What We're Drinking This Week

Congratulations to Spain, on their World Cup victory.  The game itself was a dull one, but Spain proved to be the better side.  In the end, one could argue that Cesc Fabregas was the difference maker. 

Fabregas came into the game late, but made a huge difference, giving Spain multiple strike opportunities, and moving the ball upfield quickly and efficiently.  It's a matter of time too, before Fabregas moves from his current squad Arsenal to Barcelona.  But for his injury, he'd likely have played for many more minutes in this World Cup.

There's no doubt Spain deserved to win.  Their road to the final was much harder than the road the Netherlands faced, and, despite what was often-times brutal football to watch, Spain controlled much of the match on Sunday.  As Bill Simmons has said in one of his recent columns, the World Cup should be every 3 years.  I agree.  Anything that equates to more international soccer is a good thing. 

Finally, a word of congratulations to ESPN for a stellar job broadcasting all of the games.  ESPN sent their best talent, hired some of the best British announcers to call the games, and went above and beyond for their American audience.  Well done, very well done, ESPN.

Now that the World Cup is over, we move onto drinking.  This week, we're drinking a couple solid cocktails.

What We're Drinking This Week

- Tuesday:  La Foridita Daiquiri - We're putting the maraschino liqueur to work again, in this unique take on an old classic.  It of course if rum based, but will also feature the aforementioned maraschino liqueur and lime juice, with a touch of sugar thrown in for good measure.  And, it's a frozen one - so ice will be in order.

- Friday:  Shamrock - Irish whiskey, plus creme de menthe and some cream.  Imagine a minty-whiskey milkshake, and you're going to be close to this cocktail. 

I've received some welcome positive feedback on the Aviation, glad it has been such a hit!  Until tomorrow, when we drink La Foridita Dacquiri!

Petite Fleur

Last evening, the US Men's Soccer Team played a friendly match against the Czech Republic.  Most of the US stars sat the game out.  Guys like Landon Donavan, Client Dempsey, they weren't even on the bench.  Instead, they sat in a suite somewhere high above the field, as the TV cameras zeroed in on them eating chicken wings and other stadium fare.  Not a big deal that they sit, they finished the European soccer leagues in recent weeks and needed the rest.

I'm ready for the World Cup to start.  I love watching soccer, and subscribe to every DirecTV channel that features the game.  I can't say that JB is thrilled on a typical Saturday or Sunday morning, when I'm watching the week's Arsenal match (that is the great thing about subscribing to Setanta - now called Fox Soccer Plus - because the Arsenal match is always televised). 

I know though, that when the World Cup rolls around, it will be a tour de force on my schedule, causing all other things going on around me to play second fiddle.  When a tournament comes around once every 4 years, it's something to be celebrated.  There's often talk of taking holiday on the first weekend of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.  It's a worthy reason to do so.  But I think the same can be said for nearly all facets of the World Cup, and not merely its first rounds of group play.

We'll talk more about the World Cup in the coming weeks.  Today though, we drink a cocktail with an international name, Petite Fleur, French for petite flower.  Which flower you ask?  No one knows, and it doesn't matter - it's good!  That's what counts.

The Ultimate Book of Cocktails, page 155

Petite Fleur

1 oz white rum
1 oz Cointreau
1 oz grapefruit juice

Shake all the ingredients well with ice, and strain into a cocktail glass.  Add a twist of grapefruit rind.

For this cocktail, I'm using Bacardi Rum, Cointreau (obviously), and Indian River Ruby Red grapefruit juice.  I debated whether to go with a non-Ruby Red graperuit flavor, but decided I'd go with what I like. 

This is a tasty cocktail, nicely combining the flavors of its three ingredients.  I think the Cointreau is the most prominent flavor of the bunch, but after all it is an orange flavored alcohol with a nice 80 proof pop.  In other words, it's not going to play the role of a wallflower in this recipe, it's going to make its presence known.

If there is any complaint, and this a small one, it's that this drink is a little sweet.  I'm OK with sweet cocktails (Fireman's Sour is a good example), but I find this cocktail a little too much on the sweet side.  Perhaps it's the grapefruit juice, I did use Ruby Red after all.  For those playing at home, I'd try standard grapefruit juice in the place of Ruby Red. 

The Petite Fleur would be perfect for any occasion, but I think it'd make an excellent aperitif, drinking it before your meal to whet your appetite.  Something about the grapefruit juice makes me want to consume, and then consume some more. 

On Friday, we're drinking the Rosemary cocktail.  Until then, enjoy the weather!  Cheers!