(Not) Energy Drink by Flitworth
February 10th, 2008 5:42 AMMany classic cocktails have a story to tell. Those such as the Cuba Libre or the French 75 each reference a particular time in history. In these shameful modern times, however, the creation of cocktails is pathetic, cynically consumerist, and wholly lacking in political context. One need only consider the mass of pre-mixed drinks one finds to know that the golden age of cocktails is long gone. Redbull and vodka? Hypnotiq? Smirnoff Ice? I would sooner drink squeezings from a bar towel, thank you.
What you drink speaks to who and what you are. A gin and tonic? Oh, those fine Cambridge days! A Ramos Gin Fizz? You are of esoteric and discerning tastes. It so happens that my good friend EOS is an expert classic cocktail maker. She possesses a wealth of information about what goes with what and the technical skills required to make a tasty drink. As I am a glutton for pain and losing to her in a beer-fueled quoting competition wasn't enough I invited her to compete to design and produce a Korea-themed cocktail.
We brought back from the Joint Security Area of the DMZ blueberry brandy (called Paektusan and made in North Korea). A collection of beverages were acquired, each representing a nation or particular element relating to Korea [see chart below].
I began the competition with The Six-Party Talks:
1/2 shot Russia
1/2 shot DPRK
1 smidge ROK, Japan, China
2 shots USA
Served on ice.
Awful. I didn't even try to convince my opponent to try it.
She countered with a Unification Cocktail:
1/2 shot DPRK
1/2 shot ROK
Lemon juice to represent the bitterness of the past and honey to represent the sweetness of the future. Mix with ice and add tonic. This was quite good. EOS drank hers, which means that it was good because, unlike me, she has refined tastes.
I then made a Korean Flag shot.
Each part of the Korean flag actually represents an element:
So I combined 1/2 shot of DPRK Blueberry Brandy to represent the Yin, hot sauce for Yang, Fire and Earth, and tonic for water and air. Stir vigorously. Shoot. It wasn't so bad but the sauce I bought is the kind used in bibimbop which leaves an odd aftertaste.
EOS made a Russo-Shilla Sling, and a Korean War Cocktail. The former was not so great but the latter I consumed. I ended with a 1909, which had to be thrown out. The winner: The Unification Cocktail. I shall make you one the next time you are in Seoul.
The Elements
The Winnter: The Unification Cocktail
1/2 shot Paektusan 1/2 shot Soju Drop of honey Squeeze of lemon A shot or two of tonic Serve on ice
The Winner (the drink and the designer)
Doesn't it look delicious? This cocktail gives us faith in the potential of the sunshine policy.
The Korean Flag Shot
Hot sauce makes everything better.
The Loser
The Six Party Talks in this glass were a failure. I'm blaming China.
Dragon's Breath
What is this stuff? Whatever it was it was clear evidence that China's participation in the Six Party Talks might poison the well. It is downright wretched.
25 vote(s)
GYØ Ben
5
JJason Recognition
5
Optical Dave
5
Haberley Mead
5
Not Here No More
5
Spidere
5
Augustus deCorbeau
5
Tøm
5
Shea Wolfe
5
Stu
5
anna one
5
Lincøln
5
Secret Agent
5
Coreopsis Major Bloden Melen
5
Adam
5
Darkaardvark
5
susy derkins
5
Bex.
5
teucer
5
JTony Loves Brains
5
Burn Unit
5
Jellybean of Thark
5
High Countess Emily
5
Cat A sTrophe
5
kristin gish
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(none yet)9 comment(s)
Sounds like you had fun with this!
And yes, hot sauce does make everything better. :)
A 1909 is me totally mixing up my memory of Asiatic history. In 1905 the Japanese defeated Russia on the high seas, marking the first time (in memorable modern times) an Oriental power had beaten an Occidental one. This led to Japan's determination that they could and would create the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere, which included annexing Korea. It was 1909 when a Korean nationalist assassinated Ito Hirobumi in protest of said annexation. Or so Wikipedia says. It has been a long time since I studied.
The drink was originally 3/4 shot plum wine to 1/4 vodka representing the success of the Japanese and it was hideous. At EOS' recommendation I swapped the ratios and added lemon juice. That was slightly less hideous.
Vote for your thoughts on the decline of the cocktail.
(I blame wine. Which makes it at worst a mixed blessing, but still.)
blame vodka
it's just so obvious!
Could very well be. I always figured the end of the glory days of the cocktail predates the vodka trend and had something to do with the classy image cocktails picked up post-prohibition being usurped by wine, but I don't really know my beverage history all that well.
Well, except for one beverage, and since about 1700 mead just hasn't been popular enough to affect these things.
(EDIT: A little research on the internet tells me that the vodka trend is actually about fifty years old. For some reason I had always assumed it was much more recent. Huh.)
By the way, Flitworth - consider getting a relatively strong soju and making a soju sour, possibly with a splash of the blueberry brandy. DPRK + ROK + sourness has to be symbolic of something, and I'm guessing (based only on your descriptions, so I don't know) that it would taste not-hideous.
i would love one please
on the rocks?
or i guess.. unification shouldnt be on the rocks should it?
Nice.