Recipe Corner: The Bijou

The Bijou is one of the first cocktails I fell in love with. Bijou is French for jewel, and the ingredients refer to individual jewels. Gin symbolizes diamonds, the sweet vermouth symbolizes rubies, and the Chartreuse represents emeralds. I’m not sure what made me fall in love with this drink. It’s certainly strong and decidedly herbaceous…which I guess I lean towards. Try one out next time you’re at Fiola. It’s a perfect cool weather drink.  

Ingredients

1.5 oz Gin (I prefer Ransom’s Old Tom)

1 oz Sweet Vermouth (I prefer Carpano Antica)

1 oz Green Chartreuse

Healthy dash of orange bitters

Procedure

Add all ingredients to mixing glass.

Add ice. 

Stir into your favorite cocktail glass. 

Garnish with an orange twist.

Cheers,

Jeff

Recipe Corner: Gimlet

The Gimlet is a fantastic summertime drink. While most have been introduced to this drink with artificially sweetened lime juice, I think it is improved tremendously with fresh lime and simple syrup.

There are plenty of options for a gimlet. It can be done with vodka or gin, up or on the rocks. 

Me? I prefer it with a nice botanical gin and on the rocks on a hot summer day. Make one of these when you’re sweltering away on your porch. You’ll be glad you did.

2 oz Gin

.75 oz fresh lime juice

.75 oz simple syrup

Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass. Add ice. Shake. Strain into either a martini glass or over fresh ice. Sip. Smile. Repeat as necessary. 

Bar Manager Jeff Faile

Recipe Corner: The Vesper

The Vesper is the original James Bond Martini. It does not serve this drink well to shake it, however. This is a stirred cocktail and garnished with a lemon twist. This is a great introductory gin drink for the non-gin drinker. The vodka will cut down the botanical nature of the gin, and the Cocchi Americano adds a little citrus and bitter note to the drink. Take this one for a spin this Spring!

2 oz of London Dry Gin

1 oz of vodka (I prefer a potato based vodka)

.5 oz of Cocchi Americano

Bar Manager Jeff Faile

What Jeff's Drinking Now: Gin

Even if the weather outside doesn't agree with the calendar about it being Spring, I’m starting to drink gin. I will sacrifice my liver for you all in hopes of drinking Spring weather into existence.  Which gin has been my gin of choice so far? DC’s own Green Hat.

Green Hat Gin has only been around for a brief period of time, but it certainly doesn't show through in the product. We’re pouring batch 13 at the bar, and they've certainly hit their stride with it. Obviously, there’s juniper there, but there’s also celery and floral notes to it making an extremely well rounded gin. This could be a great gin for a martini, gin and tonic, or a fantastic choice for a gin rickey. 

Come by and try it in all three!

Bar Manager and Mixologist Jeff Faile

Ask the Bar Man, Jeff Faile

Part of my job is to describe certain liquors and answer questions about how people should make drinks at home.  If we're busy at the bar, it's hard for me to go as in depth as I'd like to. A new feature in the bar newsletter allows you to ask any and all questions you'd like. Fire away! Send your questions to info@fioladc.com.

Q: I always seem to end up hosting impromptu cocktail parties or gatherings at my place, what should I always have on hand to entertain?

-Nicole, Glover Park

A: I always recommend concentrating on the basics in situations like this. There's no need to go out and grab a bottle of the hottest new liqueur that is used in only one cocktail. You should stick with the classic ingredients and cocktails. Think of it this way, they're classics for a reason. Plus, do you really want to pour out your expensive single barrel bourbon for creepy Ken the copy boy? No.

So, what should you always have?  For gin, let's go with Plymouth. It's easy drinking, easily mixable, and makes one great martini. Vodka? If you must stock vodka, go with Boyd and Blair. It's a potato based vodka out of Pennsylvania. Simply put, it's the best unflavored flavored vodka. Bourbon? Maker's Mark. Not overly pricy, and it's what I use in my Manhattans at Fiola. For rum there's many options. Track down a bottle of El Dorado Spiced rum as a nice alternative to Captain Morgan. For a sipper try Zaya 12 year from Trinidad. Tequila? Track down Milagro; inexpensive and half the price of some of the more overrated tequilas out there.

That's the base spirits for you. For mixers, there's plenty of inexpensive options. I think everyone should have a bottle of Campari and Cocchi Vermouth di Torino at home. These two knock out the Negroni (with gin) and the Manhattan (the vermouth plus Makers). You should probably have a bottle of dry vermouth for your martini drinkers as well. Grab a bottle of Dolin Dry for this and you'll see what vermouth should be added to your next martini. What else? Fever Tree produces a great tonic water for a mixer as well as a ginger ale. Of course, there's some obvious selections like club soda and a cola of some sort.

Think of this way. It's a cocktail party with friends. You're not setting up the latest speakeasy in your house. Keep it simple and people will be happy with the options. They're getting some free booze and hanging out with friends and coworkers...oh, and creepy Ken. Who invited him anyway?

- Jeff