Post #766007 by Destro100 on Sat, Jul 9, 2016 5:39 PM

Baby-break

Drink 73:Test Pilot

Ingredients I used:

Fresh lime Juice
Fee Brothers Falernum 
Cointreau
Coruba dark rum
Cruzan light rum
Angostura Bitters
Pernod

It’s true, I have been neglecting my journey for quite a while. You can find the reason in the picture below. But now that our new addition finally seems shelf-stable, I can return to my worthy quest.

I always look forward to trying out a tiki classic. I am especially thrilled when it manages to surprise and differentiate itself from other tiki classics.

The Test Pilot falls more into a sour style of drink, rather than your typical tiki citrus punch-based styles (combinations of Lemons, limes, oranges, and pineapple). This drink may actually turn off those looking for a sweet tropical libation, but sour fans will love it.

Specifically, the combination of lime, falernum, Pernod, and Angostura come together to form one mighty sour-tart-bitter sensation. It lasts throughout the entirety of the drink and may be a bit extreme for some.

Confession: my limes were a bit old and may have added a bit of unnecessary tartness.

The Jamaican rum mixed with the light Puerto Rican rum blends well together, but any subtlety is lost to the sour-power that dominates the drink.

I do wish the falernum stood out more but that could be a reflection on the quality of the Fee Brothers brand. I do realize that many experts recommend it, but I think this may be my first and last time using it.
It tastes fine but it lacks the distinctive sweet ginger body found in BG Reynolds. To be honest, I think I even prefer the Velvet Falernum.

The crushed ice helps provide a refreshing sensation that allows you to sit with the drink for a while. This is great because most classic sour-style drinks end up in coup glasses and only last about 15 minutes. Furthermore, as the ice slowly melts and works its way through the drink, some of the sour notes mellow and help round out the drink.

An enjoyable drink overall but there are better.

My personal rating: ***1/2 (3.5) out of ***** (5)

SCORECARD:

4.5 ALMOST PERFECT - 3 drinks so far
Chief Lapu Lapu / Kikuya Lapu / Mai Tai (Trader Vic)

4 - EXCELLENT - 12 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 / Tortuga / Mai Tai Swizzle / 151 Swizzle / Port Light

3.5 - VERY GOOD - 24 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 / Hurricane / Lani-Honi / Mariposa Fizz / Mai Tai (Stuft Shirt) / Never Say Die / Pago Pago / Painkiller / Q.B. Cooler / Shark's Tooth / Sidewinder's Fang / Spindrift / Singapore Sling (1930s) / Singapore Sling (1970s) / Test Pilot

3 - GOOD - 20 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 / Aku Aku Lapu / Mai Tai (Royal Hawaiian) / Missionary's Downfall / Strip and go Naked / Polynesian Paralysis / Happy Buddha / Shrunken Skull / Scorpion Bowl/ Singapore Sling

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

2 - AVERAGE - 8 drinks and counting
Beachcomber's Gold (Chicago) / Lychee Nut Daiquiri / Fog Cutter / Von Tiki / Planet of the Apes / Rum Runner / Pieces of Eight / Polynesian Spell

1.5 - BELOW AVERAGE - 2 drinks and hopefully not too many more
Boo Loo / Royal Daiquiri