velvet falernum, where is it? - Tiki Drinks and Food

P pablus Tiki Socialite www.thecrazedmugs.com Joined: Jul 23, 2003 Posts: 2163	P pablus Posted posted on Wed, Jul 23, 2003 4:29 PM I've found it extremely difficult to get a bottle of that elixer delivered and recently found a simple recipe for making it at home. The recipe is from KingCocktail himself and scaled down by an e-gullet member, so it's a legit one. Thusly: Dale's recipe for Velvet Falernum makes 5 quarts of the stuff. I've scaled it down to make about 5 cups of the finished product - quite enough for the home bar. Some additional notes, the flavor of the homemade Falernum is dominated by the bitter notes of lime zest. The commercial product contains lime juice, and I think more sugar, and is therefore more sweet/sour rather than bitter. When we have done tastings, people tended to prefer the more sophisticated flavor of the homemade (zesty) Velvet Falernum, so it is worth making yourself. Rum Marinade 1 c White Rum 3 Limes worth of Zest (peel it off) 3 Whole Cloves 3 drops of Almond Extract Simple Syrup (1:1) 4 c Superfine Sugar 4 c Water In a small covered container place the Rum, Cloves, Almond Extract and Lime Peel. Set aside for about 18-24 hours. In a 2 quart jar mix Sugar and Water. Shake it up every once in a while. By the time the marinade is done, the sugar will have dissolved. Strain the Rum Marinade into the sugar water. Taste. The almond flavor should be barely detectable, but it should be there. If you can't taste it at all, add another drop or two of Almond Extract. So there you have it. I keep reading about ginger being a part of it but haven't found any recipe for it that contains ginger. However - I'll go dig a little root of my homegrown spice ginger up and shave a little into my next batch of Falernum and post about this addition. Don't want to miss out on any of those flavors that Donn Beach was slinging now do we? Certainly - if anyone can find a place that sells and ships to Florida, please post it. EDIT: I tried email to the Spirit of Hartford about their commercial Falernum and although was immediately replied to, came up with no leads - no help - no Falernum... sigh. [ Edited by: pablus on 2003-07-23 16:36 ]

I've found it extremely difficult to get a bottle of that elixer delivered and recently found a simple recipe for making it at home.

The recipe is from KingCocktail himself and scaled down by an e-gullet member, so it's a legit one.

Thusly:

Dale's recipe for Velvet Falernum makes 5 quarts of the stuff. I've scaled it down to make about 5 cups of the finished product - quite enough for the home bar.

Some additional notes, the flavor of the homemade Falernum is dominated by the bitter notes of lime zest. The commercial product contains lime juice, and I think more sugar, and is therefore more sweet/sour rather than bitter. When we have done tastings, people tended to prefer the more sophisticated flavor of the homemade (zesty) Velvet Falernum, so it is worth making yourself.

Rum Marinade
1 c White Rum
3 Limes worth of Zest (peel it off)
3 Whole Cloves
3 drops of Almond Extract
Simple Syrup (1:1)
4 c Superfine Sugar
4 c Water

In a small covered container place the Rum, Cloves, Almond Extract and Lime Peel. Set aside for about 18-24 hours.

In a 2 quart jar mix Sugar and Water. Shake it up every once in a while. By the time the marinade is done, the sugar will have dissolved.

Strain the Rum Marinade into the sugar water. Taste. The almond flavor should be barely detectable, but it should be there. If you can't taste it at all, add another drop or two of Almond Extract.

So there you have it.

I keep reading about ginger being a part of it but haven't found any recipe for it that contains ginger.

However - I'll go dig a little root of my homegrown spice ginger up and shave a little into my next batch of Falernum and post about this addition.

Don't want to miss out on any of those flavors that Donn Beach was slinging now do we?

Certainly - if anyone can find a place that sells and ships to Florida, please post it.

EDIT: I tried email to the Spirit of Hartford about their commercial Falernum and although was immediately replied to, came up with no leads - no help - no Falernum... sigh.

[ Edited by: pablus on 2003-07-23 16:36 ]

Post #44229 by pablus on Wed, Jul 23, 2003 4:29 PM