Found booze, what to do?
September 24, 2010 7:34 AM Subscribe
A friend recently moved into an apartment and found a cabinet full of weird booze. So, what can we make with this strange list of alcohols? Full list inside.
Here's what he reports is in the apartment. Assuming a standard collection of mixers, what is the most tasty/complicated/interesting drink we can make? What's the highest number of these we can use in one (not disgusting) concoction? The crazier, the better!
drambuie
Chambord
Tia Maria
Cointreau
Beefeater Gin
Cuervo Especial Tequila
Raynal French Brandy
Anisette - Extra Fine
Creme de Cacao
Frangelico
Cutty Shark Whiskey
Courvoisier Cognac
Rumona Jamacan Liquor (just a little)
A.E. Cognac
Thanks. I'll report back on our evening soon...
Here's what he reports is in the apartment. Assuming a standard collection of mixers, what is the most tasty/complicated/interesting drink we can make? What's the highest number of these we can use in one (not disgusting) concoction? The crazier, the better!
drambuie
Chambord
Tia Maria
Cointreau
Beefeater Gin
Cuervo Especial Tequila
Raynal French Brandy
Anisette - Extra Fine
Creme de Cacao
Frangelico
Cutty Shark Whiskey
Courvoisier Cognac
Rumona Jamacan Liquor (just a little)
A.E. Cognac
Thanks. I'll report back on our evening soon...
Response by poster: Sorry, to be clear - this apartment was inherited from a friend, so we trust the booze. But thanks for looking out.
posted by jtajta at 7:38 AM on September 24, 2010
posted by jtajta at 7:38 AM on September 24, 2010
This reads less of a "weird" list to me and more of a list of things you'd use in mixed drinks that might not get used up as quickly as "base" liquors.
But, as kimdog said, I'd probably not use anything that was open. Primarily because liquor does go bad once opened, but also because you have no idea if what's in the bottle is actually what the label says. People have been known to reuse liquor bottles to hold experiments (infusing liquors, bottling homebrewed/distilled alcohol) and there's always the distant possibility that someone left something unsavory in there.
posted by mikeh at 7:42 AM on September 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
But, as kimdog said, I'd probably not use anything that was open. Primarily because liquor does go bad once opened, but also because you have no idea if what's in the bottle is actually what the label says. People have been known to reuse liquor bottles to hold experiments (infusing liquors, bottling homebrewed/distilled alcohol) and there's always the distant possibility that someone left something unsavory in there.
posted by mikeh at 7:42 AM on September 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
While it can be a tedious exercise, the Webtender has an 'in my bar' feature that allows you to select from a giant list all the ingredients you have. It will then let you know what drinks can be made. You can also specify that you're willing to buy one or two or three additional ingredients, which makes it easier to generate a list of cocktails.
posted by shakespeherian at 7:42 AM on September 24, 2010 [7 favorites]
posted by shakespeherian at 7:42 AM on September 24, 2010 [7 favorites]
Well the cognac I'd drink by itself (try it with Lindt Excellence Chilli Dark, amazing). As for the rest, get some inexpensive red wine and experiment with making sangria (there are traditional recipes, but as far as I'm concerned you can get creative with them)
posted by pyro979 at 7:43 AM on September 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by pyro979 at 7:43 AM on September 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
Live dangerously! But possibly test some of the booze on an adventurous buddy first. ;-)
With the Cointreau, Creme de Cacao and some cheap vodka, you can make my favorite drink - the Whack 'n Unwrap - it's named after the instructions on a Terry's Chocolate Orange, and it tastes a lot like one, too.
With all the liqueurs, you could probably make a pousse-cafe, though you'd have to look up each of their specific gravities.
posted by julthumbscrew at 7:43 AM on September 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
With the Cointreau, Creme de Cacao and some cheap vodka, you can make my favorite drink - the Whack 'n Unwrap - it's named after the instructions on a Terry's Chocolate Orange, and it tastes a lot like one, too.
With all the liqueurs, you could probably make a pousse-cafe, though you'd have to look up each of their specific gravities.
posted by julthumbscrew at 7:43 AM on September 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
Brandy + Creme De Cacao + cream/milk/half & half = Brandy Alexander #2, a delicious drink.
posted by dirtdirt at 7:44 AM on September 24, 2010
posted by dirtdirt at 7:44 AM on September 24, 2010
People are such fraidy-cats here. Seems like the first answer to every question is "hide under your pillow"
Booze might go bad after a while but keeps a long time and doesn't kill you. Try a little of each by itself. The liqueurs are commonly mixed into other drinks but can be enjoyed alone.
posted by jeff-o-matic at 7:51 AM on September 24, 2010 [14 favorites]
Booze might go bad after a while but keeps a long time and doesn't kill you. Try a little of each by itself. The liqueurs are commonly mixed into other drinks but can be enjoyed alone.
posted by jeff-o-matic at 7:51 AM on September 24, 2010 [14 favorites]
The cocktail builder instructions for the 'happy hooker' are apt & generally instructive:
happy hooker: 1/3 shot of tia maria (or other coffee liqueur); 1/3 shot of drambuie (or other honey liqueur); 1/3 shot of grand marnier (or other orange liqueur).
"shoot it and hold it in your mouth as long as you can."
posted by iamstillalive at 7:51 AM on September 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
happy hooker: 1/3 shot of tia maria (or other coffee liqueur); 1/3 shot of drambuie (or other honey liqueur); 1/3 shot of grand marnier (or other orange liqueur).
"shoot it and hold it in your mouth as long as you can."
posted by iamstillalive at 7:51 AM on September 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
Drambuie and whisky = Rusty Nail.
Vodka + Tia Maria + coke = Black Russian
Vodka + Tia Maria + cream = White Russian (see The Big Lebowski)
Some of my faves
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 7:51 AM on September 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
Vodka + Tia Maria + coke = Black Russian
Vodka + Tia Maria + cream = White Russian (see The Big Lebowski)
Some of my faves
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 7:51 AM on September 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
I'd still be suspicious, but here is one of my favorite drinks, the Sidecar. Shake with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
3/4 oz Cointreau
1/2 oz cognac
3/4 oz lemon juice
posted by kimdog at 7:54 AM on September 24, 2010 [2 favorites]
3/4 oz Cointreau
1/2 oz cognac
3/4 oz lemon juice
posted by kimdog at 7:54 AM on September 24, 2010 [2 favorites]
I can imagine the Cointreau, Chambord, and Creme de Cacao going well together. Orange, raspberry, and chocolate? Yes, please.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 7:55 AM on September 24, 2010
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 7:55 AM on September 24, 2010
the tequila + cointreau + some lime juice will yield a very tasty margarita.
posted by Wavelet at 8:03 AM on September 24, 2010
posted by Wavelet at 8:03 AM on September 24, 2010
Frangelico is delicious by itself or over a little ice as a dessert drink. Creme de Cacao is good this way also, but not my favorite. I love licorice flavors, so Anisette is good alone or over ice as well. The key to these is small pours and little sips as an after dinner sweet.
I've had dense chocolate cake soaked with with Chambord, which has an intense raspberry flavor, which was great. Any of these sweet liqueurs can also be poured over a little vanilla ice cream for desert.
Seriously, the liqueurs are all made to be consumed by themselves. Give them a try. It's only by local and temporal custom that they are in mixed drinks -- though that can be good too.
posted by jeff-o-matic at 8:03 AM on September 24, 2010 [3 favorites]
I've had dense chocolate cake soaked with with Chambord, which has an intense raspberry flavor, which was great. Any of these sweet liqueurs can also be poured over a little vanilla ice cream for desert.
Seriously, the liqueurs are all made to be consumed by themselves. Give them a try. It's only by local and temporal custom that they are in mixed drinks -- though that can be good too.
posted by jeff-o-matic at 8:03 AM on September 24, 2010 [3 favorites]
Best answer: So, what can we make with this strange list of alcohols?
A massive hangover? The Greatest YouTube Video of all Time!? Yourself sick? Possibly all of the above!
Rather than suggest a conventional already invented mixed drink, I'd advise that as you experiment with the recommendations here, you document the experience with video at the same time. You may create something revolutionary, or at the very least, get silly and let the world see and laugh.
Plus, it would be an excellent excuse to have a party.
posted by quin at 8:06 AM on September 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
A massive hangover? The Greatest YouTube Video of all Time!? Yourself sick? Possibly all of the above!
Rather than suggest a conventional already invented mixed drink, I'd advise that as you experiment with the recommendations here, you document the experience with video at the same time. You may create something revolutionary, or at the very least, get silly and let the world see and laugh.
Plus, it would be an excellent excuse to have a party.
posted by quin at 8:06 AM on September 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
Frangelico, Chambourd, and Gin. Combine with a judicious amount of lime juice and a splash of seltzer. We've been calling it the delicious sandwich. It's *great*.
posted by desl at 8:08 AM on September 24, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by desl at 8:08 AM on September 24, 2010 [3 favorites]
Cutty Sark is most useful for drinking games while reading Haruki Murakami novels.
posted by soma lkzx at 8:11 AM on September 24, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by soma lkzx at 8:11 AM on September 24, 2010 [3 favorites]
Best answer: Off the top of my head (it's been a while since I tended bar...)
1 part brandy + 1 part anisette = Sol Y Sombra
1 part Frangelico + 1 part Chambord = Peanut Butter and Jelly
1 part Cognac + 1 part Chambord = Is Paris Burning? (I believe also called a Long Sigh in some parts)
3 parts tequila + 1 part Cointreau + 1 part Chambord + sour mix = BlackJack Margarita
3 parts whisky + 1 part Drambuie = Rusty Nail
1 part Frangelico + 1 part Creme de Cacao = M&M
3 parts gin + 1 part Chambord = Martini Rouge
3 parts brandy + 1 part Cointreau + 1 part Anisette = Dancing with a Dream
Personally I love having a cup of black coffee after dinner with a shot of Frangelico in it.
If you're already drinking free booze you're unsure of the origins of, you might as well light some of it on fire.
1 parts whisky + 3 parts water = Blue Blazes!
Boil the water and the whisky separately and then put in separate glasses. Light the whisky and slowly pour it into the water. Then pour the concoction back into the other cup. Then do it again. It's pretty cool, as it looks like liquid fire, and you can drink it (once it's out, of coures). You can probably do it max four or five times. Do this outside with a fire extinguisher you start drinking.
posted by sephira at 8:12 AM on September 24, 2010
1 part brandy + 1 part anisette = Sol Y Sombra
1 part Frangelico + 1 part Chambord = Peanut Butter and Jelly
1 part Cognac + 1 part Chambord = Is Paris Burning? (I believe also called a Long Sigh in some parts)
3 parts tequila + 1 part Cointreau + 1 part Chambord + sour mix = BlackJack Margarita
3 parts whisky + 1 part Drambuie = Rusty Nail
1 part Frangelico + 1 part Creme de Cacao = M&M
3 parts gin + 1 part Chambord = Martini Rouge
3 parts brandy + 1 part Cointreau + 1 part Anisette = Dancing with a Dream
Personally I love having a cup of black coffee after dinner with a shot of Frangelico in it.
If you're already drinking free booze you're unsure of the origins of, you might as well light some of it on fire.
1 parts whisky + 3 parts water = Blue Blazes!
Boil the water and the whisky separately and then put in separate glasses. Light the whisky and slowly pour it into the water. Then pour the concoction back into the other cup. Then do it again. It's pretty cool, as it looks like liquid fire, and you can drink it (once it's out, of coures). You can probably do it max four or five times. Do this outside with a fire extinguisher you start drinking.
posted by sephira at 8:12 AM on September 24, 2010
Best answer: I'm with jeff-o-matic--at least a few of these made me go "damn, you're lucky" and then I got dreamy-eyed remembering winters past drinking Drambuie by the fireside at little log cabin parties...at least a few of these are super delicious by themselves, and the vast majority are best enjoyed on cold dark nights.
If you have creme de menthe, you could make grasshopper pie. Delicious.
posted by ifjuly at 8:14 AM on September 24, 2010
If you have creme de menthe, you could make grasshopper pie. Delicious.
posted by ifjuly at 8:14 AM on September 24, 2010
Primarily because liquor does go bad once opened
not true.
most liquor just evaporates. if it's a cordial with a high sugar content the sugar will crystallize a bit but it won't go bad.
Beefeater Gin
Cuervo Especial Tequila
Raynal French Brandy
Anisette - Extra Fine
Cutty Shark Whiskey
Courvoisier Cognac
Rumona Jamacan Liquor (just a little)
A.E. Cognac
these should all be fine for years.
posted by PugAchev at 8:53 AM on September 24, 2010 [2 favorites]
not true.
most liquor just evaporates. if it's a cordial with a high sugar content the sugar will crystallize a bit but it won't go bad.
Beefeater Gin
Cuervo Especial Tequila
Raynal French Brandy
Anisette - Extra Fine
Cutty Shark Whiskey
Courvoisier Cognac
Rumona Jamacan Liquor (just a little)
A.E. Cognac
these should all be fine for years.
posted by PugAchev at 8:53 AM on September 24, 2010 [2 favorites]
Frangelico, Chambourd, and maybe half-n-half will make a "Nuts and Berries". So good.
posted by travertina at 9:01 AM on September 24, 2010
posted by travertina at 9:01 AM on September 24, 2010
Frangelico is super-tasty served on the rocks with a squeeze of fresh lime juice.
posted by hot soup girl at 9:29 AM on September 24, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by hot soup girl at 9:29 AM on September 24, 2010 [2 favorites]
A little chambord shaken with vodka and served on the rocks or straight up is delicious. A friend calls this drink a Harvey Keitel.
posted by ImproviseOrDie at 9:50 AM on September 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by ImproviseOrDie at 9:50 AM on September 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
I love Chocolate Cakes. Tastes just like the real thing!. I do recipe #2 but I use vanilla vodka instead of plain. Since you don't use much of the vanilla vodka and you don't need more liquor sitting around you can add a shot of the van. vodka in a glass of orange soda for a dreamsicle!
posted by shmurley at 10:02 AM on September 24, 2010
posted by shmurley at 10:02 AM on September 24, 2010
A couple of spoonfuls of creme de cacao (and some of the others probably) tastes great over ice cream. Vanilla lets you appreciate the taste, but there is plenty of room for experimentation. Also a little Cointreau added to fresh strawberries and allowed to sit for about an hour really brings out their flavor. It will take a while to use them up like this, but as mentioned above they will keep well.
posted by TedW at 10:41 AM on September 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by TedW at 10:41 AM on September 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
Best answer: With the brandy, cognac, and cointreau, you can make sidecars.
They're tangy, not-too-sweet, and very refreshing.
Rim a glass with lemon and sugar (optional but yummers).
In the glass, mix:
A not-quite full shot of lemon juice (say 2/3 of a shot).
One teaspoon of sugar (optional, but I like it).
Add a few ice cubes (you could make this drink like a shaken martini, but who has the time?).
Toss in:
1 shot brandy or cognac,
1 shot cointreau or triple sec.
Half a shot of water.
Stir. Driiiink.
posted by pseudostrabismus at 10:59 AM on September 24, 2010
They're tangy, not-too-sweet, and very refreshing.
Rim a glass with lemon and sugar (optional but yummers).
In the glass, mix:
A not-quite full shot of lemon juice (say 2/3 of a shot).
One teaspoon of sugar (optional, but I like it).
Add a few ice cubes (you could make this drink like a shaken martini, but who has the time?).
Toss in:
1 shot brandy or cognac,
1 shot cointreau or triple sec.
Half a shot of water.
Stir. Driiiink.
posted by pseudostrabismus at 10:59 AM on September 24, 2010
Best answer: I'll assume that the cognacs say VS on the bottle or show three stars, or they would not likely have been left behind. If so, mix away. Couldn't hurt to try a sip neat first just in case.
The cognac industry got together recently and came up with what they feel is the ultimate cognac cocktail, the Cognac Summit. It's kind of fancy.
If the bottles say VSOP, for sure try them neat first and only then consider mixing if they don't do much for you. Courvoisier VSOP is underwhelming neat in my opinion, and so might as well be mixed, but A.E. Dor makes some great stuff.
If they say XO, sneak them out of the house and fake a burglary while your friend is gone to cover it up. If you mix it with anything I will call the cognac police.
posted by Askr at 11:27 AM on September 24, 2010
The cognac industry got together recently and came up with what they feel is the ultimate cognac cocktail, the Cognac Summit. It's kind of fancy.
If the bottles say VSOP, for sure try them neat first and only then consider mixing if they don't do much for you. Courvoisier VSOP is underwhelming neat in my opinion, and so might as well be mixed, but A.E. Dor makes some great stuff.
If they say XO, sneak them out of the house and fake a burglary while your friend is gone to cover it up. If you mix it with anything I will call the cognac police.
posted by Askr at 11:27 AM on September 24, 2010
"vodka goes bad a day after you open it"
"that's just something mom would say"
what you have here is a fine selection of sipping liquors.
posted by craven_morhead at 12:17 PM on September 24, 2010
"that's just something mom would say"
what you have here is a fine selection of sipping liquors.
posted by craven_morhead at 12:17 PM on September 24, 2010
I'd advise that as you experiment
Years ago at our house parties, after the kegs ran out, we'd do this with whatever liqour was left around the house. There was a catalog for a while of all the "Tom & Danny"'s. The only one I can remember now was the one that kicked the whole thing off:
Tom & Danny #1
1 shot dry vermouth
1 cup leftover coffee
posted by chazlarson at 2:02 PM on September 24, 2010
Years ago at our house parties, after the kegs ran out, we'd do this with whatever liqour was left around the house. There was a catalog for a while of all the "Tom & Danny"'s. The only one I can remember now was the one that kicked the whole thing off:
Tom & Danny #1
1 shot dry vermouth
1 cup leftover coffee
posted by chazlarson at 2:02 PM on September 24, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by kimdog at 7:36 AM on September 24, 2010 [4 favorites]