Cocktail No 66 - Empire

Another brilliantly clear cocktail, on the sweeter side.

The viscosity of the Apricot Brandy is felt before the actual taste - the Calvados dominates with a nutty apply taste followed by the apricot. The gin is omnipresent as a base under pinning everything else.

Normally I don't like too sweet a drink, but this one has everything going for it - complexity, changing flavours on the palate, each element distinctive yet blending and supporting the others. And then of course there is the booze laden Maraschino cherries for double th epleasure.

Recipe

25 ml Birkdale Gin
15 Calvados
15 ml Apricot Brandy
2 Maraschino cocktail cherries

Put ice in mixing glass with Birkdale Gin, Calvados and Apricot Brandy. Stir well and strain into a cocktail glass. Decorate with cherries and serve.

Cocktail No 59 - Angel's Face

Well this is bizarre. The overwhelming note on the nose is Marzipan, with the characteristic Birkdale Gin notes hiding behind. On tasting, the almonds disappear and the apricots come through.

Its a sweet drink, so not my personal favourite, but I am sure many others will disagree. The gin gives it great complexity, which is why its the base for so many great, classic cocktails. It doesn't bring down the sweetness, but adds an undercurrent layer of flavour - its almost as if you have 2 flavour streams in the one drink that are equally present and not mixing - like oil and water, but in taste terms.

I notice the recipes on the internet call for equal measures, whereas my cocktail book calls for half the measure of Calvados, which may make a difference.

For those with a sweet palate, this is worth trying. If you prefer sours, it may be a little too much for you.

Recipe:

1 measure Birkdale Gin
1 Measure Apricot Brandy
1/2 Measure Calvados.

Crack Ice and put in shaker with other ingredients. Shake well and strain into a cocktail glass.

I tried to take a different photo shot - no awards for including my feet.