Vodka, Tonic and Bitters

Well, for some reason people don't consider a Gin and Tonic a cocktail, yet a rum and coke is a cocktail only because it has a name - Cuba Libre. Either way, a vodka, tonic and bitters is a mixed drink, and since cocktails have come a long way from being a spirit, sugar and bitters, I don't see why it can't be included on this blog.
I got the idea for this drink from Fleming's Thunderball, where James Bond orders one in Nassau. I actually prefer it to a gin and tonic, and not simply because you 'can't taste' the vodka. It just seems to be more pleasant.

• 1 or 2 shots vodka
• squeeze of lime juice
• several dashes of Angostura or Fee Brothers' Old Fashioned Bitters to taste
• top up with tonic water

Garnish with some lime wheels.

Photo: Phil

One of the reasons I like this drink so much is that it is like a quality canvas to display the bitters. While Angostura is perfectly reasonable, I just love the Fee Brothers' bitters - from America I might add. However, I spied them on Nick's wines, an Australian online bottleshop recently. This drink also works with Peychaud's bitters, but they're even harder to find.

Manhattan

Well I though I'd start with my favourite version of this classic drink. Sebastian Reaburn, a Melbourne-based bartender, adds some maraschino cherry syrup to this which subtly makes this a remarkable drink.
His recipe, with the brands I used, goes like this:

• 1.5 shots Jim Beam Rye whiskey
• 0.5 shot Cinzano sweet red vermouth
• dash Angostura bitters
• dash Regan's Orange bitters
• 1 tsp maraschino cherry syrup

Photo: Phil

Stir with ice in a mixing glass until cold and strain into a chilled martini glass or champagne saucer.

Garnish with a maraschino cherry and flame an orange peel over it (discard the peel).

Despite being a whiskey lover myself, I think that the teaspoon of sweet syrup just cuts the dryness a bit to smoothen out this cocktail. It's hard to explain the taste of this one - essentially a spiced, sweetened whiskey flavour with underlying burnt orange notes. Certainly strong tasting - best to try it if you like whiskey!
I realise that Jim Beam isn't the best rye whiskey, but there doesn't seem to be much else available around here. I even had to get the orange bitters delivered from America, although the drink does not deteriorate without them too much.