Cocktail Secrets

Jigger & Pony: Maybe it’s the name of the pub you were at last night but got too drunk to remember - but more than likely it’s something of an old fashioned measuring device that looks like 2 different sized metal shot glasses with the bottoms sauldered together.

Jigger and Ponys are used to measure ingredients when mixing drinks. The larger capacity side is called the “Jigger” and the smaller capacity side is called the “Pony”. Sometimes these are called a double-ended jigger - but that sounds more like an overweight Irish dancer to me.

While they come in different sizes, the most useful Jigger and Pony is probably the 3/4 oz x 1 oz size. That combination allows you to quickly measure not only 3/4 oz and 1 oz, but 1-1/2 oz (which is two 3/4 oz shots) and 2 oz (two 1 oz shots).
You’ll need to be careful where you purchase this particular bar tool, I once bought one from a grocery store and couldn’t figure out what measurement they were using, but it sure wasn’t 3/4 oz or 1 oz or 1-1/2 oz. While completely and utterly biased, it’s hard to beat the Jigger & Ponys in the HomeBarSupplys.com store.

A substitute for a Jigger & Pony is a measuring shot glass that has the measurements etched into the glass, the nice thing with these is you know exactly where to stop pouring, they also have smaller measurements marked on the glass, going down to .5 ounces. I had four of these originally that now have no markings on them because they’ve been washed so much! You can find the precise measuring shot glasses here.

This fine tequila anejo is aged in oak barrels. The result not only looks like a fine brandy but also shares many of the qualities of a good brandy. The aroma is sweet and smoky with a hint of tequila. When enjoyed straight up or over ice, you’re treated to a rich, warm, full body flavor that’ll remind you more of scotch or brandy than it will of tequila. Don’t get me wrong there is an element of tequila but it’s quite understated.

You can use Black Medallion anywhere you’d normally use brandy, but you’ll probably get the most enjoyment out of simply having it neat or over ice. I tried mixing it with Coke but didn’t feel they went well together. I suspect Pepsi would prove to me more compatible. In fact something like:

1oz Jose Cuervo Black Medallion, 1 oz Kahlua, 4 oz Pepsi will likely be fantastic! I think I’ll give that a try…
Jose Cuervo Black Medallion (80 proof) by the numbers:

20 out of 30 - Overall Flavor (smoky & rich)
7 out of 10 - Taste Cycle (nice transition throughout)
7 out of 10 - Aftertaste (tequila burn has been aged away)
7 out of 10 - Aroma (smell me again and again)
5 out of 10 - Character (brandy-tequial hybrid)
5 out of 15 - Usability (you’ll have to get a little creative)
7 out of 15 - Presentation & Packaging (it’s a bottle with a label)
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58 out of 100 - Total Rating

Layering a drink is more art than science and yields the most dazzling cocktails a bartender can create. The best tool for layering a drink is to use a dime spoon. If you don’t have a dime spoon you can try using the back of table spoon or anything with a groove in it - check your plastic kitchen serving spoons. Whatever tool you use, the goal is to slow the pouring liquid as much as possible so that it doesn’t mix with the previous layer.

Begin by pouring your first layer in to the glass. Then measure the ingredient for the next layer and take your barspoon and put its handle into your glass just above the previous layer and angle the spoon to about a 45 degree angle. Be sure not to let the handle rest against the rim of the glass or you’ll be slurping spilled liquor off the counter top. Now slowly pour the liquor on to the spoon like you would when measuring a tablespoon of cough syrup. The liquid will flow out of the spoon, down the handle and pool into an attractive layer on top of your previous ingredient. Repeat for the remaining layers.

Tip: If the measuring glass you’re pouring out of has a thick rim, the liquor will want to drip down the side of the glass and not into the spoon when you pour slowly. This sucks since it often drips all over making a mess instead of a work of art. To avoid the mess, first visit your medicine cabinet and rob a cough syrup bottle or a Pepto bottle of its little plastic measuring cup on top. Pinch the rim of the cup to form a handy pour spout and use this to pour your liquors onto the dime spoon.

When creating a layered drink it’s important to put your heaviest ingredient in first, followed by the next heaviest all the way up to the lightest ingredient. This handy chart lists liquors by their specific gravity (weight) with the lightest on top and heaviest on the bottom:

Sloe Gin <—– Lightest
Peach Liqueur
Peppermint Schnapps
Apricot-flavored Brandy
Cherry-flavored Brandy
Peach-flavored Brandy
Triple Sec
Orange Curacao
Blackberry Liqueur
Blue Curacao
Cherry Liqueur
Coffee Liqueur
Creme de Banane
Creme de Menthe <—– Heaviest

Tip: If you’re having trouble with two ingredients that are close in weight mixing together try putting the heavier liquor in the freezer for a few minutes and gently warm the lighter ingredient by running hot water over the bottle before you layer them.

Jim Koch set out to discover which shape of glass would produce the best tasting beer CNNMoney.com reported in this article. The shape of the glass has a huge effect on the flavor of wines, so why not beer?

Koch resolutely sampled beer each day from different styles of glass - almost 100 different styles in all! His goal was to find the principles of glass design that led to the best flavor experience.

After much yummy tasting, Koch put his findings in a report that was given to glassmakers around the world. The result is the glass you see here. Notice the narrow bottom - that’s to minimize heat transfer from your hand. Also notice the unique angled lip - that’s to deliver the beer to the front of your tongue. And something you can’t see in the photo is a small laser etching on the bottom of the glass. This etching keeps the bubbles happily rising to the top!

I can think of a lot worse jobs than beer sampling! And the result of the all research looks like a very cool glass, but I’m sort of partial to our American-made Ultimate Beer Mug. It too has an incredible amount of American ingenuity designed into it. Check it out here.