Comments on: Hercules No. 5

By: Benjamin Perri

Benjamin Perri — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 03:25:05 +0000

I just made a batch of the #5 recipe Hercules. Thus far, it seems as though this is going to be great. A bit of a cross between French Dubonnet and Byrrh.

By: erik_flannestad

erik_flannestad — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:39:41 +0000

Sadly, after all that work, no one asked for a Hercules cocktail last Sunday. Where were you blog readers, (if in fact there are any)? The bar staff quite enjoyed the taste of the new Hercules. I’d drink it straight, though Brandon suggested it would be good in a toddy.

By: Michael Lazar

Michael Lazar — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:15:44 +0000

I wonder if these are simply the fruit from the sour orange rootstock on which most citrus is grafted. How did they work in the Hercules? We want to know these things!

By: erik_flannestad

erik_flannestad — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:27:22 +0000

This grower does carry actual seville oranges when they are in season, (Italian family at the Alemany Farmers’ Market), but these were marked “sour lemon oranges”. They are small-ish, seedy, and quite sour with a yellow-green flesh and relatively thin skin. The juice made a great marinade and pan sauce for a roasted pork tenderloin.

By: Michael Lazar

Michael Lazar — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:32:19 +0000

Erik: Thanks for the info. I look forward to the Satan’s Whiskers posts. I know there are a lot of essentially inedible oranges grown in CA backyards, I think because of the ease with which orange varieties will cross pollinate each other. Characteristics are wrinkly skin and/or thick pith and/or small sour fruit body. I’ve wondered how these might work in marmalade.

By: erik_flannestad

erik_flannestad — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:04:42 +0000

Michael, I’m not sure if they are exactly “Seville” oranges. They do look a lot like the Seville oranges I bought last year, but the grower at the Farmers’ Market just called them “sour” oranges. More info in the upcoming Satan’s Whiskers posts.

By: Michael Lazar

Michael Lazar — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:40:23 +0000

Curious: where are you finding fresh Seville oranges at this time of year? Happy Thanksgiving! – Michael