Orange Grove - (Cocktail)

Here's a cocktail that my spouse found in the AUG/SEP 2009 issue of Food Network Magazine. This is a creation of Aida Mollenkamp, a host of one of their Saturday midday shows.

This easy to make cocktail is called Orange Grove. The website says it takes ten minutes to make. That must be the lowest amount of time they can enter, because it only takes a minute or two. (Follow the link for a recipe.)

The recipe also calls for fresh-squeezed orange juice. I didn't have any oranges, so the basic stuff will have to do. Rye is tough to find these days. Jim Beam is readily available, though. While it is not the most complex whiskey, it certainly is serviceable for a cocktail. (Maybe if this drink doesn't score well, I've just described the reasons: 1-no fresh orange juice and 2-no fine rye.)

The interesting ingredient in this cocktail is ginger liqueur. The only one that I know of is Domaine de Canton, which is a ginger infused eau de vie mixed with cognac. I'll save describing the particular merits of this liqueur for a later post. However, if you like ginger, and you like spirits, I recommend it.

I mixed all of this up in my simple Boston shaker and

strained it over ice in a rocks glass, in fact, it is the one pictured above and right here with its ingredients.

Presentation/Appearance - 6/10 This is a pale yellow grapefruity looking drink. No garnishes (which I don't mind, because they can be a hassle.) Mine looked to be the same color as the one in the magazine and on the website. Just a bit lifeless.

Smell/Odor/Aroma - 6/10 The whiskey and the liqueur combine to smell like a ginger highball. The orange is present but not strong. This is where fresh juice would have made a huge difference.

Taste/Flavor - 7/10 My spouse loved this drink. It apparently isn't my thing. Again, the quality of the orange juice could be a factor. Also, I wanted the rye to be more assertive. The ginger comes through spicy and warm without overpowering the drink. Maybe the cognac part of the liqueur was playing havoc with the rye. Tasted fine without being delicious. Nothing offputting at all here. I'll need to revisit with better ingredients.

Finish/Satisfaction - 7/10 Thirst-quenching, citrus finish, with a mild gingersnap and alcohol burn. It's nice to taste a drink that isn't overly sweet. In the magazine article, Aida pairs this with crackers and figs. This drink needs a snack to go with it, such as a cracker or French bread with an exotic fruit spread.

Overall - 6.8/10 A slightly above average orange juice cocktail with a little interest thrown in from the ginger liqueur.

Do the Food Network shows talk about cocktails much? They must mention wine at some point for sure, but aside from the magazine, I don't know if they've done much with spirits.