Cointreau or Triple Sec gives a sweet orange taste and viscosity. This is complimented by Blue Curacao, that strange blue bottle that is in many cocktail cabinets yet rarely used. It is actually a very bitter orange liquor evolved from the Valencia orange that the Spanish transplanted to the East Indies. The plant could not thrive in the nutrient poor soil and arid climate of the island Curacau and instead produced shriveled bitter inedible fruits. The skins though still contain the orange essential oils which can be extracted and distilled into the spirit, which is then coloured with blue dye.
So you have an intense blue drink, which has no odor. Upon sipping the first sensation is that it is immediately cold on the tongue. No obvious flavour to start with but a syrup like texture in the mouth, which rapidly thins out as you swallow. As the tongue clears a rich bitter sweet orange taste develops over a few seconds accompanied by a mild burn at the back of the throat - not severe and very pleasant in fact.
A really interesting drink that works on multiple senses - visual, cold, viscous, thin, citrus, then lingering heat. I am not sure why it has taken me so many years to try this one. Very, very pleasing.
Recipe
Add 1 measure of Vodka to as shaker with 1/2 measure of Cointreau (or Triple Sec) and 1/2 measure of Blue Curacao. Shake on ice and strain into a tall glass.
Enjoy.
Sounds good Damian - are these the flavourings that you use?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.lovebrewing.co.uk/still-spirits/flavourings-bases/
Hi CC. In this case, I used the ubiquitous never used bottle of Bols Blue Curacao that has been at the back of the cocktail cupboard for years. The Triple Sec was from the Icon Range:
Deletehttp://www.lovebrewing.co.uk/still-spirits-icon-triple-sec/