Drinks from the Weekend: July 6

The first drink of the night was a Hangar One Blueberry and tonic at San Pedro Square Market. Sorry, I didn't take a picture of it, but it looks like a clear drink in an old fashioned glass. I think I have decided that this is my new favorite flavored-vodka, although I'll hold-off on that decision until I try it straight. The Hangar One Blueberry and tonic has a very smooth and light blueberry flavor, with no syrup feel that is present in most flavored vodkas.

Drink Menu at Hedley Club.

Almalfi: Buffalo Trace Bourbon, lemon juice, Galliano, orgreat syrup, club soda.

My second drink was an Almalfi at Hedley Club. My first thought when sipping this drink was that it would be a great introduction to bourbon to the non-bourbon drinker. The taste was light but still allowed the complex flavors of bourbon come through in a more controlled manner. But after I was about a quarter of the way through, I realized it was getting sweeter. This probably meant that the syrup was sinking to the bottom and that this drink needed to be stirred to keep it consistent. By the end, it was very sweet and I was no longer a fan. I may need to try this again--next time with constant stirring.

Hemingway: Banks rum, lime, grapefruit juice, Luxardo marachino liqueur.

My last drink was a Hemingway. This time there was no separation and I enjoyed this one a lot more. I felt the ingredients were mixed very well in this drink. There wasn't one ingredient that stood out as too strong. The taste was light and slightly sweet. I also felt a slight bitterness from the grapefruit that was present. 

Make a Drink: Vodka Sour

Vodka Sour.

The Vodka Sour is a classic drink that has a smooth and creamy feel with a light lemon taste. This drink is  difficult to find in its classic form at regular bars. Most bars will normally use pre-made sweet and sour mix that doesn't give it the same feel. The sour used in the classic drink is made with egg whites, lemon juice, and simple syrup, and can be used to make other version of sour drinks--like a whiskey sour.

Ingredients and tools. Not shown: egg whites.

Ingredients:

3 oz vodka
1 1/2 oz simple syrup
juice from one lemon
egg white from one egg (I use 3 Tbsp of pasteurized egg whites in a carton)
Angostura bitters

Procedure:

Combine the vodka, simple syrup, lemon juice, and egg whites in a shaker with 4 or 5 cubes of ice. Shake vigorously. Strain into a lowball glass allowing the foam to form at the top. Add three drops of the bitters on top for scent. For an added affect, use a toothpick to shape the bitters in the foam.

Enjoy!