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thoughts on the Spindrift? |
thePorpoise
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jan 23, 2011
Posts: 701
From: Tampa Bay
|  Posted: 2011-02-08 11:04 am Permalink
I gave this a try after seeing several referenced to it here. The vanilla was okay, but I found the lemon overwhelming when combined with the vanilla. Does anybody make it without lemon, or with a substitution for the lemon?
Also, was wondering where this drink was invented.
thanks
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arriano
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jun 13, 2006
Posts: 1123
From: Birdland - San Diego
| Posted: 2011-02-08 3:29 pm Permalink
Have you tried reducing the lemon juice? I've never made this drink, but 2 oz seems like a lot.
Jeff Berry invented the drink, but it was served at the Taboo Cove bar in Las Vegas.
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rugbymatt
Grand Member (5 years) 
Joined: Jun 03, 2005
Posts: 1201
From: Sacramento
| Posted: 2011-02-08 4:19 pm Permalink
The Spindrift is a personal favorite of mine.
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jingleheimerschmidt
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 20, 2007
Posts: 328
From: santa rosa, calif.
| Posted: 2011-02-09 12:06 pm Permalink
I usually skip measuring the lemon on this one; I use one small lemon which usually ends up being an ounce and a half (not a Meyers lemon though). I love this drink. FWIW, the Chief Lapu Lapu is a near identical recipe.
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CucamongaChango
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 13, 2008
Posts: 264
From: Denver, CO
| Posted: 2011-02-10 09:46 am Permalink
At the risk of repeating myself too much, I think the Bum uses entirely too much citrus. HOWEVER... Vic's recipes do, too, when calling for lemon. So, it's not just a Bum thing and no offense is intended whatsoever. I have to wonder if they're using a different lemon when coming up with these drinks other than the standard grocery store lemon. Are Myers lemons less tart? Maybe they're using those, I don't know.
In any case, I love lemon in drinks, but in the Bum's and in Vic's recipes, when it calls for lemon... I just go ahead and half what the recipe calls for. I find that works really well. You still get the lemon flavor, but you can also still taste everything else in the drink, too.
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arriano
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jun 13, 2006
Posts: 1123
From: Birdland - San Diego
| Posted: 2011-02-10 1:05 pm Permalink
Slightly off topic, but in response to Cucamonga - Meyer lemons are less acidic than other lemons. There's a good article in the latest Imbibe Magazine about using Meyers in cocktails:
http://www.imbibemagazine.com/Elements-Meyer-Lemons
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telescopes
Tiki Socialite
Joined: May 06, 2007
Posts: 554
From: Palm Springs
| Posted: 2011-02-13 10:22 am Permalink
Is just me, or is the spindrift entirely too strong? I usually blend mine without ice, divide the amount and blend one portion with ice for a full sized drink. The spindrift as a full-sized drink as written takes on every other drink in terms of being the champion of getting people dui's.
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telescopes
Tiki Socialite
Joined: May 06, 2007
Posts: 554
From: Palm Springs
| Posted: 2011-02-13 10:52 am Permalink
Quote:
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On 2011-02-13 10:22, telescopes wrote:
Is just me, or is the spindrift entirely too strong? I usually blend mine without ice, divide the amount and blend one portion with ice for a full sized drink. The spindrift as a full-sized drink as written takes on every other drink in terms of being the champion of getting people dui's.
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I hate to quote myself, but I just made a discovery. I was reading the original recipe for the spindrift in Trader Vic's Bartender's Guide. It is called a Rum Keg and is acknowledged by the Beachbum to be the source for the Spindrift. The biggest difference - and the differences were very small - is that Vic used Navy Grog Rum.
I had been thinking that the drink could be improved by the addition of a Pimento Dram. However, because I prefer my drinks made properly and because Pimento is so damn expensive, I didn't add it. But when I saw that Vic used Navy Grog Rum, I thought, hmmm, perhaps Vic did believe an under note of spices was necessary.
So, I added a gentle splash of Pimento Dram (Berry Hill) to my second portion of Spindrift and voila... a beautiful drink was born.
I encourage you to do likewise. Just as Pimento Dram enhances Berry's Navy Grog recipe (see Ancient Mariner) the Pimento lifts the citrus notes in the Spindrift and makes a great drink a perfect drink.
Try it. You will thank me later. I added only a teaspoon or so to the second half of the recipe that I had previously split so I don't have exact recommendations for how much it will need. Call it a Jamaican Spindrift or whatever. It is an improvement.
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rev_thumper
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Oct 10, 2007
Posts: 309
From: Koala Kabana, New England
| Posted: 2011-02-13 3:42 pm Permalink
The origin for the Spindrift was Trader Vic's Rum Pot, not the larger Rum Keg.
I like it as-is but the simplified Spindrift Jr. is more balanced.
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telescopes
Tiki Socialite
Joined: May 06, 2007
Posts: 554
From: Palm Springs
| Posted: 2011-02-13 5:32 pm Permalink
Keg...
Did I say keg?
Ah, ...
I meant pot!
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thePorpoise
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jan 23, 2011
Posts: 701
From: Tampa Bay
| Posted: 2011-02-13 6:22 pm Permalink
havent come across any pimento/allspice dram around here yet.
heck, only recently found a store carrying falernum, which led me down this whole tiki path for the first time!
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rev_thumper
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Oct 10, 2007
Posts: 309
From: Koala Kabana, New England
| Posted: 2011-02-13 7:50 pm Permalink
Just make your own allspice dram using the recipe in Sippin' Safari then!!!
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Kon-Hemsby
Grand Member (8 years) 
Joined: Sep 17, 2003
Posts: 1225
From: Andover, England
| Posted: 2011-02-14 05:28 am Permalink
I made my own Allspice Pimento Dram from Jeff's books and it's far better than any that I bought before. Give it a go!
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thePorpoise
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jan 23, 2011
Posts: 701
From: Tampa Bay
| Posted: 2011-02-14 11:16 am Permalink
Can it be made with pre-ground allspice?
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jingleheimerschmidt
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 20, 2007
Posts: 328
From: santa rosa, calif.
| Posted: 2011-02-14 3:05 pm Permalink
Quote:
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On 2011-02-14 11:16, thePorpoise wrote:
Can it be made with pre-ground allspice?
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Don't waste your time with the pre-ground. The whole allspice ground fresh will have a much livelier flavor.
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