With the summer heat upon us, we needed to break in the new deck furniture at the Firewater Lounge. The only way to do this properly is to cool off with a few drinks, so let's give you a few. A week ago or so, Cindy and I found some good grapefruits on sale in Madison. Besides Durango's Strater Hotel whiskey sipper, the Bustamonte 1957, and anything in the Firewater Lounge that contains Don's Secret Mix (see FWL blog post from September 2011), there isn't a whole lot of grapefruit juice straight up in this venerable blog.
To correct that, Cindy was looking to add a paloma to the Lounge. Now, the paloma is a classic drink for sure, but pretty boring. It's simply Squirt soda and tequila at a 2 to 1 ratio with a splash of lime juice. Yeah. Like a rum and coke. That doesn't do it for us here at this bar. So we made a modern-day accepted riff on the paloma that has more flavor and more real juice.
Mezcal Paloma
2 ounces mezcal (we used Bozal)
2 ounces fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice
1/2 ounce simple syrup
top with club soda or 7-Up
Shake the first three ingredients with ice. Strain over ice in a Collins glass. Top with soda and stir gently a few revolutions. Garnish with a grapefruit swath. If you like it sweeter, rim your Collins glass with sugar prior to icing it.
Now, the Paloma isn't the only sour worthy of your summer enjoyment. I poured myself a Jasper's Planter's Punch for my deck excursion. What's that? A funky Jamaican rum in Jasper's Secret Mix (see
FWL blog post from June 2010). The key to this flavor bomb of a drink is the esters created from the traditional pot still distillation of Jamaican rums. Esters are formed through a chemical reaction between alcohols and acids during fermentation and distillation, creating fruity and floral aromas and flavors that are banana and/or mango-like. It's referred to as 'hogo' or 'funk', and it's great in Jasper's mix. Whip yourself up a batch of Jasper's and try it in Smith & Cross, Wray & Nephew, or Hamilton rums (or all three)! Here's the recipe:
Jasper's Planter's Punch
1 part Jamaican rum (I used Hamilton)
1 part Jasper's Secret Mix
Build in an old-fashioned or rocks glass over ice. If you need it sweeter, top with 7-Up.
