Tag: cocktail recipes

The Moscow Mule

What happens when a group of businessmen from complimenting companies sit down for a drink? Well, if it’s 1941 and their companies sell ginger beer and vodka, the Moscow Mule is born.

The story is legendary. Jack Morgan, president of Cock ‘n’ Bull Products and owner of the Hollywood Cock ‘n’ Bull Restaurant, John G. Martin, president of G.F. Heublein Brothers Inc, and Rudolph Kunett, president of Pierre Smirnoff, Heublein’s vodka division, sit down for a drink at Chatham Bar in New York City. As with any good boozing story, the guys were thinking and talking business, and before long Martin and Kunett started to wonder out loud how their vodka would pair up with Morgan’s ginger beer. Ice, mugs, lemon, ginger beer, and vodka were summoned, and, after a five count, the gents took down the mix, and were happy with the result. It needed a name though, and, after four or five rounds, they had a good one – The Moscow Mule.

The highball caught on and made its way to the glamorous Hollywood set, where it would remain a favorite to this day. Since its origin, the lemon has been replaced with lime, and it is now properly served in a copper mug, but other than that, the recipe has remained the same.

Who says a bunch of businessmen can’t come up with good ideas?

The Moscow Mule

Ingredients:

2 oz vodka
1 oz fresh lime juice
4 oz ginger beer

Pour vodka and lime juice into ice-filled copper mug or highball glass. Add ginger beer and stir. Garnish with a lime wedge.

June 11, 2014
Beach Drinks: The Pink Slip

It’s been a cool spring so far, but that doesn’t mean we’re not thinking about the beach. Before you know it, the humidity is going to climb, the sun is going to beat down and begin the torment that can only lead to two things: the beach and cold cocktails. Together, the two are what make summer bearable, so why not enjoy them together? This year, we will tip our hats to the combination in our summer beach cocktail series.

This week, we feature a bubbly pink cocktail made with rum, cranberry juice, and champagne. An excellent drink for summer, the Pink Slip can (and should) be enjoyed with friends as you relax in your beach chairs and gaze at the water.

The Pink Slip

Ingredients:

1 part coconut rum
1 part cranberry juice
Champagne

Chill ingredients. Combine coconut rum and cranberry juice in a glass*. Top with champagne. Enjoy!

*Tip: Prepare the coconut rum and cranberry juice before heading to the beach, and just add the champagne to individual glasses as you pour! Saves time and room!

June 4, 2014
The Everlasting Martini

Who invented the Martini? Does anyone even care? The history of the beloved icon is so messy that even the most interested cocktail historians get lost in the silly arguments and overblown claims. The truth is that most people who love the Martini are thrilled that anyone invented it, and they’re busy drinking the cocktail rather than worrying about who’s taking credit for its inception.

The fun stuff is why we drink it. The partnership of the Martini and living the good life is so ingrained in American culture that just holding one will make you feel classier, wealthier, and maybe even better looking. Its ties to prohibition, speakeasies, and the idolization of flappers and gangsters also gives it an edginess, a throwback to a good time decade where shirking the law was an everyday thing. Admirable people drank it with gusto – and we all know just how they took it, whether that be shaken, not stirred, with a bow to France, or just glancing at the vermouth from across the room – the Martini was everybody’s drink. As H.L. Mencken once said, the Martini is “the only American invention as perfect as the sonnet.”

In subsequent years, the Martini has come to represent anything served in a martini glass, but in its truest form, the drink is simply gin and vermouth, garnished with an olive or lemon twist. Variations include substituting vodka for gin, varying the dryness by adding more or less vermouth, adding bitters, taking the vermouth out entirely, or dirtying it up with olive juice.

The Martini

Ingredients:

2 1/2 ounces gin
1/2 ounce dry vermouth
olives or lemon twist for garnish

Pour the ingredients into a mixing glass filled with ice cubes. Stir for 30 seconds. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with the olive or lemon twist.

The Winston Churchill

As today is Winston Churchill Day, I’ll give you his recipe as well. Hats off, Prime Minister.

Stir gin with ice until ice cold. Bow in the direction of France.*

*Churchill’s recipe is often wrongly attributed as having you stare at a bottle of vermouth from across the room while stirring the gin. This was actually said by Alfred Hitchcock, another infamous martini drinker.

April 9, 2014
Peanut Butter and Jelly Cocktails? Yes, please.

So, in the ultimate celebration of childhood, someone in the world decided that April 2 was going to be National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day. How fantastic is that? To fully honor such a brilliant day, I’ve collected cocktail recipes inspired by this favorite lunchbox sandwich.

Peanut Butter & Jelly Milkshake

Created by Cooking Channel’s Nadia G

Ingredients:

2 ounces PB&J Vodka
1 cup milk
1/2 cup vanilla ice cream
1/2 banana
1 heaping tablespoon smooth peanut butter
1 heaping tablespoon fresh raspberries
Toasted peanuts for garnish

Add ingredients to a blender and blend to combine. Serve in tall glass and garnish with toasted peanuts.

PB&J Shot

Ingredients:

3/4 oz Frangelico liqueur
3/4 oz Chambord liqueur

Combine liqueurs in a shaker over ice. Shake well and strain into a shot glass.

Peanut Butter & Jelly Martini

Ingredients:

2 parts Vodka
1 Part Black Currant Liqueur
1 Part Hazelnut Liqueur
1 Part Strawberry Puree
1 Whole Strawberry

Combine all ingredients in a shaker over ice. Shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a strawberry.

April 2, 2014
Jack Daniels Cocktails

Straight up, on the rocks, mixed with coke, or a pull from the bottle, Jack Daniels Tennessee Whiskey has been a whiskey lover’s favorite since the distillery’s inception in 1866. As popular it is, Jack Daniels is not traditionally used in many more complicated mixed drinks, nor do its drinkers necessarily want it to be. Jack Daniels cocktails do exist, however, and those who enjoy them take the time to come up with creative and delicious recipes. Try these tasty recipes and you may never go back to straight Jack again.

Japanese Jack

An oriental mix to sweeten the taste buds.

Ingredients:

1 oz Jack Daniels
2 oz Plum Wine
5 oz Sweet mix
Lemon or Lime Wedge for garnish

Combine ingredients into a glass over ice. Garnish with a slice of lemon or lime, and serve.

Tennessee Tea

A Jack Daniel’s distillery original.

Ingredients:

1 part Jack Daniels
1 part Triple Sec
1 part Sweet and Sour
2 part Cola

In a mason jar (if there is no access to a mason jar, a pint glass is sufficient), combine all ingredients over ice and serve.

3 Wise Men Hunting Turkeys in Mexico (Shot)

Consisting of all very potent alcohols, please be advised that this is not a shot to be taken lightly.

Ingredients:

1 part Jack Daniels
1 part Jim Beam
1 part Johnnie Walker
1 part Jose Cuervo
1 part Wild Turkey

In a shaker, combine ingredients. Strain into a shot glass and serve.

Alabama Slammer

Alabama Slammers are made many different ways, but when it’s mixed with Jack Daniels, the drink has a more pronounced southern feel to it.

Ingredients:

1/2 oz Southern Comfort
1/2 oz Jack Daniels
1/2 oz Amaretto
1/2 oz Sloe Gin
Orange juice

Combine liquors in a glass over ice. Fill with orange juice and serve.

Jack Daniel’s Lynchburg Lemonade

It’s only proper to name this cocktail after the home of the distillery.

Ingredients:

1 part Jack Daniel’s
1 part Sweet and Sour Mix
1 part Triple Sec
4 parts Sprite
Lemon Slices and Cherries for garnish

Combine ingredients in a glass over ice. Garnish with lemon slices and cherries and serve.

International Jack

For world travelers, Gentleman Jack offers this favorite.

Ingredients:

2 oz Jack Daniels
1/4 oz Dry Shack Sherry
2 dashes Angostura Bitters
Orange Peel for garnish

Mix ingredients in a shaker with ice. Strain into a glass. Garnish with an orange peel and serve.

Slow Comfortable Screw on a Dogbox

From the backwoods of Florida comes this creatively named aperitif.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 oz Jack Daniels
1 1/2 oz Southern Comfort
1 1/2 oz Sloe Gin
1 splash Grenadine
Orange Juice

In a pint glass (or a mason jar if there is one available), combine Jack, Southern, and Sloe gin. Fill with orange juice, add splash of grenadine, and serve.

March 5, 2014
Valentine’s Day Cocktails

Sure, dinner and a movie is super fun, but this Valentine’s Day, grab your partner, and use it as an excuse to drink rich, sexy cocktails. You won’t regret it. With chocolate, strawberries, cognac, gin, oranges, and more, these drinks run the gamut and offer a little something for everyone. Whether topping off your night, or as a sensual nightcap, these drinks are sure to impress. So scrap the champagne, lock elbows, look into each other’s eyes, and enjoy.

Chocolate Strawberry Martini

Ingredients:

3 strawberries, sliced
1 oz milk
4 oz top shelf vodka
2 oz chocolate liqueur

In a shaker, muddle the strawberries and milk. Add the remaining ingredients and fill with ice. Shake, and strain into an over-sized martini glass.

Romance

Ingredients:

3/4 oz Kahlua
3/4 oz Irish cream
3/4 oz brown creme de cacao
1 oz heavy cream

Shake the ingredients with ice and strain them into a martini glass.

The Jack Rose

Ingredients:

2 oz applejack
1 oz fresh lime juice
1 oz grenadine

Add all the ingredients to a shaker and fill with ice. Shake, and strain into a chilled coupe cocktail glass. Garnish with a lime wheel.

Between the Sheets

Ingredients:

1 oz Cognac
1 oz Triple sec
1 oz Light rum
1/4 oz Fresh lemon juice

Add all the ingredients to a shaker and fill with ice. Shake, and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Flame an orange peel over the glass and discard before serving.

The Scarlett O’Hara

Ingredients:

2 oz Southern Comfort
Dash of lime juice
6 oz cranberry juice

Pour the Southern Comfort, lime juice and cranberry juice into a shaker with ice, and shake well. Strain into a Collins glass. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Forbidden Love

Ingredients:

2 oz Hendricks gin
1 oz blood orange juice
Dash simple syrup, 2 strawberries
4 slices of cucumber

Muddle fruit with simple syrup, add gin and blood orange juice. Shake and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with strawberry, cucumber spiral and orange peel hearts.

February 12, 2014
The Rob Roy

Named for the Scottish folk hero, Rob Roy MacGregor, the Rob Roy is similar to the Manhattan, but uses a Scotch Whisky rather than Rye or Bourbon.

The Rob Roy gives Scotch drinkers another option from the traditional Scotch and soda. Made with a combination of Scotch Whisky, vermouth and (sometimes) bitters, it is not surprising that it is often referred to as the Scotch Manhattan.

The Rob Roy made its first appearance in the US around 1894 at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. The introduction was two-fold: the American launch of Dewar’s Scotch Whisky, and an Opera that opened near the Waldorf carrying the drink’s namesake. Once it had made its debut, the new classic was here to stay.

Rob Roy MacGregor

The cocktail gets its name from Rob Roy MacGregor, a Scottish folk hero and outlaw. It’s hard to say exactly why the drink is named for the Scottish Robin Hood, but there are two possible reasons. The first, and most likely, is that because the drink is made with Scotch, the originator of the drink chose a famous Scotsman as its namesake. Also possible is that because the McGregor was known to have red hair, and the Rob Roy has an amber tint, it seemed only natural to name it for the famous Scotsman.

The Rob Roy

1 1/2 oz Scotch
1/4 oz Sweet Vermouth
1 Dash of Bitters (optional)

The Rob Roy can be served straight up or on the rocks, depending on the preference of the drinker.

For straight up, combine the ingredients in a mixing glass and stir thoroughly. Strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with a cherry.

For on the rocks, combine the ingredients over ice in an old-fashioned glass. Garnish with a cherry.

While the Rob Roy is traditionally served sweet, it can be ordered dry by substituting dry vermouth for the sweet, or perfect by pouring equal portions of dry and sweet vermouth. For the best taste, be sure to keep the vermouth at a total of 1/4 oz or less.

Variations

A variation on its own, the Rob Roy is a member of the Manhattan family of cocktails, and has even spurred a variation of itself. Check out some of Rob Roy’s friendly cousins.

Green Briar

The only real variation spurred from the Rob Roy.

1 1/2 oz Scotch
1/4 oz Sweet Vermouth
1/4 oz Cointreau

Combine the ingredients over ice in an old-fashioned glass. Garnish with a cherry. Can also be served straight up.

Ruby Manhattan

1 1/2 oz Rye Whiskey
1/2 oz Port
1 Dash of Bitters

Combine the ingredients over ice in an old-fashioned glass. Garnish with a cherry. Can also be served straight up.

The Latin Manhattan

1 1/2 oz Dark Rum
1 1/2 oz Sweet Vermouth
1 1/2 oz Dry Vermouth
1 Dash of Bitters

Combine the ingredients over ice in an old-fashioned glass. Garnish with a lemon wedge. Can also be served straight up.

February 10, 2014
Jim Beam History and Recipes

From its invention in Kentucky in the late 1700’s to the renaming of the company in 1933, Jim Beam has been a must have in any home bar or drinking establishment.

In 1795, Jacob Beam sold the first barrel of Old Jake Beam Sour Mash bourbon whiskey, beginning the roots of the Jim Beam brand. In 1820, he passed on his bourbon distillery to his son, David. Thirty years later, David M. Beam inherited the business from his father as well. By 1880, Beam’s Old Tub bourbon, due to railroad expansion and the telegraph, had become a national brand.

In 1894, the man best known for Beam brand whiskey, James B. Beam, would take over the distillery and turn the drink into the brand we know it as today. Although he was forced to sell the distillery in 1920 due to the prohibition, he wasted no time after the passing of the Volstead act, rebuilding in 120 days. It is during this time that the name off the whiskey brand officially became Jim Beam Bourbon.

The popularity of the brand has remained through three more generations of the Beam family, and with the addition of Booker’s, Baker’s, Basil Hayden’s and Knob’s Creek small batch bourbons, is the top bourbon distillery in the world.

Agent Orange

Ingredients:

1 oz Jim Beam
1 oz Yukon Jack
1 oz Apple Schnapps
1 oz Vodka
1 oz Light Rum
1 oz Triple Sec
1/2 oz Grenadine Syrup
2 oz Orange Juice

Add the ingredients to a shaker. Shake well and pour into a cocktail glass over ice Garnish with a cherry and orange slice and serve.

Kentucky Wildcat

Ingredients:

1/2 oz Jim Beam
1/2 oz Southern Comfort
1/2 oz Yukon Jack
1/2 oz Jack Daniel’s
2 oz Sweet and Sour mix
2 oz Cola

Pour the ingredients over ice in a cocktail glass, and stir gently. Garnish with a twist of lemon, and serve.

Beam Me Up

Ingredients:

1 oz Jim Beam
1 oz Amaretto
6 oz Cola

Combine Jim Beam and Amaretto over ice in a cocktail glass. Add the Cola on the top and stir. Garnish with a cherry and serve.

Sunbeam

Ingredients:

1 oz Midori melon
1 oz Jim Beam
1/2 oz Creme de Bananas
2 oz Mandarin juice
2 oz Pineapple juice
1/4 oz Grenadine

Add all the ingredients but the Grenadine in a shaker. Shake well and strain over ice in a cocktail glass. Add Grenadine. Garnish with a slice of orange or cherry and serve.

Smooth Dreams

Ingredients:

2 oz Jim Beam
3 oz Cola
Splash of Grenadine

Combine the ingredients into a cocktail glass over ice. Garnish with a cherry and serve.

BeeGee OJ

Ingredients:

1 1/2 oz Jim Beam
3 oz Orange juice
1 splash Grenadine

Pour Jim Beam into an old fashioned glass over ice cubes. Add the orange juice, and a splash of Grenadine. Serve.

February 3, 2014
On the second day of Christmas, Drink Matron gave to me: Hot Buttered Rum!

Lucky for me, I’ve still got Adrian. Sure, it’s partly because he’s a big hunk of man who carries heavy things and can reach much higher than me, but mostly it’s because during winter he makes a tasty as hell hot buttered rum mix. It started two or three years ago when we were still in Indiana and there was a pretty rough snow storm that kept us inside for two days. We luckily had rum and this mix, and settled down for movies and a bit of drinkin’. Every year since then he’s made it for us, and most of the time, I can’t keep my little paws off. I don’t mind sharing though, so here’s the recipe.

Batter

2 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

(optionally, you can add 1/4-1/2 tsp of cloves)

Beat the sugar and butter together until fluffy. Mix in the spices.

In a mug, put a heaping teaspoon of the batter into 1 1/2 oz of rum and top with hot water, stirring well. Sprinkle with cinnamon or garnish with a cinnamon stick.

December 15, 2013
Recipe: Piña Colada
The piña colada, what a wonderful phrase. Oh, wait, that’s not right. But the piña colada certainly is wonderful, and since today is National Piña Colada Day, I thought I’d bring you a delicious recipe that I enjoy, ~~submitted by~~ requested from our friend, Andi.

Ingredients:
- 2 cans Coco Casa
- 1 package of fresh diced pineapple
- 1 mango, sliced
- Dark Rum
In a blender, combine ice, coco casa, approximately two or three large slices mango, and pineapple and rum to taste. Blend until smooth. Garnish with pineapple and cherry (or mango). Serves 3 – 5.

Andi says “This recipes is all about trial and error and what tastes good to you- some people like more pineapple and some less.”
July 10, 2012