So what happens when you stick a bunch of circus peanuts into some cheap vodka and let it sit for a few days? Well, almost exactly what you'd expect would happen—the vodka turns fluorescent orange and tastes like circus peanuts. In other words, the most awesome thing imaginable.
Inspired by both Tailor's bubblegum drink (aptly named the "Bazooka"), and all those sake breweries that speak of their rice wine's banana aromas (for those of you that have never tried circus peanuts, they taste like fake banana), I had a what-the-hell moment the other day and just went for it, dumping 8 ounces of the little orange candies into 12 ounces of Gordon's vodka. Two days later, and I was in business. After all, it has to be good if it leaves you with a byproduct that looks like this:
But I wasn't about to just drink this stuff straight. Given the current fascination with mixology, I had to make a drink with it, right? So I got out my jigger, my shaker, and mixed equal parts circus peanut vodka with Yonetsuru sake (finished with a twist of banana, natch). Thus was birthed unto the world The Bananimé. Though it garnered mixed reactions from my fellow Gourmet staffers ("mixed" insomuch as I liked it and everyone else thought it was terrible), I still think there's hope. It's a work in progress, sure, but what great recipe didn't start out that way? I doubt that mayonnaise worked right the first time, either. It's probably only a matter of time before this thing and its inevitable imitators are all over Manhattan's cocktail scene. Jim Meehan, you know how to get in touch with me.
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