The Art of Binkomonster Intoxication, A Nod To Our Favorite Poisons

The top ten. Drinks, libations, potions. Whatever you call them.
What we like to quaff when the mood strikes us (and it does often).

1. The Martini
I think that, hands down, this is the house favorite above all. There is absolutely nothing on this green Earth
that takes the edge off of a rough day, or puts the polish on a celebration, like a Martini.
Extremely cold, very smooth, and it goes down without so much as the blink of an eye.
I understand why the Queen Mother drank these, and every tortured literary figure. And why it is a staple.
Because, it is an alcohol conosseiur's equivalent of beer.
The Martini is a meal. You don't need anything else.
There have been books written about the topic (we've had martini's with one of said authors).
And rightly so.
But down to brass tacks, there are two variations that are treasured above all:
the true classic: gin (and only the best will do: hendricks, tanquerey 10, junipero), with a hint of vermouth
(some like to wave the cap over the glass, we actually put a drop or two in ours), and olives. Shaken/not stirred.
yes yes, just like the damn bond quote.
the barnabatini: named after barnaby conrad (author of the martini), and only served at Florios in sf.
What makes this one so special? Take the classic recipe, but add 1 key ingredient. A few drops of orange bitter.
mmmmm.... also, you have to use plymouth gin for this one.
We've had a dear friend go all the way to Rochester to bring back the orange bitters (only made in 1 place). and are now stocked with three healthy bottles.
Very smooth, very good, just a lovable drink.

2. The Sensation
Ive rattled on about this before (in the top 10 food list), but this is just a drink beyond compare.
Gin, Maraschino Liquer, LOTS of mint, sugar syrup (you can throw in a slice of lime for a zing), add ice, shake and strain. Voila... you can go on a serious bender with these.
soooo tasty, and let's not go into how easy these things go down.
On a restrained night, I can keep myself to 2.
If work has been the usual grinding away of my core and psyche, its usually a 3 or 4 night.
Thats actually how you can gauge how Im feeling (how many did she have?...)

3. Negroni
Whats great is that there are a bunch of places in SF where you can get this cocktail, and its done reliably well.
Pesce, Florio, Absinthe, Citizen Cake... + couple of others. Ive tried it at all three, and probably my favorite is that which is served at Florio. Ingredients? Again with the gin (what is it with drunken scribes who need an IV for their daily gin intake?), campari [this is really what makes it], and a lemon or orange twist. Some places shake it with ice, some just serve it straight. Very refreshing, very Italian, and after too many, very drunk.

4. The rasperry-tini
Mentioned in the top ten restaurant review, this has to be included on this list. Really deserves a spot in the top three. So well done, and like the barnabatini, only one place I know of that makes this, and that's Gary Danko.
I think the secret is in how well they blend the raspberry puree, and remove the seeds. Its so completely smooth (not much texture at all save some small bit of the actual raspberry pulp). Just nothing but raspberreeeee..
woo. And of course gin/vodka. Shaken with ice, tossed into a martini glass.
Its probably a good thing that we only get to gary danko very rarely. If this was regularly served (and done as well) elsewhere, it would be another one of those dangerous potions like the absinthe (you keep sucking them down until, well, head.. meet hangover).

5. Gimlet
Gin, gin, gin/lime
Best one Ive had so far is at the Public. oh yeah. I havent worked my way past three yet, but Im sure its only a matter of time before I get there. Fresh/zingy/tart, and best of all its got .... da da da GIN.
You think perhaps there is a theme going here?
Funny with how much I adore gin, we only stock 2 bottles of it at home. Hendricks and Junipero.
By rights, it should be five bottles (picking up Boodles, Plymouth and Tanquery 10 in the process). But instead, we seem to run the gamut of vodka. Hangar one, Belvedere, Stoli, and something else I dont remember.
this needs fixing.

6. Caipirinha
All alcohol, all the time. Simple concoction really. Cacacha liquer, lime, sugar, ice. Best export Brazil has (in my opinion). Woo ha. I've now learned to make these at home, which is a very dangerous thing.

7. Ginger Rogers.
Yes, yes. I forgot to include this on my list originally (a heinous oversight). Problem is, I have to go lookup what's in the darn thing (or go have one at Absinthe). All I know is, I've tasted this once, and it's a very (hic!) good driiiiiink.

Comments

[The Binko CTO]

Many thanks for the recipe, we here at Binkomonster will be sure to add it to our collection (and of course, we'll have to try a few passes to make sure we have it just right).

[Delight]

This is my favorite drink! I am making ginger simple syrup for x-mas gifts this year and attaching the recipe:

Ginger Rogers
(Source: Absinthe, San Francisco)
Fresh mint
1/2 oz ginger syrup *
1 1/2 oz. gin (Gordon's)
2/3 oz. fresh lime juice
ginger ale

Lightly bruise mint with ginger syrup in a tall glass. Fill with ice, add gin, lime juice and top with ginger ale.

For the ginger syrup, make a simple syrup (1 cup sugar to 1 cup water) but add sliced or shredded fresh ginger (at least 2 inches of ginger, the more the stronger) with the sugar and simmer; the longer it simmers, the more peppery the results (Delight says: simmer for 5 minutes then let sit for an hour, strain into clean bottle).

The Ginger Rogers is a perfect summer drink: tall, icy, with a touch of citrus and some lively bubbles for refreshment. Dionysus calls it "a Mojito, backwards and on high heels." It starts with the same sprig of fresh mint, but ends with the distinct kick of ginger. Summer or not (but especially summer), the Ginger Rogers is consistently the top seller at the San Francisco watering hole. (http://www.beveragenet.net/cheers/2000/0500/0500smr.asp)

[Hermione]

Yes Ginny, you are definitely correct. I forgot the Ginger Rogers (Ill fix that!)

[Ginny Weasley]

Don't forget the Ginger Rogers' at Absinthe. Except for when they put shards of glass in it, it truly is a fine, fine bevvy, dear girl. Could drink several - will, in fact, very soon. And perhaps a spot of brandy, don't you know.

Damned fine site, Hermione. I understand your soul-searching moments. Get them quite often. Best thing to do is drink. Copiously.