Question of the day
Friday, Nov 3, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller
* New York Times…
Two Republican state legislators from Wisconsin, Representative Jon Plumer and Senator Cory Tomczyk, introduced a resolution on Oct. 18 making the brandy-based old-fashioned the official Wisconsin state cocktail. (This is not to be confused with Wisconsin’s official state drink: Milk.)
“If you go to any other state in the country and order brandy anything, they look at you funny,” Mr. Plumer said in an interview. “But I just thought, ‘How has this never been done?’ It’s a tongue-in-cheek resolution. And I’ve had a couple of calls from people: ‘Don’t you have more important work to do?’ But I don’t think we do. This is what makes Wisconsin unique.” […]
Brandy old-fashioneds have a long history in Wisconsin, the resolution notes. The state accounts for at least half of the brandy maker Korbel’s annual sales in the United States.
* The Question: Your nomination for an official Illinois state cocktail? Explain. And be passionate about it.
- Dysfunction Junction - Friday, Nov 3, 23 @ 1:24 pm:
Chicago Handshake (Malört and Old Style). Tastes like getting ridiculed in fifth grade. Tonight’s the night you fight your dad.
- no use for a (nick)name - Friday, Nov 3, 23 @ 1:26 pm:
It needs to be something that unites northern and southern IL, if someone can send me some Ski pop, I’ll mix it with Malort and report back.
- Save Ferris - Friday, Nov 3, 23 @ 1:27 pm:
The Stockyard
0.75 oz (22ml) Jeppson’s Malort
0.75 oz (22ml) Beefeater Gin
0.75 oz (22ml) St. Germain elderflower liqueur
0.75 oz (22ml) fresh lemon juice
0.25 oz (7ml) simple syrup
Combine all ingredients in a shaker, add ice, and shake.
Strain into cocktail glass.
Twist grapefruit peel over glass to express oils.
Then retch.
- Truthiness - Friday, Nov 3, 23 @ 1:29 pm:
Chicago Handshake - Malört shot and an Old Style tall boy.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Nov 3, 23 @ 1:30 pm:
===Chicago Handshake===
I asked for a state drink, not a city drink.
- Bogey Golfer - Friday, Nov 3, 23 @ 1:37 pm:
A highball. But only served at a fraternal organization bar.
- Lurker - Friday, Nov 3, 23 @ 1:47 pm:
Tom and Jerry. No one makes it like we do in Illinois and so many other places have never heard of it.
- Dysfunction Junction - Friday, Nov 3, 23 @ 1:49 pm:
=I asked for a state drink, not a city drink.=
Fine. “Illinois Handshake.” Sterling silver flask of Bourbon with a C-note carefully folded, palmed and passed to the member of the GA with whom you are sharing your hospitality. Also called the “Springfield Welcome Wagon.”
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Nov 3, 23 @ 1:50 pm:
“Look”, I do research, I try to cite all my information, or give logical reference found in fact. In this question, I take that just as serious.
In the book “The United States of Cocktails”, (which I recommend for anyone with a bar cart, basement bar, liquor tray), this drink is one of 3 or so that are “Illinois”
The A/B Negative
Ingredients
1 oz Rosemary simple syrup (recipe below)
2 oz Blood orange juice
1.25 oz Bourbon
1.25 oz Blood orange liqueur
Blood orange slice, rosemary sprig (for garnish)
Shake all ingredients to combine, pour over ice, add garnish
This is an offshoot of the recipe in the book, one I prefer when I don’t have all the very special ingredients listed in the book, but the drink is top shelf.
As for a lil flavor/story to the drink, it’s a “fall” drink, Halloween time drink too… yes, there’s an A/B Positive version, a spring/summer drink, but again, it’s my choice, the “Negative”
I recommend the book and nominate this drink
- Rudy’s teeth - Friday, Nov 3, 23 @ 1:57 pm:
I second Bogey Golfer — the highball or 7/7 is a staple at the Elks Lodge, the K of C halls, and corner taverns.
A polka band at a wedding reception in a banquet hall…those were fun times.
- Donnie Elgin - Friday, Nov 3, 23 @ 1:59 pm:
Prairie Oyster
1 fresh Egg yolk
1 0z Cognac
¼ oz Worcestershire Sauce
¼ oz Tomato Juice
4 drops hot pepper sauce (red)
2 pinches Salt
2 grinds black Pepper
½ oz malt vinegar
https://www.diffordsguide.com/cocktails/recipe/2548/prairie-oyster
- Phenomynous - Friday, Nov 3, 23 @ 2:05 pm:
=It needs to be something that unites northern and southern IL, if someone can send me some Ski pop, I’ll mix it with Malort and report back.=
The Malortski
- 47th Ward - Friday, Nov 3, 23 @ 2:10 pm:
Grain alcohol mixed with grape juice served out of a trash can. It puts the ill in Illinois. Call it Prairie Puke Punch.
- Pot calling kettle - Friday, Nov 3, 23 @ 2:12 pm:
No clue which cocktail is classic “Illinois” in the way a Brandy Old Fashioned is “Wisconsin.”
That said, at every family gathering when I was a kid, dad made highballs; grandma would ask for one shortly after arriving. (He also made great whisky sours and whiskey old fashioneds.) Definitely a classic, and it ties into Peoria’s history distilling whisky.
- Cubs in '16 - Friday, Nov 3, 23 @ 2:22 pm:
The Lincoln
Ingredients
2 oz. smoked whiskey (Corsair)
1/2 oz. maple syrup
6 dashes Peychaud’s bitters
Directions
Combine ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake until cold and strain into chilled coupe.
- SOIL M - Friday, Nov 3, 23 @ 2:35 pm:
Hot Toddy.
A favorite of Galena son, General Grant, when he was stationed in Cairo.
How’s that for tying North and South.
- Donnie Elgin - Friday, Nov 3, 23 @ 3:06 pm:
To stir the pot with Packerland how about making the “classic” Old fashion the IL cocktail? The good one with rye/bourbon - not the brandy and muddled fruit abomination the badger state loves.
• Bitters
• Bourbon/Rye:
• Simple syrup:
• Water: A teaspoon of water helps bring out
the flavor of the bourbon.
• Orange slice and a maraschino cherry.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Nov 3, 23 @ 3:13 pm:
I can be in with any version of an Old Fashioned, but can it be with Luxardo styled cherries?
- Pot calling kettle - Friday, Nov 3, 23 @ 3:13 pm:
==To stir the pot with Packerland how about making the “classic” Old fashion the IL cocktail? The good one with rye/bourbon - not the brandy and muddled fruit abomination the badger state loves.==
For once, I find agreement with Donnie Elgin. (Another reason to love this blog.)
- Donnie Elgin - Friday, Nov 3, 23 @ 3:22 pm:
Yes to the Luxardo - an added benefit is they don’t need refrigeration
- ArchPundit - Friday, Nov 3, 23 @ 3:33 pm:
===I asked for a state drink, not a city drink.
Okay, a shot of Malort and a Stag. Stag is better than Old Style anyway.