Ritonare a Italia – for Fernet

May 24, 2016May 24, 2016 ~ Meg ~ 36 Comments

Week 21 in the Year of Drinking Adventurously! Fernet.

Yes, we’re back to Italy this week for a unique and, frankly, weird spirit – fernet. I’ve never in my travels had the opportunity to sample this digestif and Jeff’s book didn’t exactly inspire enthusiasm for the first time drinker of fernet. Here’s how he describes the flavor:

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“Imagine stuffing a handful of Good ’n’ Plenty candies in your mouth. And then chase those with a spoonful of Robitussin and a shot of Scope. That’s about as close a description as one could muster…” Sounds great, right?

When I tried it on its own, I swear I couldn’t have described it any better! It has notes of licorice, maybe black cherry, and a little spicy mint finish. Bizarre. And yet…. You guessed it, I kinda liked it! I’m beginning to think I’ll drink just about anything.

Fernet is made from a variety of herbs and spices which differ depending on the brand. It is classified as an amaro, a bitter, aromatic spirit. Most fernets include myrrh, rhubarb, chamomile, cardamom, aloe and saffron, with a base of distilled grapes.

The origins of fernet are in Italy but it has become popular in Argentina. The Argentines drink fernet mixed with coke to form a simple cocktail. I am a Pepsi girl, however, so I mixed my shot of fernet in a tall glass with about 8 oz of Pepsi (ok, diet, caffeine-free Pepsi, no judging!) which made for a pretty pleasant drink.

Fernet has also undergone a “cult-like renaissance” among foodies and folks in the bar and restaurant business. Especially in the San Fransisco Bay area where there is a strong connection to Italian food, even serving up offerings rarely found outside Italy itself.

San Fransisco is definitely one of my favorite places in the US to visit. Food, craft beer, culture, history, beautiful scenery and some of the friendliest people in the nation. Seriously, they are a mellow bunch.

I was worried that fernet wouldn’t be available locally but apparently the “cult-like renaissance” has made it to the suburbs of Philadelphia. At the liquor store where I’ve been acquiring all the out-of-the-mainstream boozes, one of the bemused employees finally asked what I was up to. And after informing them about the Year of Drinking Adventurously, they are now excited to see me coming, eagerly waiting to hear of the latest libation. I’ve become interesting, instead of weird. Go figure!

I hope if you have the chance, you’ll give fernet a try. You might like it as much as I. I wonder if Lula fancied fernet?

Bitters? Sweet!

May 17, 2016May 17, 2016 ~ Meg ~ 46 Comments

Week 20 in the Year of Drinking Adventurously! Artisanal Bitters.

Just so you know, I’m on vacation this week, muddling along with my LTE data plan for Internet. I’m not complaining, mind you, unplugging from civilization is a delight once in awhile. Nevertheless, I feel compelled to jump on with my Toast Tuesday post this week because last week was such a fail. This week’s potent potable is one I can endorse with complete confidence. Bitters — a classic cocktail ingredient.

Friday evening, I was scrambling around packing all the gear… Clothes, shoes, food, booze, not necessarily in order of importance. Getting the place clean for the house-sitter, taking the dog to the kennel. Did I mention it rained torrentially while I was doing all this? So hell no, I wasn’t making dinner on top of all that, somebody say takeout Chinese? I was stressed enough the way it is. I needed a good laugh and a good cocktail.

What better way to unwind and start vacation than with The Graham Norton Show I recorded from Tuesday (thank you BBC America) and a nice martini. And no, not one of those sweet abominations they are calling martinis these days. I’m talking gin, dry vermouth and bitters, with two big beautiful Spanish Queen olives to garnish. (And provide enough nutrition for me to feel smug).

And just like James Bond, (hopefully the next iteration of whom [of which?] will be either Tom Hiddleston or Aidan Turner, or maybe Idris Elba…) What was I saying…? Martini, yes… Hmm, wait a minute… The world’s worst spy doesn’t actually drink a classic martini does he? All right forget Bond, here’s what you do:

Add ice to your glass to chill it (then discard)
Add ice to your shaker
Splash in a few drops of bitters (I use Angostura, can’t go wrong)
Shake to coat your ice thoroughly
Add 2 shots of gin (pick a good one — I drank Bombay this time)
1 shot dry vermouth
Shake it again and pour into your chilled martini glass
Add 2 or more olives (a little of the brine too, if you like it dirty)

Drink and ahhhh, enjoy!

Ok, I’m getting in the hot tub. Got to soak my sore muscles and get ready for another day of hiking tomorrow.
Don’t forget to visit Harp, Lula Harp... To see how she used bitters this week!

Ok, it’s a Cabernet Sauvignon not a martini…

What the pulque?

May 10, 2016May 13, 2016 ~ Meg ~ 41 Comments

Week nineteen in the Year of Drinking Adventurously! Pulque and it’s a fail!

Pulque is another product of the agave plant — the result of fermenting the nectar, and skipping the distillation process. It goes back all the way to Aztec culture in Mexico. What results after fermentation is a slightly sweet, milky, viscous liquid that is tradtionally served by dipping your mug into the communal vat. The places where pulque is served are called pulquerias. There is one in New York City, but…

My friend Jeff, I believe this was destined to be a fail because according to your book: “Pulqueria is one of the very few places in New York (or most of the East Coast, for that matter), where a drinker can actually taste the real deal.”

and: “Right now pulque’s virtual lack of availability in the states has proved to be one of its greatest assets.”

My chances of finding pulque in the suburbs of Philadelphia were astronomically low to non-existent. I’m going to go out on a limb and guess that Lula doesn’t have a Pulqueria in Memphis, either. However, she is a resourceful gal and thus I will not underestimate her in this endeavor! So go visit her blog to make sure! Now, if you are really interested in tasting this other product of the agave plant, you can visit Pulqueria when you are in New York City. And for info, you can find it on Yelp! and Open Table.

Despite the pulque fail, the weekend brought me some adventure. I had friends over for food and drinks on Friday night, Saturday was the Kentucky Derby party and the once a year imbibation of mint julep. Once a year is enough – a little goes a long way. So in lieu of pulque, here is the recipe for the classic mint julep:

1 oz simple syrup (1 cup sugar in 1 cup water and heat till dissolved)
sprig of fresh mint leaves
3 oz bourbon (use a Kentucky bourbon, accept no substitutes!)

In a glass, muddle the mint leaves in the syrup. Add to a shaker filled with ice and bourbon. Shake and serve in a rocks glass or better yet, a silver cup!

And this weekend’s best adventure of all? I got to read. An actual book. To me that is one of the best adventures one can have!