Forbes Traveler just posted a list of signature drinks from around the world. Boring and typical, at best.
They missed one of my favorites: Becherovka
On my summer holiday to the Czech Republic, the name of this drink, affectionately nicknamed the "Christmas Drink" by locals, was on bar chalkboards across Prague. Produced in Karlovy Vary, this sacred concoction — only two people know the recipe — varies in palates, and by company experimentation, changed flavor during creation in off-site locations. While with my Czech friends, they commented how the female gender typically enjoys the spirit more than males. Becherovka has plenty of options in mixed libations, but traditionally should be stored in the freezer and served extremely chilled. Drinking straight, there are subtle hints of gingerbread and perhaps cinnamon when it first hits your taste buds. As the "medicine" trickles down your tongue, a strong essence of pine (think actually licking a pine tree) hits as an aftertaste. Mmmm, Christmas in a bottle.
February 13th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
We’re big caipirinha drinkers down here. The Total Wine down the street offers six different varieties of Cacacha, all of which are a bit different, but one of which is particularly better than the others (I can’t remember the name, the label is all in Portuguese, it’s the one with the wicker bottle-cover. Easy access to fresh limes makes it an easy cocktail to put together. I have no idea if Cacacha can be found in Ohio liquor stores, but you should check it out.
As for Christmas in a bottle… I figured that’s what Tanqueray was for.