Cocktail No 80 Hawaii Kiss

I was looking forward to this one, but an sadly disapointed. The concept sounds fabulous and tropical, but it doesn't live upto the idea. Generally I am not a fan of gin and prosecco and this one confirms it.

I used a dry prosecco. The drink is too dry and the pineapple juice without sweetner lacks the delicious taste we associate with it. Its actually quite bitter. Perhaps with some sugar syrup or a sweeter wine would work, but I am not getting that tropical pineapple taste I was hoping for.

Still I get to make pineapple icecream with the residue.

Recipe

1 pineapple
25 ml Birkdale gin
2 ice cubes
Sparkling wine

Scoop out flesh from the pineapple and press juice out of it, use a juicer, or blend the flesh and pass through a strainer. Return juice to hollowed out shell. Add gin and ice and top up with sparkling wine. Serve with straws and share if you are able.

Cocktail No 40 Hawaii Kiss

OK I admit to cheating on this one as I didn't have a pineapple. You are meant to scoop out the flesh and squeeze the juice out and then use the pineapple shell as the drink vessel. So I just made it in a glass.

It would taste good out of the fruit with a straw, mind you. It would be very good on a Caribbean evening. If you are not a gin lover, it perhaps goes better with rum. The gin and sparkling wine makes an interesting combination and the pineapple provides a balancing sweetness.

A pleasant way to kick off the weekend.

Recipe (Cheat)

Add 1 measure of Gin to a tumbler with 2-3 measures of Pineapple Juice (depends how sweet you like it). Top up with sparkling wine and add ice.

Recipe (correct)

Scoop out flesh from a Pineapple and squeeze juice out. Return juice to hollowed out shell. Add 1 measure Gin and top up with sparkling wine. Add ice and serve with straws.

Cocktail No 30 East India (Brazilian style)

OK I admit that I am just trying to get the total no of Cocktails to 30 for the first month to make it one a day on average. And its a little cheat in remaking the East India with Cachaça .

In fact this is a mistake and doesn't work at all. Amazing how such similar spirits have such a different effect on taste. I had to remix it and triple the Pineapple Juice to get close to a balanced flavour.

Its astringent and not as in the bite that lemon juice provides, more vinegary. Fans of Cachaça may like this, but for me I am relegating it back to the Caipirinha, where it is unsurpassed.

Not one that I will be repeating.

Recipe

As for East India, but using Cachaça instead of rum and triple the amount of pineapple juice.

Cocktail No 29 East india

Its a Rum night tonight and the East India is fabulous on a cold, miserable night like tonight.

I am really surprised by this cocktail. It only has a splash of pineapple juice, but it mixes and blends with the Rum to a much greater flavour that I would have predicted. As alcohol strength goes, its up there with the Martini, as its basically neat rum diluted with a teaspoon of juice. However I wouldn't be tempted to increase the pineapple juice otherwise the drink will be overly sweet. If its too strong, then add a splash of soda.

This is another one of multiple sensations. Initially just coldness on the tongue and no flavour, developing into sweetness after 1/2 a second, which rapidly becomes recognisable as pineapple, then as you swallow that wonderful harshness of the rum biting then warming at the back of the throat - me likee. This could be fantastic made with Cachaça instead of rum and then it would be a very aggressive drink.

Recipe

Add 1 & 1/2 measures white rum to a shaker with 1 teaspoon of Cointreau, 1 teaspoon of pineaple juice and a dash of angostura bitters. Shake on ice until chilled and strain into a cocktail glass.

Cocktail No 26 Rabbit's Revenge

Surprisingly quiet on the trick or treat front, so time to indulge in another. The pineapple is the dominant note, but the Bourbon also cuts through. It is quite sweet, but nothing like a Pina Colada. It feels viscous, although it isn't. The soda water really lifts it (oops just realised it should have been Tonic Water - perhaps I will have to remix).

All in all, very pleasant.Not sure what it has to do with Rabbits!

Recipe

Add 1.5 measures Bourbon to a shaker with 1 measure Pineapple Juice and 2-3 dashes Grenadine. Shake on ice and strain into a Tumbler. Top up with Tonic Water (or Soda Water).

Cocktail No 22 International

If you like the strong herbal taste of Chartreuse, this may appeal, if not I would steer clear. Its another one with complex flavours that develop. The initial taste at the front of the tongue is almost neutral and non-existant. Its almost a non-taste - even water has a taste.

Its as it rolls over the tongue that the flavours develop, first in the mid-part and then as it goes down the throat. The sweetness of the pineapple hits first and is them immediately swamped by the herbal Chartreuse and then a warmth from the combination of Brandy and Chartreuse. This is going to sound odd, but you can almost taste the warmth as a flavour. There is definitely a sensation of herbal taste, followed by physical warmth followed by a mellowing of the herbs.

I am starting to sound like one of the TV wine critics, but this one is quite hard to describe as it doesn't conform to normal taste patterns.

Interesting experience, but not one I am likely to repeat.

Recipe

Add 1 measure brandy to shaker with 1 measure of Green Chartreuse and 3/4 a measure of Pineapple Juice. Shake on ice and strain into a cocktail glass. Decorate with lemon wedge (I'd skip this - it adds nothing to flavour and gets in the way when you get to the bottom of the glass).