One of the cooler things in the cocktail blogging world has to be Mixology Monday, an “online cocktail party” where cocktail enthusiasts submit and share cocktails to fit an ever-changing theme. Paul Clarke of Cocktail Chronicles and Imbibe! ran Mixology Monday for 6 years (Wow- thanks Paul!) and just handed off the reins to Frederic Yarm at Cocktail Virgin Slut. (BTW- a shameless plug for Frederic’s new Boston Cocktail book “Drink and Tell”- see here). So here is the theme:
For this month, I have chosen the theme of equal part cocktails — those simple drinks where only one jigger is needed despite how many ingredients are added. These recipes have gained a lot of popularity as classics like the Negroni and Last Word have resurfaced, and variations of these equal part wonders have become abundant.
Indeed they have. We have already posted on the Last Word and a very tasty variant with Apricot Shrub (that we made) based on a cocktail from Bar Terra. But seeing as how the Last Word has been revised dozens of times, we decided to look at other classic cocktails and see what we could do. We tried Corpse Reviver #2 variants with gin, grapefruit, Aperol and Lillet Rose’- good but better in unequal proportions. We also played with the Scofflaw, one of our recent faves, that included genever, rye, lemon, grenadine and dry vermouth. A very good drink, but the genever takes over so it was just a “genever scofflaw”. Ok, but not what we were after. But as a side bonus, we did make our own grenadine.
About that time, we decided that mining “classics” for ideas wasn’t going so well and perhaps another approach was in order. So if “classics” weren’t working, how about drawing inspiration from somewhat cheesier “less iconic” cocktails. And this very quickly brought us to the Long Island Iced Tea. We recently posted on the drink from Long Island, it is way better than it should be, and it uses roughly equal parts. But what to do with the homemade grenadine? Well, how about subbing the grenadine for Coke? Kind of like Planters Punch (another semi-uncool cocktail) or a Bacardi Cocktail…and since the seasons are changing how about a little spice from a dash of bitters? (The rules allow it). And finally, the drink was boozy enough so we dropped the vodka, as we still had plenty of other spirits in the drink.
And the Long Island Planters Punch was born. (And yes the LIPP is a riff on the L.I.R.R.- Long Island Railroad) The LIPP combines equal amounts of white Demerara rum (El Dorado), reposado tequila (Cazadores), dry gin (Tanqueray) , Cointreau (or another triple-sec), lime juice and grenadine, with a dash of Fees Old Fashion Aromatic Bitters (you can sub Angostura). And we garnish with a lime wedge for a little aroma and extra presentation. And one last note, if you can’t make your own grenadine, a “real pomegranate” grenadine will be much better, as the corn-syrup based versions are way too sweet.
And the flavor of the cocktail? We like it very much. You get the lime juice, tequila and Cointreau up front and then the herbal flavors of the gin and sweet rum and grenadine fill-in and finally you get the spice of the bitters. A good sip, and just like the Long Island Iced Tea, it tastes much less boozy than it really is. And you can serve the LIPP as a cocktail or a long drink, it works either way. The LIPP is so tasty, we wondered if we should rename it and not mention its less-than-stellar cocktail forebears. But just as we still love our Dads, even though they mowed the lawn every Sunday in khaki shorts, black socks and sandals, we will proudly acknowledge the LIPP’s heritage.
The Long Island Planter’s Punch (LIPP)
Ingredients:
(For 1 cocktail, double for a “long” version of the drink)
- 1/2 oz. White rum (El Dorado Demerara)
- 1/2 oz. Reposado tequila (Cazadores)
- 1/2 oz. Dry gin (Tanqueray)
- 1/2 oz. Triple-sec (Cointreau)
- 1/2 oz. Fresh lime juice
- 1/2 oz Grenadine (homemade- see below, or “real pomegranate”)
- 1 dash Fee’s Old Fashion Aromatic Bitters
- Lime wedge, for garnish
Assemble:
- Combine all the liquid ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake thoroughly and strain into a chilled cocktail glass, coupé or flute. Garnish with lime wedge. Serve.
-or-
- For a “long version” of the drink. Double the recipe and combine all the liquid ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake thoroughly and strain into a large tumbler, highball or pint glass filled with ice. Garnish with lime wedge.
—-
Grenadine:
(Adapted from Cocktail Chronicles and David Wondrich)
Notes:
- This is a “cold-process” version of Grenadine. There are also boiled versions, but we prefer the fresher flavors of the cold version.
- You can use superfine sugar to be sure the sugar will dissolve in the pomegranate juice. You will get a bit more sugar, by weight, so check the flavor of the grenadine after the first mixing before adding any more sugar.
Ingredients:
- 1 part white sugar
- 1 part pure, unsweetened pomegranate juice
- 1 tablespoon of vodka or grain alcohol per cup of syrup (optional)
Assemble:
- Place the juice and sugar in a jar with a good lid and seal. Shake well until sugar dissolves in the juice. Taste and add sugar, by tablespoon, to balance flavor.
- Add the vodka or grain alcohol, if using. Store in the fridge.
Related articles
- Cocktail DIY: Grenadine, Simple Syrups, Honey Syrup (putneyfarm.com)
- Bonus Cocktail: The Scofflaw (putneyfarm.com)
- Weekly Cocktail #24: Long Island Iced Tea (putneyfarm.com)
I’m not a fan of alcohol but that cocktail looks delicious!
Thanks- half of the fun of cocktails is the presentation…we have way to much fun doing this…
Picturing Fred with the lawn mower- hah!
It wasn’t quite that bad…consider it “poetic license”…
Great to see you guys- Thanks again!
Oh yes! Hard at work! Me too.
xjennifer
We suffer for our cocktails….really, we do….
Above and beyond, as always! That looks delicious in this heat wave; I think I’ll have one this weekend.
Thanks- look forward to your thoughts. It is kind of starts margarita, then gets a gin bridge into a Bacardi cocktail…definately more of a punch than a cocktail, but fun, nonetheless..
Hope you post for Mixology Monday!
Thanks Erin, they are gorgeous and like you say the scent! My nose could be reurgally found in one. I don’t suppose you know what the first hairy looking flower is on this post, I’ve identified most of the flowers I came across since I got home but I’m at a loss with this one. Thanks.
A hard day at the office … I can image !!!! To be a drink designer must tough *smile It calls for its man.
That – The Long Island Planter’s Punch- will bring out the whole bar – and I beat with of the them under the vest – even penguins will fly. You do such a fantastic job .. with your posts – doesn’t matter what it’s about. It’s such a great pleasure to .. visit your world.
Thanks…We like the sound of “drink designer”…wish that was a real job! 😉
I’m sure there is somebody out there … doing money on their designer drinks. I suppose they are called consultants.
I usually have just one cocktail but I think with this one it would be one-half a cocktail. Certainly does look good.
Thanks…one is certainly enough…;-)
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I know Long Island Iced Tea are extraodinarily uncool these days, but I had a couple a couple of years ago, and they’re not that bad. Boozy and unsublte, but … Anyway, I look forward to trying your rescue attempt (I’m gong to try allt eh MxMo drinks I can), just not on a school night.
Thanks! Trying to mix something else in other then another Negroni or Corpse Reviver variant (and a little levity…some cocktail blogs are a bit “serious”).
We will try most of the other drinks, and had a few already. The Eva Peron and the Undiscovered County but good…
I’m drinking it now, long. I like it , but with my anejo tequila I have the same problem I remember having with the LI iced tea – the tequila dominates. Good thing I like tequila
Good thing…we found the same thing with anejo or grassier flavored plato or reposado..the Cazadores was the best fit…good stuff. It lets you get a bit of the gin and rum..
I’ve had Planter’s Punch on many islands, but never on Long Island. Also, never serve it to me in a stemmed glass please.
😉
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“Mixology Monday Cocktail: Long Island Planters Punch (LIPP) Putney
Farm” actually enables me personally ponder a somewhat further.
I adored each and every particular component of it. Thank you -Melinda
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