Home Sipping Post 

Classic Cocktails: Up To Date

ChrisB , , , , , ,

When you think of cocktails, what is the first term that comes to mind? Classic? Old school? Modern? Strong? Sweet? It all depends on your experiences. If you have spent the last ten years in and out of cocktail bars, you may have one set of pre- programmed expectations whereas if you have only seen your grandparents mixing cocktails at family gatherings you would have another. Names are an interesting field. Sometimes the name of an item will reflect its character, others may lean on the aspirations of the founder. Most of the time a name should not be judged as our pre conceived notions could lead us down a path that may be completely invalid.

Tonight’s Up To Date cocktail is far from it. Originally found printed in a pre-prohibition bartenders guide, this cocktail has been around for a while. Hugo Ensslin, the writer of the guide, may have been trying to attract the younger crowds of 1916 to his cocktails. Possibly due to location, in New York, he wanted a name that stuck out as being new and exciting. Then again he may have struggled with the name and simply called it the next thing that popped into his head.

So what is it that you are looking for in your cocktail? This drink is certainly strong, and leans towards the sweeter end of the spectrum. Personally I am not a huge fan of orange liqueur however if the quantity is kept in check, it offers and undertone of citrus that is definitely welcome.

Up To Date

 

Ingredients:

1.5 oz. rye whisky

1.5 oz. cream sherry

1-2 dashes Angostura Bitters

.25 oz. Orange liqueur

Directions:

  1. Pour all ingredients into a glass or tin with ice.
  2. Stir for 20-30 seconds.
  3. Strain and serve.

Rye cocktails at the end of November, I almost felt as if this week needed to have an orange component; a gentle hint towards the season right around the corner.   People still do that right, oranges at Christmas. Regardless of that, this cocktail is suited for cooler weather. The citrus, the sweet and the bitter all come together in a harmonious blend of flavours. Whether you are looking for an orange flavour, a wine flavour or a whisky flavour this just may be the cocktail for you.