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We had a privilege to take part in a Cocktail Workshop with Fred Noe (Master Distiller of Jim Beam in 7th generation) and Klaus St. Rainer (Barkeeper in Schumann’s Bar). There we learned how to make a perfect mint julep – which inspired us to try different bourbons and different ways to make this delicious drink!

So last Friday we started the test and here are the results of an objective jury

The basic receipe of making perfect Mint Julep:

1 tsp powder sugar
dash of water
approx. 4 twigs of mint
9 cl bourbon
crushed ice

Dissolve powder sugar in water. Add mints, leaving couple of leaves for decoration. Muddle the mint leaves slightly. Add some crushed ice and bourbon. Stir from bottom up, top up with more crushed ice. Place mint leaves on the top, so that you can have the smell in your nose when drinking. Klaus tip was to take a slice of ananas and rub it around the rim of the glass. This makes the taste!

So first we tried as in the cocktail workshop the julep with Jim Beam Black. The taste is really balanced, easy to drink, sour, light smokey – perfect for julep! We really got into that drink Read more »

On Saturday we started our poker autumn season with vintage spirits and forgotten cocktails theme. Using the same named book of Ted Haigh AKA Dr. Cocktail I wanted to serve some very old cocktails, which might be a new tasting experience. One receipe we were really interested in was the Filmograph due to use of kola tonic, which was quite new to us. Unfortunately you cannot buy it here in Germany, but Jens found out that someone had already tried to do it by himself (also inspired by the Filmograph Cocktail), so he got the receipe here.
Not only Vintage Cocktails were on programm, but also another Gin & Tonic blind tasting. But more of that later. Here some pics of preparation of Kola Tonic and set up for the evening.

We also had a brand new blackboard to make the theme of the evening more visible to our guests.

Read more »

Couple of weeks ago Bierboerse visited Frankfurt again. And we were of course there!

This time without the ambitious plan to try as many beers as possibly, but just to go around and taste some nice beers
You just can’t go pass Augustiner Edelstoff on tap.. so we took the time and enjoyed this one. Right beside it there was a Czech booth with some interesting sign in there – Dark beer bowle. Hmm.. need to try! Basically this was just ‘the Prag beer’ of Staropramen brewery, poured into a glass with some can fruits.. The beer was ok, but these fruits made it too sweet and artificial. No need to try this again!

We moved on and tried some Belgian beers. Trappisten beer, Kastell and Champagne beer. Trappisten was really good, nice malty. Kastell way too sweet and Champagne beer also too sweet, with a slight taste of lime. While sitting in there we noticed a phenomena, never seen before in outdoor festivals – there was a queue to men’s toilet, not to women’s! I quite found that hard to believe, so I had to go and see myself. And indeed, I was able to walk right in! Another reason to love the Bierboerse!!!

We also tried some other beers, but these are not really worth mentioning. The last specialities we had at Greizer’s, there was a lot to try.. But no more tasting notes on these, just enjoying.. It was worth again to visit Bierboerse, especially on Friday, where you could go around from one booth to another without large crowds blocking your way. Next year again!

After a fun evening asking for this may end up with a bad suprise… Earlier I had written about Schweizer’s, this was after the grand opening. Now having been there couple of times, I can just wonder about their prizes.
No question that Oli still mixes great cocktails, but still – is it acceptable to ask 10 euros for a gin and tonic, though with Tanquerary Ten? Or 10 Euros for a Mai Tai, which is served in a tumbler? The glasses have got smaller and prices bigger. Ok, we paid before 8 or 9 euros for gin and tonic with special gin, but when the price for a cocktail or long drink raises to double digit, it kind of hurts. Or what do you think?

Yesterday we went for some beer shopping at Maruhn; they have the best selection of beers I have seen in any shop so far. Not just beer, also soft drinks and spirits. Anyway, we went mainly for beer shopping, so that we can continue the “best beer in the sauna” test.

But before starting this, we tested some “Weizen” (wheat beer) at the balcony. It was warm and sunny evening, so what would be better than that!

First we tried Schorschbock and Schorschweizen from a Bavarian brewery Schorschbräu. The brewery calls this “one of the strongest beers in the world”. 13% Vol. in 0,5l bottle.

Schorsbock tasted too much of hops, heavy, sweet. All in all a beer for a summer garden in a snowy winter day!

Schorschweizen tasted bitter, but sweet. Too sweet, so it felt like eating marschmellows. Maybe a wheat beer for winter – but just maybe. All in all not so nice taste.

And we did something, we normally never ever do – after a few sips poured the beer in a sink.. Read more »