Irish Times crafts an Irish Coffee that's perfect for a cold night or a Sunday afternoon (or both).
With a winter as cold as this one, my usual cocktails aren't warming me up enough.
In years of bar-hopping, I've never had the warm mixed drink commonly referred to as a Hot Toddy. So I recently got a few books, made a few calls and set out to understand this beverage.
The origin of the term "toddy" is disputed, though just about every source I checked out mentioned that it's a term for a tealike beverage made in India. It's become a colloquialism for any beverage, mostly those with alcohol.
"Hot Toddy" is a blanket term for any alcoholic beverage served warm, commonly with additional spices. They're derived from English beverages made in the mid-1700s referred to as mulled wine. Dedicated drinkers wanted to enhance their traditional beverages, so they added spices, sugar and fruit.
Hot toddies are overlooked. There's no pre-packaged version in liquor or grocery stores. They're not littered throughout pop culture. They're for those more serious about their drinks.
Most hot toddies involve more elaborate preparation than the usual cocktail. Making warm alcoholic beverages is a tricky process since overheating it by even just a little bit will burn away the alcohol and drastically affect the taste. Since these beverages are more like recipes, it's easiest to make them in larger quantities. Of all the recipes I found, very few required less than an entire bottle of alcohol.
One that's easy to make on a case-by-case basis is the Irish Coffee. Fortunately, Irish Times in Turkey Creek lived up to the order.
The bartender, Chris, explained their version consists of brown sugar, coffee, Jameson Irish Whiskey and cream. It's a commonly ordered drink, "especially on Sundays," he added.
It's prepared in a cone-shaped glass with a small handle. It tastes like coffee ice cream with a sharp aftertaste. The flavor alone would warm you up. And although I happened to order it on the one warm Sunday we've had, it didn't feel out of place. As he suggested, it makes a great Sunday afternoon beverage. It's relaxing, but packs a punch. It's calming, but gets you going.
And although the Irish Coffee is fragrant, potent and satisfying, I discovered another great toddy called the Gluhwein.
The beverage (clearly) is of German origin. It's typically served as a nightcap or refreshment during cold or rainy weather (according to the book "Cocktails" by David Briggs). During a recent phone conversation with an employee of Linderhof Restaurant named Aaron, he confirmed that the Gluhwein is a popular German beverage, but they don't serve it.
Fortunately, the recipe is perfect for those who prefer making their drinks at home. It requires a bottle of red wine, a dash of brandy, a lemon, half a cup of hot water, half a cup of brown sugar, a teaspoon of cloves, one stick of cinnamon, and a sprinkling of powdered ginger.
Mix all of the ingredients except the wine into a large pot. Right before it starts boiling, add the wine and bring the mixture back up near the boiling point while stirring. Don't let the mixture boil. Then strain the ingredients into a warm glass or mug.
In my home research I opted to leave out cinnamon since I'm not a fan (and figured the large number of other spices would make up for it). I also used Black Swan Cabernet, which I purchased mostly because of the topical title, but ended up being the perfect, dry fit for the recipe.
The end result is a light-purple beverage with a pervasive Christmas-y smell. (The beverage is commonly associated with the holidays, but I feel it's still appropriate with this brutal winter.)
The cloves give an abrasive kick with the sugar making it slightly easier to get down. It's not overpowering - it's more like a stiff cider. Its warmth makes it cozy and lulls you to sleep. After only a few sips it's obvious why it's considered a nightcap and better taken at home.
On the other hand, you'd have a good shot at ordering an Irish Coffee at any restaurant with a full bar. But I recommend Irish Times' version, which is perfect for warming up yet another cold, dreary day.
© 2011, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
Want to use this article? Click here for options!
- |
Comments » 0
Be the first to post a comment!
Share your thoughts
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.