Introducing, for your “summer’s slippin’ away” sipping pleasure, my latest elixir concoction, the Oranjito. I recently received a bottle of a vanilla liqueur called Navan that’s put out by the folks at Grand Marnier, and with that bottle came a few cocktail recipes. But I’ve always kinda been recipe-ADD, so I went off to create something of my own, instead. Navan is made from Madagascar vanilla beans that are first macerated in neutral spirit for a few weeks, then combined with aged French cognac. What results is, I assure you, liquid gold.
Before heading into the lab…err, I mean kitchen…I took a couple of days to test drive the liqueur on its own, be it on the rocks or neat. Either way, the essence of vanilla bean was amazing—no faux flavor bullshit at ALL. Much like its daddy, Grand Marnier, I’m guessing it would be great in a high-octane coffee, too, not to mention using it in dessert reductions, to macerate fruit…whatever. How about a little in your BBQ sauce, hmm? Divine. Anyhow, what it all came down to was using it in a cocktail in a way that the vanilla would complement the other ingredients without overwhelming them, particularly because of its alcohol level.
So I went out to the garden and clipped some orange mint, being somewhat inspired by the many mojitos I’ve had over the years. Instead of plain rum, I used Bacardi O to double up on my oranginess…yes that’s a word, damn it…and instead of using lime as my citrus, I used (can you guess where I’m going here?) orange. To all this, I added some Navan and a little simple syrup to sweeten the pot. Everything got shaken—as is appropriate for a mojito, not a martini—strained into a chilled glass, and topped with a splash of seltzer. The result? Orangy, vanilla-y, minty goodness in all its adult beverage glory. Friday nights just got better.
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Three flavors that sound like they could be great together.
I love to drink 007’s in the summertime, I have to try this.
This is *gorgeous*! and sounds incredibly delicious, too. I have never heard of orange mint, though… I will have to start looking for seeds. Anyway, We love Grand Marnier – I can’t imagine not loving anything they make!
Never had a 007, Mark…what’s in it? Please come back and tell me. Summertime’s coming to its sad end!
I actually bought the orange mint as a baby plant, FYI. Like most mints, it grows like wildfire, though it’s more of a creeper 🙂
And, here I was taking the innocent route toward tea with my orange mint leaves. I had it all wrong…
LOL, that’s OK, Jen, there’s always time to come back from the dark side.
Holy crap that sounds delicious. I have GOT to try this.
oranginess…yes that’s a word, damn it
Yes it is and nothing rhymes with that word, neither.
That’s the funniest fucking thing I’ve read in a while, Mike (my blog excluded of course, LOL)…thanks!
I’m back…. to explain one of my fav summer drinks.
a 007 is a simple drink
Ice in a rock glass,
-Orange Vodka, 2 oz is what I recommend
-Orange Juice, use “good” orange juice and only a splash
I like to go very light on the juice, you decide for yourself.
-fill with 7-Up
It’s lighter than a screwdriver, has some fizz to brighten it up…. it’s like drinking a summer day. I hope you like it.
I will have the 008 – no vodka lol
Sounds great- I love vanilla flavored boozes- Womder how it would be with some Campari- I have been on that kick for a while now-
I will be forced to make this- sucks to be me-lol
Thanks Mark! Will give it a go this weekend, though given my poo-pooing of vodka, I’ll probably substitute with orange-flavored rum.
@Kahuna…this is so much better than much of the faux-Vanilla flavored stuff out there…you’ll love it. Would probably be great with Campari and maybe a splash of seltzer or such. Go make, and report in!!
I’m not waiting for Fry-night. Maybe a little sweet for us macho men. Can I use lime juice?
NO NO NO lime juice!!! I had a gut feeling it wouldn’t pair well with the vanilla, and after speaking to a mixologist that works with Navan creating recipes, my palate was right on the money…she dicourages using lime with Navan. So there 😉
Thanks. Can we go back to talking about meaty bacon.
lol 🙂
Linsey, where do you get bacon like the one you showed?
check out the previous blog – i gave you an answer castello
thanks! I’ll see if I can get some back bacon around here(silicon valley).
possible the back bacon u get there might be in a thick joint – u would just need to slice it thin – or have the butcher do it for u
good luck anyways
Castello – i had a look on amazon.com to see if there was anything there that looked like brit bacon – the closest i could see without knowing what it tastes like was the canadian bacon
maybe that is ur best chance – order it in
http://www.amazon.com/Canadian-Style-Bacon-1-lb/dp/B001E0RXOG/ref=sr_1_21?ie=UTF8&s=gourmet-food&qid=1251756602&sr=1-21
hope that helps
Yes, we can get some good Canadian style bacon here in the states but it’s not like what you described. It is like smoked ham but from the loin. Not very tender and not fatty at all. I love it but not like some I’ve had downunder.
Thanks a bunch. You can email me at edwest_@yahoo.com
im having some problems with email at the moment – dont know why
i tried to email u but it was sent right back
http://www.britishbacon.com/comersus6f/store/comersus_index.asp
try this site though
thanks! That looks like a deal.
I finished off the chocolate cream liquer that I bought last year with Anthony in Stratford. Been in my fridge for ahem …. long time.
Only alcohol i really ever drank on purpose lol.
You would have loved the place we got it from though Katie – barrels of whiskys, oils and liquers – ready for tasters, then put in special bottles for you.
So I hear! I would spend a small fortune in a place like that!
maybe a fact finding/tourist trip to the uk wouldnt be a bad idea lol
Sure, now if only I can get funding for my “research & development”.
lol – yeah know that feeling – still paying off the fact finding missions to usa
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