ScottMcG wrote: ↑Thu Apr 05, 2018 6:52 pm
Dear Booze wrote: ↑Wed Apr 04, 2018 7:58 pm
Well shit! I didn't have bitters, so I used a chinchona bark tea that I use to make a tonic base. I mixed a little of that with Absinthe, whiskey, a lemon rind, sugar, and a little soda water. Pretty fucking close. And really fucking great! Thanks for the inspiration, Scott.
Holy cats! I gotta try that!
How did you make your chinchona bark tea?
I buy Chinchona powder on Amazon.
4 cups water
¼ cup cinchona powder
¼ cup citric acid
1 cup sugar (some people use agave syrup, but I can't taste the difference)
Add cinchona bark to the water and boil for ten minutes, stirring occasionally.
Remove pan from heat, cover and let steep for an hour.
Pour through a strainer and then a coffee filter slowly. This may take several coffee filters to complete. This takes a long time. It's like a really thick mud. (I've tried using a French Press, but it didn't work very well).
When the filtration is complete, warm the liquid up then add the citric acid and sugar. Bring to a slow gentle boil for about 10 minutes and then steep again for another hour.
I like to store mine in those Grolsch bottles with the built-in stoppers.
This shit is GOOD. It's how tonic is supposed to taste. When I mix it with Gin or Vodka, I top the drink off with club soda for the carbonation.
I've also toyed with the idea of mixing some ginger powder in with the Chinchona powder, but haven't tried it yet. I'm thinking it would good with Rum or Vodka. Like a Dark and Stormy or Moscow Mule.
Warning: when you are done making your tonic, your counter top will be a sticky mess!
I'm looking forward to a report.
Good luck.