malt can do.

Angostura Sour
4 Comments
Gareth Hives

Never tried an Angustura heavy drink before, I guess 1/4 of a bottle is a big investment if it’s not your thing. Need to get my big boy pants on. It’s clearly a nice drink but my brain says no

Robert Spain

I love Angostura bitters and this Cocktail. Trinidadi Issues, Tradewinds Negroni, and Port of Spain are also amazing in this regard. However, I think it makes more sense to buy a bottle of Amaro di Angostura and try similar recipes that use the latter.

Bitter Half
2 Comments
Robert Spain

I really liked this one. On top of that, it packs lots of flavour with little alcohol. I used El Dorado 8, and I'll probably experiment with other rums.

Robert Spain

Very nice cocktail, and quite unique as well. I used home made syrup, and it's probably less sweet than store bought one. The oloroso combined with the other ingredients rendered a toffee-like aftertaste that I loved.

Fog Cutter
9 Comments
Robert Spain

Amazing drink, but I could have spared the oloroso. It's to dissonant to sip through it, so used a straw, defeating the purpose of the float.

Lux-Capacitor
3 Comments
Robert Spain

A great after dinner cocktail, but maybe not in a heat wave. I used orange bitters instead of grapefruit ones. The amaros and tequila play nicely, and the oloroso adds body and a bit of saltiness.

Chris Dimal

Pretty nice variation. Still prefer a Sweet Manhattan. I still find dry vermouth to be a bit too weird and bone dry here.

Robert Spain

I agree that the original Manhattan is not so overly sweet that it must be reduced using dry vermouth. Brooklyn (perfect), however, really benefits of dry vermouth.