If you haven’t heard it from me yet, you’re destined to hear me say this repeatedly: Get over the notion that brown spirits are for winter and white spirits are for summer. Here’s an excellent example of how to make your favorite whiskey cocktail more summer friendly—or simply more of a ‘session’ drink if you’re … Continue reading Grab some sake and make this your “summer” Manhattan
Recipes
Hop Toad No. 2
I’m excited that we finally have some warm weather and can enjoy cocktails on the patio again! And what spirit does warm (even hot) weather bring to mind? Rum, of course. There are several variations on the Hop Toad cocktail, all of them including apricot brandy liqueur and lime juice; the primary difference is which … Continue reading Hop Toad No. 2
Daisy de Santiago: Original Version
Think of this drink as a rum-based gimlet or an herbal daiquiri. It delivers a little less pucker than the gimlet, and the dab of Chartreuse gives the drink a gentle vegetal lift that makes beautiful music with the mint garnish. The sweetness of the rum and simple syrup keep the lime in its happy … Continue reading Daisy de Santiago: Original Version
Appease the Cheese
This is one of those recipes that makes a person wonder if its creator was on some hallucinogen the first time he made it—but it’s absolutely delicious. Your only challenge will be gathering all of the ingredients. It’s a Simon Difford creation that I found while looking into cocktail recipes that call for Italicus—a bergamot … Continue reading Appease the Cheese
The Quarantini: Who says it’s enjoyable only during a pandemic?
Facebook Memories regularly remind me of things I posted years ago—which isn’t always a great feeling, by the way. Today, though, FB dug up a cocktail I came up with and posted three years ago today at the very beginning of the Great Pandemic, along with the YouTube video I made to demonstrate and explain … Continue reading The Quarantini: Who says it’s enjoyable only during a pandemic?
The Left Bank Martini
Our adorable tabletop Christmas trees will move to the attic shortly for the off-season, and—Epiphany notwithstanding—here’s one last cocktail photo with the colorful seasonal backdrop. The drink is a lovely change of Martini pace, taking its name from St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur, which in turn takes its name from the Left Bank neighborhood of Paris … Continue reading The Left Bank Martini
The Voodoo I Do
I was searching for more cocktail recipes to use up some pineapple we had (because there is just never “a little” pineapple—there’s always more than one needs), and I was captivated by the name of this one. It’s a recollection of the great Sinatra hit, “You do something to me.” In particular: Let me live … Continue reading The Voodoo I Do
Golden Dawn
The name of this drink seems fitting for a New Year’s Day. I haven’t mixed it since last summer, when the weather was warm enough here to enjoy it on our patio. (Of note, I don't know why someone named this a "dawn" drink. It looks more like sunset to me … but I quibble.) Guess … Continue reading Golden Dawn
Spiced Eggnog With Bourbon/Cherry Drizzle (and more!)
Life is short; drink dessert first. If you’re tiring of that eggnog you bought before Christmas, here’s something delicious to do with it. It's as delicious as it looks. Milkshakey. Eggs with eggnog sauce and Bailey's and … well, here's the recipe. And then another, less fussy eggnog cocktail. They had me at "with bourbon … Continue reading Spiced Eggnog With Bourbon/Cherry Drizzle (and more!)
Cranberry Margarita
Moving on with more holiday-themed cocktails… Call this one a Christmas Margarita if you like, but heck, it would work at Thanksgiving or any other time of the year for that matter. Cranberries are good for you, too! This recipe's perfectly balanced and extremely enjoyable. CRANBERRY MARGARITA2 oz Cranberry juice1 oz Fresh lime juice1½ oz … Continue reading Cranberry Margarita
The Libation Lounge 