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September-10th,2007, 03:11 PM
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Cocktails with Cucumbers?....3 classics, 3 visions!
The other night I went into one of my favorite watering holes in Panama City Beach to have a quick drink and enjoy some live music. When the GM handed me a martini with a floating cucumber in it I knew I was in for something worthy of writing an article about. The Boatyard, a trendy waterfront location on the beach, has always had a martini menu buried somewhere behind its Monkey Bar but it was full of the normal favs of the masses - Cosmos, Coffee martinis, etc. A cucumber I thought, come on this is taking the whole fruit and veggies in your drink a bit too far...then I took a sip!
It was as if the cucumber had finally found a purpose - its gentle crisp flavor blended with a mint flavor and chased the warmth of the spirit perfectly. So well in fact, as I swallowed down my fourth, I drifted into thought of some of the most popular fruit and veggie based cocktails: 1. The weirdest to me has always been the celery in a Bloody Mary. In reality its celery and tomatoes both in a glass with some vodka...2 veggies for the price of one...at what point was that decided a perfect morning hangover helper? 2. Just as confusing is the olive in a martini thing. Now I admit I am not a big Bond style martini drinker, so I cannot attest for the pros and cons of the olives, but it just feels plain wrong... 3. And let's not forget about the fruit trend that started with basic garnishes, spread to beer via the lime on the Coronas and now has grown to a full slice of orange topping the current crowd favorite of Blue Moon Belgium White Ale. Those are the basics but what is happening outside of Club Hour's reach? I searched the net for a few of the more unusual cocktail and food combos, enjoy: 1. The Love Unit from the Hyde Lounge is a combination of muddled red pepper and basil, lime and grapefruit juices and the kick is provided some world class vodka. Red Pepper? Basil? 2. Also from The Love Unit comes more cucumbers - they serve a Cucumber Watermelon Margarita. They muddle the cucumber, watermelon and black pepper and blend with some wonderful tequila. 3. A London bar brings us one of the most unusual but tasty sounding drinks I have heard of in a long time: A Black Cherry Caipirinha. Combine Black Michigan Cherries, Cachaca (a sugar style rum) and some muddled lime and you might find yourself taking a sip of excellence. The brits have done it again... Once a tap pulling beer guy, the modern day mixologist is an artist - they work with chefs to infuse and combine flavors that will make every sip be savored as if it were a 2000 Boardeau. So the sky is the limit with the new flavors of the cocktail. From The Swizzlestick Bar in New Orleans to up and comers like the Boatyard in Panama City, creativity is king when it comes to the next generation of cocktails! Want more? For articles, videos, blogs, and more, check out the links below: Club Hour - Covering Nightlfe in the Southeast Cocktail Curiosity - Your Daily Shot of Fun Facts and Alcohol Education Cabernet Logic - Observations from the World Around Us Last edited by randy; September-10th,2007 at 03:14 PM. 
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