It’s Mixology Monday time again. This month’s theme comes from Whitney over at Tipicular Fixin’s (love that name 😉 ) and it’s called Drink of Shame (said in an appropriate movie preview voice). In Whitney’s words:

So, you’re a certified, mixologist, craft-tender, bar chef or fine spirit enthusiast…now.

But, there was a time when you only ordered Long Island Iced Tea. Or, maybe you always made the Jello shots for your frat? Perhaps you’re the reason that your local had an Island Oasis machine for so long? Rye & Ginger? Vodka Seven? Someone was ordering these things. Your street cred would be ruined if you ordered or (gasp) served one now, but don’t you miss it, just a little?

Now that’s a fun theme. Read on to find out what we’re guilty about.

Ah, high school. Being where you aren’t supposed to be, doing what you shouldn’t. In Christa’s case, that means being at homes without parents present and drinking Fuzzy Navels. Mmm mmm, peach schnapps and orange juice – sweet, simple, and preferable to Budweiser. Sophisticated, no, but we all have to start somewhere 😉

We decided to use the peach and orange flavors as a jumping-off point, but up-level the quality a fair bit. We started with aged peach brandy for it’s deep dried peach flavor and the complexity of the barrel notes. Peach liqueur added some sweetness and more peach flavor, and Cointreau brought in the orange. Lime bitters are a little outside the traditional scope, but we liked the addition to lighten the drink a little. Finally, orange peel reinforced the orange flavor without bringing any additional sweetness, that being one of the qualities in the original that we wanted to avoid.

Past Curfew

• 2 oz aged peach brandy
• 1/2 oz peach liqueur
• 1/4 oz Cointreau
• 1 dash lime bitters

Stir with ice. Strain into a glass. Garnish with an orange twist.

• Nose: Dried peach and peach jam to start. Brandy. Orange peel both fresh and dried.
• Palate: Dried peach, cooked orange, orange peel and brandy to start. Peach jam on the mid-palate. Peach and orange on the finish for Shaun. Peach pit (woody aged notes) and graphite on the finish for Christa. Hint of bitterness on the finish as well.

Not a complex drink but certainly a damn sight better than your typical Fuzzy Navel. And in keeping with its ancestor’s role as a gateway drink, it would also make a fantastic intro for non-martini drinkers to start drinking big glasses of booze 😉

Thanks Whitney for such a fun theme. We look forward to everyone else’s shameful offerings as well. Cheers!