related items
We have the right to be choosy when it comes to cocktails. With the vast variety of liquors and mixers available, there are literally thousands of ways to make a delicious drink.
Red China Bistro's Wild Orchid is a vodka martini for those of us who are over hyper-sugary drinks (frozen daiquiris, anyone?) and who prefer strong (make that very strong), fruity sips .
Since Red China Bistro frequently rotates drinks on its menu, the Wild Orchid has only been around for a short time at the Ingersoll Avenue establishment. It’s already a favorite among customers and for bartender and server Christie Rewaj.
“I had one person say, ‘It tastes like I'm on vacation,’ ” Rewag said.
The magic of the drink is that the ingredients taste different together than they do apart.
The primary elements alone —– vanilla vodka, coconut rum and black raspberry liqueur — have distinct flavors. Combined, they create an exotic, tropical taste.
To make the drink, Rewaj chills a glass and sets it aside. Meanwhile, she mixes three parts Absolut vanilla vodka to one part Malibu rum, plus a splash of Sweet and Sour and Chambord to taste. Since Chambord is the only super- sweet ingredient in the drink, she can adjust it based on the customer’s preference. She shakes the ingredients with ice and pours the mixture into the glass.
The result is a beautiful, transparent pink cocktail topped with a light froth. The scent of the cocktail is sweet — almost like bubble gum, but the taste is sophisticated. It’s fruity and bright, and the tartness is rounded off by the smooth coconut rum.
Be forewarned: This drink packs a punch. The absence of juice ensures the cocktail is not too sugary, but it also means it contains five ounces of alcohol.
Wild Orchid
Try it: Red China Bistro, 2925 Ingersoll Ave.
Cost: $9
Info: 274-0097, redbistrodsm.com
