Go
on, prove it to yourself. Pour your triple sec in a glass and taste it next to
the Cointreau. Which product has a more defined bouquet and luscious orange
flavor? Any perceptible differences in their finishes? Last, which product do
you think would contribute the most positive attributes to, say, a Margarita,
the most frequently requested cocktail in the country?
I
contend that triple sec's days in this generation of bar chefs and artisan
mixology are numbered. The stuff is inexpensive for a reason. Unless something
tragic has happened to your taste buds, the first sniff, sip and swallow will
confirm that it is a "lesser product."
Along
the same lines, why stock crème de cacao when something so delectable as Godiva
Chocolate Liqueur is within reach? Is it really fair to compare the two? The
Godiva is delectable without being cloying. It is, by far, abetter choice for
drink making, which makes the lesser crème de cacao obsolete.
In
a nation fueled by coffee, why wouldn't you want to explore your drink making
options when it comes to coffee-infused products? A few years back Kahlúa
extended its range with the introduction of Kahlúa Especial, a liqueur made entirely
from high grade, Arabica coffee beans from South America. It's remarkable how
much better the Especial is than the base brand, and yet its price is within a
few dollars of the old stand by. So, why stay with Kahlúa?
Or
why not make a significant shift in taste profiles and go with Starbucks Coffee
Liqueur? It has a light body and a drier, more authentic coffee flavor, one
derived entirely from Starbucks' coffee beans. Feeling more exotic? Consider
switching bar brands to Patrón's XO Coffee Liqueur or Jamaican Tia Maria.
With
the new year looming minutes away, wouldn't this make a marvelous time to
reevaluate your back bar? "Out with the old and in with the new" is a time
proven business tactic. Once you start, you'll be amazed at how liberating the
process is. And ultimately, your drinks will be greatly improved and I won't
have to look at the same tired line-up of back bar products.
Thanks
in advance.
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