Working up a cocktail for a party to celebrate a half-Philippine wedding. Calamansi puree was available from Walmart so that's what I'm trying. So far, this is quite good.
2oz Calamansi Puree
2oz white rum
1/2 oz Aperol
1/2 oz orange liqueur
Splash of Orgeat
2 Splashes of simple syrup 2x strong
I shook it and it's got the spirit of the fruit for sure, easy drinking, sweet (the Calamansi is quite tart, this might be too sweet but when batching it, should be easier to adjust) It is not literally floral or perfumey but tastes like a fruity/floral perfume smells, hangs together extremely well.
It might taste better with a more assertive rum, but needs to be beautiful looking so it has to be the clear rum. For the batch I have a 2L of Stade's Barbados, could probably use a 750ml of more rum if anyone is familiar with the calamansi flavor has a suggestion for one that would work well, or cachaca perhaps?
A citrus fruit, it's tart, reminds me of yuzu somewhat, and sour orange, but different. The puree I have tastes sort of like if you put whole kumquats in the blender with a little bit of grapefruit juice and lime zest? It has enough bitter and sour to add complexity to the drink, and isn't something I'd drink straight from the bottle. I think in the Philippines it's used more in cooking, like we use sour oranges here.
We are in the Southeast too but Florida is diverse as heck I think we have people from everywhere. I did literally order the juice from Walmart :)
Man, that sounds delicious. Ima have to try and source some. Thanks for the response :)