The "Helicopter" cocktail is distinguished by its characteristic color - pale green. It leads to extremely strong intoxication and generally refers to extremely strong "shooters". At the same time, the drink is unusually easy to prepare, does not require sophisticated or very expensive ingredients, while remaining status-looking and quite interesting.
It refers to “shooters,” which means that the drink is served in a pile, shot and drunk in one gulp. In addition, "Helicopter" is a cocktail that is set on fire, which can cause serious burns when trying to extinguish the liquid before drinking it.
Name Origin and Features
No one knows for sure who exactly was the first bartender who managed to make this drink. In one form or another, the Helicopter cocktail has been served since at least the beginning of the 90s. It combines an interesting taste, rich aftertaste and extraordinary strength. So, for example, if the same “Manhattan” can be sipped all evening, then a couple of shots of the “Helicopter” cocktail can knock down even the strongest connoisseur. The drink is based on Chartreuse liqueur, which is made in France.
The name itself can be dictated as an analogy to the hangover syndrome, popularly known as "helicopters". There is also a theory that such a name appeared, since Frank Sinatra got out of the helicopter with a glass of bitter.
At the heart of this tincture is an extract of 130 herbs, which gives the liquid a characteristic green tint. That bitter is the "first violin" in the formation of taste. Rum serves to increase the strength and give the drink a characteristic bitterness.
Among the recipes for cocktails prepared at home, "Helicopter" can be called one of the simplest. It does not require sophisticated equipment, and the entire cooking process takes hardly more than a few minutes.
How to put out a shot correctly?
The "Helicopter" cocktail belongs to the category of those drinks that need to be set on fire before drinking. This is necessary in order to give the cocktail a special taste, and also, of course, for beauty. It is extremely important to skillfully extinguish a drink without pouring it and without hitting it with your hand. You can insist that the extinguishing occurred from the hand of the bartender or through a special plate.
However, sometimes a connoisseur seeks to accomplish this on his own and effectively. In this case, it is important to completely close the shot by hand, restricting the access of oxygen to a combustible liquid. If at the same time there was discomfort, most likely the client made a mistake. At this stage, you need to restrain him from sharply pulling his hand, since this can only lead to an even bigger burn. To prevent skin damage, it is enough to smoothly raise your palm, and then rinse it with cold running water for 15 minutes.
Classic recipe
Cocktail "Helicopter" is traditionally prepared without ice and decorations. It consists of only two types of alcohol, but it is more than paid for by the strength and taste characteristics of bitter. You can submit the recipe as follows:
- cool the shot a little and prepare the alcohol;
- pour 15 ml of fortified or dark rum on the bottom - depending on the preferences of the client or the institution's policy;
- add 15 ml of Chartreuse liqueur saturated green;
- the liquid is set on fire with a special stick or just a lighter;
- depending on the client’s desire, they are stewed or left burning in front of him.
Chartreuse itself is quite strong and has a specific, grassy-sweet taste. Before ordering a "Helicopter" cocktail, you need to remember this, because the client may not like it.