Ever go to a bar or restaurant and read its cocktail menu? I sure hope so! Ever wonder about the build/make-up of the drink(s) described? Well here's a little tidbit to help you figure out whether or not you'll like what they're selling.
Let's take a look at this cocktail offered at Canon, a world-famous bar in Seattle:
First, know that drink ingredients are named in order, from its largest amount to its lowest amount. Meaning, for this Aged La Bicyclette cocktail, it has more gin than sweet vermouth and St-Germain (and this there is more sweet vermouth than St-Germain). This is good to know because if you love gin but aren't a huge fan of St-Germain, you still may love this drink since St-Germain is the last ingredient on the list. Now, if you love St-Germain and hate gin, then you probably shouldn't order this one.
Secondly, notice how it labels "St-Germain" (an elderflower liqueur brand) but doesn't label the brand of gin or sweet vermouth. This, from experience, means the gin they use isn't worth branding on the menu. Who knows, maybe they are using Gordon's or Seagram's (low quality gins). I do highly doubt Canon would use that low of a quality gin, but it does have me wondering what they are using since they don't want to disclose it on the menu. You are more than welcome to ask the staff what liquors and liqueurs they are using.
Third, let's talk about substitution. As a bartender we get requests all the time, which is more than fair since most of our cocktails aren't batched, aka they are made-to-order. Just know that substituting an ingredient in a drink may alter the outcome. Don't blame the bartender if your adjusted drink isn't delicious. It's like subbing gravy in for cheese in your mac and cheese and being upset it doesn't taste good. So be weary what you're doing to your drink if you do want to alter/adjust it.