Noam and Patrick, two young student lads came round for cocktails last night. I’ve known them both since they were little boys aged 9. It was great to have some guests who could go through lots of cocktails without passing out, like our usual crowd of friends (and me), who stop at two. Gave me a chance to try out some more recipes.
Last night’s discoveries of yumminess included:
Pineapple Daiquiri (cold and refreshing)
2 shots light rum, 1/2 shot gomme, 3/4 shot fresh lime juice, 1 shot pressed pineapple juice.
Shake with ice and then pour over ice-filled old-fashioned glass.
Havanatheone (Rose variant improvised by me)
10 mint leaves, 2 shots light rum, 2 spoonfuls rose-infused syrup, 1 shot pressed apple juice
Muddle mint leaves just enough to bruise, add other ingredients and stir until syrup dissolves, then shake with ice and fine strain into chilled martini glass.
(NB the original recipe calls for runny clear honey)
We also tried old classics like Mint Julep, Caipiroska, Mojito, Cosmopolitan, Gimlet and some of Difford’s own recipes. All fantastically good.
I felt fine until they left. I’d had two-and-a-half, including a Grand Margarita which has 3 shots of alcohol. But I’d also had a sip of every other cocktail I’d made. The room began to swim. I just managed to force a large glass of water down before I collapsed onto my bed.
I wasn’t drunk! Just sleepy.
