Epi 2 and a Martini PTR JUL 2015 CCRW

[Wailbait]

A daiquiri is one of my favorite summer drinks.  But it was evening.  And we had a fabulous steak dinner and my brother brought over a Pichon Lalande mini vertical (66, 78, 81 and 85) so a daiquiri seemed like the wrong thing to end it.  I was tired and felt like relaxing after a day of cooking.  A small martini and an Epi 2 seemed the epic ending to a marvelous day.  

I didn’t take a ton of photos because it was just one of those “in the zone” experiences.  This particular cab of Epi 2s is the bees knees.  Every one has been a wonderful experience.  Due to the fact that they are on the milder side, I don’t know that I’d age them for 20 years.  4 years in and they have mellowed but all the flavors are there.  Refined and elegant.  This is what I think of a great Martini.  It’s simple but finesse-y.  But over the years, and quite a few bottles of gin later, I have found a recipe that works for me.  2oz Bombay Dry (Or another reasonably priced neutral gin like Beefeater) 1oz botanical gin.  I used Rutte but any aromatic gin will do.  .75oz Dry Vermouth.  Stir and strain.  

One tip that I have found over the years.  At restaurants and bars, the ice sits in a dedicated bin.  The ice from most home freezers are a bit off-gassy.  Wash your ice.  Better cocktail.  

I’d give the cigar and the cocktail a 96.  A martini and a mild cigar work wonders together!  

[RDB]

Love it love it. Great list of wines. How were they? And chapeau for rounding off with a Martini! I bet you started with something else too.

[Wailbait]

1 hour ago, RDB said:

Love it love it. Great list of wines. How were they? And chapeau for rounding off with a Martini! I bet you started with something else too.

The wines were really excellent.  Most felt the 66 was the star and the 81 might have faded a bit.  I thought the 78 was so complex and elegant and the 81, while somewhat faded still was great with food.  The old story of "If there are 5 people, there will be 6 opinions."

Since the topic of the review was cocktails, a friend gave me a bottle of this stuff called Singani 63 and asked if I could make something with it.  It's some sort of Bolivian brandy that is being hawked by Steven Soderbergh.  (That last sentence seems straight out of Mad Libs).  I wasn't a huge fan of the spirit but I did try some version of a daiquiri with demerara simple syrup and lime.  I wish I could say that I discovered a magical elixir but it tasted like . . . Bolivian brandy, lime and sugar.  The martini was better.  Serves me right.  Stick to what I know.