Chinese Cocktail - Yes, Really

1 T grenadine

1.5 oz. Jamaica rum

1 dash bitters

1 t maraschino

1 t triple sec

Shake with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. 

There is a lot going on here. "It's interesting," Crooney said. "I don't hate it."  I suppose I don't hate it either, but I don't love it. I should note for posterity that we used Captain's Tattoo. Which probably accounts for the terrifying blood color. 

Me. Boston offered no explanation as to why this drink might be Chinese. 

The Rum Swizzle

2 oz. light or dark rum (light, for our purposes)
2 dashes bitters
juice of one lime
1 tsp. powdered sugar
club soda

Put lime juice, sugar and 2 oz. club soda into collins glass. Fill with ice and stir. Add bitters and rum. Fill with club soda and serve with a swizzle stick.

Crooney's immediate response is that it is quite good. We have a bit of a gathering tonight, and so guest judge Kim is back, along with our friends Mike and former (sad!) roommate Kerry.

Kerry looked confused after tasting this drink and then pronounced that it tasted like Alka Seltzer. Not that Alka Seltzer tastes bad, she said.

Mike was not into the smell. He thought it was decent, but could have benefited from removing the bitters.

Kim said it tasted like a drink that could have been good - before it was watered down after sitting on ice all day.

I'm a fan of this drink. Which either means we've been at this project too long, or I have a preternatural affection for Alka Seltzer.

Third Rail Cocktail

.75 oz light rum
.75 oz apple brandy
.75 oz brandy
.25 tsp anisette

Shake with ice and strain into a cocktail glass.

Kim and Shannon took one look at this drink and want nothing to do with it. I took the first sip and I don't think it is that bad, but the taste of anisette overpowers everything else. I am consistently surprised by how small amounts of anisette always overpower the other ingredients in any drink.

Shannon will not even speak after one sip of this drink and Kim gagged and coughed. They are both now convinced that I hate them.

Sir Walter Cocktail

.75 oz light rum
.75 oz brandy
1 tsp triple sec
1 tsp grenadine
1 tsp lemon juice

Shake with ice and strain into a cocktail glass.

Both Kim and Shannon think I just tried to poison them. That's how bad this drink is. They also think that it is also quite unfair because the unsuspecting drinker would have no idea how bad it is from looking at it. I don't think it is good, but I do not think it is quite as bad as the ladies claim.

Pineapple Fizz

2 oz. light rum
1 oz. pineapple juice
.5 tsp powdered sugar
club soda

Shake the rum, pineapple juice, and powdered sugar with ice and strain into a highball glass over two ice cubes. Add club soda.

Both Shannon and Kim think that this is an excellent drink, if perhaps a little low on the pineapple. I also think that this is quite a good beverage.

Pineapple Cocktail

1.5 oz light rum
.75 oz pineapple juice
.5 tsp lemon juice

Shake with ice and strain into a cocktail glass.

Both Shannon and Kim think that this drink is a waste. It sounds good, it looks good, it tastes bad. I agree.

Mariposa

1 oz light rum
.5 oz brandy
1 tbsp orange juice
1 tbsp lemon juice
l dash grenadine

Shake with ice and strain into a cocktail glass.

Shannon and Kim both think that this drink has quite a pleasing appearance. This is probably due to the grenadine. Shannon would drink it if it was free, but not otherwise. Kim thinks it is not bad. Both agree that it does not meet expectations after looking and smelling it. Shannon just said that it is too acidic and I agree.

Little Devil Cocktail

.75 oz light rum
.75 oz gin
1.5 tsp triple sec
juice of .25 lemon

Shake with ice and strain into a cocktail glass.

Kim and Shannon are both unhappy with the appearance of this drink. Shannon thinks it looks like urine and Kim thinks that it looks like stale alka-seltzer. Both might drink it if it were free, however, Shannon thinks she will soon need a tracheotomy because this drink just burned a hole in her esophagus. I think that it's not that bad.

Havana Cocktail

.75 oz light rum
1.5 oz pineapple juice
.5 tsp lemon juice

Both Kim and Shannon think this drink is quite good. Both would order this drink at a bar. I also think it is rather good. I think the dominant flavor is of the pineapple juice and that may be the source of the universal praise.

Bolero

1.5 oz light rum
.75 oz apple brandy
.25 tsp sweet vermouth

Shake with cracked ice and strain into a cocktail glass.

Both Shannon and guest judge Kim think this drink is absolutely horrible. They both had very witty things to say about how bad it is that I can no longer remember. I think this drink is not good, but not quite as bad as they think.

Boston Sidecar

.75 oz brandy
.75 oz light rum
.75 oz triple sec
juice of .5 lime

Shake with ice and strain into a cocktail glass.

I don't think that this drink is all that bad. However, that may be because I actually chilled the glass first this time and the taste may be masked by the coldness. Shannon thinks it tastes like spiked lemonade. Shannon cannot decide whether this is good or bad, she has settled on familiar.

The Beachcomber

Guest judge Kim has made the excellent point that this drink should contain hidden treasures along the lines of Goldschlagger. Crooney pointed out that alcohol is the hidden treasure.

1.5 oz. rum
.5 oz. triple sec
.5 oz. grenadine
1 oz. sour mix

Shake with ice and strain into cocktail glass (surprise!).

This drink is a very appealing color. Crooney took the first sip and said it's not bad, but somehow not as good as he was expecting. He wondered if perhaps he just doesn't like light rum that much.

The color suggests fruit punch, and I am happy to report that it tastes a lot like fruit punch. Kim and I both think Crooney's less-than-glowing assessment is off. This one is a winner.

Apple Pie #1

Welcome to rumtown. We have decided to take a foray into rum in honor of the warmer months. And, Crooney is quick to add, in order to finish off rum before the big move.

.75 oz. light rum
.75 oz. sweet vermouth (sweet, sweet vermouth)
1 tsp apple brandy
.50 tsp grenadine
1 tsp lemon juice

Shake with ice, strain into a cocktail glass.

Crooney is "meh" on this beverage. I am also "meh." I've had better (my favorite rickey) but I've had much, much worse.

Guest judge Kim says she was expecting worse, based on our facial expressions. She said it wasn't bad, but when Crooney asked whether she'd finish it, she was not so enthusiastic. She also made the very prescient point that this drink would be much, much improved as a shot.

Cuban Cocktail No. 2

Well, we're back. I've been extraordinarily busy studying for the bar, so we haven't been able to post much recently. We will probably be posting at least once or twice a week but we will be deviating somewhat from the order. Since we will be moving, we don't want to purchase any new bottles of alcohol, so we will be jumping around a little bit.

Today's drink is the Cuban Cocktail No. 2. I have not yet discoved the Cuban Cocktail No. 1, but I will keep you posted. This drink consists of the juice of 1/2 a lime or 1/4 a lemon, 1/2 an ounce of apricot flavored brandy, 1 1/2 ounces of brandy, and a teaspoon of light rum. Shake with ice and strain into a cocktail glass.

I like this drink. The apricot flavored brandy mixed with the lemon juice is pretty good. Shannon says it is not bad after being off the horse for a while. She was surprised when I told her we used lemon juice instead of lime juice.