Asian Cocktails

Here is a list of original cocktail ideas I gave a neighbor of ours in hopes of inspiring some cocktails for a new Asian restaurant in our neighborhood. I did not include exact amounts of anything, just ideas I had. Let me know what you think...

Thai-phoon Mary – Tomato based cocktail with Cumin tincture, Thai chili paste, scallions, and cilantro (called coriander). It should also include celery salt (rim?), and fresh basil. Base could be Sake,Vodka, Rice Wine, or even Gin.

General Tsao – Pineapple, lemon, with a cherry for sure, sweet vermouth (Antiqua formula), and a brown base… bourbon? Rye? ...with peanuts in the glass.

Nan Ling Sling – a Singapore sling with pomegranate molasses, fresh guava (no Cointreau/orange or grenadine), and Nocello or other nut liquor… hazelnut?

Bitter Balinese – something with cucumber, anise basil or kaffir lime leaf, lemon grass, and maybe crushed, toasted sesame seeds around the rim. Gin base with Canton (or other ginger liquor), lemon juice, and Peychauds bitters.

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The Johnny Appleseed a.k.a. One of These Flavors Is Not Like the Others

Base: 2oz Vodka (though bourbon, rye, gin, or rum works well too)

Front: 3oz of Apple Cider

Back: 1/2oz of Cynar

Thin slice of apple for a garnish

Pour all of the ingredients except the garnish into a cocktail shaker with ice, shake about 15 times, then strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Finally, add the apple slice for garnish. Feeling fancy? Use the apple slice to wet the rim of the cocktail glass before pouring the cocktail in, then turn it upside down onto a plate dusted with various fall spices (cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, cardamom, ground cloves, brown sugar, etc.). This will rim the glass with accompanying flavors prior to pouring in the cocktail.

This drink was commissioned for the Brooklyn Public Library's 13th Annual gala event celebrating the magic of childhood. The vodka base is hidden by the dominance of the apple smell and sweet cider taste which is immediately replaced with the rounded bitterness of the Crynar (an artichoke flavored Amoro). Since Sesame Street is celebrating its 40th anniversary, I was looking for a cocktail where one ingredient was not like the others.

At first I played with creating a sesame flavored simple syrup, but upon talking to the event planner it was clear that it would be difficult to make such a syrup for the event since I do not have a commercial kitchen and there is no kitchen at the Brooklyn Public Library. In using the Cynar I intended to craft a cocktail that was at once familiar, seasonal, and local (hence the apple cider), and that leaves the drinker wondering what that closing flavor is... perhaps initiating another round?

I was also trying to be mindful that many guests probably do not drink cocktails like I do, and might want something fairly subtle and approachable. When playing with the ratios I added lemon juice at one point, as well as sweet vermouth (Formula Antiqua). Each added to the flavor but took away from the apple that I was going for in the beginning. It is called the Johnny Appleseed after all.

And a special thanks to all my tasters... you know who you are!