Fun Cocktails to Make
In a previous article, I discussed the basics of bartending and cocktail mixing, so now I would like to share the steps and tricks to make a bunch of classic cocktails at home that will be as tasty to drink as they are fun to make!
https://the-s-word.net/cooking-bascis/bartending-the-whats-and-the-hows
Disclaimer: As tasty as these cocktails are, I need to remind you to enjoy them responsibly. :)
First up, the Manhattan.
Next to the Old Fashioned, the Manhattan is the second most popular cocktail in America and one of the world’s oldest cocktails. It was drawn up by a man named Arthur Manhattan, who descended from the sky to-I’m just kidding; it was first created at the Manhattan club in New York City around the late 1800s.
As I mentioned in my previous cocktail article, I recommend starting with your least expensive ingredient so that if you mess up, you aren’t wasting any amount of good liquor.
2-3 dashes of bitters (Angostura bitters is classic, but you can use any bitters that you like.)
1 ounce sweet vermouth
2 ounces whiskey. (I like using rye whiskey for Manhattans, but any whiskey you like will work.)
For garnish: Luxardo cherry. (The king of cocktail garnishes, they are candied cherries soaked in a dark syrup. They are quite expensive; one bottle costs about $30, so you don’t have to use them.)
-In a tall glass, combine the bitters, vermouth, and whiskey. Fill the glass with ice, and stir for about 30 seconds until the mixture is cold, then strain into a chilled coup or martini glass, garnishing with the cherry.
I like Manhattans on nights when I want an easy, sweet and spicy drink that can be made in a flash.
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Whiskey Sour
In my previous article, I did go over one of my favorite cocktails, the amaretto sour, but knowing how to make a good whiskey sour is another good way to impress your guests.
The origami bird is definitely optional
3/4 ounce fresh lemon juice
3/4 ounce simple syrup (made by dissolving equal parts sugar and water)
2 ounces of bourbon or rye whiskey
1 egg white (See note)
For garnish: A lemon twist or lemon wedge.
-In a shaker, combine all ingredients and shake without ice for about 30 seconds. This is called a dry shake, and it helps whip the egg white. Once the egg white is foamy, add ice, then shake until the shaker is chilled before straining it into a glass and garnishing it with the lemon twist.
A beautiful, classic whiskey sour that can be changed up with any spirit or citrus for any flavor combination you like.
Note: Adding an egg white to a cocktail sounds bizarre, but what it does is create a frothy, foamy top, but it is optional. If you are vegan, aquafaba or the liquid from a can of chickpeas is a good substitute.
Bonus drink: If you want to show off a bit, you can drizzle an ounce of red wine onto the back of a spoon to make the wine float, and you will then have a classic New York sour.
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Skeleton Key
I know this cocktail has a…unique name, but it is quite delicious!
1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice
3/4 ounce St. Germain (An elderflower liquor available at most liquor stores)
1 1/4 ounces bourbon
3 to 5 ounces ginger beer
8 dashes bitters
In a serving glass, stir together lemon, elderflower liquor, bourbon, and ice until the drink starts to chill. Add cold ginger beer, and top with a generous douse of bitters.
-8 dashes of bitters sound like a lot, but I think you’ll find that the spice combined with the ginger beer and the floral elderflower liquor will make for a tasty sip. (You can use less bitters if that’s what you like)
Commodore
I love this drink because it is a lemony drink that utilizes a unique spirit, crème de cacao or chocolate liquor. Chocolate and lemon sound like an odd pairing, but you’ll have to trust me on this one.
1/2 to 1 ounce of grenadine. (A syrup made from reduced pomegranate juice)
1 ounce lemon juice
1 ounce crème de cacao
1 1/2 ounces bourbon
-Straightforward process; mix all ingredients in a shaker with some ice, shake until combined and the shaker feels cold, then strain into a martini glass.
Again, lemon juice and chocolate sound odd together, but I promise you that once you try them together in this cocktail, it will change your life.
Margarita
Here we go, the Mexican favorite, but the backstory is quite interesting.
It is believed that in the mid-1900s, at a bar in Juarez, Mexico, a customer requested another classic drink, the sidecar, made from cognac, triple sec/orange liquor, and lemon juice. The bartender realized he was out of cognac, so he thought on his feet and substituted for another spirit rising in popularity, tequila, which he had loads of. The bartender then realized he was also out of lemon juice, so he swapped it for something else he had on hand, fresh lime juice, and thus Mexico’s most popular drink was born.
How do I know that this is true? Well, had the bartender built the drink from scratch, he likely wouldn’t have used the orange liquor.
There are many ways to make a margarita; some are skinny, some are frozen, and some are more bitter than sweet, but today I’ll be sharing a classic mixed version.
1/2 ounce orange liquor
1/2 ounce agave nectar (If you think about it, agave nectar in a margarita makes perfect sense because tequila is also made from agave plants. If you don’t have agave nectar, then simple syrup will work as well.)
1 ounce fresh lime juice
2 ounces tequila blanco (Also known as silver tequila, this is the unaged variety of tequila)
Flaky sea salt (Kosher salt works too.)
Lime wedge and lime wheel.
-In a shaker, combine the orange liquor, agave, lime juice, and tequila, fill with ice and shake until combined. While the drink sits on ice, rub the rim of your glass with the lime wedge and dip it into the salt (A traditional but optional step). Pour the contents of the shaker into the glass and garnish with a lime wheel.
A classic but delicious margarita that will make you feel like you’re at a fiesta every time.
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Mojito
I went over a tasty blackberry mojito in my previous article, but now I’d like to share how to make a classic but refreshing mojito.
1/2 of a lime, cut into wedges
8-10 large mint leaves
1 tsp sugar
2 ounces dark rum
Soda water, to top
-In a glass, muddle the lime wedges, mint, and sugar until fragrant and the juice from the lime is released. Add the rum, fill the glass with ice, and add enough soda water to fill the glass. To garnish, place a mint sprig in the palm of your hand and give it a smack to awaken the aromatic oils and make the drink even more refreshing.
With drinks like this, a straw is helpful as it sips up the rum that tends to sit at the bottom of the glass, and you won’t get a mouthful of plain soda water. I like using metal straws as they are better for the environment.
Dark N Stormy
The Dark N Stormy falls under a category of cocktails known as a buck; these cocktails have a base of ginger beer or ginger ale, citrus juice, and any base spirit. The classic Moscow Mule and the Skeleton Key also fall under this category.
1/2 ounce lime juice
2 ounces rum (The classic is Gosling’s Black Seal rum, but any dark rum you like will work.)
5 ounces ginger beer (For topping)
Bitters
Garnish: Lime wedge
-In a drinking glass, stir the lime juice, rum, and ice together until combined. Add enough ginger beer to fill the glass, top with a few dashes of bitters, and garnish with a lime wedge.
And there you have it, a spiced, refreshing drink that will transport your mind to the islands of Jamaica.
Gimlet
One of the easiest and most refreshing gin cocktails you can ever make.
Traditionally, gimlets were made using Rose’s bottled lime juice as it came about during a time of war when fresh limes weren’t as readily available. I can’t see a time in the near future when limes will be in that kind of shortage, so I’ll be making mine with fresh lime juice.
1/2 ounce simple syrup
1/2 ounce fresh lime juice
2 1/2 ounces gin. (I like using a London dry gin, but any gin will work for this.)
For garnish: A lime wheel
-Again, very straightforward process; combine all ingredients with ice in a shaker, shake until cold, and strain into a chilled glass through both a Hawthorne strainer and a fine mesh strainer to get rid of any tiny chunks of ice. Garnish with lime wheel.
Presto! An easy 3-ingredient cocktail that is refreshing, tasty and can be made in seconds.
Bee’s Knees
I love the bee’s knees because it is easy to make and is one of the few classic cocktails sweetened with honey.
To get started, you’ll want to make honey syrup; this is similar to simple syrup but is equal parts honey and water. Honey syrup is great because it’s not as thick as straight honey, so it will mix into the drink much easier.
1/2 ounce honey syrup (see above)
3/4 ounce fresh lemon juice
2 ounces gin
For garnish: A lemon wedge or twist
-Combine the lemon juice, syrup, and gin in a shaker, fill with ice, and shake until cold. Strain into a chilled glass and garnish with the lemon wedge or twist.
What you have is a bright, refreshing cocktail with the floral flavors of honey and guaranteed to put a smile on your face.
Bonus drink! If you swap the gin for bourbon, you would then have what’s known as a Gold Rush, and it is delicious!
But that is something interesting to think about how replacing or adding one ingredient can completely change what kind of cocktail you end up making.
I don’t have a name for this last cocktail, but I know it is delicious.
1/2 ounce lemon juice
1/2 ounce St. Germain
1 ounce cranberry juice
1 ounce vodka
simple syrup, to sweeten.
For garnish: A lemon twist
-Combine all ingredients with ice in a shaker, shake until the shaker feels cold, then strain into a martini glass, garnishing with a lemon twist.
If I were to give this cocktail a name, it would be a St Germain Vodka Cranberry. I am a big fan of fruity cocktails, so this one hits home every time.
You can also skip the syrup and coat the rim of the glass with sugar.
All of the cocktails mentioned above are as delicious as they are fun to make (as long as you enjoy them responsibly), and once you know how to make them you can switch them up with other spirits and flavors to see if you can create your own unique cocktails.
Cheers!
