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To coincide with the introduction of their Mix Masters website, Dekuyper, the Dutch distiller responsible for many of the well liquors, schnapps, and puckers you’ll find stocked in many bars, sponsored a bartending contest last week. Sort of a social networking site for bartenders, the site www.mixmastersusa.com is a place where they can exchange recipes and get advice from other mixologists.
After a series of preliminary competitions, the three Boston finalists prepared their recipes for a panel of judges gathered at the Greatest Bar. The winner would receive some cash and a trip to New Orleans to try their hand in the national competition. While we weren’t involved in the process ourselves, we did get to sample each of the entries. The judges were looking for a mixed drink or shot made with three or fewer liquid ingredients. Points were given for appearance, creativity in name, originality, and simplicity.
The latter quality carried the day, as each of the drinks tended toward the simple, crowd-pleasing, sugary variety. Of course, working with liqueurs that are sweet to begin with sort of makes that inevitable. Erin Kiley of Lir offered up the Peter Brady (cinnamon schnapps, sour apple pucker, pineapple juice).
“I called it the Peter Brady because it tastes like applesauce. You know, like ‘pork chops and applesauce,’ ’’ she said, quoting the TV character. It’s meant to be served as a shooter, she said, and usually goes over well at Lir. “When a group of girls come in and ask for a shot of something that’s not too strong, but good, I’ll make this. It’s good for guys too, though.’’
It certainly was drinkable, but wasn’t necessarily in our usual drinking repertoire. Perhaps sipping a Manhattan between samples wasn’t the best idea. It would be like cleansing your palate with foie gras at a hot dog eating contest. Nonetheless, the Peter Brady was warm and seasonal and spicy enough to win a following.
Kanga Collard of Flash’s was up next with her Pink Purrfection (crème de banana, strawberry pucker, pineapple vodka). Collard also alluded to her drink’s feminine appeal. She usually serves it at Flash’s in a champagne flute garnished with pineapple. “We’re all about fun glasses and ostentatious garnishes at Flash’s,’’ she said.
Andre Haynes of the Place worked the colorful, fruity angle as well with his Gummy Worm (blueberry liqueur, sour apple pucker, pineapple juice). “I was in Boca Raton years ago and I wanted to make a shot that reminded me of the ocean I was looking at. I was like ‘give me some blue stuff!’ It tastes just like a gummy worm, if you like that. Chicks seems to dig it. If someone wants something stronger I’ll add vodka to it.’’
No surprise that people liked these type of drinks, even if we weren’t exactly wowed. As we headed back up to the bar later that night for a beer we overheard a guy ordering a Peter Brady. Perhaps it might catch on after all.
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