Post #710096 by Destro100 on Tue, Mar 4, 2014 7:38 AM

The creator, Constantine Ribaillagua, is a "mixologist"

Drink 40: La Florida Cocktail

Ingredients I used:

Fresh lime juice
Carpano Antica (Italian Vermouth)
Marie Brizard White Creme De Cacao
Pierre Ferrand Curacoa
Routin 1883 Grenadine
Flor de Cana 4 year - Light rum

This is a beautiful drink; both in terms of flavor and appearance. It has all the elements of a classic cocktail including balance, and quality of ingredients. At the same time it also has a unique flavor profile that is produced by an interesting combination of ingredients. I have never seen a lime-vermouth-cacao-rum combo before. But it works. It really works.

I went with Carpano Antica as my italian vermouth. It has an unforgettably bold and luxurious flavor. The company has recently started selling Carpano in the U.S. in 375 ml bottles and at that size, it has become an indispensable part to my liquor collection.

That being said, I find that I have to be careful with Carpano as it can easily dominate a drink, but in this case, combined with so many other competing flavors, the Carpano manages to shine through with its sweet cherry and herbal tartness without diminishing the other flavors in the drink. I find it to be in perfect harmony with the creme de cacao (an ingenious addition to the drink itself) and the touch of grenadine for tartness.

The use of a whole ounce of lime makes this drink fall into the sour category of classic cocktails, but I think the drink would still work fine if it was dialed back to 3/4 of an ounce. I personally love sours and would not change it.

This is a great drink for entertaining, personal meditation, relaxation, and surprising your guests. It tastes great and looks lovely. I'm not sure why the reviews on the Grogalizer tend to vary widely. This drink was a winner for me all the way.

My personal rating: **** (4) out of ***** (5)

SCORECARD:
4.5 ALMOST PERFECT - 1 drink so far
Chief Lapu Lapu

4 - EXCELLENT - 8 drinks and counting
Colonel Beach's Plantation Punch /Aurora Bora Borealis / Outrigger / Bourbon Special / Beachcomber's Gold (Hollywood and Palm Springs) / Hell in the Pacific / Krakatoa / La Florida

3.5 - VERY GOOD - 10 drinks and counting
Beachcomber's Punch / Coronado Luau Special / Hawaii Kai Treasure / Coconaut / Castaway (slightly modified) / Don's Special Daiquiri / Banana Daiquiri / Captain's Grog / Viking Fog Cutter / Navy Grog

3 - GOOD - 11 drinks and counting
Eastern Sour / Astro Aku Aku / Kapu Kai / Western Sour / Beachcomber's Gold (Waikiki) / Red Tide / Samoan Fog Cutter / Gold Cup / Headhunter / Fogg Cutter / Noa Noa

2.5 - ABOVE AVERAGE - 4 drinks and counting
Jasper's Jamaican / Derby Daiquiri / Carioca Hawaiian Cocktail / Hawaiian Room

2 - AVERAGE - 5 drinks and counting
Beachcomber's Gold (Chicago) / Lychee Nut Daiquiri / Fog Cutter / Von Tiki / Planet of the Apes

1.5 - BELOW AVERAGE - 1 drink and hopefully not too many more
Boo Loo

[ Edited by: Destro100 2014-03-04 07:41 ]