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Category: Cocktails

French Martini

Tonight’s cocktail is based on a sale item I saw at the grocery store earlier today. Yet, to be honest, I was perplexed on what cocktail to make with it. So straight from the Chambord website comes this French Martini recipe. While some may debate the ‘martini’ aspect of this cocktail, I cannot deny the fact that this is a tasty drink. Having pineapple juice in a drink that is not island based or paired with rum is a bonus in my book. So with the sun setting here in the Pacific Northwest, I say it is time to start enjoying our Friday night cocktail, the French Martini. Come on, join me! Save Print French Martini Prep time:  5 mins Total time:&nbsp…

Mexican Mule

I am sorry I missed posting this cocktail last night, but I was enjoying a show at the 5th Avenue Theater with a friend. I think when you try this twist on that current rage – the Moscow Mule, you will forgive me. In a Mexican Mule, you simply swap the vodka with tequila.  Of course, I had to tweak it just a little and I think the results are stellar! Give this cocktail a try… I know you will love it! Save Print Mexican Mule Prep time:  5 mins Total time:  5 mins Serves: 1   Ingredients 1½ oz tequila (make a good tequila like Herradura as pictured) 1 oz lime juice 3 oz of ginger beer ½ oz agave nectar orange…

Almond Joy

This drink is definitely dessert-like with the flavors of rum, coffee, amaretto, and coconut playing well together… just like the flavors in the candy bar of the same name. I do not suggest too many of these cocktails at one sitting due to the sweetness – I can imagine the major hangover that these would produce. Hahahaha… But they are tasty (in moderation, just like eating the candy bar!) and deserve a place as a nice, after-dinner cocktail. Shall we get shaking? Save Print Almond Joy Prep time:  5 mins Total time:  5 mins Serves: 1   Ingredients 2 parts Kahlua 2 parts Malibu rum 2 parts vodka 1 part amaretto 1 part cream or half and half freshly ground cinnamon…

Apple Sour

Here’s to another Friday… and another cocktail.  Perhaps this one is a bit out of season here in winter, but I find it worth sharing. Finding a cocktail that uses calvados was a treat. Just in case you don’t know, calvados is an apple brandy from Normandy. It is delicious… oh and dangerous (at least to me!)   So with the end of another work week, let’s start the weekend by enjoying our new Friday night tipple – the apple sour! Save Print Apple Sour Prep time:  5 mins Total time:  5 mins Serves: 1   Ingredients 2 parts calvados 1 part lemon juice ½ part maple syrup maraschino cherry (optional) Instructions Chill a highball glass with ice…

Sidecar

It’s Friday again and you know what that means… my weekly cocktail post!  Tonight’s featured cocktail is the Sidecar. A simple, yet delicious cocktail that can and has been tweaked through the years.  My version is no different, of course. One resource states the standard ‘by the book’ Sidecar is 3 parts cognac or brandy, 2 parts Grand Imperial, Grand Marnier or Triple Sec, and 2 parts lemon juice (freshly squeezed, naturally!). Combine the ingredients with ice, shake, strain and enjoy. So I will stay with those proportions and just change one of the ingredients.  My tweak is to use a blend of lemon and orange juice to up the orange factor just a little while letting the brightness of the…

Alfonso Special

Tonight’s cocktail is a very interesting one – and not one I would have ever really considered – but wow, is it tasty!  A strange mix of ingredients (well, what I believe to be strange) really makes this cocktail shine in flavor and looks. Let’s get to enjoying this Friday evening with a wonderfully crafted tipple – the honey hued Alfonso Special! Save Print Alfonso Special Prep time:  5 mins Total time:  5 mins Serves: 1   Ingredients 1½ oz Gran Imperial (or Grand Marnier) ¾ oz dry gin ¾ oz dry vermouth 2 tsp sweet vermouth dash or two of angostura bitters Instructions Combine the ingredients with ice and swirl to chill the cocktail well. Strain into a cocktail…

Manhattan

Hey… it is Friday night and time for a cocktail.  Now don’t get bummed that I chose a simple and somewhat ‘standard’ cocktail like the Manhattan for this week’s post, this one has a lot going for it. As a matter fact, this cocktail was a favorite of my dad’s and while I am not making it exactly like he did, this recipe is very close. I used Bulleitt Bourbon and Clyde May’s Whiskey to make this drink. I like the interplay with the typical bourbon flavor and the sweeter Alabama based whiskey, much like the combination my dad made. So here’s to you dad… thanks for introducing me to the beauty of this…

French 75

Just in time for New Year’s Eve comes a fantastic cocktail that incorporates bubbly, gin, lemon and a hint of sweetness. Tonight I bring you the French 75 – a classic cocktail that is often overlooked or forgotten, but shouldn’t be. In researching this cocktail, I read a story that said it was named after the 75mm artillery piece. This artillery piece devastated German attacks in World War 1, so I suspect the French 75 probably wreaked havoc on soldiers who drank too many of them. But don’t let this cocktail’s reputation scare you. I bet after you try this simple recipe, you will happily enjoy and not overlook or forget the French 75 in 2017 and beyond. Save Print…

Black Tea and Port Milk Punch

Today’s cocktail recipe is perfect for an old fashioned Christmas party… like a party attended by the Founding Fathers! I received this recipe from Cook’s Science and of course I tweaked the recipe by substituting hard to find ingredients to easier sourced ones while twisting the flavor profile slightly.  I am sure the title has you intensely curious (as well as slightly grossed out at the thought of a ‘milk punch’ cocktail), but trust me please.  The use of milk in this ‘punch’ is to clarify the cocktail to an incredibly clear light pink hue. The flavor of this cocktail is sublime – just sweet enough, slightly spiced with a hint of citrus from the tea, ‘punch&#8217…

Nog Alexander

Another Friday night, another cocktail – albeit a little later than I had hoped.  Tonight let us get into the holiday spirit and what better way than to relax with a nice glass of egg nog.  But wait, isn’t this a cocktail post?  Why yes, yes it is… so I am boosting the basic egg nog with brandy, creme de cacao, and cranberry bitters. To keep the cocktail smooth like egg nog and not watered down, I will add a little bit of heavy cream (ok, who’s counting calories during the holidays… not me!). Time to mix and start making merry, Christmas is only a week away! Save Print Nog Alexander Prep time:  5 mins Total time:  5 mins Serves…