PrintSerious cocktails.
What's your favorite cocktail? What must you always have in your home liquor cabinet? What do you always order out?
I'm in a rut and sick of the vodka-tonics, vodka-cranberries, beers... Every time I read Paul Clarke's articles on SE, most of the ingredients are foreign to me. (Sorry, Paul.) Any recommendations to expand my palate?
(PS I can't stand gin.)
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18 Comments:
I'll usually try anything Eben Freeman whips up at Tailor, or whatever's on the menu at Death Company, I'm going to Elletaria tomorrow night and am stoked to try some of their tiki drinks, but a well made old fashioned or whiskey sour is nice.
At home, I experiment a lot, I've been into Aviations, absinthe sours, lots of rye cocktails and just got some pimento dram so I've been playing around with that a lot and I figured out how to make a cocktail that tastes a lot like a gingerbread cookie!
Here's a rather simple cocktail that I think you'll find very enjoyable
The Blinker
2 ounces of Rye (bourbon will work as well)
1 ounce of fresh grapefruit juice
2 teaspoons of good quality raspberry syrup
shake with ice and strain
What spirit do you like, maybe we can work around that?
I have a food and culture blog that has a pretty basic user friendly cocktail section
check us out @
www.flyboyznyc.com
Mheusler at 7:49PM on 03/21/08
Mheusler: Ellataria? I wish I was going! My friends keep saying how good it is!
pbisNOTmyname at 9:03PM on 03/21/08
Crown Royal and Coke y nada mas.
PumpkinBear at 9:07PM on 03/21/08
PbisNOTmyname: yup, I'm going with my girlfriend, I'm psyched! I'll have a full review on my site in the next week or so
Mheusler at 9:10PM on 03/21/08
I must have Pallini Limoncello in the freezer. It's great straight, on the rocks with sparkling water or in a vodka martini.
soirees at 9:11PM on 03/21/08
Absolute rubby red vodka & diet tonic- yummy
joanpieroni2 at 9:20PM on 03/21/08
Girl's Weekend in Jamaica this year = SAMBUCA!!!! ;-DDDD
crazyspice at 9:36PM on 03/21/08
I found myself in a cocktail rut this weekend as well.
I came up with a cocktail that combined lime, ground ginger, simple syrup, tonic water and vodka. Yummm.
hammondcheese at 10:22PM on 03/21/08
A typical get-yourself-drunk college 'cocktail' around here is the Blackjack Martini-- blackberry liqueur, Sprite, rum, and vodka in roughly equal parts (though I'd go easy with the liqueur). A slice of lemon goes down well too.
It's too bad you dislike gin--gin sours are one of my favorites!
Christina at 11:47PM on 03/21/08
I know--what about a Brandy Alexander? The ingredients aren't too far-fetched.
* 1 1/2 oz Brandy
* 1 oz Dark Crème de Cacao
* 1 oz Half-and-half or Heavy cream
* 1/4 tsp grated Nutmeg
In a shaker half-filled with ice cubes, combine the brandy, crème de cacao, and half-and-half. Shake well. Strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with the nutmeg.
Christina at 1:45PM on 03/22/08
@Christina - Wow! That brings back memories. I want one!!
crazyspice at 3:04PM on 03/22/08
One of my all-time favorites was/is a Southern Comfort Alexander mixed as above but substitute Southern Comfort for the Brandy. Comfort on the Rocks for a basic "Sipper" on a warm evening...
Years ago, in a San Francisco Indian Restaurant I was treated to a Pimm's Cup to introduce a Majaraja's Feast. "http://www.bayoudog.com/articles/cocktails/in_the_cups_pimms_cup.php"
I have always associated that drink with the combination of spicy and cooling contrasts found in so many like cuisines.
czken at 4:49PM on 03/22/08
My home is never without EFFEN Black Cherry Vodka. Mix it with Godiva Dark and add a cherry:
http://nujoikitchendiary.blogspot.com/2007/12/lush-life_31.html
When I host several people, my official party drink is the hurricane. I don't like making individuals. This is a pitcher-at-a-time drink:
http://nujoikitchendiary.blogspot.com/2008/02/hurricane.html
When ordering out, I look for the large jars of pineapple soaking in vodka. When done right, it is the best ever. Take it straight or with a splash of 7Up.
I have to admit that I completely jumped on the mojito bandwagon. It's my official summer drink.
Happy Drinkin'!
NuJoi at 7:04PM on 03/22/08
These are some great ideas! I love vodka, but haven't gotten on the whiskey, rye, bourbon, or brandy bandwagons yet.
Anyone have any favorite martinis? I'm starting to like Dirties.
LiveToEat at 8:02PM on 03/22/08
Nuts and Berries
1 part Chambord 1 part Frangelico 2 parts cream
Yummy, tastes like black raspberry ice cream
mrsmoosie at 10:55PM on 03/22/08
Seldom indulge in mixed drinks anymore -- too busy with wine and beer, and getting too old for the hard stuff. But, when I do, bloody mary is my first thought. Followed closely by a lemon drop. Hubby likes Amaretto and 7-Up/Sprite. I used to live on greyhounds, but grapefruit juice is not my friend anymore (see heartburn thread).
So, the hard stuff that's almost never absent In my house would be vodka, and usually amaretto. Otherwise, it's hit and miss.
Creme de cassis for kir royale is commonplace, and Jack Daniels (hubby is from TN) is frequent. Sometimes there are rum (meyers dark) and kaluha. Oh. And cognac and brandy, which are mainly for cooking, toddies or egg nog. But they can all be missing for months before I restock.
Never gin or t'killya, unless it's for entertaining someone who we know wants those specific poisons.
Mostly it's wine around here.
LoCo at 11:10PM on 03/22/08
Yo, try pisco! Pisco sours are the bomb, although I happen to be lucky enough to have a small distiller in my area that makes their own pisco, which is top shelf. The bad news for me, and good for anyone in the Denver area, is that Leopold Bros. will be moving there in June. Guess I have to stock up soon.
For me, Mai Tais and Gimlets rock and we like to get inventive with other libations. I adore martinis in every form, and just the other night my hubby, frustrated mixologist that he is, shook up clementine juice, vodka, Grand Marnier and a smidge of yuzu. Yumm.....
I came up with a cocktail for him last summer. Stop me if you've heard of this! He loves blackberry brandy, so when black raspberries were in season, I made an eau de vie. Use 1 jigger light rum, 3/4 jigger blackberry brandy, 1/2 jigger creme de cassis, 3/4 jigger lemon juice and a splash of simple syrup or soda, if desired.
For something really pink and pretty, use 2 parts raspberry vodka, 1 part Chambord, 1 part pink lemonade, 1 part Cointreau or Triple Sec and shake with crushed ice. Serve in Martini glass. Also quite yumm.... Great for chick night.
frederika at 4:19PM on 03/23/08
Homemade margaritas are the best. squeeze of some limes (and an orange if you want to go crazy), good tequila, triple sec (or better yet, grand marnier or cointreau), a bit of sugar or agave nectar, and if you want to lighten it up add a splash of soda. yum!
But the best drink is my grandma's favorite- 7&7. Seagrams 7 with 7-up or gingerale and lots of ice.
karenita at 9:49PM on 03/24/08