Cocktail Hour: The Bastard Trilogy

[SallyLightfoot]

Here's an interesting cocktail progression from Cairo in the late 1940's:

1. Suffering Bastard --> 2. Dying Bastard --> 3. Dead Bastard

According to <a href="http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2009/09/the-suffering-bastard-drink-cocktails-recipe.html" target="_newb">lore</a>, once you're "dead" you awake in heaven and are expected to drink a <a href="http://www.nwoutpost.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=27475" target="_new">Mai Tai</a>.

If you attempt the bastard trilogy, I recommend mixing and drinking it at home. Otherwise you may have trouble finding your car (which in this case would be a good thing).

[b]Suffering Bastard[/b]
1 oz Bourbon
1 oz Gin
1 oz fresh squeezed lime juice
3 oz Ginger Ale
1 dash of bitters (Angostura)
[i]garnish with cherry, orange & sprig of mint[/i]

[b]Dying Bastard[/b]
1 oz Bourbon
1 oz Gin
1 oz Brandy
1 oz fresh squeezed lime juice
3 oz Ginger Ale
1 dash of bitters
[i]garnish with cherry, orange & sprig of mint[/i]

[b]Dead Bastard[/b]
1 oz Bourbon
1 oz Gin
1 oz Brandy
1 oz Rum
1 oz fresh squeezed lime juice
3 oz Ginger Ale
1 dash of bitters
[i]garnish with cherry, orange & sprig of mint[/i]

In all cases, you'll want to pour over ice (not crushed) and then add the ginger ale and gently stir. Of all the liquors, I think the brand of Gin makes the biggest difference. If you use something strong and astringent like Beefeater, you'll probably regret it (I use Hendricks). As for bourbon, a sweeter one like Maker's Mark is a good choice, and the brandy can be cognac if you've got it. For extra points, use an overproof rum for the dead bastard and sprinkle a dash of powdered sugar on the mint sprig. Adding a little orange curacao to the mix, and you'll be approaching Mai Tai territory.

Let me know if you make it to Bastard heaven and drink from the <a href="http://www.nwoutpost.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=27475" target="_new">Mai Tai</a> grail!

Cheers!

[zill]

Well, I'm happy that it's cocktail hour again...but this sounds like some kind of toxic toilet bowl cleaner!!! Could you use a white rum or does it matter?

PS Have you covered mojitos already?

[SallyLightfoot]

They're not bad drinks, actually, but you may have to make modifications to make sure it doesn't taste nasty. Using a mild gin and a sweet bourbon is my best advice. Some folks say that Rose's Lime Syrup is better than fresh lime juice for this, but I haven't tried that.

More history and advice on making these drinks <a href="http://cocktailmusings.blogspot.com/2010/05/suffering-bastard.html" target="_new">here</a>.

White or "light" rum is appropriate. Any fine or dark rum will get lost in the mix anyway.

I'll cover mojitos at some point, maybe next time around. I don't make them very often. I usually try to do a write-up of drinks that I think are interesting/unusual or that I have some good insight into. I have some experience with mojito's, but I'll probably make them a few more times before I try to pass myself off as an expert!

[zill]

There are worse ways to sepnd the summer than researching mojitos! [:D]

[SallyLightfoot]

[quote][i]Originally posted by zill[/i]
<br>There are worse ways to sepnd the summer than researching mojitos! [:D][/quote]Truer words were never spoken!

I've been doing my research on mojitos, by the way, and I'm glad to say that I have discovered a handful of interesting variants to try out and share. As it turns out, the way I was making them (sugar, lime, mint, white rum) is only the most basic of possibilities...