Erin Go Bragh: Irish Cocktails Good Year Round

So I know St. Patrick's Day was a full week ago. But everyone's three best Irish friends - Guinness, Jameson and Baileys - can (and should) be enjoyed anytime of year, in a variety of different ways.

The three liquors are Ireland's most famous stout, whiskey, and cream, respectively. Obviously the easiest way to enjoy all three is through an Irish Car Bomb. This is made by dropping a shot (half Bailey's, half Jameson) into a half pint of Guinness and chugging it before the cream causes the Guinness to curdle. But once you get that out of your system, each of these liquors should be appreciated on its own, and can serve as the main ingredient in several other interesting recipes.

Guinness is usually drunk by itself and is a favorite of stout lovers. But if you're in the mood to try something different, go for a Black Velvet. This classy, Guinness based cocktail is one part champagne, one part stout. Though traditionally served in a beer mug, I would use a champagne flute, adding first the stout, then slowly pouring champagne on top. The result is interesting to say the least -- the velvety smoothness and familiar taste of Guinness combined with the light bubbles of champagne. This drink would be perfect for a toast at a wedding....or a funeral. Legend has it that the cocktail was created in London in 1861 to mourn the death of Prince Albert.

Jameson is incredibly smooth and can be enjoyed straight or with water even by those who aren't accustomed to whiskey. I like it with ginger ale (the so-called "London way") or cranberry juice (as is more common in Dublin). Whiskey added to ginger ale is the traditional American cocktail known as the Highball. It is best when garnished with a lime wedge. Jameson w/ cranberry is a good alternative for those who like vodka cranberries.

Jameson can also be used in breakfast drinks. Jameson in orange juice (garnished with an orange slice and cherry, served in a champagne flute) is a great alternative to a mimosa. Jameson and Baileys also combine in an Irish Coffee.

Irish Coffee
1 oz Jameson
1 oz Baileys
6 oz hot coffee
1 tbsp sugar
heavy cream

Add some whip cream and a drizzle of greem creme de menthe on top for a more festive look.

Bailey's tastes like an iced coffee when taken on the rocks. It blends well with ice and can be added to most milk and ice cream-based shakes for a little something extra. Here's one such recipe from a British TGI Friday's menu.

Barnamint Baileys
1 oz Baileys
3/4 oz green creme de menthe
2 oz milk
2 scoops vanilla ice cream
1/2 scoop crushed ice
2 Oreo cookies for garnish (crumbled)

Combine ingredients in a blender. Sprinkle cookie crumbs on top for garnish.

Personally, my favorite St. Patrick's Day drink is my own variation of the Barnamint Baileys, which I tried for the first time last year. Since it does not require blending, it is easier to make at parties.

Barnamint Baileys
2 scoops Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
6 oz Root Beer
2 oz Jameson
2 oz Baileys Irish Cream

Enjoy!

All About Brandy

If you've ever read Dracula or other late-19th century novels, you may have been surprised by the medicinal power of brandy. Feeling weak after a blood transfusion? Drink some brandy! Have a sore throat? It can cure that, too. This weekend, a few close friends and I decided to sample the spirit for the first time to see if it really is all it's cracked up to be.

Brandy is basically distilled wine and is often considered to be an after dinner drink. Its name comes from the Dutch word brandewijn, meaning "burnt wine". Traditionally aged in wooden casks (though caramel color is often added nowadays to give it an aged look), brandy bottles contain an age rating. VS (meaing "Very Special", aged at least 3 years) and VSOP ("Very Superior Old Pale", 5 years minimum in a barrel) are the most common ratings.

We purchased Jacques Bonet Brandy, the finest bottle $9.95 could buy, which contained the VSOP stamp. We first drank it neat, that is, by itself, warming the glass in our hands to release the aromas and attempting to savor every last sip. It was awful. And it burned. We came to the conclusion that the only curative power the spirit had was that its after taste was so overwhelming that it distracted you from any ailment you could possibly be suffering.

Still left with a nearly full brandy bottle, we then set out to find the perfect brandy cocktail. Defaulting to my favorite website, www.drinksmixer.com, we tried three: the Sidecar and variations to the popular Brandy Alexander and Brandy Fizz.

The Brandy Alexander is perhaps the most well-known brandy cocktail. It is made from 1 part brandy, 1 part dark creme de cacao, a splash of half and half, and a dusting of nutmeg on top. It is a classy drink, served in a champagne flute. We tried an even more feminine version, the Brandy Alexandra, replacing the cacao with Kahlua, the nutmeg with cinnamon, and the half and half with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Still finding the drink to be too strong, we stirred in two additional scoops of ice cream, as well as a concoction of Hershey's chocolate and Autocrat coffee syrup. In a high ball glass, the drink looked like icy, frothy goodness. Once sipped, it tasted like cold, milky brandy. However, the ice cream made the brandy thicken and burn less, so, all in all, it was an improvement.

Next up was the Sidecar, a classic drink made from 2 parts brandy, 1 part Rose's triple sec, and a splash of lemon juice. This was actually good. If you try it, first rim your glass with sugar for a sweet&sour sensation.

Lastly, we attempted a Brandy Fizz. Instead of the usual sour mix and club soda, we substituted Sprite, the closest thing we had on hand. For novice brandy drinkers, 1 oz brandy and 7 oz Sprite turned out to be the perfect combination.

Brandy is extremely versatile. It can be combined with tea, lemon and honey to make a hot toddy, a traditional Christmas cocktail. Fruit brandies, including blackberry and apricot, are very popular in mixed drinks. Brandy can also be used in cooking meats and enhances the flavor of many apple-based desserts. I hope to develop a taste for it one day. But, for now, when I feel sick, I'm going to stick with orange juice.