About Ingredients

Use Good Ingredients.

If you want to buy cheaper grades, which often taste just as good
as more expensive ones, get advice from a reliable source
or reputable dealer.
If you are the cautious type, go with the known brands.
The cost per drink is not much greater with the more expensive brands.

Gin

This is a redistillation of raw alcohol to which Juniper Berries
and other flavouring herbs have been added.
It is clear, colourless and delicately aromatic when properly made.
Holland Gin, Geneva Gin and Sloe Gin are entirely different in flavour
and are not to be used in cocktails!

In making cocktails, Gin is usually flavoured with aromatic wines.
The Martini is simply Gin and French Vermouth.

Rum

This is a liquor made from sugar cane molasses, chiefly in the Caribbean.
(Bundaberg Rum is an excellent Australian product)
There are three varieties.

• White Label - clear, light, delicate-flavoured.
• Gold Label - darker , more flavoured.(the best is Cuban)
• Tropical - dark, heavy, unfiltered molasses flavour. (Jamaican)

  Tropical Rum is preferably used in long summer fruit drinks,
  where its rich flavour can best be diluted and blended.
  

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  Whiskey

  This normally means Rye Whiskey.
  Bourbon, made with corn, may be substituted for Rye in any recipe.
  

  In making cocktails, whiskey is usually flavoured with either
  aromatic wine or lemon juice.
  The Manhattan is simply whiskey with Italian Vermouth.
  The Whiskey Sour is whiskey, lemon and sugar.

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  Scotch Whiskey is made from barley.
  The smoky flavour, derived from the peat fires the barley is dried over, makes it unsuitable for most cocktails.

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  Other Liquors. Grape Brandy goes well in mixed drinks.
  The best being from Cognac, France.
  True Apple Brandy and Cherry Brandy may be used;
  also Vodka (a kind of uncoloured gin.)
  and Aquavit (a kind of gin)
  

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  Back to the Bar
  

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  Dean Bain
  Brisbane, AUSTRALIA
  [email protected]