Here Is Mine. What's Yours?

[hydralique]

Thank you Selectomatic . . .

for that little rant on other drinks masquerading as “Martinis”. Like you, I prefer the classic gin Martini, although I’ll allow that the vodka Martini does exist for those who prefer it. What annoys me is having a bartender who lists “Martinis” amongst his drinks but who can’t make one because all he knows is an apple something or other. That’s like WCI trying to pawn off an agitator washer with a Franklin transmission as a Frigidaire! It might be a fine washer, but it isn’t a Frigidaire. Likewise, a drink with no dry vermouth and no gin or vodka isn’t a Martini, no matter how good it is. A real Martini is one of life’s little pleasures to a gin drinker, and easy to make as well, so there’s no excuse for ignorance on the part of a bartender.

Maytagbear - I'm reminded once again how nice it is to see you posting these days. I hope your health is improving every day.

 

[rickr]

I never did drink much at all, and now it is maybe a beer or two on the weekends.
I used to drink whisky and ginger ale, or rum and coke back in the day. Once in a great while I may still have one or the other. That is about it for me.

 

[bimmer740]

Appletini

There are several ways to make an Appletini, one of the easiest is Apple Pucker and Vodka. There is also Apple flavored Vodka shaken over ice and then served with a wedge of apple on the glass. While they are good, they are almost the exact opposite of a Gin Martini in flavor so I realize why people dont understand why they are called a martini. Appletinis are very sweet and I stay away from them after having a few too many one night. My drink of choice is a Long Island Iced Tea but they have to be made by someone who knows what they are doing or else they come out terrible. They are especially good in the summer but I enjoy them all year 'round LOL Blue Moon beer is also very good. They recently had an article about it in the Wall Street Journal about how large companies such as Coors are developing new beers like Blue Moon which give the appearance of being a small micro brewery. Anyway its something worth trying if you like beer IMO

 

[red_october]

Shmartini...

A place I used to frequent out on the Cape advertised some ludcrous number of Martinis -most of them simply other cocktails (screw drivers, Old Fashioneds, Whisky Sours, X-Collinses, whatever) in martini glasses. I was not impressed. The establishment soon folded. A conical glass does not a Martini make...

 

[aquarius1984]

whats mine?

Gin and Tonic, Bombay Sapphire and Tesco Finest Tonic Water in the small serving size cans, used to be Scweppes but find that It hardly keeps that fizz where the cans do. Cant drink smell or stand the sight of vodka nor its bottles after too many wednesday afternoons after college where we would buy a bottle each and get slaughtered. Ironically from the same place thats now my workplace as it was the only place as a 16year old we got served. How times change! Clamped down on under age buyers and im no doubt the harshest for refusing anyone who dont look 21. Other drinks im fond of are Jack Daniels served in a variety of ways, most beers stouts and my regular Red wine and real ciders, notably Westons Organic cider and Old Rosie. Rob

 

[rp2813]

It's sure hard to beat an ice cold beer on a hot summer day. I can't hang with most of the standard American fare but Miller High Life isn't too bad. When I was visiting friends in Canada they advised that Miller High Life was the top "imported" beer there. Millions of Canadians can't be wrong when it comes to beer, eh? But generally I buy Mexican beer when it's on sale (I wish they'd sell "Bohemia" in a 12-pack) or maybe Heineken.

I like darker beers up to a point. Guinness is a little too stout for my taste but I do like the creamy head (well, who here doesn't like a creamy head?). I'm more of a "Negra Modelo" kind of guy. Does anyone see "Noche Buena" beer out there during the holidays anymore? It seems to have disappeared. I haven't been able to find it for a few years.

 

[hydralique]

Beers . . .

I'm not a real beer lover but do enjoy it in the summer. I try to drink light beer and find that Heineken and Amstel make decent ones. Bud Lite is OK if I'm at a bar (as opposed to a proper cocktail lounge).

Outside of light beers I tend to like Dutch and Czech pilsners. One pretty decent beer most people don't think about is Tsingtao, from China. They've been making beer for over 100 years and while it isn't fabulous it is good - in liquor stores they'll often charge a premium for it, but I'll only buy it at a 99 Ranch Market or other Chinese grocery store where it's their standard beer and quite well priced.

 

[washabear]

Mostly I drink inexpensive mass-market Chardonnay, usually Vendange or Yellow Tail. I find them light and refreshing and fine for everyday wine. I like red wine too, but it gives me a headache so I seldom drink it. I rarely drink hard liquor, but if I had to choose, I guess I would go for the gin and tonic. Sometimes I enjoy a beer with barbecue-type meals. Saranac and Sierra Nevada pale ales are my favorites for that. I usually put a slice of lime in them.

Anyone remember Zima? It was kind of like a flavorless wine cooler/alcoholic spring water-type thing. In the early ’90s, all my friends were drinking it. This post reminded me of it, so I thought I’d toss it in.

 

[pturo]

Zima was like smoking a Merit Ultra Light, a lot of puffing, but no flavor, with an aftertaste like a really dissapointing wimpy date.
If you are going to drink, drink a real drink, and if you are going to smoke, have a freeking Marlboro, and if you are going to date, would you choose a Zima or a Zak? C'Mon, life is short,live big, not wimpy.

 

[sudsmaster]

Lime Drop

Have plenty of fresh limes this time of year (lemon tree is in process of recovering from drastic pruning). So I tried my hand at making a lime version of the Lemon Drop:

1 shot Tanqueray
1 shot fresh sqeezed lime juice (Persian lime)
2 tsp sugar

Shake in coctail shaker until sugar dissolved. Add about 3 ice cubes, shake until well chilled. Pour into suitable glass (martini glass does nicely).

I could get used to this.

 

[jaxsunst]

When I drank, Gin Martini....

I love to have a Martini,
two at the very most,
three, I'm under the table,
four, I'm under my host.

 

[bethann]

Oh Boy!

French martini is probably my fav but, I like others also. Wine, Coors light, depends on my mood.

Chocolate martini's are the bomb too!

 

[selectomatic]

Actually, I kind of liked Zima.

Well, I guess "Liked" is too strong a word. I didn't mind Zima. Besides, if I went to a party and there was a cooler full of various beverages, nobody else wanted the Zima so I didn't have to fight for it.

As I said earlier, I'm not a great fan of gin, but I'd gladly try a Lime Drop (or two even) (three if you insist).

-kevin

 

[rp2813]

Lime Drops

That lime drop recipe seems to run along the same lines as the mystery gimlet I'm trying to recreate--only I think it would taste even better! I may have to try my hand at one of those. Sure wish I had a lime tree instead of a kumquat in my back yard!

Rich, you should host a wash-in while there are still limes on the tree! The men get sloshed while the clothes get washed. Adds an interesting twist to the wash-in scene, no? OK, one bad pun is enough. I'll stop before it gets worse.

 

[hydralique]

jaxsunst . . .

Thank you for your inspired bit of poetry. I'll remember it next time I'm invited to a party with a particularly attractive host!

 

[sudsmaster]

Tsingtao Beer

I used to drink the Tsingtao beer back in the mid-80's, generally during business lunches at local Chinese restaurants. It's a good beer, similar to dutch lagers. I recall a little advertising placard provided with the beer, that stated that Tsingtao used to have a substantial German immigrant population, which is how the brewery got started.

 

[sudsmaster]

Zima

I remember Zima from the 80's. It was ok, but never quite lived up to the heavy pre-release hype it got. I like the bottles, with their clear glass and elegantly fluted sides. I thought it was supposed to be a type of beer - brewed like a beer, supposedly. As I recall it was sort of like a sweet beer with no hoppy bitterness. A bit like Bud, lol.

 

[whirlcool]

Zima

always sounded like some kind of skin condition you should see your doctor about. Couldn't they have come up with a better name?

I don't drink as much as I used to when I was younger, but after a long trip a Bacardi & Coke works well for me. I only use the light rum. Dark rums give me the hangover from hell for several days afterwards.

Also, a shot of Southern Comfort with 7-Up on the side is good.

I drink beer, usually a good German Weissenbier if I can find it. The Hefe Weissens just don't cut it.

I like Gin in the summertime, very refreshing. Boodles is also my favourite with Bombay being second. But no lime, no go. To me Gin reminds me of Christmas Trees.

And let's not forget the national drink of Brazil, Cachaca. Mixed with fresh squeezed lime and a little bit of sugar and lots of ice is great. But most of the time we cheat and use that Simply Lime lime juice instead. Less labor intensive.

 

[sudsmaster]

Meyer Lemon Drop

It is what it sounds like. Instead of limes,

1 oz fresh Meyer Lemon Juice
1 oz Tanqueray
2 heaping tsp sugar

Shake to dissolve sugar

Add 3-4 ice cubes

Shake till all chilled

Pour into suitable martini glass, enjoy.

(Meyer lemons are a somewhat milder version of the typical Eureka lemon. Not quite as aromatic, but a bit sweeter.)

Next up: Sanguinelli blood orange drop!

*hic*

 

[rp2813]

Wow Rich, that Meyer recipe is a keeper! I love Meyers just quartered straight off the tree and since I am getting rid of my huge and prolific kumquat, I will be getting a Meyer to replace it with soon. I'm only more addicted to Mandarins when those are in season.