Tag: mixology

Your Older Brother – Boozy Newsie News Flash

On By The Boozy NewsieIn ReviewsLeave a comment

Da Cocktail

Hi everyone! The News Flash is a new type of post I’m inaugurating, where, instead of describing a cocktail I created, I post a quick review of a cocktail (or other alcoholic beverage) that I’ve come across, whether at home or on various travels. This first one is one of set of bottled cocktail mixers I received as a gift some months ago. It’s from a company called White Whale, which seems to, so far, only make the three types of mixers I got. Presumably, more are coming. They’re super simple, with the ingredients and processes you need right on the bottle. The design’s nice and clean, and it’s quick to make, which is great. This particular one contained primarily lemon and — the weird part — Siberian fir. Here it is.

Your Older Brother Ingredients

Your Older Brother

  • 2 oz vodka
  • 1 oz Your Older Brother cocktail mixer
  • lemon zest for garnish

Stir with ice, strain into a coupe or similar glass, and garnish with a twist of lemon.

Tasting Notes

BN: Well, I was not the hugest fan. The Siberian fir was certainly not as strong of a taste as I was worried about, but it was still a peculiar one. A little too herbal for me, maybe (remember how I don’t really like gin?). But, it mostly tasted like lemonade, with a little alcoholic aftertaste. So, 5/10. Enjoyable, but I wouldn’t have it again too often.

PiC: I don’t hate it. It’s like a less sweet, more alcoholic version of a vodka lemonade. It could use a little bit more flavor, though, the smell is better than the taste. The taste is a little weak, though we’ve had them for a little while I guess. But I don’t hate it! You could probably use it for something a little more interesting, I think.

And I may! If I do, you’ll hear it here first. Now, back to your regularly scheduled programming…

Your Older Brother

The Kobayashi – The Usual Suspects

On By The Boozy NewsieIn OriginalsLeave a comment

The regular perpetrators.

I’m out of town this week, for my brother’s wedding! So, this is a quick update from the road.

19 years ago today, The Usual Suspects was released! Last year, the Partner in Crime and I watched this, for her first time, with a friend. For that event, I made a drink (two actually, but the first was bad), and I’ve updated it and hopefully made it better for this year. It’s a little bit Japanese, but maybe not. It’s that sense of mystery that keeps it going. Just like the character in the movie! Or something.

I was alone for this one, so apologies if the camera work isn’t as good. Also, I was the only one to taste it. Might it be horrible for anyone else but me? It certainly might.

Kobayashi Ingredients.

The Kobayashi

  • 1.5 oz gin (the only one I even vaguely enjoy is Hendrick’s, but to each their own.)
  • 1/2 tsp soy sauce (yup.)
  • 1 tsp ginger simple syrup (gotta use it somewhere. Again, it’s from this recipe.)
  • 1/4 oz fresh lemon juice (mine wasn’t fresh. Yours should be.)
  • tonic water
  • crystallized ginger slices (for a garnish)

Kobayashi

Put everything except the tonic water in a rocks glass with ice. Fill up the glass with tonic, and garnish with the crystallized ginger!

Tasting Notes:

BN: This certainly had good flavors, but it was a little weird. However, I don’t really know if that was, say, the slightly flat tonic water (okay it was a little old, but I’m pretty sure it would be good with more fizz) or the fact that I don’t actually like gin… You’ll have to let me know what you guys think, because I’m not an impartial observer. Still, I think the flavors mesh well and it works overall.

PiC: I wasn’t here. I didn’t drink this. STOP ASKING ME QUESTIONS.

Kobayashi Close Up