Libation of the Week: Saranac Shirley Temple

Name: Saranac Shirley Temple

 

Brand: Saranac Brewing Company

Place of Purchase: Ontario Orchards in Oswego, NY

Country/Region of Origin: Central NY

Tasting Conditions: Chilled in the bottle

Price in New York: $1.69 for 12 oz.

Description: A spot on bottled version of a standard kiddie cocktail

Flavor:  Syrupy maraschino cherry and fizzy lemon-lime

Mouth-feel: Heavy but not too heavy.  The perfect mix of syrup and fizz.

Aroma: Strong cherry and citrus

Notes: Saranac is a Syracuse-area beer that is a local favorite in the Oswego-area.  I've been to a few mixers since I arrived here, and some kind of Saranac was always available.  Like most breweries in the area, they developed a soft drink line to get them through Prohibition.  The Saranac Shirley Temple was designed during the 1950s to meet the kid's demand for a serious cocktail.  This drink is perfect.  An exact replica of the fresh bar-made drink in the bottle, from taste to mouth feel.  I bought a single bottle and tried it.  Immediately, I bought a 6-pack.  It was that good.

Why no "Roy Rogers" to match?  Because Saranac is world-famous for their Black Cherry and Black Cherry Cream Sodas, instead.

Libation of the Week: Moxie Elixer

Name: Moxie Elixir

 

Brand:  Drink Moxie.com

Place of Purchase: KOA General Store in South Bend, IN

Country/Region of Origin: Maine

Tasting Conditions: Chilled in the bottle

Price in Indiana: $1.79 for 12 oz.

Description: A carbonated, caramel-colored soda with gentian root.

Mouth-feel: Crisp

Aroma:    Like root beer and Robotussin

Notes:  Moxie Elixir is one of the oldest soda pops in the United States.  It started off as a gentian root elixir, but once soda water was added to the mix, it's been Moxie soda for over a century.  The drink itself tasted like a really strong root/birch beer.  It didn't give me pep or vigor, but it cooled me down on a hot day.

Hiatus

I must apologize for the two month hiatus.  Between moving across the country and starting a brand-new teaching position in "sunny" Oswego, I've been a bit distracted with unpacking and course preparations.

BUT, I'm back and looking for new cheeses and drinks in the Northeast.  So, look out for new pleasurable reviews.