New York Sour - The Capian Edition

The New York Sour is a semi-classic variation on the Whisky Sour (or Bourbon Sour). It’s basically a normal whisky sour with egg white foam, with an extra float of red wine which settles more or less below the foam layer. 

I have tried several New York Sour recipes in the past years, but often for me, it’s slightly too bitter. That of course depends on the red wine used for the float. When my friends at PresentDa launched a campaign for Château Prieuré Sainte Anne, I was immediately intrigued. Could this 90% Merlot wine be the perfect wine for my New York Sour float? 

Château Prieuré Sainte Anne is full of red fruits, the 10% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes add more tannins and a slight smokiness. The wine had aged for a year in oak barrels to add that slight note of wood. Château Prieuré Sainte Anne is served at several Michelin star restaurants. 

New York Sour – The Capian Edition

Ingredients

50 ml Whisky / Bourbon

30 ml Lemon juice

10 ml Honey Syrup

Egg white (or aquafaba)

Château Prieuré Sainte Anne (Merlot wine)

Method

Add the egg white, whisky, lemon juice and syrup to a shaker without ice. I recommend adding the spring of a hawthorn strainer (it works like a whisk). Give it a good shake for 10 seconds. Open the shaker and add a few ice cubes. Shake again for 12 to 14 seconds. Strain over fresh ice in a tumbler. Hold your barspoon just above the foam layer and carefully add some red wine. Garnish with dehydrated orange.

Disclaimer: All pictures and texts are copyrighted by Geert Conard and Esito Management & Communications unless stated otherwise in the article. While some items might have been gifted by the producer or distributor, these are in no way paid promotions or recommendations.

Gloomy Martini + How to upgrade your drink

 

“Ok, I understand how to make simple cocktails at home with 2 or 3 ingredients. Now how can I easily upgrade these cocktails, besides swapping ingredients for other brands ?”

Adding a few drops of cocktail bitters does miracles. Cocktail bitters are the salt and pepper of the bartender. Angostura bitters and Orange Bitters should be standard in any (home)bar, since they are mandatory ingredients in lots of classic cocktails. But there are so many different bitters on the market, absolutely worth a try. On this blog you will also find a few recipes for homemade bitters. It’s easier than it sounds.

Most cocktails have a sweet ingredient which is mostly a syrup, cordial or liqueur. There are endless possibilities in playing with flavours in either one of these. Adding a little bit of flavoured syrup can change your entire drink. Always be careful, don’t use too much because it will ruin your drink.

My favourite : Adding a herbal and/or anise flavour to your drink. I like to use a good quality Absinthe, but you can also use Pastis, Pernod, Anisette, Ouzo, Raki, …
And you can do this in many ways :

• A rinse : Add a tiny bit of anise liqueur to your glass and swirl it around to add a thin layer to the inside of glass. Remove the rest.
• A coating in ‘Double Strainger’ style : The same as a rinse, but I don’t remove the precious high quality liqueur. Never use too much or it will alter your recipe.
• A mist or spray : Use a small spray bottle to add a mist of herbal flavours over your cocktail.
• A float : Add a very thin layer of spirit on top of your drink. When the cocktail is already in your glass, add the extra layer by carefully pouring it over the backside of a barspoon. This method is also used for adding a float of heavily peated whisky on top of a sour (e.g. Penicillin)

As an example, I’ll share this delicious recipe for an upgraded Martini :

 

Gloomy Martini

 

Ingredients

5 cl Beefeater Gin

2 cl Forest Dry Vermouth

½ bs Grenadine

Absinthe float

 

Method

Bring the gin, vermouth and grenadine together in a mixing glass with lots of ice. Stir for 20 seconds and strain in a Martini glass. Add the absinthe float on top over the back of your barspoon. Enjoy !

 

Disclaimer : All pictures and texts are copyrighted by Geert Conard and Esito Management & Communications unless stated otherwise in the article. While some items might have been gifted by the producer or distributor, these are in no way paid promotions or recommendations.