Full of beta-carotene and fiber, apricots are one of nature's fruit gems and they're loaded with vitаmins A and C. The name Apricot is derivred from the Latin word praecoquis (early-riper) aka precious, and precious they are because these tart, sweet fruits are one of the first fruits to ripen in Spring!
A FEW APRICOT FACTS
A member of the rose family, the apricot (Prunus Armenaica) originated in China and made it's way around the world from there to Armenia and the Persian Empire to the Mediterranean. Spanish explorers took apricots to the New World and planted them throughout the California missions. Today California still produces over 90% of Apricots grown in the U.S.
When it comes to cocktail combinations using vodka and coffee liqueur we Americans turn very Russian. Black Russian and White Russian, that is. We even mix it up with Blind Russians, Dirty Black Russians, California Russians, Irish Russians and Brown Russians.
The basic Black Russian recipe from the I.B.A. (International Bartenders Association) is 5 parts vodka to 2 parts coffee liqueur served in a low ball (Old Fashioned) glass over ice. The White Russian (favorite libation of The Dude in The Big Lebowski) adds 3 parts cream as a float. The Blind Russian replaces the cream with Irish Cream, the Dirty replaces the cream with cola, the California version adds triple sec, the Irish adds Guinness stout and the Brown switches to a long (tall) glass and adds ginger ale! Bozhe moi!
Oddly enough, nobody ever talks about those Drunk Russians. I get it, drunk Russians are scary - and probably politically incorrect - but I'm not afraid to go there. After all, I'm part Czechoslovakian. We were involuntarily part of Russia for a while, we have a grudge. So.....
The
DRUNK BLACK RUSSIAN
INGREDIENTS
2 Oz. Chocolate Vodka
1 Oz. Coffee Liqueur
1 Oz. Chilled Espresso
1 Dash Vanilla Bitters
Melted Dark Chocolate
Special tools: Pastry brush
DIRECTIONS
Melt half a cup of good dark chocolate in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, stirring every 20 seconds, until smooth. Take a pastry brush and paint the chocolate on the rim of your glass in broad strokes. Set the glass in the freezer to chill. Half a cup will "paint" 3 - 5 glass rims.
Add ice to your cocktail shaker, pour in the chocolate vodka, followed by the coffee liqueur and the espresso, add the dash of vanilla bitters and shake until chilled.
Strain into your chilled, chocolate painted glass and serve.
TIP: Take any extra melted chocolate and brush some thick, wide strokes onto a piece of parchment paper. Hit these twice for more thickness and strength. Chill in the refrigerator until set then gently peel off from the thick end to garnish a plate or a nice piece of cheesecake to go with your Drunk Black Russian.
Prefer something with a bit of cream?
The
DRUNK WHITE RUSSIAN
Just add 1 Oz. of Half & Half to The Drunk Black Russian.
