Grasshopper

People generally think of cocktails as a pre dinner drink. There are many cocktails that are made just for dessert. One of these cocktails is the grasshopper. I often order one of these at the end of the meal instead of a dessert. Sweet, fresh, and delicious I always enjoy one after having a large dinner. As an added bonus it is very simple to make. Here is the final cocktail.


(image found at http://www.esquire.com/cm/esquire/images/NP/grasshopper-cocktail-1009-lg.jpg)

The three ingredients are creme de menthe, creme de cacao, and cream. I do not really have a favorite brand of any of these so I just use what I find at the store which just so happened to be these.


(image found at http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/images/creme-de-menthe.jpg)


(image found at http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/images/creme-de-cacao.jpg)

These two liqueur's with cream make a very clean and refreshing dessert cocktail. Here is the recipe.
1oz creme de menthe
1oz creme de cacao
1.5oz cream
Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake until fully chilled. Strain into a martini glass.

You may get some weird looks when you order one of these but don't let that sway you. You are a true cocktail drinker if you feel no shame drinking something that is cloudy and green. Be proud of the fact you know what you like.
See you all next week.

Rum and Coke

Rum and coke. One of the best cocktails to have when you are at a club with friends. Sweet and delicious you will really start to enjoy the night with a few of these in you. The only problem with the ones you get at a club, is the rum. I personally only really like these when it is made with Gosling's dark seal rum. Probably my favorite dark rum. Without further ado here is the cocktail picture.


(image found at http://thepilver.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/rum-and-coke.jpg)

Im my opinion the lime wedge is unneeded when you have a quality rum. As I said before, my favorite for this drink is Gosling's dark seal.


(image found at http://www.drinkhacker.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/goslings-black-seal-rum.jpg)

Of course how are you going to have a rum and coke without the coke? I of course have to be difficult once again and suggest that you only get mexican coke from your neighborhood hispanic market. I can hear your questions already, what is the difference? The only difference that matters is that mexican coke is made with pure sugar and not corn syrup. This adds to more of a cola flavor and not as sweet.


(image found at http://www.acontinuouslean.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/Mexican_coke_3.jpg)

As usual the recipe is simple because of the lack of ingredients.
4 oz rum
8 oz coke
Pour both ingredients over ice and stir gently.

There you have it. One of the best party drinks you can make at home for when you have friends over. I can guarantee that if you substitute mexican coke for american coke and Gosling's rum people will notice. Just because a cocktail is simple doesn't mean you have to skimp on the quality of the ingredients. On the contrary in my opinion. The simpler the cocktail is the better ingredients you should use.
I'll see you all next week.

Black Russian

Sometimes you just want to be alone with a good book on a rainy night. WHen this happens I tend to go for one cocktail in particular, the Black Russian. A simple and deep cocktail will warm you up on this type of night. Made from vodka and coffee liqueur you don't need to spend to much time making one so you can get back to your book quickly. Here is the final product.


(image found at http://pufuletenegru.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/black-russian-cocktail.jpg)

For this cocktail I like to use my favorite vodka, Ketel One. I don't really know why I like this vodka more than any of the others, but I do. It could do with the fact that several people have told me it is the best out there right now.


(image found at http://www.klwines.com/images/skus/640032x.jpg)

For the coffee liqueur I like to use Kahlua, but you can substitute this for your own favorite.


(image found at http://www.barnonedrinks.com/tips/dictionary/images/588.jpg)

The recipe for this is as simple as it seems.
1 oz vodka
2 oz coffee liqueur
Pour both ingredients into a glass with a few ice cubes. Stir until cold.

A simple and easy cocktail for those days you don't want to leave the house. You really can't go wrong. The coffee is delicious and the vodka gives it some warmth.
Until next week folks.

Rusty Nail

I love Scotch. No bones about it. Either in a cocktail or by itself over rocks or neat. I love it, I really do. The smoky flavor, the long finish, need say more? Well I am going to even if I don't have to. The rusty nail is one of those cocktails that just tastes great. The only two ingredients are scotch and drambuie(a whisky liquor). Here is a photo of the finished cocktail


(image found at http://www.scienceofdrink.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/rusty-nail.jpg)

For this cocktail I like to use a Macallan 12 year scotch. Some may say I am crazy for using a single malt scotch, but I beg to differ. This scotch is great in this cocktail and great if you just want to sip it alone.


(image found at http://www.klwines.com/images/skus/620009x.jpg)

And of course you need some drambuie.


(image found at http://www.monnik-dranken.nl/downloads/flessen/drambuie.jpg)

The recipe is simple.
2 oz scotch
1 oz Drambuie
Combine these two ingredients in a glass over ice and stir. Garnish with lemon twirl if so inclined.

For me this is a great cocktail to start a night. One of these sets the pace for the entire night. I won't only drink these but it gets me in the mood for the more simpler cocktails.
Until next time folks.

Gin and Tonic

As some of you may have guessed, gin is my favorite spirit. Therefore I am going to share with you one of the simplest and tastiest gin cocktails out there. For me this cocktail is always at hand. I drink one at least once a week and love it every single time. Here is a photo of the cocktail.


(image found at http://njcollegefoodie.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/gin_tonic.jpg)

This cocktail has only two ingredients, gin and tonic. Well, three if you include the lime wedge. For this I have to use my all time favorite gin, Hendricks.


(image found at http://www.formanandfield.com/images/categories/r9417_lg.jpg)

Along with this I use Canada Dry tonic. It is everywhere and does not have a taste to it at all.


(image found at http://7xpress.com/images/j63.JPG)

The recipe with this is quite simple as you can imagine.
Fill a glass almost full with ice. Pour the gin in until it is about 1/3 full. Top off with tonic and garnish with a lime wedge.
There you have it. An easy and excellent cocktail that is good for all occasions. I recommend you enjoy this quickly because the more the ice melts the less of a gin taste there will be. After a few of these you will be toasty for the rest of the night and feel great in the morning, as long as you don't over do it.
See you all next week

Whiskey Sour

When I get together with my friends at one of their houses we usually end up drinking whiskey sours more than anything else. It is a simple cocktail made with just a few ingredients(two if you cheat). We all like whiskey and whiskey sours are delicious. It is made made with a rye whiskey, simple syrup, and lemon juice. If you are prone to not do all the work you can just use a sour mix, but that is not nearly as good. The whiskey brings an oaky earthy flavor while the lemon freshens it up with some sweetness. Here is a picture of the whiskey sour up(meaning not over ice).

(image found at http://img.foodnetwork.com/FOOD/2006/07/18/ig0702_whisky_sour1_lead.jpg)

As you can see this one is served in a martini glass meaning it was ordered up. When not ordered up you will recieve your whiskey sour in a tumbler with ice. Here are the ingredients.


(image found at http://popsop.ru/wp-content/uploads/jack_daniels_presid_preview.jpg)


(image found at http://www.carpetcleaninglondon.net/pub/1267294899_lemon_istock_1.jpg)


(image found at https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh-IR0_s-zCL9K-w-_EjlYz85aHgQwYl1NvxhRt15kq-Zo3Y5bkImVRWny9MB_Nr2Zrun1k7WAqQB6uIrB0eqkFQxF0Gkoz97x00dToN2tLdvIRamJd-dP-PWgEbt-30r99O1hSHEj8ToF/s400/sugar.jpg)

The recipe for this is quite simple. Equal parts whiskey and sour mix(homemade of course). To make your sour mix you want to take equal parts water and sugar and put them into a pot. Heat this until the sugar is fully dissolved and cool. While it is cooling juice some lemons. Add equal parts lemon juice with the syrup and you have a sour mix. If you like you can also add some lime juice, just make sure you have equal parts of the syrup with your juice blend.
For this I like the Jack Daniel's whiskey because it is not to sweet and while this cocktail has sugar in it, you shouldn't just taste sweetness. This is one of my groups favorite cocktails and is always available to us. Hopefully you will enjoy it as well.
See you next week.

French 75

Lets take a step back. Back in time to the French 75. This cocktail was one of the first I ever tried. I was 21 and at the bar with a friend when someone I do not know comes up and orders a French 75. Seeing that the bartender actually knew what this man was talking about he got his cocktail and left. I could only think that what he ordered looked delicious and I wanted one. So placing my order I was ill prepared for what happened next. This is one of those cocktails that is way more powerful than you think and can easily drink 4 or 5 without knowing how much it is going to affect you. Consider this a warning, it is quite tasty but is secretly powerful. Here is a picture of the cocktail.

(image found at http://www.epicurious.com/images/articlesguides/drinking/cocktails/french75.jpg)

This cocktail is made with sugar, gin, lemon juice, and champagne. What is that you say? Gin and champagne together, travesty!! I know that is what I thought when I first tried it, but it works damn well together. Here are the ingredients.


(image found at http://www.cavahalari.gr/site/components/com_virtuemart/shop_image/product/PLYMOUTH_GIN_49c1fc63ca4b0.jpg)


(image found at http://www.nypost.com/rw/nypost/2008/12/30/entertainment/photos_galleries/G2043_photo11.jpg)


(image found at http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/content/knowhow/glossary/sugar/image.jpg)


(image found at http://www.carpetcleaninglondon.net/pub/1267294899_lemon_istock_1.jpg)

The recipe for this one is quite simple.
2 oz gin
1 tbps sugar
1 tbps lemon juice
champagne(I like a brut for this)
lemon twirl for garnish
Take the gin, sugar, lemon juice, and add them to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake until the sugar is fully dissolved and strain into a champagne flute or other cocktail glass. Top with as much champagne as is necessary and gently stir to mix. Garnish with a lemon twirl, serve.
The boldness of the gin, the lightness of the champagne, and the tartness of the lemon make this a sweet and simply wonderful cocktail. I only caution you when drinking this because of how powerful it is without seeming like it. I have fallen prey to that aspect of this cocktail and you will to if you are not careful.
Until next week, be careful