Nov3

Hamelin Swizzle

Hamelin Swizzle

Looking for new excuses to use vanilla syrup and eyeing up the 375ml bottle of Old Forester Repeal Bourbon that came in the mail a few weeks ago, I decided on a swizzle. Swizzles are fairly easy to whip up, and just as likely to taste like a muddled mess destined for the sink drain or an unsuspecting guest. They usually end up containing juice from whatever half-fruits remain on the bar, random syrups that happen to be left out and whatever spirits have found a permanent home on the counter that night.

Every once in a while, this odd combination of leftovers produces a fine concoction, and sometimes it’s even quite tasty…

Hamelin Swizzle

  • 1/2oz Old Forester Repeal Bourbon
  • 1/2oz dark Jamaican rum (used Gosling’s)
  • 1/2oz Lemon Hart 151
  • 1/2oz maraschino liqueur
  • 1/2oz grapefruit juice
  • 1/2oz lime juice
  • 1/2oz pineapple juice
  • 1/2oz vanilla syrup
  • 1 dash Angostura bitters
  • grapefruit wedge and vanilla bean, for garnish

Add ingredients to a barrel mug, fill with crushed ice, and swizzle for 45 seconds. Garnish and sip with delight.

Rick from Kaiser Penguin

One thing I really like about the Old Forester is that it isn’t too sweet. Since I tend to prefer rye whiskeys over bourbon, this is a welcomed attribute. It’s also fairly assertive and, to my delight, finds a way to peek out from beneath this blanket of ingredients.

And The Name?

As I mentioned excitedly in my recent post on vanilla, I picked up a bunch of Tahitian beans on ebay. Tahitian vanilla beans were first brought from the Philippines to French Polynesia by French Admiral François Alphonse Hamelin. Apparently, before his rise to admiral, he was a cabin boy on a ship that captured an English vessel named Ceylon, which among other things is a fine variety of cinnamon.

KP Question

  • What are some of your late night cocktail creations? Don’t be shy, you can submit your failures too.

Thursday Drink Night – Gin

Join us in the Mixoloseum Chat Room this Thursday night starting at 7pm EST. The theme will be gin, so go pick up a bottle of gin that you’ve never bought before and get ready to make new cocktail recipes. If you want to find out the prize this week…

Come chat with us! bar.mixoloseum.com


9 Responses to “Hamelin Swizzle”

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9 Comments to “ Hamelin Swizzle”
  1. TiareNo Gravatar says:

    I have as much vanilla as you do and try to use them up as well..so my layest creation is of course accompanied by both vanilla syrup and a bean in the glass.As i said before, no fuss, just put it in the glass and awesome!

    Its “Under the mango Tree” –
    Appleton extra, mango Juice, fresh lime juice, Trader Tikis falernum bitters, hibiscus grenadine, tahitian vanilla syrup.

    As usual your picture is totally breath taking!

  2. oysterschnappsNo Gravatar says:

    Hmm…at some point I’ve bought Tanqueray, Bombay, Plymouth, Hendrick’s and Gordon’s. From the PLCB website I guess my best choices are Bluecoat and Quintessential. Which would you choose?

  3. RickNo Gravatar says:

    Nathan, I’d definitely go with Bluecoat.

  4. DoodNo Gravatar says:

    The picture gives the impression that the vanilla bean is somehow equipped with a flamethrower…

  5. BoozemonkeyNo Gravatar says:

    Not too long ago I made a late night Swizzle myself. It is, however, far too embarrassing to speak about in detail.

  6. BonzoGalNo Gravatar says:

    You fool! Don’t you know that grapefruit and vanilla beans are natural enemies? Can’t you see how that vanilla bean is coiled to strike, and the grapefruit is snarling in outrage?

    That really sounds delish. And full of vitamin C!

  7. @RumDood – Yes. My first thought was, “Fire-breathing vanilla bean?”

    Which, of course, is awesome.

  8. Upon reflection, “Fire-breathing Vanilla Bean” is an excellent name for a cocktail.

    Or a band.

  9. I tried your recipe for the Hamelin Swizzle and I must say it is awesome.
    I was in charge of the drinks and tried this recipe for a change and my friends love it!
    I actually had to go back to the supermarket because I ran out of ingredients for a second batch.

    Anyway thanks for the share,

    Quenched Thirst

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About

Kaiser Penguin is a cocktail blog featuring original recipes, homemade ingredients, classic cocktails, and tiki drinks.

Why on Earth did you name your blog “Kaiser Penguin?”

It is a well-known fact that penguins are members of high society and enjoy fine cocktails. Our very own kaiser penguin would like me to mention that he also enjoys various treats from the sea.

Contact: rick@kaiserpenguin.com