In the Land of Cocktails

A Passionate Affair

Posted by Cheri Loughlin on March 9th, 2009

The Intoxicologist’s Pas­sion­ate Affair

Noilly Prat French Ver­mouth Euro­pean blend recently released in the United States.  Before its arrival the Noilly Prat Amer­i­can­ized ver­sion is all we could famil­iar­ize our­selves with through tra­di­tional gin and vodka mar­ti­nis.  Now ver­mouth changes cock­tail per­spec­tive by enhanc­ing our gin rather than merely mask­ing the rough edges.  Noilly Prat Orig­i­nal 1813 Euro­pean blend Dry Ver­mouth tick­les at the nose, wafts across the lips with whis­per­ing faint­ness and refreshes with ease across the palate.  The fla­vor is del­i­cate, light and airy with a touch of sweet­ness and the faintest hint of bit­ter buried within its silk.  It is the gen­tle­ness within this aper­i­tif which makes it an ideal can­di­date for gin cock­tails with con­trast­ing fla­vors of cit­rus, botan­i­cals and herbs.

The Pas­sion­ate Affair is a tasty treat for the com­ing spring sea­son.  It is lightly refresh­ing just like the Noilly Prat Orig­i­nal 1813 Euro­pean blend Dry Ver­mouth which inspired it.  The pas­sion fruit arrives first with the finesse of barely there sweet­ness.  Noilly Prat fol­lows as it del­i­cately rolls over the taste buds in a grace­ful fin­ish.  The zest of the Rang­pur Gin hangs back sub­tly, pulling the cock­tail together.  Key lime is an excel­lent choice for Noilly Prat as this par­tic­u­lar type lime has slightly more pun­gent fla­vor than the typ­i­cal lime.  This aids in cre­at­ing counter bal­ance between the flo­ral hints in the Noilly Prat while devel­op­ing the under­ly­ing sweet­ness as well.

Pas­sion­ate Affair – cre­ated by The Intox­i­col­o­gist
1 ounce Rang­pur Gin
1 ounce Noilly Prat Orig­i­nal 1813 Euro­pean blend Dry Ver­mouth
Juice from 1/2 of a Key Lime
1/2 ounce Pas­sion Fruit Juice
1–1/4 ounce Diet Tonic Water
Half a Key Lime for Garnish

Com­bine Rang­pur Gin, Noilly Prat, key lime juice and pas­sion fruit juice in a cock­tail shaker with ice.  Shake for 15 – 20 sec­onds.  Strain into a mar­tini glass, cham­pagne flute or dec­o­ra­tive stemware or your choice.  Gar­nish with half of a key lime.

You will find more orig­i­nal Intox­i­col­o­gist cock­tail recipes, spirit reviews and what is new in the liquor indus­try on The Intox­i­col­o­gist Is In at www.intoxicologist.wordpress.com.

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Cheri Lough­lin — The Intox­i­col­o­gist
www.intoxicologist.wordpress.com
str8upcocktails@gmail.com
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