Citrusy cocktails are awesome—lime, lemon, orange, and grapefruit—but nothing is more exciting (to me) than finding cocktail uses for the seemingly exotic fruits that show up for only a few weeks or months out of the year. One of those is the passion fruit—or passionfruit, if you prefer. (In the dictionary, it’s two words, but … Continue reading Paradise Passion Martini
Orange juice
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
Dear old Aunt Emily
With a name like "Aunt Emily," you might expect this to be a riff on the Old Fashioned or a Dubonnet Cocktail—or a glass of wine. But nope. However old she is, Aunt Emily is a happenin' chick and somewhat of a boozer. Between the liqueur and the grenadine, this cocktail is on the sweet … Continue reading Dear old Aunt Emily
Paradise—two tickets optional
That's the name of the drink: Paradise. Tip of the hat to the late Eddie Money for the ticket reference. This is one of a few recipes I have that call for “apricot brandy liqueur,” and the most common brand of that spirit you’re likely to find around my region is Hiram Walker—which is fine, … Continue reading Paradise—two tickets optional
St. Croix Sunset
We're a long way from the Caribbean, but there's steel drum music on the Bose and strong rum in the cupboard just aching for some sunshine and warm weather (as we all are). This cocktail is refreshingly acidic and citrusy, with layered flavors and the rich color that gives it its name. ST CROIX SUNSET … Continue reading St. Croix Sunset
The Income Tax Cocktail (and about making fun garnishes)
Fellow Americans, not only is this Passover and Easter weekend, it is income tax weekend. Do you know where your return is? You had to know there’d be a cocktail named for this annual Rite of Citizenship, and here it is. I recommend against indulging in many of these while you prepare your return, but … Continue reading The Income Tax Cocktail (and about making fun garnishes)
The Cumbersome Cocktail
This is one of those drinks that make me wish my blog could have "smell-o-vision." I went to the Difford's Guide site looking for a new gin-and-cucumber cocktail recipe and found this one, which calls for four (count 'em, four) inches of cucumber. That sounded like a lot, but it turns out to be exactly … Continue reading The Cumbersome Cocktail
Damn the (Bloody) Weather
Damn the weather! An irrelevant observation, really, but I hear that a lot from people in Western New York around late February and March. In their defense, I had a great-uncle who always said something to the effect of, "If I can make it through March, I'll have the year in the bag for sure." … Continue reading Damn the (Bloody) Weather
The Libation Lounge 