Nick Perry - Drink Me: Curious Cocktails from Wonderland

PART I

L ewis Carrolls books have always lent themselves to the fantastical, the unusual, and the strange. His magical growth potions, tea parties, and the like are the ultimate in gastronomic inspiration and we believe we have compiled a selection of recipes that tap into the rich vein of creative stimuli at play in Wonderland.

We discovered that there was no real resource available that catered to the demands of an Alice fan who wanted to create a boozy tea party. Thats what this book aims to do. Come with us down the rabbit hole as we take you on a journey through our minds, showing you how to make some weird and wonderful creations. From basic cocktail-making techniques to more complex liquor-infusion methods, this book contains recipes to interest everyone, from a teetotalling Alice novice to a raving Alice fan or cocktail nut!

All great adventures start with a drink, and Alices expedition down the rabbit hole is no exception. The story begins with a sip of a curiously labeled tipple. The potion causes her to shrink to a minute size and is the catalyst for all that is to come. Here we invite you to do the samelearn how to mix cocktails that will fill you with wonder and glee at the flavor combinations, while amassing the perfect selection of drinks to bring together in your own spirit-soaked Mad Hatters Tea Party. We have delved into the depths of the pool of tears in search of the most magical ingredients and sumptuous flavors, and after some sage advice from a helpful caterpillar, have composed a list of recipes we feel are regularly enjoyed by the inhabitants of Wonderland.

After an introduction that covers the basics on spirits, liqueurs, glassware, and techniques in , a sticky plum and chestnut sharpener low enough in alcohol that you can greedily gulp it without even a hint of regret.

To supplement the core cocktail recipes, we have also created a list of lovingly crafted batch recipes in to add to your pantry. They will serve as the base components to some of the curious cocktails you will discover in this book that you can prepare in advance and store in your cupboard or refrigerator, ready to use whenever you desire. So stock up with fabulous homemade vermouths, liqueurs, syrups, go ahead and enjoy exploring the landscape of the curious cocktails of Wonderland and beyondand when presented with the opportunity, always remember: Drink me!

The world of spirits and liqueurs is a constantly growing beast, with new and unique products entering the market constantly. Here we will focus on the best-known and most popular spirit categories, their flavors and characteristics, and how they can best be used in drinks.

BRANDY

Made from distilled fruit, usually grapes, and sometimes plums or apples, brandy is made across the world. Many countries have their own styles, including Cognac, Armagnac, Calvados, Pisco, Grappa, Eau de Vie, Aquavit, Slivovice, and Schnapps/Snaps. Examples of its use in mixed drinks include classics such as the sour Sidecar, the creamy Brandy Alexander, and the elegant Champagne Cocktail. We enjoy a good-quality brandy served straight up, in a warmed brandy balloon glass, but the depth of burnt fruit flavor found in brandies works rather well in cocktails.

GIN

Gin is made from distilled grains, then flavored with an infinite variety of fruits, herbs, and spices, collectively known as botanicals. Juniper is the defining flavor of gin, in what must be the spirit worlds largest flavor spectrum.

RUM

Made from distilled sugar, rum is generally quite sweet in nature. This makes it ideal to mix, and understandably there are a great number of recipes in which it stars, ranging from classics through to tiki-style cocktails and even the odd hot beverage. Rum is wide-ranging in varieties, from light, gold, and dark, through to Cachaa, flavored and spiced to overproof and navy strength.

TEQUILA

Tequila is distilled from the blue agave plant and made only in Mexico. Tightly regulated similar spirits without the required ratio of blue agave are known as mezcal and are smokier in flavor.

VODKA

Typically distilled from grains, vodka can be made from many things, including potatoes, grapes, and even milk! Generally odorless and neutral in flavor, vodka is one of the easiest liquors to blend into a cocktail, and a very popular spirit to flavor at home.