Dan is Back!

This just in:

Yes, Dan Aykroyd and Chevy Chase are going to be in another movie together. This one will be based on a teen/young adult franchise by R.L Stine, so I don’t expect to be watching it. But Dan Aykroyd is a pretty decent fellow. For starters, he’s Canadian. He’s also the founder of a vodka company called Crystal Head. The notable thing about his vodka is the bottle, which is shaped like a skull. And that’s a good Halloween connection.

It turns out there’s a cocktail called “Smoke, Mirrors and Colors” which shows up on a couple of Halloween cocktail lists. It uses Dan Aykroyd’s Crystal Head vodka. It’s also very easy to make. So here we go!

The Recipe: Combine 1.5 oz Crystal Head Aurora vodka, 1 oz dry vermouth, and 1/2 oz Mezcal in a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a glass with dry ice.

The Ratings:

Let’s get this part out of the way: There’s no “color” to this drink. It’s only the container (the skull) that potentially has some iridescence (that doesn’t seem to even be visible in the photo). (This is what’s distinctive about the “Aurora” version of Crystal Head.) That said, the dry ice is a definite plus in that it creates a spooky “smoke.” Otherwise, it’s just a clear drink. Let’s give it three points for appearance.

The taste is distinctive and flavorful. The vermouth lends a tartness which interacts with the smoky Mezcal perfectly. And while the dry ice is obviously there mainly just to create “smoke,” it also carbonates the drink and hyper-cools it. The mouthfeel reminds me of a very cold San Peligrino. The finish is slightly briny, with a nice tang. Overall, this is an approachable, honest, straightforward drink. I can’t think of any part that needs improving. I must give it four points for taste.

The name is a little lame. The smoke part is obvious (either the smoke from the Mezcal, or from the dry ice). The “colors” are presumably from the iridescent bottle (notably NOT from the drink). The mirrors….I have no idea. And I’m not sure how the name connects with Halloween. I suppose there’s something kind of outré about smoke, mirrors, and colors. But the best I can do here is 1 point for the name.

Grand Total: 8 points.