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Saturday, July 09, 2011

Punt e Mes

Refreshing Beverage of the Week
Let's start today’s beverage segment with a definition of terms from Wikipedia for Punt e Mes:
It is an Italian vermouth. It is dark brown in color and has a bitter flavor. Punt e Mes literally means "point and a half" in Piedmontese. It has been said that it owes its name to a sudden raise of the stock market (naturally, of a point and a half), which greatly benefited the Carpano distilleries, which then created the vermouth brand to commemorate the occasion. Alternatively, it may refer to the flavor being characterized as one ”point” of sweetness and half a point of bitterness. It can be used as a substitute for regular rosso vermouth in such drinks as the Americano, Manhattan and Negroni.
That being said, I love the flavor of this stuff simply served on the rocks with a twist, but if you want to explore your mixed drink options, here is a recipe for a drink from a recipe by Brendan F. Casey, Café Centro, New York, NY.

Another Fine Mes

Ingredients
1/2 teaspoon maple syrup
2 oz rye whiskey
1 oz tequila
1/2 ounce triple sec
1/2 ounce Punt e Mes
2 dashes Old Fashion bitters
1 orange zest, as garnish

Procedure
First, to dissolve the maple syrup, combine it with the rye and tequila, stirring at room temperature. Then combine all ingredients in a mixing glass full of ice. Stir and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Add the garnish, behave badly.