STRAWBERRIES & FLAVOUR MATCHING

While we're on the subject...

Basil flowers from my garden.

After purchasing and posting pictures of those first beautiful strawberries last week, I ended up playing an impromptu recipe building game over twitter with a fellow drink mixer (nerd alert). We were definitely on the same wavelength as to what should go into this imaginary drink. It wasn't a particularly trendy idea, or overtly popular, so why did we both have the same thoughts on what should go in this drink?

In the kitchen, it's well known that there are flavour combinations that persist through time and across cultures. Balancing the basic tastes (sweet, sour, salty, bitter & umami) by using specific ingredients. An amazing book written by Andrew Dornenburg and Karen Page, Culinary Artistry is an invaluable reference tool for understanding and working with flavour. One of the ways I bridge the gap between the bar and the kitchen of is to utilize these flavour pairings in drinks the same way a chef would use them in a dish.

This weeks drink uses one of these combinations, strawberries, black pepper and basil. It's not hard to imagine these ingredients in a salad with some balsamic vinegar, here they're expressed through a lively summer cocktail using tequila.

Tres Amigos
2 oz Avion Reposado Tequila
1 oz fresh strawberry puree
3/4 oz honey syrup
1/4 oz fresh lime juice
3-4 dashes black pepper bitters
3 fresh basil leaves
pinch sea salt







Method
In a small bowl, muddle 1/4 C chopped strawberries and sea salt, strain through fine mesh. Measure off 1 oz.  In a small jar mix equal parts honey and warm water, shake to combine (this honey syrup will last, try mixing 1/2 C each and storing the rest) measure off 3/4 oz. In a shaker combine all ingredients, fill 3/4 with ice, shake vigorously for 30 seconds, double strain into chilled glass, garnish with fresh basil leaves.

Tres Amigos

I admit this weeks drink is a level 2. I does require a few extra steps but it's worth it. It will also give you a chance to use skills from the kitchen and apply them to making a drink. If you don't have black pepper bitters, just use some fresh cracked black pepper.
Use the tequila you like best or that is already on your shelf, each one will give the drink a unique twist.


Big thank you to @KreavtivMixology for this weeks inspiration.


Do you have a favorite flavour combination? Share it with us!

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

This might feel like another "excuse to get drunk" type of holiday, but it's really a commemoration of the 1862 battle of Puebla (Thank you Wikipedia). Never heard of it? I'm sure it's a fascinating war saga but that hardly relates to our purpose here so lets just make some Margaritas!

We'll make two today. The first being the original, which was invented or came into vogue some time around 1938-1940. Like many older recipes it's hard to say just when and how they came to be. I like to think, much as today, these cocktails represent a trend and trying to figure out exactly who or what started the trend would be impossible.  What is clear is that when it came into fashion, the ingredients were just Tequila, Triple sec and lime. That's it.

I've clearly taken some liberties.
The 40 lbs of salt was just for the photo.

Margarita 1
1 1/2 oz Tequila
3/4 oz Triple sec
3/4 oz fresh lime juice



Method 
Pour all ingredients into a shaker, fill 3/4 with ice, shake vigorously for 30 seconds, strain into chilled coupette, (adding salt didn't come into fashion until much later)








A Great Margarita Needs Real Limes!
It might be a good moment to mention as well that the price of limes has not gone down, that basket of green-gold you see there will put you out a few bucks. Prices in Toronto right now range from $.33 to $1.00 each. Fresh lime juice is always best. Whether or not the lime crisis is a real thing the new prices most certainly are. This however, is about a celebration, so go ahead and splurge!


Our second version is something closer to what you might find in a cocktail bar today. In keeping with the original but rounding out the flavour, it's still a very firm drink.




Margarita 2
1 1/2 oz Tequila
3/4 oz dry Curacao
3/4 oz fresh lime juice
1/2 oz Agave nectar



Method
Pour all ingredients into a shaker, fill 3/4 with ice, shake vigorously for 30 seconds, strain into highball filled with cracked ice.
You already splurged on the limes so go ahead and use one for garnish.






Are you going to spend the big bucks for limes this summer?