Sundowner
May 16th, 2008 | Published in cognac, liqueur | 13 Comments
Like a teddy bear nanny-cam, this drink appears unassuming. All its constituent parts sound appealing and the drink as a whole seems to be very pleasant. A little too pleasant. I saved this one for a Friday because it’s dangerous—I mean nitroglycerin dangerous. You’ll be happily sipping along, enjoying the balance and composition of your cocktail and think “Gee, another would be delightful!” Before you know it, things have spiraled out of control and you’re sprawled face-down on the lawn at 3am wondering why drinking out of the sprinkler seemed like a good idea. Definitely not a brilliant plan on a Wednesday.
So I bring you this delightful cocktail and a warning: if you make one of these, you will not stop at the first, and possibly not even the second, drink. Forewarned is forearmed, as they say.
I had put off making this entry from Intoxica! because, like a crow with a mirror, I’m easily distracted by shiny objects and bottles of liquor and inevitably ended up neglecting to purchase cognac because I was so busy ogling rum or créme de violette or allspice dram (or *cough* ginger beer). I finally managed to become distracted by brandy and, as such, the Sundowner finally became a reality.
This drink originated at the Kon-Tiki, a Polynesian-style restaurant chain in Sheraton hotels developed to rival the Hilton’s Trader Vic establishments. Though the Kon-Tiki is long gone, if this drink is any indication the Sheraton spent its money wisely developing their little slice of the tiki craze. While it’s no Mai Tai, the Sundowner will definitely turn your lights out if you aren’t careful.
1¼ oz cognac
¾ oz Galliano
¾ oz Cointreau
1 oz fresh lemon juiceShake with one cup crushed ice and pour into a double old-fashioned glass or tiki mug. Add more crushed ice to fill. Garnish with lime wheel.
If you are thinking that this will be too sweet, please let me allay that fear. The Boyfriend is an avowed hater of sweet things (he even has trouble eating fruit) and he loved this drink. It is certainly more sweet than savory, but the lemon balances out the sugar perfectly, leaving just the warmth of the cognac combined with the vanilla and orange from the liqueurs. This thing is liquid ambrosia—it’s the alcohol equivalent of snuggling with a kitten.
Okay, that might be a bit over the top, but you get the idea. Mix one up this weekend and see if it doesn’t put some sunshine into your day.
May 16th, 2008at 9:58 am(#)
And I’m all out for Cognac (and Galliano)! I guess I’ll just have to go and get some, aw shucks!
Great looking drink, too.
May 16th, 2008at 10:02 am(#)
Isn’t the color gorgeous? Oh darn—having to go liquor shopping is such a chore, isn’t it?
May 16th, 2008at 11:44 am(#)
Oh, thanks. That sounds — and looks — delicious! Galliano just got bumped up on my “to buy” list.
May 16th, 2008at 3:42 pm(#)
I’m so glad I’m not the only one with the distraction problem re: purchasing cognac.
Now that I have the bottle of allspice dram and of St. George absinthe, maybe next time…
May 16th, 2008at 7:17 pm(#)
Jacob,
While I don’t use Galliano often, it adds a little “something” when mixed correctly that’s hard to beat.
Dinah,
My distraction problem runs deep—the number of things I mean to buy and never do seems endless. How do you like the St. George? I found a bottle but passed it up because I haven’t tasted it and didn’t want to get saddled with a very expensive bottle of undrinkable absinthe.
May 16th, 2008at 11:39 pm(#)
This is all well and good Marleigh but when are you going to give us a recipe for all the leftover crap in out liquor cabinet. Oh and it’s has to be a shot, and not a foo-foo shot. I know it’s below your standards but it was just be a brief foray for the unwashed.
May 17th, 2008at 10:14 am(#)
Bill,
Send me a list of what you’ve got and next time we’re up (to see your swanky new digs) I’ll have something for you to do with them.
May 17th, 2008at 7:25 pm(#)
Wow, great drink. Oh, and brilliant writing, as usual. I try to do my sprinkler drinking on Saturdays…
I don’t know if I can make this though, having sworn never to buy Cointreau again while I could find Clement Creole Shrub…
May 18th, 2008at 8:41 am(#)
I have heard such magical things about Clement Creole Shrubb. I found a bottle during my last outing but I was already ten bottles deep in shopping and needed to cut myself off. Next time, though, next time…
You should try this with the CCS and let me know how it is!
May 29th, 2008at 12:41 am(#)
Where did you manage to find allspice dram around here?
May 29th, 2008at 8:39 am(#)
Scott,
I was in the BevMo on Santa Monica looking in vain for a bottle of Junipero gin (in case you’re wondering, they are out of stock indefinitely) and spotted a lone bottle of St. Elizabeth behind the Clear Creek Apple Brandy. Every BevMo stocks different items, so I’d try that one first.
May 29th, 2008at 12:20 pm(#)
Thanks Marleigh! And I remember seeing quite a few bottles on Junipero at the Pasadena store, as well as a few in Torrance if you’re out more this way.. You can always check their website too, just change where it says “Ship to: CA” to “Pick Up At” and select the store to see if they have it in stock.
June 11th, 2008at 7:45 pm(#)
Tonight marks the 2nd time I’ve made this drink. I find it necessary to remark on how GENIUS it is. I think I’m in love!