Well, it's a good thing I'm not driving a school bus this morning. Or operating a thresher. Last night the judges for the Fantastic Mr. Fox cocktail contest gathered at Louis 649 along with some faithful readers to sample the 4 final cocktails.
It also happened to be very well-like bartender Eryn Reece's last night at Louis before moving over to Mayahuel, and the steady stream of well-wishers and tequila shooters (Eryn brought in a couple bottles of Milagro Silver for the evening) added a whole other layer of energy and fun to the evening. When an Absolut party wound up across town around 1:00 a.m. the bar filled up with brand ambassadors, bartenders and just good, solid, committed partyers. (Full gallery on Facebook here)
And although judges loved Matt Fairhurst's Very British Zombie (recipe here) there was a clear favorite. The winning entry (and recipient of the Blu-ray DVD of "Fantastic Mr. Fox") was Frederic Yarm of the blog Cocktail Virgin for this entrancing taste of the orchard:
BEAN'S NECKTIE
One of the ingredients, the orchard syrup, requires a little bit of
kitchen time in advance, and was common in cocktail recipes in the past
(Harry Johnson's book, for example, has several drinks that use it.)
3/4 oz Bourbon
3/4 oz Yellow Chartreuse
3/4 oz Orchard Syrup (**)
1 dash Fee's Whiskey Barrel Bitters (or other aromatic bitters)
Shake
with ice and strain into a champagne flute. Top with Champagne (~ 2
oz) and garnish the inside of the glass with a long red apple peel (6
inches or so, Crusta/Horse's Neck style).
(**) Orchard Syrup
6 cups Apple Cider
1 tbsp (1/2 oz) Lemon Juice
1 tsp Chinese 5 Spice Powder
1/2 cup Sugar
Pour
ingredients into a pot. Heat to reduce ingredients down to 1/4
original volume (around 1 1/2 cup) while stirring every 10 minutes or
so. Easiest way to determine the end point is to mark the initial
liquid depth on a wood skewer and then measure what 1/4 the height
would be with a second mark. Should be lightly adherent to a spoon
when done (and still hot) and honey-like when cold (easier to measure
out when warm or at least room temperature).
In the words of Al Green, simply beautiful.
The judges created an impromptu category, Sentimental Favorite, which goes to Friend Of Embury, D.J./ Producer Sam Greisemer of Los Angeles (Twitter account here, sizzle real here) for his so-crazy-it-just-might-work riff on a boilermaker:
Mr. Fox's Big Attack
This drink is a celebratory courage tonic, meant to be taken with friends/compatriots.
Whilst this was not the most elaborate or cocktaily of the entries, its spirit of balls out recklessness and its conception endeared it to the judges, and a second round at about 11.30 clinched its position as Sentimental Favorite.
Gianfranco Verga of Louis 649with Dan Warner of Beefeater. There was a lot of love going around last night.
A charming submission from Sarah Hodges (her food blog is Rapscallion Pancake) was lovely, but perhaps a shade too genteel when compared to the gonzo competitors. But it was a pleasant respite from the others intensity, and would be lovely on a Spring evening as sun sets.
The Beagle's Blight
"It'll put you down!"
Start with one large chilled wine glass.
Add one small sugar cube, and douse with 3 drops of Angostura Bitters.
Add 2/3 oz. of triple sec, 2/3 oz. Calvados, and 5 oz. good quality champagne.
Add 3-4 ice cubes.
With a long handled spoon, stir everything together.
Plop in one blueberry for color and film relativity!
Enjoy.
Huge thanks to all who entered, to Eryn Reece, Gianfranco Verga of Louis 649 for hosting us so graciously, and to the good-natured judges, Mark Buettler, Adam Sachs and Katie Darling of Bols Genever, who also made us a lovely punch with bluberries, inspired by the film.
Giannfranco with a gigantic cube of ice that somehow made its way from the Absolut party to Louis 649.
Comments