Casino Cocktail Friday -- Poker and Campari
Today's Casino Cocktail Friday is a very sneaky combination. It is all about deception and false-impressions. Today we pair together the eternal game of Poker, where you try to con some money out of fellow players, and Campari, a deceptively simple drink with a complex taste. Read on to find out how Campari, and a decent hand can lead you to striking it big at the poker table.
To begin with, as always, we present the recipe:
1 Oz Campari
2 Oz club soda
serve over rocks
garnish with orange
Now you may ask, what is Campari?
Here's the WIkipedia Entry:
Campari is an alcoholic aperitif obtained from the infusion of bitter herbs, aromatic plants and fruit in alcohol and water.
The history of Campari began in Novara, Italy in 1860, with the invention of the original recipe by Gaspare Campari that is still in use today. The recipe incorporates over 60 ingredients and is kept confidential to this day. However, it is known that the colour comes from cochineal dye. In 1904, Campari's first production plant was opened in Sesto San Giovanni and the company began to export the brand overseas. The Campari brand is now distributed in over 190 countries.
In the Italian market, Campari mixed with carbonated water is sold in individual bottles as CampariSoda (10% alcohol by volume). CampariSoda is packaged in a distinctive bottle that was designed in the 1930s by Fortunato Depero. CampariSoda was first created in 1932.
Campari is red in color, and when you taste it, your first thought may be to spit it out. It is decidedly bitter. In fact, thats why we chose it for today's Casino Cocktail Friday. That bitterness is going to lead you to sip it in small bursts, and that is just what you want at the poker table.
One of those often touted rules of poker is that you really should not be drinking while at the table. It leads to poor decisions, and others can see that and take advantage of it. Enter the Campari and Soda. It has a generally low alchohol content, and with its bitter taste, its a drink you can naturally nurse. Others will see you with a little red drink, and they will make the assumption that you are getting loaded... that you are playing a little loose. You would be wise to encourage that misconception at opportune moments. You can let people think that your drink is something stronger, maybe mistakenly showing some bad cards that you played through the river with (albeit for a low bet). And then when they think you a slob, you can close the trap and take down giant pots seemingly by luck.
Yes, the Campari and Soda is as valuable a weapon at the poker table as those two kings in your hand. So the next time you consider getting a drink at the table, before you sit down, pull aside the cocktail waitress, tell her you want campari and sodas to keep coming if they are empty, and that you will tip her extra if she tells people they are cosmos.
Campari USA -- The Campari official site.
Webtender -- some other Campari Recipes
How to Win at Hold'Em -- a look at some good poker books we have checked out.
Read More in: Casino Style | Cuisine | Gaming
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Posted by Russell Miner at September 29, 2006 9:00 AM
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