PDT Cocktail Book

[Huntsman]

Water Lily

Equal parts:
Plymouth gin
Cointreau
Lemon juice
Creme de Yvette (substituted in for Creme de Violette)

Hmm. I don't remember that one. Sounds good, but whoa, a LOT of Yvette. How was it?

 

[denning]



How was it?

Sweet and Pink.

The flavour profile was nice, but it was a little too sweet for my taste.

If I make it again I will likely use the Creme de Violette that it originally called for, cut it in half as it already has the Cointreau for sweetness, and maybe bump the gin a touch.

 

[sygyzy]

I bought this book recently and find the organization annoying. It's in alphabetical order so yeah that's great if you want to look up "Manhattan." The problem is with drink discovery. There are hundreds of recipes, most of which you've never heard of. Rather than flipping to the Gin section, I have to go from A to Z, hoping that maybe I'll end up having the ingredients to a Latin Twist or a Billy's Midnight Passion.

 

[Huntsman]

Well, you can use the index to look at gin cocktails.

Of late, I've made the Ephemeral, Paddington, and the Professor. All have just been OK.

~ H

 

[caspian1776]

I really enjoy this book. The cool art is a bonus.

My personal fave I first found in this book is the Bijou:
1. oz gin
1 oz. sweet vermouth
1 oz green Chartreuse
dash of orange bitters
lemon twist for garnish





for my CR#2s, I always use Lillet, though I experiment with different gins, or substituting the Cointreau with Grand Marnier or curacao.

 

[Huntsman]

^ St. Germain also works well in place of the Cointreau. Not a fan of the Bijou for some reason, though it is such a classic. I've tried it with a couple of vermouths, and it still hasn't sung to me.

~ H

 

[caspian1776]



^ St. Germain also works well in place of the Cointreau. Not a fan of the Bijou for some reason, though it is such a classic. I've tried it with a couple of vermouths, and it still hasn't sung to me.

~ H

 

have you tried Antica Formula? My current favorite sweet vermouth.

 

[b1os]



^ St. Germain also works well in place of the Cointreau. Not a fan of the Bijou for some reason, though it is such a classic. I've tried it with a couple of vermouths, and it still hasn't sung to me.

~ H

 

+1, but just had it once and with Carpano Antica. May give it a nother shot.

 

[Huntsman]

have you tried Antica Formula? My current favorite sweet vermouth.

Yes, and I do like it very much.My favorite is probably the Cocchi below, though I find it hard to have a favorite, because the different styles work well in different cocktails (for instance, I don;t think Carpano makes a very good Negroni at all). I currently have stocked:

Lillet Rouge
Dubonnet Rouge
Dolin Rouge
M&R
Carpano Antica Formula
Cocchi Vermouth del Torino
Vya Sweet


I actually conducted a vermouth tasting the other night, but I have to condense my notes. I usually start out with M&R (it really is quite a decent all-rounder), and then see which way I want to go with it.

~ H

 

[Huntsman]

We need more help in this thread!

Tried the La Louche, a Charlotte Voisey cocktail (she has good eye). Gin, Lillet Rouge, Lime, Yellow Chartreuse. It was very good. I made a few for different people, and have found that it is better (to my taste) upping the Chartreuse ever so slightly and going with a more assertive London Dry (I used Martin Miller) than the Hendrick's specified.

~ H

 

[GQ Lawyer]

I have enjoyed the book (and living only 6 blocks from PDT helps whenever I am stuck on one of the ingredients). Have you checked out Bitters yet? I think an equally good read and even more useful for a home bar. For more ideas on cocktails (including my take on vermouths), please follow (or at least check out) my new cocktail blog: therakishbonvivant.blogspot.com http://therakishbonvivant.blogspot.com

 

[Ambulance Chaser]

Good to see you again, GQ Lawyer. What drink would you prepare for GQ Airline Pilot if he visited your home bar? Something spiked with a laxative?

Bitters is a very good book. I think I'm set as far as cocktail books go with Bitters, PDT, The Craft of the Cocktail, and The Art of the Bar.

If I was forced to limit myself to one cocktail, I would probably choose the Sidecar (Cognac in the fall/winter, a nice pear brandy in the spring/summer), but I agree with your high regard for the Manhattan. I had a great version made with dark rum, which played very nicely with the vanilla in Carpano. I recently ran out of sweet vermouth, so I've been drinking Black Manhattans, which substitute Averna for the vermouth.

 

[GQ Lawyer]

Ah, that's easy. I would glady serve him a Crash & Burn.

I agree that you have a good collection of books. I have also enjoyed Speakeasy, from the owners' of Employees Only as they seem to have added some good twists on the classics.

Can't argue with your Sidecar call. Nice choice.

Was recently in your fair city and hit up Columbia Room and The Gibson. Much better than my experience at the Westin.

 

[Bhowie]

I've been hearing awesome things about employees only. Next time I'm in NYC I'm heading there, I hear great things about pajama night.

 

[GQ Lawyer]

Both PDT and Bitters were nominated for best new cocktail books. Check out all of the nominees: HERE.






Check out my [URL=http://www.therakishbonvivant.blogspot.com]cocktail blog [/URL]