Today’s cocktail is the Poinsettia, a nice sparkling and festive-looking cocktail that is perfect for a holiday party or to kick-off your evening.
INGREDIENTS:
* 1/2 ounce Cointreau
* 2 ounces Cranberry Juice
* Champagne or sparkling wine
DIRECTIONS:
1. Chill all ingredients in advance.
2. Combine Cointreau and Crainberry juice in a champagne flute.
3. Stir well to combine.
4. Top with champagne.
5. Serve, enjoy and repeat, as needed to achieve full, festive effect.
To go to previous posts in the Cocktails category, click here.
1. Combine Vodka, Creme de Menthe, and Peppermint Schnapps in a cocktail shaker with ice;
2. Shake vigorously;
3. Strain into cocktail glass;
4. Garnish with a peppermint candy cane;
5. Serve and repeat, as needed.
To go to other posts in the Cocktail category, click here.
One of my favorite cocktails is the classic Bellini, a delicious combination of Prosecco (or champagne) and fresh peach nectar. According to some mixologists, the Bellini was created in 1948 at Harry’s Bar in Venice, by bartender Giuseppe Cipriani, and was named after one of his favorite painters, Giovanni Bellini, a 15th-century Italian Renaissance painter.
With the holiday season approaching (and peaches still available in some areas), this is a festive way to celebrate the season.
INGREDIENTS:
1. Fresh white peach nectar (see recipe below).
2. Prosecco (or champagne)
DIRECTIONS:
1. Pour 1 part peach nectar into a champagne flute
2. Slowly add 2 parts chilled Prosecco
3. Serve, enjoy and repeat as needed.
When visiting Venice, be sure to stop at Harry’s Bar and order one of their tasty and authentic Bellinis. It was one of the highlights of my visit to Venice (and a “must-do” for first-time visitors).
PEACH NECTAR RECIPE
INGREDIENTS:
1. Six fresh, ripe white peaches (Peaches must be ripe.)
2. 1 cup water
3. 1/2 cup sugar (optional)
DIRECTIONS:
1. Immerse whole peaches in a pot of boiling water until the skin begins to loosen. Remove peaches and immerse in ice water to halt the cooking process.
2. Peel peaches and remove the pit.
3. Cut peaches into slices.
4. Combine 2 cups of sliced peaches, 1 cup water and sugar in a blender. Liquefy until mixture is smooth.
5. Strain the peach mixture through a sieve.
6. Store nectar in a sealed container in the refrigerator until ready to use.
If you’d prefer to use ready-made peach nectar, try the White Peach puree available in stores and online from The Perfect Puree of Napa Valley. Go to the official website of The Perfect Puree of Napa Valley by clicking here.
To go to the official website of Harry’s Bar Venice, click here. To go to previous posts for more cocktail suggestions, click here.
One of the best ways to enjoy to the final days of Summer 2009 is with a tasty, refreshing Margarita, a classic cocktail that is well suited for afternoon backyard barbeque’s or evening patio dining. While often served as a frozen, blended drink, I think it tastes best when served “over the rocks” and without a salted rim. There are hundreds of recipes for Margaritas; however, I like this simple recipe which uses fresh ingredients instead of prepared margarita mixes. Plus, it’s incredibly simple.
Enjoy the Margarita, which is #9 on my list of Top 10 Favorite Cocktails, and the last remaining days of Summer.
INGREDIENTS
2 parts tequila
1-1/3 parts Grand Marnier (or Cointreau, if preferred)
1 part Simple Syrup (made of equal parts water and granulated sugar, fully dissolved)
1 part fresh-squeezed lime juice
DIRECTIONS
1. Fill cocktail shaker with ice
2. Add all ingredients to shaker
3. Shake vigorously
4. Strain and serve in double Old-Fashioned cocktail glass filled with ice
5. Garnish with lime wedge
6. Add salt to rim, if desired
7. Serve, enjoy and repeat, as needed
Here’s a short video showing how to prepare the Margarita, using the ingredients and recipe shown above.
To go to previous posts in the Cocktail category, click here.
Today’s cocktail is the Pometini, a pomegranate-flavored cocktail that is a nice, refreshing alternative to the old workhorse Cosmopolitan. Plus, it’s loaded with Vitamin C and beneficial antioxidants. As they say,” it tastes good, and it’s good for you.”
1. Fill shaker with ice
2. Combine ingredients in shaker
3. Shake vigorously and strain into a cocktail glass
4. Garnish with lime slice
5. Serve, enjoy and repeat, as needed
Today’s cocktail is the Negroni, a classic aperitif, or pre-meal cocktail that is intended to help stimulate the appetite (or at least stimulate the appetite for another Negroni!). The cocktail was reportedly invented by General Pascal Olivier Count de Negroni (1829-1913).
INGREDIENTS:
* 1 oz Gin (or substitute vodka, if you prefer)
* 1 oz Campari
* 1 oz Sweet Vermouth
DIRECTIONS:
1. Fill cocktail shaker with ice.
2. Add gin, campari and sweet vermouth in cocktail shaker.
3. Shake vigorously and strain into a cocktail glass.
4. Garnish with lemon twist (or an orange twist or orange slice).
5. Serve, enjoy and repeat as needed for desired effect.
The delicious Negroni is #10 on my list of Top 10 Favorite Cocktails. To view the full list from a previous post, click here.
To go to other cocktail recipes from previous posts, click here.
Today’s cocktail is the “Old Fashioned,” which is often considered one of the “first” cocktails and was reportedly the name given to a Bourbon whiskey cocktail served in the 1880’s at the Pendennis Club, a gentleman’s club in Louisville, KY. Regardless of its origins, the Old Fashioned is a true cocktail “classic” that is easy to make and delicious, too.
INGREDIENTS:
2 oz. blended Whiskey
1 sugar cube
2 dashes Bitters (such as Angostura)
1 cherry
1 slice orange
Splash of Club Soda (optional)
DIRECTIONS:
1. Place sugar cube in a cocktail glass.
2. Add bitters and use a muddler to dissolve sugar.
3. Add ice.
4. Add Whiskey and stir to combine ingredients.
5. Top with a splash of Club Soda (optional, and not recommended)
6. Garnish with cherry and orange slice.
7. Serve, enjoy and repeat.
To view previous posts in the ”Cocktail” category, click here.
The Old Fashioned is #5 on my list of Top 10 Favorite Cocktails. To go to a previous post with a full list of my Top 10 Favorite Cocktails, click here.
To go to other cocktail recipes from previous posts, click here.
Today’s cocktail is the legendary Sidecar, which according to some reports was invented in the early 1930’s at Harry’s Bar in Paris for a patron who often rode in the sidecar of a motorcycle. Like the martini, the Sidecar has experienced a renaissance. The Sidecar offers a very appealing sweet-sour combination, along with a nice kick. Enjoy!
INGREDIENTS:
1 1/2 oz. Brandy
1/2 oz. Cointreau (or Triple Sec, as a substitute)
1/2 oz. Lemon or Lime Juice
DIRECTIONS:
1. Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice.
2. Shake vigorously.
3. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
4. Garnish with orange slice or lemon twist.
5. Serve and repeat, as needed.
To go to other cocktail recipes from previous posts, click here.
In honor of the 135th Kentucky Derby, which is being held today at Churchill Downs, in Louisville, Kentucky, here’s a recipe (one of many variations) of the classic Mint Julep, the unofficial cocktail of the Kentucky Derby.
INGREDIENTS:
2 teaspoons sugar
2 teaspoons water
6 to 8 mint leaves
1/2 cup finely crushed ice
2 ounces Bourbon, such as Maker’s Mark
DIRECTIONS:
1. Chill a silver tumbler, julep mug or cocktail glass;
2. Add mint leaves, sugar and water;
3. Using a muddler or spoon, gently crush the mint leaves and dissolve the sugar;
4. Fill glass with crushed ice;
5. Add bourbon;
6. Garnish with mint sprig and add small cocktail straws;
7. Serve and repeat.
To read more about the Kentucky Derby or to see the final results, visit the official Kentucky Derby website by clicking here.
To go to other cocktail recipes from previous posts, click here.
If you’re ready for a change of pace from pometinis and cosmos or just looking for a fresh, fruity cocktail alternative, try the Agent Orange. Plus, it’s loaded with Vitamin C (well, not really). In any case, it’s tasty and refreshing!
INGREDIENTS: 1-1/2 oz Vodka
1/2 oz Grand Marnier
1/4 oz Cointreau
1 oz Fresh Orange Juice
Orange Twist or Orange Slice, based on preference
DIRECTIONS:
1. Combine liquids and shake vigorously with ice;
2. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass;
3. Garnish with orange twist or slice;
4. Serve, enjoy, and repeat, as needed, until desired effects are achieved.
To go to other cocktail recipes from previous posts, click here.
If you’re getting weary of the standard mojito and are ready to move on, try this refreshing Mango Mojito which uses one of the famous purees from The Perfect Puree of Napa Valley.
INGREDIENTS:
1 fresh Lime
Light Rum (or Mango-flavored rum, available from various brands)
2 tablespoon simple syrup
3 sprigs fresh mint
1 tablespoon granluated sugar
2 tablespoons mango puree (from The Perfect Puree of Napa Valley)
DIRECTIONS:
1. In a cocktail shaker (or large glass), add juice of 1 lime, 2 mint sprigs, sugar, and simple syrup;
2. Using a muddler, smash ingredients together in the shaker;
3. Add ice to the shaker;
4. Add mangue puree;
5. Add rum (3-5 oz, depending on size of shaker and desired size of cocktail);
6. Shake ingredients in shaker (or pour into a shaker, if using a glass);
7. Once cocktail is well shaken, pour all ingredients into a tall serving glass;
8. Garnish with mint leaves, if desired.
9. Serve and enjoy!
You can order any of the purees from The Perfect Puree of Napa Valley directly from their website, by clicking here. Some of their products are also available for purchase at Whole Foods.
To view cocktail recipes from previous posts, click here.
Any time is a good time for champagne. And here are recipes for two of my favorite champagne-based cocktails, which are great for toasting or any happy gathering.
KIR ROYALE
INGREDIENTS:
* Creme de Cassis, a blood red, sweet, blackcurrant-flavored liquer
* Champagne (of your choice)
DIRECTIONS:
1. Pour about 2 tsp. Creme de Cassis into a champagne flute;
2. Top flute with chilled champagne;
3. Garnish with a fresh berry (raspberry, blackberry) or lemon twist;
4. Serve, enjoy and keep re-filling, as needed.
I re-discovered the tasty pleasure of the Kir Royale when fellow diners on the Queen Mary 2 bought our table a round of cocktails last month, and we each ordered a Kir Royale.
1. Place sugar cube in champagne flute;
2. Carefully add Angostura bitters to fully soak/cover sugar cube;
3. Add 3/4 oz. Cognac;
4. Top glass with chilled champagne;
5. Garnish with a lemon twist or orange peel;
6. Serve, enjoy and keep re-filling, as needed.
Get an Asian twist on the classic martini using ginger-infused vodka and your favorite sake. Here’s what you need to do:
Ingredients: 1. One part sake (pick your favorite);
2. Three parts ginger-infused Vodka (see directions below);
3. Cucumber slice and pickled ginger for garnish.
Directions: 1. Combine sake and ginger-infused vodka in a shaker and shake well with ice.
2. Strain into a chilled martini glass.
3. Garnish with a cucumber slice (and pickled ginger, optional, on a toothpick).
4. Serve and enjoy!
To make Ginger infused vodka: 1. Peel piece of fresh ginger to fully remove outer skin;
2. Slice ginger crosswise into 1/4-inch thick pieces;
3. Pour desired amount of vodka into a clean container/bottle with a cover or cap to seal;
4. Add ginger to vodka (around 6 slices per cup of vodka);
5. Cover or seal vodka and allow to infuse for 48 hours or more;
6. Strain or remove ginger slices to minimize clouding. Serve as desired.
Why is the Manhattan cocktail so beloved? I think it’s because of the wonderful combination of flavors– smokey, warm and sweet, but not overpowering. And for me, it was one of the first cocktails I tasted– and still one of my all-time favorites. Some reports indicate that the cocktail was originated at New York’s Manhattan Club in the 1870’s for a banquet in honor of Presidential candidate Samuel Tilden. Other reports say that the cocktail was invented in the 1860’s by a bartender named Black at a New York bar on Broadway, near Houston Streeet. Regardless of its origin, it’s mighty tasty!
The recipe for “A Perfect Manhattan” is:
INGREDIENTS:
1 part Sweet Vermouth
1 part Dry Vermouth
4 parts Blended Whiskey
Dash Angostura Bitters
DIRECTIONS:
1. Fill shaker with ice
2. Combine ingredients in shaker and shake vigorously
3. Strain and pour into a cocktail glass
4. Garnish with a cherry or lemon twist
5. Serve, enjoy and repeat, as needed
Of course, there are many other variations on the classic Manhattan. So… go ahead and experiment! Cheers!
Try a vodka spin on the traditional rum-based Mojito for a nice, refreshing change of pace. Perfect for Summer (or Winter, Spring or Fall) enjoyment!
Ingredients:
Vodka
3 TBL fresh lime juice
2 TBL fresh lemon juice
1 TBL sugar
3 sprigs fresh lime
In a glass, muddle the mint, sugar and fresh juices. Add crushed ice and fill with vodka. Serve with a lemon twist garnish. Very tasty! And refreshing. With Vitamin C, too! Who could ask for anything more?
My new favorite martini– the Vesper– has regained popularity as a result of the James Bond film, Casino Royale. In the film, Bond invents a new drink and names it after Vesper Lynd.
To make the Vesper, measure 1/2 part Lillet, 1 part vodka, 2 parts gin. Shake with ice, strain, and serve in a cocktail glass garnished with a twist.
And here’s the finished product– tasty and refreshing!
David on December 20th, 2009
