Masterful Mojito

I like to make the kinds that people talk about. The ones that are so good, that you can't order them out any more.

As the days grow longer, my thoughts turn to summer. Yes, it's only February, but a great drink is always in season.



Masterful Mojito
1 1/2 oz Bacardi Superior Rum
1/4 oz Cointreau Orange Liqueur
3 tsp sugar
1 lime
Mint leaves

Quarter the lime. In a shaker, combine ice, Bacardi Superior, Cointreau, sugar, and the juice from one half of the lime. Shake until frosty. Gently muddle 12-14 fresh mint leaves in the bottom of a Collins glass with the juice from one lime quarter. Add 6-8 ice cubes to the glass and pour the contents of the shaker over the ice. Top off with club soda and a mint sprig and garnish with the remaining lime quarter.

Change it up a little bit by adding a splash of your favorite limoncello.

A Long Way Home

Most bar Long Island Iced Teas are made with a mix of bottom-shelf liquors and sour mix. This one is not.

1/2 oz Tanqueray Gin
1/2 oz Cointreau Orange Liqueuer
1/2 oz 1800 Silver Tequila
1/2 oz Bacardi Superior Rum
1/2 oz Absolut Citron Vodka
1/2 oz filtered water
1 Lemon
3 tsp sugar
Coca-Cola, Royal Crown, or other cola with a sweet aftertaste

Fill a shaker with fresh cracked ice and add all alcohols, water, and sugar. Cut lemon in half; squeeze one half into the shaker. Shake vigorously and strain into ice-filled glass. Top with Coca-cola or RC until it is the color of traditional iced tea. Cut the remaining lemon half in half and garnish drink.

Raspberry Lemon Drop

Last night, I was kicking around ideas for a new drink. I really enjoy Lemon Drops, and I really enjoy raspberry lemonade, so I thought it might be good to mix the flavors.

This is what I came up with.

Raspberry Lemon Drop
3/4 oz Absolut Citron Vodka
3/4 oz Effen Raspberry Vodka
3/4 oz Simple Syrup
1/2 oz Cointreau Orange Liqueur
1 lemon

Combine all ingredients in a stainless cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously until shaker is frosty. Strain into martini glass.

The Lemon Drop

Any bartender can combine cheap ingredients and pre-made mixes. But if you want to make incredible drinks people really enjoy, you need to start with good quality ingredients.

A little high school chemistry never hurt, either.

The Lemon Drop is a drink that is routinely desecrated with bottom-shelf vodka and sour mix. If you've spent any time on my drinks blog posts, you'll find that I favor drinkability and flavor over just about everything else.

This is no different.

Lemon Drop
1 1/2 oz Belvedere Vodka
3/4 oz Caravella Limoncello
-or-
2 oz Absolut Citron Vodka
1/4 oz Caravella Limoncello

3/4 oz simple syrup
1/2 oz Cointreau Orange Liqueur
1 fresh-squeezed lemon

Rim either an old-fashioned or martini glass with the squeezed lemon and dip in sugar. Combine the spirits and fresh-squeezed lemon in a metal shaker full of ice. Shake until the canister is frosty and strain into the glass. Garnish with a lemon wedge.

If the drink is too strong, you can add a splash of club soda without affecting the flavor.

An Old Fashioned Drink for the Modern Man

If you're looking for a drink that hearkens back to simpler times or a crisp drink that none of your neighors are drinking, look no further than the Old Fashioned. Concocted as early as 1806 (according to some), this blend of whisky or bourbon tempered by a little sugar and bitters hits the spot every time.

Old Fashioned
1 tsp or so of simple syrup (or about 1/2 tsp of loose sugar)
Splash of club soda or water
2 or 3 dashes of Angostura bitters
1 1/2 oz of whisky or bourbon (I prefer Maker's Mark)

Comine the syrup, club soda (or not, if you're a purist), and bitters in a glass with an ice cube. If using loose sugar, make sure it's fully dissolved. Swirl around until the inside of the glass is coated. Add the whisky or bouron. Serve with a cherry or two and an orange slice.

My Favorite Whisky Sour

Sometimes, you just need a good whisky. Or whiskey. Take your pick. And sometimes, you need a good whisky sour.

Whisky Sour
2 oz Maker's Mark Bourbon
1 oz fresh squeezed lemon
1 oz water
Splash of Southern Comfort 100
1 tsp sugar

Combine in a shaker with ice. Shake vigorously for about 15 seconds and strain into a double old-fashioned filled with ice. Good to the last drop.

Longhorn Steak House "Perfect Margarita"

The Longhorn Steak House in Sterling, Virginia makes a great margarita. So great, in fact, that I decided to try to make it myself. No mixes here--only the real deal.

Longhorn Steak House Perfect Margarita
1 1/2 oz 1800 Reposado Tequila
1/2 oz Cointreau orange liqueur
1/2 oz Grand Marnier orange liqueur
1/2 oz pulp-free orange juice
2 1/2 oz fresh-squeezed lime juice
1/2 oz fresh-squeezed lemon juice
1 oz water
2 tsp sugar

Combine all ingredients in a shaker with cracked ice. Shake vigorously for 10-15 seconds and strain into salt-rimmed glasses.

Delicioso!

Best Damn White Russian. Ever.

A few months ago, I posted this most excellent recipe for a White Russian.

This one is even better.

The Dude would be proud.

Best Damn White Russian
2 oz Kahlua Coffee Liqueur
1 oz Stoli Vanil (vanilla Vodka)
2 oz Bailey's Irish Cream
1 oz milk or cream

Add all ingredients to a double-old fashioned glass with ice. Stir gently and enjoy.

Vida la Cuba Libre!

At the beginning of this fine Father's Day weekend, I was trying to think of a new drink to make. I stumbled upon this gem--the Cuba Libre. I made it a couple of different ways; each one brings its own pleasure.

Cuba Libre
1 1/2 oz white rum, such as Bacardi Superior
1 lime
Coca-cola

Fill a collins or highball glass with ice cubes and squeeze in the juice of one lime. Add rum, and top off with the Coca-cola. Stir gently.

If you're more of a Captain and Coke kind of guy (or girl), you can also try adding a lime to it. It enhances the flavor in an interesting way and makes for a new twist on an old standard.

Fuzzy Navels for All

Here's a drink that's a crowd pleaser at just about any get-together. In fact, here's the same drink three different ways.

Fuzzy Navel - Original Recipe
1 1/2 oz DeKuyper Peach Tree Schnapps
Pulp-free orange juice

Add ice to a collins or highball glass. Pour in peach schnapps. Top off with orange juice and stir.

Since most schnapps aren't very high proof, this drink isn't very strong. It does have a good flavor, though, which counts for something.

Fuzzy Navel - Bar Recipe
1 1/2 oz DeKuyper Peach Tree Schnapps
1/2 oz vodka
Pulp-free orange juice

Add ice to a collins or highball glass. Pour in peach schnapps and vodka. Top off with orange juice and stir.

This is the typical recipe that you'll get at a bar. It's got a little more kick to it, but depending on the vodka used, sometimes comes off a little sharp.

Fuzzy Navel - Top Shelf
1 1/2 oz DeKuyper Peach Tree Schnapps
1/2 oz Cointreau orange liqueur
1/2 oz vodka
Pulp-free orange juice

Add ice to a collins or highball glass. Pour in peach schnapps, Cointreau, and vodka. Top off with orange juice and stir.

This is my own recipe. It's packs even more punch, but since Cointreua is such an easy sipper, it's much more subtle. The Cointreau really blends well with the schnapps and creates a most excellent drink, in my opinion.

Mix and enjoy.

Lemon Rickey

Out of limes tonight, I decided to start mixing something new. I at least had some other key ingredients.

Lemon Rickey
1 1/2 oz Bombay Sapphire Gin
1/2 oz Cointreau orange liqueur
Juice of 1 lemon
2 tsp sugar
club soda

Squeeze a lemon into a highball glass filled with ice. Add the sugar, gin, and Cointreau. Top off with club soda and stir.

Cinco de Mayo Drinks

Ahh! Summer is upon us. Today we celebrate Cinco de Mayo, the day set aside to commemorate General Ignacio Seguin's victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla. As to how this translates to fajitas, tequila, and piñatas, I'm not quite sure.

But, who am I to argue with tradición?

Here are a few classic drinks to make your cinco sensational.

Classic Margarita
1 1/2 reposado tequila
1 oz Grand Marnier orange liqueur
3/4 oz fresh squeezed Mexican lime juice
Splash of orange juice

Shake all ingredients with ice. Strain into a salt-rimmed cocktail glass and serve with a lime wedge.

If you don't use Mexican limes, add a tsp or so of sugar.

La Paloma
1 oz blanco tequila
3/4 - 1 1/2 oz lime (depending on taste)
pinch of salt
grapefruit soda (such as Squirt)

Fill a collins or highball glass about half-way with ice cubes. Add the tequila and salt. Squeeze in the lime and then drop the rind in the glass. Top off with grapefruit soda.

Tequila Sunrise
1 1/2 oz reposado tequila
1/2 oz Rose's Grenadine
4 oz orange juice

Fill a collins or highball glass about halfway with ice and add tequila. Pour in orange juice to taste. Tip glass and pour grenadine down the inside of the glass. It should hit the bottom and begin swirling up. Garnish with a cherry and orange wheel or slice.

If anyone else has a favorite Cinco drink, feel free to share!

Summertime Drink: The La Paloma

I had the pleasure of mixing up this delightfully fresh summer drink tonight. It was kind of a dreary day, so I was trying to bring out the sun (even though it was 9:00pm). This tasty Mexican beverage is very similar to a margarita, but easier to make and more forgiving.

La Paloma (Classic)
2 oz blanco tequila
1/2 oz lime
pinch of salt
grapefruit soda (such as Squirt)

La Paloma (All-day sipper)
1 oz blanco tequila
3/4 oz lime (about 1/2 lime)
pinch of salt
grapefruit soda (such as Squirt)

Fill a collins or highball glass about half-way with ice cubes. Add the tequila and salt. Squeeze in the lime and then drop the rind in the glass. Top off with grapefruit soda.

Oatmeal Cookie

There are a lot of "food-like" drinks around right now. Chocolate Cake. Banana Creme Pie. Oatmeal Cookie. Yes, Oatmeal Cookie. All that's missing are the raisins:

Oatmeal Cookie
2 oz Bailey's Irish Cream
1 oz DeKuyper Hot Damn or Goldschlager Cinnamon Schnapps/Liqueur
1 oz DeKuyper ButterShots Liqueur

Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into glass.

Chocolate Martini

A great meal is in need of a great dessert drink.

This is that drink.

Chocolate Martini
2 1/2 oz Bailey's Irish Cream
1 1/2 oz Stolichnya Vanilla Vodka
1 oz Godiva Chocolate Liqueur or Crème de Cacao
Splash of milk or half and half

Rim a chilled martini glass with milk and then roll the rim in a good powdered hot chocolate. Tip the glass up and drizzle chocolate syrup on the inside. Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake vigorously 10-12 times and strain into glass. Garnish with a shaved piece of chocolate.

New White Russian on the Block

It's been a while since I've posted a new recipe (or a twist on an old one). Out of one the normal ingredients (whole milk or cream), I substituted and came up with this delightful blend:

New White Russian
2 oz Kahlua Coffee Liqueur
1/2 oz vodka
1 oz Bailey's Irish Cream
2 oz Silk Soy Milk

Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake a couple of times, but not too much; it's not supposed to be a frothy drink. Strain into a double old-fashioned glass with a few cracked ice cubes.

It's creamy, coffee goodness. And, with Silk, it's a little less of a calorie hit than cream or whole milk. ;-)

Because you know me. Concerned about health and all.

A Purple Nasty, Snake-Bitin' Good Time

I was introduced to this fine UK collegiate-style drink this weekend by my sister-in-law's most excellent boyfriend, Eddie. It's quite tasty, and definitely sneaks up on you. It's made by mixing a dry cider and a lager.

Depending on your lager choice, you may need to add more cider to gain the desired level of sweetness.

Snake Bite
5 oz Stella Artois Belgian Lager
5 oz Strongbow Cider

Combine ingredients in a Pilsner glass and enjoy.

Adding black currant turns it into a Snake Bite Black.

Snake Bite Black
5 oz Stella Artois Belgian Lager
5 oz Strongbow Cider
2 oz Black Currant

Change the ratio a bit, and it becomes a Purple Nasty.

Purple Nasty
6 1/2 oz Strongbow Cider
3 1/2 oz Stella Artois Belgian Lager
2 oz Black Currant

This is supposedly the drink of Loughborough University in England.

However you mix it and whatever you call it, it's well worth trying.

Classic Margarita

Strip away all the bells and whistles. Want a margarita you can make from scratch in a few minutes? Look no further.

Classic Margarita
1 1/2 oz silver or reposado tequila
1 oz Grand Marnier orange liqueur
3/4 oz fresh squeezed Mexican lime juice
Splash of orange juice

Shake all ingredients with ice. Strain into a salt-rimmed cocktail glass and serve with a lime wedge.

If you don't use Mexican limes, add a tsp or so of sugar.

Cognac Mint Frappe

Cognac is distilled from grapes from the Cognac region of France. It bears properties of both wine and liquor. Chances are, if you have a taste for wine, you'll appreciate cognac.

The idea for this drink came from the pages of Esquire; I Googled and found a similar recipe from which I drew the name. It's disarming and delicious; it's a good dessert drink.

Cognac Mint Frappe
2 1/2 oz cognac
1/4 oz white creme de menthe

Shake with ice and strain into a double old-fashioned with ice. Add a splash of water, and serve with a mint sprig if desired.

Rusty Nail

This is one of my new favorites. The Rusty Nail is the quintessential two-ingredient drink of the American recreation room.

Not much to say here, except drink it responsibly. It's a kicker of a drink and goes down smooth, so it's easy to over-consume.

Rusty Nail
3 oz quality Scotch (I currently have Glenlivet 15 Year French Oak Reserve in my cabinet, so that's what I'm using)
1 oz Drambuie

Shake together with ice, and pour into a double old-fashioned glass with ice. If it's too strong, you may want to either add a splash of water or wait for some of the ice to melt.

Some folks make it 2:1, some folks swear by 1:1. You could start out 1:1 and keep adding Scotch until it's just right for you. I'm partial to the 3:1 mix, since it Drambuie has a good bit of sweetness to it. Whatever you do, enjoy.