Category Archives: vermouth

S&C reader mail–out of this world cocktails

Posted on March 30, 2010 by | 2 comments

Ms. Shoes and Cocktails,

Long story, but my company is having an “Around the World” day where we have to pick a country/region/place, make food from that area, and then present it to a judge wearing an outfit representative of the area. My team has picked “Outer Space” for our theme. We’ll be making futuristic, astronaut-like food, and someone brought up the idea of a tang drink.

Might you have any ideas for a tang-inspired cocktail? Ideally we would serve it out of a punch bowl. We are also planning on making shot glasses out of ice (someone in the group has the appropriate molds to do so).

Would love to hear your thoughts.

Thank you!
LC

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Dear LC,

I love your workplace! First, mobile beer carts, now an “Around the World” day where cocktails will be served.

I’ve tried to find something out-of-this-world, given your team has chosen “Outer Space” as your theme. But, it’s been a challenge. In a good way.

I’ve seen this “Jupiter” drink in a few of my cocktail books. Not sure it can be turned into a “traditional” punch, but it looks pretty tasty (and, I know your affection for gin). Tang could certainly be substituted for the OJ. And, since it should be served in a chilled glass, an ice shot glass would be a great touch.

Jupiter Cocktail
(serves one)

  • 1/2 oz Gin
  • 1/4 oz French Vermouth (white/clear vermouth)
  • 1 tablespoon Orange Juice
  • 1 tablespoon Parfait Amour

Shake ingredients well over ice, strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

Another option that has significantly less ingredients, and much easier to prepare — how  about tang and champagne? What do you think they call mimosas in outer space?

Please let me know what you decide!

Ms. S&C

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Update on the “Around the World” office party: LC’s team decided on tang mimosas, and really took their Outer Space theme to a whole other level. Check out their impressive menu. (I forgot to ask about what outfits they wore.)

  • Cocktail: Tang Mimosa
  • Main dish: Dehydrated steak and potatoes (Grass-fed Cabernet Sauvignon-marinated beef jerky with homemade potato chips)
  • Dessert: Fire in ice (Chipotle vanilla ice cream)
  • Chef’s gift: Whisky gums (Glenlivet whisky-flavored gummy candy)

Need an outer space themed cocktail? Or something to complement futuristic, astronaut-like food? Try tang mimosas.

posted by Ms. S&C

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Posted in cocktails, gin, reader mail, vermouth

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Meryl and Julia: the cocktails

Posted on March 5, 2010 by | 1 comment

The 82nd annual Academy Awards are this Sunday. I’ll admit, I do get enraptured in the red carpet hoopla, the extravagant celebrity fashion, the self-indulgent speeches. Plus, I like movies. I also like the timing of this shindig. A month or so before the awards, I happily escape the cold and head to the movie theater to see many of the Oscar nominated picks.

No big awards show is a big awards show without Meryl Streep. Last Sunday’s New York Times called her a “cinematic chameleon for all audiences.” And with that, I dedicate this blog post to her 16th Oscar nomination — this year for best performance by an actress in a leading role for “Julie and Julia.” In this role, Meryl becomes Julia Child — and, because of her outstanding performance — Julia has now become Meryl. When Ms. Streep was nominated for an Academy Award last year for “Doubt,” Gourmet named a cocktail in her honor.

The Meryl Streep cocktail, courtesy of Gourmet,
because the lady is tasteful, classy and golden.

The Meryl Streep
courtesy of Gourmet

Ingredients:

  • 1 teaspoon Goldschläger, including some gold flecks
  • 1 teaspoon Bénédictine
  • Demi-sec Champagne or Prosecco (well-chilled)

Combine Goldschläger and Bénédictine in a Champagne flute, then top off with Champagne.

Another cocktail option for awards ceremony watching, is a drink honoring of Ms. Julia Child. Back in August, a New York Times’ Shaken & Stirred column focused on Noilly Prat vermouth. The recipe featured? The Upside-Down Martini, which is said to be Julia’s favorite cocktail.

Upside-Down Martini
courtesy of The New York Times, adapted from Libation

Ingredients:

  • 3/4 ounce gin
  • 3 3/4 ounces Noilly Prat vermouth
  • Lemon twist, for garnish

Combine the gin and vermouth in a mixing glass with ice and stir. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with the lemon twist. (Alternatively, you can serve it on the rocks; combine the ingredients in a rocks glass with ice, garnish and serve.)

Ms. S&C will be *live blogging* the event from a friend’s seventh annual Oscar Extravaganza party. So, if you’re home watching the show, check-in with S&C and share your comments!

posted by Ms. S&C

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Posted in benedictine, cocktails, gin, vermouth