Sharkbait’s Cocktail of the Week: Sour Times

Hello once again and a happy Friday to my fellow shut ins. Hopefully you’re all practicing good social distancing and keeping inside, except for essentials. Good thing alcohol is considered essential! This week, I’m bringing you a cocktail from one of my favorite food personalities, Alton Brown. He put out a video recently of a smoky tequila sour that sounded rather delicious, and fitting for these dour (and sour) times.  It looks easy, and most importantly, delicious. Behold: the Smoky Tequila Sour:

2 oz. combined juice of an entire lime and 1/2 of an orange

1.5 oz Blanco tequila

.5 oz Amaro

2 dashes liquid smoke

1 tsp Agave syrup

Add all ingredients to a shaker, add ice and shake. Strain into a cocktail glass, and garnish with a lime wheel.

Once again, we have some housekeeping to take care of beforehand. Lacking agave syrup, I added in an equal amount of simple syrup. Now, to the smoke factor. I do not have liquid smoke either. However, I have a kitchen torch, chunks of hickory wood, a 2 oz. jigger, a pie plate, and a French press carafe. Let’s smoke some tequila!

MacGyver would be disappointed in this

The tin foil helped keep the smoke from escaping from the spout on the rim of the carafe, and I would say it did a pretty good job. I smoked the 1.5 ounces of tequila for just about an hour, until all of the smoke dissipated. After that I mixed it all together. I think it did a pretty good job, as you could smell the smoke when you go to take a sip.

The hickory smoke is prevalent on the first sip, and lingers a bit before the sour flavors come in, and boy is this sour. The majority lime juice base made sure of that. The amaro I chose to use is Fernet Branca, and that shows up about halfway through the sip, bringing a nice, bitter herbal flavor that starts to become more pronounced throughout the rest of the sip. That increase in bitter really takes the edge off of the smoky-sour flavors that hit you up front. It makes for a nice, full flavored sip.

I’m very interested in trying this the proper way – that is with the liquid smoke and agave added in. The agave might add a bit more sweetness to it, while the liquid smoke would intensify the smoky flavor. The latter I’m not sure how much I would want, especially when I have the means to add my own smoke as well.

Did you notice I never mentioned the flavor of the tequila when describing the flavor palate and the overall taste? That’s because this drink does not taste like there is a lot of booze in it, which can be a good or bad thing. Overall, this is a refreshing and light bodied drinker that takes a little bit of time and effort to make, if you don’t have the liquid smoke. But we’ve got all the time in the world now right? Go forth and smoke your own tequila and make this tonight.

(Banner image found here)

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Sharkbait
Sharkbait has not actually been bitten by a shark, but has told people in bars that he was for free drinks. Married to a Giants fan, he enjoys whisk(e)y, cooking, the Rangers, and the Patriots.
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Dunstan

This recipe reminds me of a drink I’ve been making lately, except using blood orange instead of regular, and ancho chile liqueur (which provides a smoky element) instead of the smoke and the amaro.

Dunstan

So I tried the one listed in the post, with the exception that (1) I’m out of blanco, so I used reposado; and (2) I stupidly forgot the agave at first. I did one version with liquid smoke while I waited for the real cherry wood smoke to infuse my other shot glass of tequila. Then I added in some of that chile liqueur and reshook it.

Conclusions:
1) Without the agave, it was enjoyable but on the sour/bitter side. Definitely needs that bit of sweetness.
2) Real smoke probably better than the fake stuff though that could be in my head.
3) The chile liqueur addition is a winner. Honestly, I just love that stuff in general.

litre_cola

This looks delicious. I need to get some Fernet for the bar.

Moose -The End Is Well Nigh

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scotchnaut

It’s a day ending in Why? Time to drink.

Moose -The End Is Well Nigh

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Moose -The End Is Well Nigh

Just noticed; Jerry is hiding his boner.

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Moose -The End Is Well Nigh

Anybody else setting up the garage for fun?

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LemonJello

Already done.
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Moose -The End Is Well Nigh

You must have a bigger budget or imagination than me. Or just like a different cult.

LemonJello

I just have time to sort through the basement now.
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Moose -The End Is Well Nigh

Basement?

Yours looks a bit more organized.

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theeWeeBabySeamus

Always important to have the right tool for the job.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZrG8qPvX3Q

Moose -The End Is Well Nigh

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Senor Weaselo

“But what if it had a Reaper pepper?” -Senor W., Queens, NY

theeWeeBabySeamus

Assuming the plants produce, he’ll get some too. You people are crazy with those things.
(you people?)

theeWeeBabySeamus

Crazy. But sure, do it.

Moose -The End Is Well Nigh

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Moose -The End Is Well Nigh

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People, we can do this next month easy, right?

Moose -The End Is Well Nigh

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Moose -The End Is Well Nigh

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Moose -The End Is Well Nigh

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LemonJello

Pretty intense staring contest they’ve got going there.

yeah right

That movie fucking rules.

Moose -The End Is Well Nigh

I need to find it streaming as I missed it in the few theaters it was showing. It would cheer me up.

Moose -The End Is Well Nigh

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Moose -The End Is Well Nigh

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Moose -The End Is Well Nigh

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Gumbygirl

I saw them in 1975, they opened for Bob Seger at the Johnstown War Memorial ( where they filmed Slapshot! ) They got booed off the stage.

theeWeeBabySeamus

Can’t say I’m terribly surprised.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBJRD1VkxmI

theeWeeBabySeamus
theeWeeBabySeamus

OLD TIME HOCKEY!!!!!!

Moose -The End Is Well Nigh

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This is not that far off from a few of the people I work with.

Moose -The End Is Well Nigh

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Naw, don’t have COVID-19…….. but I have something else according to WebMD.

Senor Weaselo

“Is it lupus?” -Dr. G. House

Moose -The End Is Well Nigh

“It might be lupus.”

Moose -The End Is Well Nigh

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rockingdog

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SonOfSpam

The Goodfellas painting!

theeWeeBabySeamus

DAMMIT SoS!!!!!

Moose -The End Is Well Nigh

It’s also a great pun on multiple GOOD BOY…s.

Guess that’s obvious, but I am Major Obvious.

Horatio Cornblower

I would kill to go to a bar and have a cocktail right about now.

And I don’t even like cocktails.

Moose -The End Is Well Nigh

Scotchy already did that.

SonOfSpam

I would drink this, or anything really. Homer also uses liquid smoke for his patented moon waffle.

Moose -The End Is Well Nigh

Another method is to mix the drink in your bong.

SonOfSpam

I don’t use a bong. I use an elegant pipe:
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Moose -The End Is Well Nigh

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SonOfSpam

Is that Scotchy’s hobopipe?

Moose -The End Is Well Nigh

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Moose -The End Is Well Nigh

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Moose -The End Is Well Nigh

That sounds tasty.

More medieval cats.

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Moose -The End Is Well Nigh

That cat probably knocked over the ink too. Never change kittah!

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Moose -The End Is Well Nigh

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Gumbygirl

This one is a Bishop!