Cocktails O’ Clock: Catalina Margarita

It’s the Fucking Catalina wine mixer…

Recognise this little party?
Picture courtesy of: http://www.seeing-stars.com

Tequila is something I’ve never been able to get my taste buds use to, and that’s probably because all I’ve ever been exposed to is Jose Cuervo and Sauza. Whilst both brands do produce high grade 100% agave tequila, supermarkets sell just sell the cheaper ‘impure’ products (they are cheaper and show better sales – trust me it’s how they think – which is a shame I know).

Recently however there has been somewhat of a boom in the tequila industry, with more and more focus on ‘craft’ and aged ‘pure’ 100% Agave tequilas (especially across the USA). Here in the UK there are plenty of good quality tequila’s available, if you know where to look. Sainsbury’s for one stock a couple of 100% agave brands; El Jimador (Blanco & Reposado) and, along with Waitrose, Aqua Riva (Reposado). Both brands can say they are 100% agave and therefore better for you than those products that are not so.

Fervent Shaker Funny Fact: Due to the purer filtration processes 100% agave tequilas will not result in as bad a hangover as those tequilas that are ‘blended’ (basically any tequila that doesn’t say 100% agave on it). This is because some chemicals (the ones that cause severe hangover symptoms) are reintroduced when the ‘blended’ products are mixed. This does not happen with 100% agave tequila’s as once the chemicals are removed, that’s it, and they’re gone for good. Huzzah.

So moving onto this evening’s cocktail: The Catalina Margarita…

Catalina Margarita:

(42ml) 1 ½ measures Tequila

(28ml) 1 measure Blue Curacao

(28ml) 1 measure Peach Schnapps

(112ml) 4 measures Sour Mix*

The great looking Catalina Margarita, of course the Blue colour is governed by that timeless spirit: Blue Curacao.
Picture courtesy of: http://www.RhodyJoes.com

Method:

1)      Combine all the ingredients over ice in a shaker and shake until frosted.

2)      Serve straight (preferable in a chilled Margarita cocktail glass).

3)      Garnish with a lime twist.

Now a famous use of Catalina was the Catalina Wine Mixer…

The Catalina wine mixer is a fictitious event in the film Step Brothers. The film is hilarious, starring Will Ferrell as one of the brothers and he is the host of the wine mixer at the end… This cocktail as far as I can see, whilst not actually based on this reference, would have suited such an event perfectly. Sure it’s not a wine based cocktail, but Margaritas are literally perfect for any event. Keeping the recipe close to the original as possible (although this version is a lot longer than a classic margarita) this cocktail will wash away any shyness you feel at any event. It will help you forget your insecurities at any event you feel you don’t quite belong at. Whether that’s a good thing or not is a decision I will leave to you…

This slightly tweaked version I’ve created has taken its inspiration from the event. Who cares if it isn’t real, it’s the fucking Catalina wine mixer!

Catalina (Wine Mixer) Margarita:

(42ml) 1 ½ measures Tequila

(28ml) 1 measure Blue Curacao

(28ml) 1 measure Peach Schnapps

(56ml) 2 measures Sour Mix*

Top up Sparkling Wine

This version is slightly longer and more of an evening drink compared to it’s sipping counterpart…
Picture courtesy of: http://www.redbookmag.com

Method:

1)      As the classic calls for shaking, this one does to; just don’t shake up the wine…

2)      Pour into a chilled margarita cocktail glass.

3)      Top with the Sparkling wine.

4)      Garnish with a lime twist and candied Lemon peel.

This cocktail is a little lighter than the original recipe to make it a faster sipper. This version of the drink can be a little richer in flavour, if you pick a good quality of sparkling wine, but equally lesser so for the same reason…

Fervent Shaker Top Tips: For a really grand version of this drink try using Champagne instead of just any old sparkling wine. Also try using Grapefruit juice as well as Sour mix. If you prefer a still drink, replace the sparkling ingredient with grapefruit juice. You can equally substitute the win for grapefruit soda if you do like your drink carbonated…

*Sour mix is a mixture of lemon juice, lime juice and sugar syrup. See my Jericho Breeze post for the recipe…

Hopefully you like this slightly different take on a great cocktail. And of course another cocktail you can drink whilst watching a film, look at you all sophisticated and that…

Enjoy the drink, and should you want to find the original in its original place try my book of the moment: 365 cocktails, written by Brian Lucas.

Until tomorrow folks! Adios.

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Cocktails O’ Clock: Purple Passion Tea

This one’s for you ladies; Give it a try on a September evening and you’ll never want another cocktail again…

The drink is called the ‘Purple Passion Tea’ but in reality it’s more a shade of pink… Perfect for the ladies out there…
Picture courtesy of: http://www.alaska-in-pictures.com

I’ve tried plenty of Iced-Tea cocktails in recent years, some classic and some I’ve made up, and when it comes to my female friends this has to be one of their favourites. Now it’s not just for the colour, that’s kind of stereotypical, it’s because of the flavours… Combining smaller amounts of the base spirits and adding a double dose of Raspberry liqueur helps sweeten the drink (and is the reason for the pink hue). The best thing about this cocktail however, has to be the versatility to mix with fruitier mixers. The recipe below is the classic version, and below that you’ll find the best mixers to substitute in for the sour mix… Take your time working out the kinks in this recipe, make a few up and enjoy yourselves. Trust me when I say you’ll love them:

Purple Passion Tea:

1 peeled Passion Fruit

(7ml) ¼ measure Vodka

(7ml) ¼ measure Rum

(7ml) ¼ measure Gin

(14ml) ½ measure Chambord (Raspberry Liqueur)

(112ml) 4 measures Sour Mix

(7ml) ¼ measure Lime Juice

Top up Lemonade

A great refreshing cocktail perfect for September evenings, but also great for accompanying your desserts…
Picture courtesy of: http://www.delish.com

Method:

1)      Muddle the passion fruit in a shaker and then add ice.

2)      Add all of the ingredients (except the lemonade) and shake well (5-10 seconds).

3)      Strain into an ice filled glass.

4)      Top with the lemonade and garnish with a hulled passion fruit halve on the rim of the glass.

This cocktail is a less-alcoholic version of the famous long island iced tea (using half the amount of alcohol) and therefore a little easier to handle. Knocking down the alcohol levels does several things for the drink, one of which is the balancing of flavours. If you up the alcohol, you lose the Chambord (raspberry) and passion fruit flavours.

Fervent Shaker Top Tip: For an added touch of fruitiness try substituting half of the sour mix with either pomegranate or cranberry juice. Also, for a really classy touch, try using Hibiscus soda instead of the lemonade (if you do try to garnish with a Hibiscus Flower)…

Hibiscus Flowers are one of the most elegant cocktail garnishes out there. Done right they are simply beautiful (they’re edible too!)…
Picture courtesy of: ajachicago.typepad.com

This is perfect to drink with desserts and works well with Cheesecake or Citrus tarts, perfect with the odd bit of sorbet also. Have you ever tried an ice-cream soda? – Home-made it’s just a dollop of ice-cream with a top up of Lemonade. – This is not a new dessert by any means, but this cocktail should have a fruity flavour to compliment such an ambitious idea.

So until next time drinkers, drink up and enjoy!

And for the ladies: Yellow Hibiscus Flowers 🙂

Cocktails O’ Clock: Jericho’s Breeze

The apocalypse is fine and all, but I prefer the Ritz…

Here’s to the end of the world… Well part of it anyway…

Here’s one for you: Have you ever seen/heard of the US TV show Jericho? – It’s a program starring Lenny James (The Walking Dead, Snatch), that great British actor with a touch of gold (everything I’ve seen him in has been pretty darn good), and follows the townsfolk of Jericho; No? Well what the hell! Check it out on Netflix or IMDB and find a way of seeing it, you will not be disappointed…

A great show with a fantastic twist, unfortunately cancelled before it’s time, but still a very good watch…

Some of you may have gathered, although I’ve not made a point of it before, when I look for new cocktails to try out, I always try to find ones that can tie into a specific theme.

And this cocktail is not exception to that rule.

True sometimes a classic works wonders, but most of the time I like to theme my cocktail evenings; allowing for a better atmosphere for my friends, and also to make them even more fun (it’s always nice to drink apocalyptic themed cocktails when watching films/TV programs like The Walking Dead, Jericho, The Day After Tomorrow etc…

My process of thought when looking for this cocktail is for an upcoming apocalypse binge. Watching shows as those mentioned above, can really set a certain tense atmosphere in the house, and I feel that coming out with Martini’s or Pina Coladas would ruin it, burst the tensions bubble so to speak, so I like to theme my cocktails to add a deeper sense of theatricality to the evening.

These cocktails are not all my own recipes, it would take me weeks to come up with enough good quality cocktails for my friends, and I respect them enough (well just about enough) to not give them crappy cocktails (a famous genre of cocktails reserved for all those student recipes you thought tasted great but were actually better suited to stripping paint than ladling into your mouths).

So I gathered a few apocalypse-ish cocktails and this one, was really my favourite of the lot. I’ve included a link at the bottom of this post for a couple of god sources but this one, themed only in namesake, is themed towards the aforementioned Jericho TV series… Here’s the recipe (taken from Brian Lucas’ 365 cocktails):

Jericho Breeze Recipe:

(28ml) 1 measure Vodka

(21ml) ¾ measures Blue curacao

(70ml) 2 ½ measures sour mix*

(14ml) ½ measure lime juice

(5-10ml) 2 teaspoons orange juice

Dash sugar syrup

Top up Lemonade

A representation of what your cocktail should look like when completed…
Picture courtesy of “21nogluten.wordpress.com”

Method:

1)      Shake all of the ingredients (except the lemonade) over ice and strain into a glass filled with crushed ice.

2)      Top up with the lemonade and garnish with a cherry and pineapple slice.

Whilst not as strong as the more ‘classic’ cocktails this one will certainly make you pay should you ‘neck them without thought. Sure it’s only a measure or two of alcohol, but 3-5 drinks later and you’ll feel them. That said if you drink responsibly then there’s no reason this cannot become one of your favourite sea-breeze type cocktails…

So pour a few out, and enjoy the fruity, light hearted fun with all of your friends…

Sour mix is a mixture of Lemon Juice, Lime Juice and sugar and can be purchased in some places, but is stupidly easy to make at home:

Sour Mix Recipe

(2 parts) 14ml Lemon Juice

(2 parts) 14ml Lime Juice

(1 part) 7ml Sugar Syrup

Stick to this ratio and you should be able to scale up your recipe without any problems. As with all syrups/mixes like this you might find you want more or less sugar/juice, in which case keep working out the kinks and find your perfect balance…

Gear Patrol Apocalyptic Cocktails

The Man Cave Cocktails

Alcohol Apocalypse

Countdown to the Apocalypse

When facing the edge of the world it’s great to have a plan. Failing that it’s always worth having a cocktail as a back up plan. That way you can bow out in style…
“tonight we’ll sail to the edge of the world and watch the stars fall down” – Crown the Empire.