The Jasmine: Grapefruit flavor, without the nastiness of it.

[vakkotaur]

For some time I've been trying various cocktails. Some time ago it was at bars, but that is generally expensive and means a certain loss of control of the ingredients. It also means being limited to what the bar has in stock and what the bartender knows or is willing to look up (or deal with). So I started acquiring spirits and liqueurs so I could mix things myself. This has grown to the point I suspect I can mix a good many things not to be found anywhere else in (this rather small) town. Granted, that's easy when the local VFW lacks Galliano and thus can't even make a simple Harvey Wallbanger.

For a while, I've been a bit hesitant about the Jasmine. Supposedly it tastes "just like" grapefruit. I held off, as I can't stand grapefruit. There's some chemical in it that I can taste (and evidently jmaynard cannot) that is irredeemably nasty. It's bitter to the point of evil.

But today I decided to risk it, if only to clear the recipe page off of my browser's open tabs.
So I mixed this thing:

• 1 1/2 ounces gin (I used Broker's. I suspect most any decent gin will do.[1])
• 3/4 ounce fresh-squeezed lemon juice (I went with store-bought bottled. I had it.)
• 1/4 ounce Campari
• 1/4 ounce Cointreau

And I omitted the garnish. And, to me... it tasted sort of like grapefruit, only without the nasty bitter note. I had Jay try it. He pronounced it identical in flavor to grapefruit. So now I know what people who don't taste the nasty bitter note taste: something that actually isn't bad.

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[1] The exception is that this is probably NOT a good drink for Hendrick's gin. The cucumber of Hendrick's would be rather out of place here.

Comments

[malterre.livejournal.com]

Interesting. I generally can't drink "fragrant" items and you must have a sensitive palate

[vakkotaur.livejournal.com]

About some things. I have what I think is a wonderful bottle of Lagavulin 16, and I taste the smokiness of it - and that's all. Jay says he can taste that, somewhere under the 'medicine' that I do not detect.