Cocktail of the week: French 75

Since I have a bottle of sparkling wine in the fridge seductively whispering "drink me," I thought I would do a champagne-based cocktail this week.  The "French 75" allegedly was created by in WWI by a pilot of French/American descent who thought just a glass of champagne wasn't quite potent enough (he clearly hasn't experienced the New Year's Eves that I have).  The name comes from the fact that after you drink it, you feel like you had been hit by a French 75 millimeter howitzer artillery piece.  Personally, I have not had that experience, but I usually stop with one.  Another version of the origin of this cocktail is that a bartender from Harry's New York Bar in Paris invented the drink in 1915.

Although gin is usually thought to be the liquor that constitutes a true "French 75", purists say it's actually cognac or brandy.  The first recorded recipe used gin, however. 

This recipe is from Epicurious and uses gin:

• 1 lemon
• 3 tablespoons (1 1/2 ounces) gin
• 1 1/2 tablespoons (3/4 ounce) fresh lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon (1/2 ounce) simple syrup1 cup ice cubes
• 1/4 cup (2 ounces) dry sparkling wine, such as brut Champagne, chilled

Preparation:   Using zester or paring knife, slice peel from lemon in long, thin spiral. Reserve lemon for another use and set peel aside.

In cocktail shaker, combine gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup. Add ice and shake vigorously for 20 seconds. Strain into chilled Champagne flute and top with sparkling wine.  (Some recipes call for a Collins glass but I say if you're drinking champagne, go with a flute glass)

Curl lemon peel around finger to create twist at least 6 inches long. Garnish drink with twist and serve immediately.   Tip:  This drink is best when very cold so chill the sparkling wine and glass prior to serving.

"Three be the things I shall never attain:  Envy, content, and sufficient champagne." - Dorothy Parker

Cheers!

Birthday-impaired

Confession time.  Mr. D and I suck at birthdays.  Meaning, we never buy each other presents or throw parties - the usual birthday benefits.  Mr. D did attempt to throw a small party for me a few years ago when it coincided with a football game on TV.  (Don't worry, it was actually my idea.)  And basically only my parents and 2 friends showed....briefly.  And our team lost the game.  The party blew chunks.  So we have pretty much resigned ourselves to not planning anything and if we get a great dessert somewhere and consume a bottle of decent wine, we feel like its a win.

All that was to say "Happy Birthday" to Mr. D!  My one and only, and the rock I lean on.  I have nothing planned.  You got no present.  But I did buy you a card, so we're good. 

It was a Dark & Stormy night....

Mr. D wanted me to add a little something to the previous post.  He noted after fixing his own D&S tonight that I had forgotten some very important tips.

It is customary (ooh, so Downton Abbey) to pour the ginger beer first, then layer the 1.5 ounces of black rum on top.  Then squeeze a little lime for some acidity.  That's all the instructions he gave me before going "mmmmm, that's yummy."

Cocktail of the week: Dark & Stormy

In celebration of the temper tantrum that Mother Nature is throwing at us today, I thought the perfect cocktail to present this week is the "Dark & Stormy."   This drink is trademarked by Gosling's Export Limited of Bermuda, makers of Goslings Black Seal Rum.  It's essentially Black Seal Rum and ginger beer over ice.  Very simple and very tasty!  It's Mr. D's favorite at the moment.

Although the Dark & Stormy is considered the national drink of Bermuda, it is also very popular in Australia, likely due to their famous Bundaberg ginger beer (which is pretty darn delicious).  FYI - I have been able to get diet Bundaberg ginger beer at Cost Plus World Market so it's easy to find.   Gosling's rum, on the other hand, is a pain to locate, but a nice high quality dark rum will suffice.  Although it might seem heavy & spicy, it's a perfect cocktail for springtime.  The rum gives you that tropical sweet flavor and the ginger beer adds a nice spice to the end.  Perfect for sipping on the patio while the sun goes down and there's a slight chill to the air.



"Life would be so wonderful if we only knew what to do with it." - Greta Garbo

Cheers!