Cherry Bomb and Stars & Stripes
Where: J. Timothy's, 143 New Britain Ave., Plainville
Ingredients: Cherry Bomb: Absolut Vanilla vodka, Applejack Brandy, Sour Mix, simple syrup and muddled cherries; Stars & Stripes: Malibu Rum, Blue Curação, splash of blood-orange juice
Cost: $7.75 each
There are clubs for book-of-the month, fruit-of-the-month and flowers-of-the-month, commercial ventures that can subtly remind you that time is passing and seasons are changing.
J. Timothy's in Plainville has a new spin on the item of the month - and it's called Martini of the Month.
Nicknamed J. TimoTinis, the dedicated monthly martinis are designed to fit either a holiday, season or taste associated with each particular month. So it's no surprise that the March selections included Luck O'Tini (Absolute Vanilla, pistachio flavoring and a dollop of vanilla ice cream) or that a Toasted Almond Tini (amaretto, Godiva chocolate liqueur and a splash of white chocolate syrup) was a winter offering. July's picks were the Cherry Bomb and the Stars & Stripes.
As patriotic as the next guy, we decided to try both, and in hindsight, all we can say is that they surely would have turned Independence Day into quite the party for Thomas Jefferson and the guys.
The Cherry Bomb was sweet, thanks to the generous handful of muddled cherries that floated in the vanilla vodka and apple jack brandy in the drink.
And the Stars & Stripes, our second sample, was as pretty to look at as it was to drink. The layers of blood orange juice, Malibu rum and Blue Curação certainly made it clear that red, white and blue is a combination to be celebrated.
Many of the monthly drinks are so popular that they are offered in the "off" months as well, explained the bartenders.
But if you are a person who needs to be up to date and in chronological order, fear not, for here's the lowdown on August: Peach Cobbler Tini. Absolute peach vodka, Peachtree schnapps, vanilla ice cream and peach purée are blended and served in a martini glass rimmed with crushed graham crackers. Let the harvest begin!
-- MARYELLEN FILLO
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