cocktail review no. 62 - Shark Bite

Say a beverage struck you as repulsive the first time you tried it. Don't give up. Head to another venue and sample their version of the same drink. Chances are you'll be pleasantly surprised. You may even discover a keeper.

The cocktail world is subjective. There are millions of ways to make the same drink. There are as many margarita recipes as there are cells in Jimmy Buffett's body. If a drink (especially a popular drink) fails to catch fire with you, look up a different recipe...or a different bar. It's too early to quit.

I found that out with this drink.

• 1 ounce light rum 
• ½ ounce vodka
• 1½ ounces Blue Curaçao
• 4 ounces sweet-and-sour
• ½ ounce grenadine

In a margarita glass half-filled with ice cubes, combine the rum, vodka, Blue Curaçao, and sweet-and-sour. Drop the grenadine into the center of the drink.

Now, let me set the stage for you.

I had tried the Shark Bite at Outback Steakhouse a few months prior. I was underwhelmed. On an impulse I decided to try the same drink again at Joe's Crab Shack. Different venue, different recipe, right?

Wow, did that ever turn out to be the right decision.

And not only did Joe's version of the Shark Bite turn out to be superior in taste, the presentation was second to none. The people at Joe's are pretty clever when it comes to prettying up strong drink. Aside from their kick-butt Mason jar margaritas, they serve a mean-looking Shark Bite. You get the drink in a big goblet. The Blue Curaçao renders the drink a vivid blue, like the ocean. The grenadine is served on the side, in a beaker stuffed into the mouth of a rubber toy shark. You, the customer, then drop the grenadine into the center of your drink.

The result is something like this:

Pretty cute, huh? The grenadine looks for all the world like blood in the water. And having that "blood" served up in a "shark" only makes the experience more novel.

I've listed the ingredients for this libation, but the amounts are approximate; it came out tasting pretty good, though. This is not a typical tropical drink. It doesn't reek of pineapple or drown in fruit juice. The vodka and rum combine to form a sweet, boozy kick which the orange tang of the Curaçao overlays and enhances. The sweet-and-sour simultaneously takes the edge off of the spirits while providing a sweetness of its own to the mix, while the grenadine (once you've added it) provides a cherry overtone which gets stronger and stronger the deeper you go.

What more do you need? The flavor's good and the drink is guaranteed to thrill the guests at any party. Get out there and mix.

That is all.