Today, we are thankfully graced with an ever expanding collection of bitters. Recently I was made aware of a bitters being manufactured and sold in South Africa, “Santy’s Aromatic Bitters”. A little online searching was able to find some information about them. Ok, ok… so a little online searching was able to find just a SINGLE bit of information about them, that being that they are made and sold by “Edward Snell & Company Ltd.” in Isando South Africa.

I eventually got in contact with a representative for the company and he confirmed that they do in fact provide this product, but that it currently is not being distributed in the US market. He also provided the following description of their product:

“A unique blend of oriental and occidental herbs and spices imparts a lingering warmth to this exotic bitters recipe which contains Angostura bark, Red Sandalwood, Galangal Root, Mace, Cloves, Orange Peel, Cinnamon, Cardamon Seed, Liquorice Root and Ginger. All these herbs and spices are macerated with extra fine spirit in small oak casks to produce this acclaimed health-enhancing aperitif and tonic.”

I am of course intrigued by the prospect of new/different bitters to add to my collection, and so I jumped through a few hoops in order to get a few bottles to test out. Special thanks to both Andre Brink at “Edward Snell & Company”, and Dominic Venegas of “John Walker & Company” in San Francisco (an excellent liquor store with a great selection of products) for helping me with negotiating the details of arranging for this shipment. From start to finish, it was about a 5 month expedition to complete.

Tasting Notes:
As might be expected, they have a fairly similar flavor profile to Angostura bitters, however they are also fairly different as well. Specifically noticeable is an additional “heat” to the Santy’s bitters. This almost certainly is from the ginger, which isn’t overpowering at all or even unpleasant, but is clearly detectable. Also there is more of a clove forward flavor, with cinnamon accents then there is in Angostura. When compared side-by-side, there is also a slightly noticeable sweetness to Angostura, which isn’t as present in the Santy’s.

I think that Santy’s would make an excellent addition to any bar which is interested in having a robust collection of cocktail bitters at their disposal, that is of course if a US distributer ever picks them up.

You have to listen through a few other bits and pieces before you reach the food and wine bit. If you give t a listen let us know what you think.

Our first stop was the Bubble Lounge in Tribeca (228 W Broadway, New York, NY 10013). As the name reflects, it had a very large Champagne selection. This was a very hip place. I was a big fan of all the exposed brick inside. However, there was nothing interesting in the champagne choices (we had just as wide a selection at our KegWorks tasting) so we decided to try the cocktail menu. Julie had the Riviera (Clement Shrubb Rum, muddled strawberries, ginger and champagne served in Chardonnay wine glass) and I had the Good Dog (Bulldog Gin, Stolichnaya Vodka, Lynchee Syrup and Orange Peel served in a martini glass). The Lynchee syrup was made from a purée of the Asian Lynchee fruit, which I had never tried before. Neither of us was overly thrilled with the drinks and crappy service so we moved along.

Since it was unusually warm that night, we walked the 12 blocks uptown to the Pegu Club (77 West Houston Street, 2nd Floor. New York, NY 10012). This was well worth the walk and by far the best stop of the night. Be sure to check out the web site and read the back story on what it is named after. It’s an interesting read.

I apologize in advance if my drink ingredients are not exact. My notes are a bit fuzzy. It was quite dark inside Pegu.

I started with the signature drink “the Pegu.” From the menu:

“Crisp, snappy and fairly potent; just the way we like ‘em. London Dry Gin, Angostura bitters Orange Bitters, Orange Curacao and Fresh Lime Juice”…Fantastic!

Julie had the Applejack Cobbler (Fresh Cranberries, Laird’s Applejack, Apple Schnapps, Orange Juice, Pomegranate Syrup and Angostura Bitters served in a martini glass garnished with a pansy)…also given a positive review from the wife.

There were so many things on the drink menu I wanted to try I moved on to my next selection while Julie continued to work on her first. The Earl Grey MarTEAni is now my favorite cocktail, which is an honor I do not bestow lightly. Earl Grey infused Plymouth Gin, Lemon Juice, and Raw Egg White (relax Rocky…the egg white is just to froth the drink, you can’t taste it) garnished with a lemon twist, served in a martini glass rimmed with super fine sugar.

I cannot say enough about how much I enjoyed everything about the Pegu Club. Great atmosphere, top notch service and unbelievable drinks with a meticulous attention to detail. I can’t wait to go back to spend an entire evening enjoying the cocktail selection.

Our next stop was Death and Company. (No address or link…screw Death and Company). I obviously was not cool enough to get in. As the pretentious doorman told me, there were a few parties of two ahead of us, but to give him my cell phone number and he would give us a call if something opened up. If we didn’t get a call by 11:30 they would no be able to get us in. Needless to say they didn’t call….shocking. I was very disappointed because it was Saturday night in Soho and I wasn’t sure if we would be able to buy a ridiculously overpriced drink anywhere else.

Continuing our journey, we continued our walk uptown to the Blue Owl. The drink menu was interesting but the place was so packed we really could not enjoy it. Julie had grown tired of the esotaric drinks and settled back into her vodka, soda twist standard. The Bobby Burns did catch my eye. Made with Famous Grouse Scotch, Sweet and Dry Vermouth and Benedictine, I had high hopes for Bobby because of the Famous Grouse Scotch Whiskey (proud sponsor of the Scottish national rugby team), but sadly all you tasted was the vermouth. I’m guessing that Bobby has some potential, but the large crowd caused the resident mixologists to focus more on quantity than quality. With that we bid all the wanna-be hipsters farewell and headed back to midtown for some quality Celtic punk and too much Guinness and Jameson.

Random Thoughts….

• I’m a sucker for Irish pubs, especially between 6th and 7th. Go see Emma, pictured at right, at O’Brien’s on 46th… (It cracks me up when people stick coins into the ice that forms on glycol beer towers.) Don’t miss Black 47 at Connolly’s on 45th on Saturday nights.
• I’m way too old to think I can hang with an FDNY academy graduation party. I know better than this…but add the Pig and Whistle to the Irish pub list above.
• Drinking in Buffalo skews your perception of what things cost. It is inexpensive to drink here (a $3.50 beer is considered expensive). So when a glass of Lagavulin 16 year Old Single Malt costs $18 you chalk it up to drinking in Manhattan. Until you get a pour like this…$18 for this would be a bargain anywhere.

TAGS [ NYC | BUBBLE LOUNGE | PEGU CLUB | DEATH AND COMPANY | BLUE OWL | IRISH PUB ]

Number of entries: 52 +1 (missed)

All the wines (bar a handful) were Italian reds. I'm wondering if anyone can work out what type from the description? I think not...

Rather than listing the specific wines I've detailed the seven word note to demonstrate the inventiveness and creational prowess of the participants. Thanks to all who took part. How did you find it - a challenge, serious head-scratching or a bit of frivolous fun?

My entry "Chewed end of a wooden ink pen"

Honest-Food.net "A gulpable feast of cherries and leather"

Vu lu Su : "Rubis Sombre Terre Melon Jeune Aromatique Court"

Journal 23 "Earthy, melon, medium-bodied; needs sharp cheese"

Catavino "Frizzante stone grapes, inoffensive from a mug"

1 Wine dude : pour, sniff, slurp, cherries, leather, yum! empty"

Wine In The 'Peg : Tart cherry goodness - fire up the grill!

NYC Wine Notes : "Light. Earthy but bright. Shift Finish. Essence..."

The Wine Hiker : "Decant today, and you will smile tonight!"

Domaine 547 : "Rustic, textured, delicate, strong. Another glass please!"

Tales Of A Sommelier : "Reminds me of Vimto and Wham bars"

My Wine Info : "like your mother-in-law; spicy, tart and sweet"

My Wine Education : "Chocolate, berries delight. Passing time, leathery. Saporous."

Behind the Vines : "where family pride and good wine meet"

Cheap Wine Ratings : "Leather clad cowboy embraces innocent luscious berries"

Wine Connections : "Two scoops of raisins in every swallow."

Bloviatrix's Website : "Salice Salentino Is Too Bitter For Me"

Smells Like Grape : "Victoriana is now and it is rose-scented."

A Good Grape : "Cherry Trees in Tobacco Field by Barnyard" and "Vintner Makes Production Wine that Tastes Small"

Oenophilia : "Evil Head Cold keeps my bottle corked!"

Wine Lovers Journal : "Brash fruit, bright acid straddle tight tannins"

Wine Peeps : "Excellent! A bright, fruity, robust, balanced steal."

Joe's Wine : "Acidic palate Vegetal cappuccino A Cabernet franc?"

Recently Consumed : "Smooth, raspberry, vanilla, drinkable, nothing special, over-priced"

Flowery Song "Inky leather-scented silk. Spiced nuttiness demands Puttanesca"

Doktor Weingolb : "Better than 2004's -- now I taste oak!"

Rouge Blanc : "The Patriots' Collapse in Super Bowl XLII"

Fork and Bottle : "Thelma, Louise partying with bodacious red wine" and "Drink while reading The Castle of Otranto"

WineCast : "Cherries, earth, raspberries on a dusty highway" and "Raspberries, cranberries, tar and spices on horseback"

Manage You Cellar : "Montepulciano, crimson, fleshy, savory, terrestrial, armonico,
persistente!"

Good Wine Under $20 : "Musky flowers perfume this bright, cherry wine"

Indiscriminate Ideas : "Never thought to put raspberries in coffee!"

The Wine Camp : "A wine I could drink every day"

Lenndevours : "Earth, flowers entice. Thin, dirty cherries. Underwhelming."

Vino da Burde : "Faded Violet Around An Ancient Fruity Abbey"

Anything Wine : "Hey, who put cherries in my campfire?"

Dr Vino : "Acidity, berry, cherry, delicious, earthy, food-friendly, gonzo"

A Food and Wine Blog : "Closed for business - opens in three hours."

McDuff's Wine : "Beautifully Articulated Red Berries Evoke Romantic Associations"

Eating Leeds : "It is red and I like it" and "Red berry fruit, a hint of leather"

Wanna Be Wino : "Riding horses through eucalyptus and berry fields"

Just Grapes : "Fruit alive with wit, but classically tempered"

Cork Dork : "Please decant me for dusty cherry magic"

Wino-Sapian : "Prancing stallion Rustic. Man in Armani. Tasting Note"

ManicMammy : "Berry, baccy, nutty, good value, smooth, quaffable"

ConorONeill : "Friendly but forgettable featherlight softruitlicious strawberry northerner"

Laurence Veale : "Sippin' Poli's hedonistic, very cherry docious"

Craig Powell : "Not quite Monica Belluci but very tasty"

And finally those who ALMOST got to play by the full rules. Three entries of Italian-native grapes but grown elsewhere (and one Merlot) :

CookSister : "Cicadas, baked earth, warm purple juice - bottled"

Wild Walla Walla Wine Woman : "Gold medal winner. Pair it with tiramisu"

Jim Eastman : "Three Italian grapes Spiciness, leatheryness, Palate happiness"

Recently Consumed : "Smooth, raspberry, vanilla, drinkable, nothing special, over-priced"

And there you are! If I have missed anyone please leave a comment below with the link.

I should have just went to the 7-eleven.

TAGS [ BEER | MILLER ]

Wine Tasting Note: Cantine Sasso Aglianico del Vulture, 2005, Basilicata, Italy.
Waitrose £6.99.

Chewed end of a wooden ink pen.

Scribblings Rating - 86/100 [3.25 out of 5]

This was actually one of a dozen alternative 'seven word' sentences I came up with for this wine. More 'descriptive' and interesting I think than 'rich, tannic and inky, wooden and lengthy' which was one of the other contenders.

Looking for the perfect cocktail for Valentine’s Day? Try this one:

Tickled Pink
Take 2/3 glass of champagne and pour X-Rated over it.

Doesn’t get much simpler than that, and it sounds like the perfect way to begin an evening of romance. If that doesn’t do it for you, you can find many more pink treats right here.

Bottoms up!

Photo courtesy of X-Rated.

These are great wine-and-dine related apps:

Mobile Wine List is functional and looks great whether you’re at your desktop or on your mobile.

Here is a mobile Drink Recipe App.

Need something to do? Try Earth Comber to find fun things in your area.

What about splitting up the bill on a big dinner? Here’s Tip Calc.

Or, just take your favorite website wherever you go.

For these and many other web applications, check out Apple’s Web App section.

I’m Shane, and I approve this message.
(All images displayed in this post are from www.apple.com)

TAGS [ iPhone | APPLE | WINE | DINING | EARTH COMBER | DRINK RECIPES ]