Gimlet » The Red Shaker

Pineapple Gimlet

May 042012

Tonight we bring you a tropical twist on a classic cocktail you’ve seen on this blog before: the Gimlet.

Now a classic vodka (or gin) gimlet conjures up dimly lit dives with dangerous dames waiting to wreck your life for a smile. Ok, I’m a sucker for all that is Raymond Chandler. This little lady is what Philip Marlowe would order while tracking a shady character to a tropical locale.

The Pineapple Gimlet~

Muddled fresh pineapple and chunks of ginger root, fresh lime juice, Rose’s lime, vodka-all shaken with ice and strained out into the glass. Sweet and tart at the same time, with a subtle hit of heat from the ginger. If you prefer a sweeter drink (the fresh pineapple provides plenty for me), add a bit more Rose’s lime. This is a delicious drink. You can taste all the individual ingredients, yet they dance in the glass to somehow become a new flavor blend. I love it.

4 3/4 Olives. Perfect for a summer bbq, luau, or just whenever you want a mini vacation in a glass.

Happy sipping and happy weekend!

Size (Or Rather Shaker) Does Matter

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May 202011

If you haven’t noticed, Shaker One has been on a bit of a flip kick of late. Something about Spring makes the foamy lightness enticing to me. I’m finding myself taking all sorts of “regular” cocktails and flipping them. Since I’ve already had my failed experiment with Mr. Frothee, I’ve decided to stick with egg whites. I am finding a big difference in the head that results from a regular shaker vs. a Boston style shaker.

Tonight’s victim? A classic Vodka Gimlet. <Forgive me Raymond Chandler>

Wanting just a light cocktail to end the weekend, I threw the usual suspects into my regular shaker, added ice, one egg white, and gave the whole thing a shaking like I was trying to force a confession out of it. Vigorous though my efforts were, when I poured it out into the glass, it was only moderately foamy. Huh. Now, I usually use a Boston style shaker for all things flip. Tonight I just happened to grab the shaker in front in the bar. I suspect that the extra room in a Boston shaker allows more movement of the ice and liquids, resulting in increased foam volume. I shall need to do some further research to back up this theory.

The cocktail itself was quite enjoyable, despite it’s pittance of foam. At the last minute (and after the photo) I shook just a dash of bitters onto it……very nice! It added a good balance to the tart sweetness of the Rose’s Lime. Tough to beat a classic gimlet.

Next up in the exploration of all drinks flip~ Meringue: Breaks Down or Holds Up?