Post #289728 by Chip and Andy on Mon, Mar 5, 2007 5:12 AM

On 2007-03-05 01:33, DJ Terence Gunn wrote:

More expensive Curacao and Cointreau drinken straight are one thing, but as a component of a drink with several ingredients nobody will taste the least slightest difference or subtlety. ...

I challenge you to a Orange Liquor Throwdown! Or something like that, I have been watching too much FoodTV lately.

Yes, and no, on the orange. Flavor wise there is not a lot of difference between the different brands. Cointreau is the original Triple-Sec (so they say), and what is now Triple-Sec is only slightly lower in quality overall. Marie Brizzard, Bols, Hirim Walker, and others all make a Triple-Sec and all of them are good as far as the orange flavor. The difference between most of the mid-level brands is aroma and mouth-feel which are two very under-discussed aspects of modern cocktails. I think the Bols smells like Orange gasoline and the Marie Brizzard leaves a synthetic waxy kind of mouth feel, neither of which is good in a cocktail.

So the challenge is to go back and examine your cocktails from a holistic approach and include the smell of the cocktail as well as the taste. Think also about what the cocktail does in and to the mouth. Do your teeth feel fuzzy after a couple, or do you loose the ability to taste the second drink because something burned out the tastebuds and nose hairs from the first one?

I will end by saying the same thing I say to everyone... it is your bar, brink what you like and like what you drink.