I very much like how you acknowledge the wild prices of things currently (and probably forever) and, ergo, moving ahead with certain cocktail discipline.
Perhaps it’s the drink talking, but I’ll share my dirty secret that no one asked to hear (but please keep it between us): after I do the ceremonious absinthe wash for a Corpse Reviver (tis the season! 🎃) I pour the extra back in the bottle. Home entertaining only, of course. No need to call the health department.
It’s very much a consideration! The Last Word is an expensive pour compared to, say, a Martini. I looked up my old Chartreuse post and noted the expense back then, £35. It’s not more like £45. And that’s a very sensible absinthe policy
The classic equal proportion The Last Word is probably in my top five favourite cocktails, so it was great to see it pop up in my inbox from The Spirits earlier. I was open minded to try this variation as I know that others, such as Simon Difford, argue for making it more gin forward. I'm currently sipping this version and it tastes great!
But, oddly, and this may just be me, I almost find that it feels like a sweeter drink than the classic version. I wonder if this is because you get the sweetness from the liqueurs without getting twatted with the intensity of flavour that they bring when in the equal parts recipe. To my palette, changing the proportions keeps most of the sweetness but at the expense of the intensity. I think the original works because/in spite of the fact that it's ridiculous, and I'm not sure that taming it improves it.
I used Plymouth, which i almost always do with a citrus/gin cocktail, so maybe it works better with a more juniper heavy gin. This feels like its more gin forward than the classic recipe, in which it's more of a background flavour. Although this version is great, I do feel like it needs more Chartreuse twang. Maybe upping that to 30ml is something I could try next.
I very much like how you acknowledge the wild prices of things currently (and probably forever) and, ergo, moving ahead with certain cocktail discipline.
Perhaps it’s the drink talking, but I’ll share my dirty secret that no one asked to hear (but please keep it between us): after I do the ceremonious absinthe wash for a Corpse Reviver (tis the season! 🎃) I pour the extra back in the bottle. Home entertaining only, of course. No need to call the health department.
It’s very much a consideration! The Last Word is an expensive pour compared to, say, a Martini. I looked up my old Chartreuse post and noted the expense back then, £35. It’s not more like £45. And that’s a very sensible absinthe policy
Imbibing is not for the feint of wallet. I’m delighted you approve of my penny pinching ways!
The classic equal proportion The Last Word is probably in my top five favourite cocktails, so it was great to see it pop up in my inbox from The Spirits earlier. I was open minded to try this variation as I know that others, such as Simon Difford, argue for making it more gin forward. I'm currently sipping this version and it tastes great!
But, oddly, and this may just be me, I almost find that it feels like a sweeter drink than the classic version. I wonder if this is because you get the sweetness from the liqueurs without getting twatted with the intensity of flavour that they bring when in the equal parts recipe. To my palette, changing the proportions keeps most of the sweetness but at the expense of the intensity. I think the original works because/in spite of the fact that it's ridiculous, and I'm not sure that taming it improves it.
I used Plymouth, which i almost always do with a citrus/gin cocktail, so maybe it works better with a more juniper heavy gin. This feels like its more gin forward than the classic recipe, in which it's more of a background flavour. Although this version is great, I do feel like it needs more Chartreuse twang. Maybe upping that to 30ml is something I could try next.
I’m a big fan of this in depth experimentation - bring on the double blind randomised control trials!