I'll Stick With Maryann

After another foray to the Beverage Warehouse(yes, I bought some Rain Lavender Lemonade vodka!), I come home with a new liqueur mini: Canton Ginger Liqueur. Now I love ginger. I buy the sushi ginger just to snack on. Its my go to vodka infusion. Fresh ginger is one of my favorite flavors, so what's not to like about boozy ginger?

So I trot over to the Canton website and check out their recipes.

First, I try a classic Canton Martini, hoping to get a good flavor read without too many competing mixers. I open the mini and sniff. Huh, that's funny- I don't smell ginger. It smells pretty much like strong booze/cognac. Let's give it a try, shall we?

Um,no actually. This is a really boring drink. I taste absolutely zero ginger. It tastes like a vodka martini up, with a splash of cognac. And not even a good plain martini. 2 olives.

Let's try one more and see if this bottle can find beverage redemption.
Canton L'Orientale:

Better, but mostly because the other ingredients mask that hot booze taste. Meh, drinkable but again, 2 olives. And I'm being generous.

Well, I won't give up on finding a ginger liqueur. but for now I'll stick to my ginger infused vodka.

Sorry Canton, thanks for playing. Shaker 2, I've spared you martini disappointment.

hwyl, bonjour and guten tag!

Shaker 2 here doing a little greeting from the other side of the pond. Sadly, my travels have not included martinis as I have been partaking of ciders, a few beers and lots and lots of tea.

Most of the bars - 'scuse me, "pubs" - have featured Smirnoff vodka - and unless that stuff is drowning in orange juice, I just can't drink it. I look forward to getting back to the Balcony Bar and enjoying my favorite mixologists concoctions. I was very interested to read about the new Rain flavors... mmmmmm.

I am off to Paris next and will perhaps see what they have in the City of Lights to try. I will be near the St Germain area, so they might have some lovely beverages to try with its namesake liqueur.

Perspective

Some people look at life through rose colored glasses. I prefer martini glasses.

It's Rain-ing 'Tinis

Shaker 1 here. While Shaker 2 enjoys her lengthy European adventure, I thought I'd do a little research. First, off to boozy nirvana (otherwise known as The Beverage Warehouse) to replenish the voddy vault. While cruising down the vodka aisle (no, we don't have a personalized shelf there, yet), I grabbed a bottle of Rain Vodka and what did I see? Why, they've come out with some really interesting sounding flavored versions! Lavender Lemonade, Red Grape Hibiscus, Cucumber Lime and Honey Mango Melon. Now for you regular readers, you may recall seeing Rain Organic Vodka used pretty frequently by the Shakers. We enjoy the smooth taste and reasonable price point. It has become a regular in our vodka repertoire. I was tempted by the Lavender Lemonade and Red Grape Hibiscus flavors, but reluctant to buy a whole bottle only to end up being disappointed (I'm looking at you Pearl Vodka).

So I headed for the checkout line and what did I see? They had minis of every new flavor! Huzzah! I love you Beverage Warehouse.

First up is the Rain Relaxer*, made with Rain Lavender Lemonade Organic Vodka.

*Shaker 2 here... another flash site.. so meander around the Rain Vodka site and you can find the recipes there...

At first glance, this is a seriously girly drink. Very pretty color, but I don't see a guy holding this daintily with pinkie raised. And then I tasted it.

Oh my. Lovely. A very soft 'tini on the tongue. Sweet without being cloying, a hint of the lavender floral tones, the surprise of blueberries......wait, I need another sip before bestowing the olive score........this babydoll just gets more enjoyable with every taste. I give this a solid 4 olives. I look forward to making this one for Shaker 2. I think she will approve. Still put this one firmly in the Chicktini category.

Next up is The Rain Hawaiian Breeze made with Rain Red Grape Hibiscus Organic Vodka.

Another chicktini, based on color. I do love the way pineapple juice foams up a martini. Hmmmm, I like this one also. I have to say that I wish there was more hibiscus flavor and less red grape. The hibiscus emotes another subtle floral hint, but I can't help but think of koolaid when it comes to the grapey-ness. Still a very enjoyable 'tini. Maybe 3 1/4 olives. I just squeezed the lemon wheel garnish into it and it got much better. That seemed to tone down that grape lollypop note I'm not loving. 3 1/2.

Ok, I lied. I'm going for a third recipe. This time it's The Rain Spa-tini with Rain Cucumber Lime Organic Vodka.

This one is sort of a spa cosmo. Not unpleasant, but as with the Red Grape Hibiscus, I sense a slight synthetic flavor. I don't dislike this and it makes an ok 'tini, but I long for a more pronounced "real" lime/cuke tone. 2 1/2 olives. Actually, the more I taste this one, the less I enjoy it. 2 olives and some serious doubt about this flavor. Not finishing this one.

The verdict: I will definitely buy a bottle of the Rain Lavender Lemonade Vodka and very much look forward to trying new recipes. I may go for a bottle of the Red Grape Hibiscus, but will first see if anyone does a plain hibiscus vodka. Still have to try the Honey Mango Melon. The jury is out on the Cucumber Lime,but it may want to consider a plea deal.

{note to readers: please excuse the temporary lack of visual bells and whistles while Shaker 2 is abroad. My technical skills do not match my mixology skills}

Good night and good shaking!