Cocktail Quiz NO.005

Which cocktail gets a fruity hint of peach, adding to the classic vodka, orange juice, and Galliano blend?

Reveal of 005 Quiz: Slow Comfortable Screw Against The Wall

In the 1970s and 1980s, cocktails with provocative names became all the rage. These drinks, with their unique names and flavors, were a fashion statement of their time and continue to be popular today. Among them, the "Slow Comfortable Screw Up Against the Wall" cocktail stood out as one of the most iconic, giving rise to an entire series of cocktails based on the "Slow Screw."

The name "Slow Comfortable Screw Up Against the Wall" is derived from its ingredients. It started with the "Screwdriver" cocktail, where vodka was replaced with sloe gin to create the "Slow Screw." The addition of Southern Comfort added a smooth, layered taste, while "Up Against the Wall" refers to the inclusion of Galliano, a key ingredient in the Harvey Wallbanger cocktail. This drink, known for its rich sweetness and strong alcohol content, became a symbol of 1980s and 1990s bar culture.

Though these types of cocktails were sometimes criticized for their high sugar content, they remained beloved for their distinctive flavors and playful names, making them an integral part of the era's drinking culture.

Mixing insights:

This cocktail combines a variety of spirits along with orange juice. In the past, the Screwdriver (vodka + orange juice), one of the origins of this cocktail, was considered a simple drink. However, according to the principles of mixology (the simpler, the harder), if you use orange juice with a chemical taste, the negative impact on the final result will be obvious. Similarly, this cocktail uses sloe gin paired with peach-flavored whiskey and Galliano liqueur, which has notes of vanilla and anise. The balance of these ingredients will greatly affect the final flavor. Achieving a blend that maintains the berry and peach flavors while preserving the gin’s distinct taste is quite challenging. Additionally, the quality of the orange juice is crucial—artificially sweetened, chemically-laden juice can ruin the carefully crafted balance of the other ingredients. And of course, good mixing techniques are essential.