Full of Eastern Promise...

Valentine's Day is nearly upon us and whether you are arsed or not, it's a good reason to design a new cocktail. 

We were planning to host a retail tasting on Friday 13th, we were asked to show a cocktail using SW4 London Dry Gin and Combier UK Rose Creme Liqueur....

This got me thinking about Turkish Delight, more specifically Fry's Turkish Delight. Which in turn, got me thinking about La Maison Fontaine Chocolat...  

Initially, I tried a layered shot with the Rose and Chocolat and, perhaps unsurprisingly, it worked rather well...  Then to the task of making a proper cocktail... Sour Styley and lo...    

Full of Eastern Promise... 

25ml SW4 London Dry Gin

20ml La Maison Fontaine Chocolat

20ml Combier Creme Rose Liqueur

20ml Lemon Juice

20ml Egg White

3 drops Dale DeGroff's Pimento Aromatic Bitters

These measurements are by no means fixed, more Gin, less egg white, more Chocolat etc. are all possible... It's all a matter of tasting and tinkering. These ratios worked for me. Maybe a tad more Gin... :-)

Method: Dry shake (without ice) all the ingredients together bar the Bitters, then add the ice and shake more vigorously. Strain into a chilled coupette. Garnish with quality cocktail cherries and add the 3 x drops of Bitters.
Profile: Good balance between sweet and sour, juicy acidity gets the palate salivating, quickly tempered by soft sweetness. SW4 is a solid Gin with good backbone, can't go wrong there. The rose is delightful and works well with the floral notes of the Grand Wormwood from the Chocolat. All the while, there's the unifying aromatic hint of the Bitters and a silky chocolate backdrop. So, is it "Full of Eastern Promise"? Well, given that's the tagline for Fry's Turkish Delight, I'd say this cocktail gets far closer to delivering...
No, that is not my Fry's Turkish Delight in the photo. Yes, of course you can have it.

Jade Terminus Oxygénée Absinthe Supérieure

Jade Terminus Oxygénée Absinthe Supérieure arrives following several years of historical sleuthing, botanical research, and patience.  This mature, handcrafted spirit represents the final release in the Jade Liqueurs® portfolio of historically accurate absinthes.  Jade Terminus Oxygénée Absinthe Supérieure was created as homage to one of the most interesting absinthes of the fabled Belle Époque.  What set this renowned product apart from its peers is that it was highly publicized as having been subjected to a specialized hot oxygenation process originally believed to render the final spirit hygienic, and therefore free of any potentially deleterious properties.  The original brand was the subject of widespread publicity, sold at a premium, and was exported to various ports around the globe. 

Jade Terminus Oxygénée Absinthe Supérieure is artisanally distilled from the same botanicals as the original acclaimed oxygenated absinthe, with the addition of a healthy dose of a particularly interesting species of wormwood harvested from the foothills of the Alps, which contributes to the bold flavor of this handcrafted absinthe.  Always true to the originals, Jade Terminus Oxygénée Absinthe Supérieure is also subjected to a bespoke hot oxygenation process that closely mirrors the original technique.  And while this twist from the past asserts its own character to the spirit, it’s only with long term maturation that it is ready for bottling.

Jade Terminus Oxygénée Absinthe Supérieure represents the most powerful expression of the spirit in the Jade portfolio.  Bold yet creamy, it features potent aromatics and a lengthy, stimulating aftertaste that recalls the medicinal origins of the spirit.   Jade Terminus Oxygénée Absinthe Supérieure is carefully distilled by T. A. Breaux, using the original 19th century absinthe alembics in the historical Combier distillery.   

T.A. Breaux loading Artemisia Absinthium , 1100L copper alembic, Combier 2013

The above text is taken straight from the Jade Website and offers us some insight into the unique production techniques used by Jade to ensure an historically accurate and truly authentic Absinthe.  

We at Sip Or Mix have now received our shipment into the UK and have already dispatched orders to Speciality Drinks and Master of Malt, with more to follow. If you would like any info about stocking any Jade products please contact jenny@sipormix.com.

Before Louching:

The colour is crisp, bright and crystal clear. An interesting 'chartreuse colour' which is a combination of both green and yellow. The nose offers up rich, deep anise, good wormwood and high herbal notes.  

The louche is thick, dense and very oily. Once the liquid is louched it becomes very viscous and creamy.

The nose after louching is naturally, softer than straight from the bottle, although it retains the big anise and herbaceous notes. 

The expectation on the palate is instantly fulfilled on tasting. Really big and bold anise and herbal flavours, quite dry to the point of being almost bitter. Incredible, viscous mouthfeel which starts to anesthetise the palate almost instantly. Great integration of flavours and complexity. The finish is long and uplifting with lighter floral notes kicking in.

In conclusion this is a fantastic addition to the Jade Absinthe collection and compliments the rest of the range perfectly. The Terminus Oxygenee is big and bold with a quite different flavour profile to any other Jade.   We are convinced this will undoubtedly become a new favourite for many veteran absintheurs.   On second tasting, a couple of days later, the Oxygenee has softened and shows even further integration of flavour and balance.