Hard Drinkers, Lets Drink Hard (Spirits, Liquors and Cocktails)
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Ok @Filthy here's my recommendation. For me, the right drink also depends on the weather when smoking (since I assume you'll be outside). My main recommendation is going to be the Manhattan, but if it's blisteringly hot where you are, I'm going to throw out a highball alternative.
Main recommendation is the classic Manhattan (booze recommendations follow)
2 oz Rye
1 oz red vermouth
1-2 dash bitters
Stir all with ice until very cold, then strain into whatever glass you prefer. I'm not fussy with the glassware and usually drink out of an old fashioned (rocks) glass because it's less likely to be knocked over by kids or tipsy me. And the straining can literally be a butter knife holding back the ice, you really need no specialized equipment for this.For the rye, I like a spicy high-ish proof rye for whiskey cocktails. These should be pretty widely available. Try to find Rittenhouse bottled in bond, which can be found for very cheap:
Pikesville 110 is another good option, it's a tad more expensive:
Knob Creek Rye is another fine 100 proof choice as a back-up if you can't find the others.
For the red vermouth, my main recommendation is Carpano Antica. I hate to saddle you with a giant bottle of vermouth, and it's not the cheapest, but not only do I think it makes a great Manhattan in general, I think it'll pair well with the cigar. Many people describe a vanilla character with the cigar, and this vermouth has vanilla:
Second choice is Cocchi Vermouth di Torino. To be honest this is a very close second as far as Manhattans go in general, but it lacks the vanilla notes of Antica. A damn fine vermouth, though, if you can't find or don't want to splurge on the Antica:
As a back-up every liquor store on the planet carries Martini & Rossi "Rosso" vermouth. I think you lose something compared to the other two, but it'll make a perfectly fine Manhattan and any Manhattan is better than no Manhattan at all.
For the bitters, I use Angostura and I've never found the need to switch it up (aside from specialty bitters like orange etc.). Plus via some sorcery my bottle appears to be infinite so I don't see that changing. Every liquor store on the planet also carries this:
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I think the Manhattan is a classic cigar cocktail, and will go with your cubano nicely. However, if the day is oppressively hot, a highball is what you need to cool things off. I think rum is a natural choice, and I like this riff on the dark and stormy using a lighter rum that won't have that sticky molasses thing going on like a true "dark" rum. Cuban rums are similar in style to the Puerto Rican rums we have, but I'm going to split the difference with something with a bit more character.
"Light and Stormy"
1.5 oz low age rum
0.5 oz lime juice (like 1/2 of a lime)
4-5 oz ginger beerFill a collins glass (or something smaller than a pint glass) with ice, then pour ingredients into the glass and give a brief stir.
For the rum, I recommend Plantation 5 year:
Another great choice is the slightly sweeter El Dorado 5 year:
As a back-up most places carry Mount Gay Eclipse (get the gold one, not the silver or the one labeled "black")
For the ginger beer, there are a million options and I have no idea what you'll have access to locally. I generally try and find one that's not ridiculously sweet, but it's really just a matter of taste. I think Reeds "Extra Ginger" one is good. And I assume Fever Tree's version is good, although I don't think I've actually had it.
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Holy crap @tvenuto thanks a lot!!! I am completely amazed. I'll let you know when I go to the liquor store
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Looks like all I need are limes
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Present from @Madame Buttonfly
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That's super awesome Giles
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I was looking up St. Giles to see what his patronage was:
beggars; blacksmiths; breast cancer; breast feeding; cancer patients; disabled people; Edinburgh (Scotland); epilepsy; noctiphobics; forests; hermits; horses; lepers; mental illness; outcasts; poor people; rams; spur makers; sterilityThe outcasts and mental illness resonated, but I was disappointed not to see denim addiction (perhaps this falls under mental illness…)
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@tvenuto the hooch has arrived
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Present from @Madame Buttonfly
Looks like she knows how to give good gifts
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@Filthy sorry for the radio silence but I was away this past week an off the internet. Looks like you're well stocked let me know how things turn out!
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I just bought some EH Taylor, gonna break it open later, pretty excited_
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@Joberwocky Very nice. If I had to pick an archetypal bourbon to seal in a time capsule or something, it would be that very bourbon.
Notice it's been a few days, any thoughts?
For my part I took a trip down to Catoctin Creek to snag two bottles of Ragnarok Rye, a GWAR collaboration. It's a young rye aged in new white oak with sugar maple and cherrywood staves.
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@Joberwocky Very nice. If I had to pick an archetypal bourbon to seal in a time capsule or something, it would be that very bourbon.
Notice it's been a few days, any thoughts?
I've had two glasses now and it was for sure great bang for the buck. Super drinkable. I had just finished a bottle of Russell 10 prior to buying it and prefer the Taylor. I'd been on such a mean Barrell streak beforehand it's a good change of taste.
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Making my go-to house special right now.
2oz Bourbon (I prefer Four Roses for this drink)
1 oz O3 orange liquer (If you can find it. Basically Cointreau on a budget)
1/2-3/4 oz lime juiceShake it all up with plenty of ice, and pour into a cocktail glass.
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@Joberwocky Just curious,what did you pay for the E.H.Taylor as it’s kind of pricey in my neck of the woods. I,personally, think that the single best bourbon value out there is Eagle Rare,especially when you can find a store pick.
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I used to have a bottle of eagle rare 10 that I was in love with. I got the Taylor for just around 47, which is lower than what it's typically jacked up to. Fortunately I have a store nearby that offers 10% discount if you have an Annapolis area code
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Making my go-to house special right now.
2oz Bourbon (I prefer Four Roses for this drink)
1 oz O3 orange liquer (If you can find it. Basically Cointreau on a budget)
1/2-3/4 oz lime juiceShake it all up with plenty of ice, and pour into a cocktail glass.
This sounds great, and I've got all the ingredients, BONUS
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Nothing like some Laphroaig Cairdeas from 2014, bourbon barrel finished.
