Sharkbait’s Cocktail of the Week: Island in the Sun

Happy Friday once again! For this week’s tasty beverage, I’m kind of sticking with the Island vibes I was channeling a few weeks ago. I didn’t necessarily intend to go with the vibe, but in perusing my library, I came across this daiquiri riff from The Waldorf Astoria Bar Book and having some geriatric limes that needed use ASAP, this drink became the front runner. Plus, after spending the morning shoveling 3 inches of slushy, heavy wet snow, I could use a mental break to somewhere warm once again. I really hate to go to this well of inspiration yet again, but I might as well go with what works right?

I enjoy living in the Northeast, I swear.

Anyway, here is the Island in the stream:

2 oz. Banks 5 Island white rum or Plantation 3 Stars white rum*

1 oz. St. Germain elderflower liqueur

.75 oz. Fresh squeezed lime juice

2 dashes Reagan’s Orange Bitters #6

Add all ingredients to a mixing glass. Add ice and shake well. Strain into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with orange peel

*Once again the Don Q white rum I have on hand was substituted for those two suggested rums

The bitters and the garnish contribute heavily to the very pronounced orange-y citrus nose this drink has. The more I go back to sniff the cocktail the more I can pick out the elderflower. It’s subtle, but it is there, underneath the orange. It plays nicely and sets the table nicely for the subsequent sip.

The sip is cool and crisp. It starts out very mild when you consider the ingredients involved here. The sip itself is very citrusy in nature. The lime and orange bitters combine to lead the flavor charge. This combination is supported with a subtle sweetness brought to the table by the elderflower liqueur. Like the aroma, the flavor isn’t too powerful, but the more you sip, the more you can pick it up underneath the lime/orange flavors.

As to the base spirit, the rum is nigh undetectable here. Which I don’t hate, but I do wish it had a little more of a punch.

As I mentioned earlier, this is a nice twist on a daiquiri, but not as strong. So if you don’t like your drinks on the stronger side, I highly suggest making this. Its slightly dry, sour fruitiness hides the booze, and makes this an easy drinker, and one to have when you want a mental getaway, to pretend you are on a beach somewhere relaxing without a care in the world.

(Banner image courtesy Matthew Tetrault Photography)

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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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Horatio Cornblower

My son is moving to Vermont and his prospective landlord texted him that he needed more information about prior landlords so he responded “my mom” and “since June 1998” as to how long he’d lived at his most recent address.

Things are off to a great start.

SonOfSpam

This sounds delightful. Given my workday so far, a jigger of rubbing alcohol sounds delightful.

Last edited 1 year ago by SonOfSpam
Horatio Cornblower

“You gotta strain that through a coupla cotton swabs first, unless you wanna end up like Ol’ Twitchy Stan over there.”

-Jim Tomsula

Rikki-Tikki-Deadly

I really could use some island vibes today. It’s raining and super-cold here in Los Angeles.

King Hippo

What, like 57F?

ballsofsteelandfury

WE’RE ON A BLIZZARD WATCH!

LemonJello

“Which one is your favorite? I like them all!”
-A. Reid

comment image

King Hippo

Damn, I need to find Weather Channel at HT

SonOfSpam

Rikki destroying the “Not every LA guy has weather fragility” argument.

Rikki-Tikki-Deadly

Yeah, I put that argument into the ground years ago.

BrettFavresColonoscopy

Geriatric limes are not to be confused with geriatrics limeys, Aka the House of Lords

King Hippo

Or geriatric lemon parties

BrettFavresColonoscopy

That sounds like it comes from the Department of Redundancy Department

King Hippo

But there could be a “90 and over” division, think how HAWT that would be!

Horatio Cornblower

I will not, and you can’t make me.

ballsofsteelandfury

The next time I go to the beach, I’m going to bring a small plastic pool and fill it with sand. Then I’ll bring it back to the house and have it available so I can put my bare feet in it, crank the heat up, and pretend I’m on a tropical island.

LemonJello

“Let me stop you right there, Elisha Nelson Manning. You will NOT be putting a sandbox in your room again.”

-Olivia Manning

Gumbygirl

Clearly you don’t have a cat.

King Hippo

Oh man, the beach sounds nice. That feeling will intensify with tomorrow’s weather