Mark Twain Cocktail
•1 1/2 ounces Scotch whisky
•3/4 ounce fresh lemon juice
•1 ounce simple syrup
•2 dashes of Angostura bitters
Shake all the ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail or rocks glass.
This drink was described by Mark Twain in a letter to his wife Olivia from London in January, 1874:
“Livy my darling, I want you to be sure & remember to have, in the bathroom, when I arrive, a bottle of Scotch whisky, a lemon, some crushed sugar, & a bottle of Angostura bitters. Ever since I have been in London I have taken in a wine glass what is called a cock-tail (made with those ingredients) before breakfast, before dinner, & just before going to bed.” http://www.cocktailia.com/cocktail-recipes/mark-twain
Brandy Alexander
1 1/2 oz brandy
1 oz dark creme de cacao
1 oz half-and-half
1/4 tspgrated nutmeg
In a shaker half-filled with ice cubes, combine the brandy, creme de cacao, and half-and-half. Shake well. Strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with the nutmeg.
Maple Leaf Cocktail
1 1/2 oz bourbon (4.5 cl, 3/8 gills)
1/2 oz maple syrup (1.5 cl, 1/8 gills)
1/2 oz fresh lemon juice (1.5 cl, 1/8 gills)
Shake in iced cocktail shaker & strain. Serve in a cocktail glass.
The Cherry Bounce
Four parts cherry
Two parts sugar
One part whiskey
Vieux Carre
1 ounce rye whiskey
1 ounce cognac
1 ounce sweet vermouth
1 teaspoon benedictine, d.o.m
2 dashes peychaud’s bitters
2 dashes Angostura bitters
Mix all ingredient in a glass with ice.
Manhattan
3/4 oz sweet vermouth
2 1/2 oz bourbon whiskey
1 dash Angostura® bitters
1 maraschino cherry
1 twist orange peel
Combine the vermouth, bourbon whiskey, and bitters with 2 – 3 ice cubes in a mixing glass. Stir gently, don’t bruise the spirits and cloud the drink. Place the cherry in a chilled cocktail glass and strain the whiskey mixture over the cherry. Rub the cut edge of the orange peel over the rim of the glass and twist it over the drink to release the oils but don’t drop it in.
VARIATION: No bitters. Substitute a twist of lime for the cherry and orange. Hold the lime twist in a lighted match over the drink and then drop it in. The heat really zips up the lime flavor.
Wisconsin style Brandy Old Fashioned
Orange slices
Maraschino cherries
Aromatic bitters
Sugar
Brandy
7up/Sprite – or Squirt for a more sour taste…this has been my go-to lately
First, you start with a tub or lowball glass – usually 10-12 fl. ounces. Drop an orange slice, cherry, and 3-5 squirts of bitters into the glass
Next, you muddle all ingredients in the glass. This is when you should begin to see some froth develop. Once thoroughly muddled, fill the glass with ice, then a couple of ounces of Korbel brandy. Finally, top it off with your soda preference, stir, and garnish with another cherry and orange.
For more visual stimuli, check out the video of a bartender at one of my favorite restaurants, The Old Fashioned, make one. The Old Fashioned is a bar/restaurant in Madison, WI that serves classic Wisconsin fare, and…yes, they specialize in old fashioneds.
You will also see this quintessential Wisconsin drink made with club soda or water, but in Wisconsin it is mixed with 7up, Squirt, or a sour mix.
Sweet Tea Vodka & Lemonade
1 part Sweet Tea Vodka
1 part fresh lemonade
Serve in a highball glass with lots of ice and a mint leaf.
Atlantic Breeze
1 oz light rum
½ oz apricot brandy
½ oz Galliano
Splash grenadine
Splash lime juice
Fill with pineapple juice.
Mix well
Purple Viking
1 oz blue curacao liqueur
1 oz blueberry liqueur
1 oz sloe gin
splash of lime juice
splash of sour mix
splash of lemon-lime soda
Pour the liqueurs, juice and sour mix into a highball glass filled with ice. Stir well. Top with a splash of soda.
Yale Cocktail
1/2 oz dry vermouth
1 1/2 oz gin
1 tsp Blue Curacao liqueur
1 dash bitters
Stir all ingredients with ice, strain into a cocktail glass, and serve.
Blueberry Cheesecake
5 ounces vanilla vodka
2 ounces heavy cream
1 ounce coffee liqueur
1/2 ounce strawberry liqueur
2 tablespoons blueberry preserves or jelly
fresh blueberries for garnish (optional)
Combine ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled half-way with ice. Shake for 30-40 seconds and serve into a martini class.
Garnish with fresh blueberries
Candy Corn Cocktail
For the infused vodka:
1/2 cup candy corn
1 1/2 cups vodka
For the cordials:
2 ounces orange liqueur
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1 large egg white
Candy corn, for garnish
Infuse the vodka: Combine the candy corn and vodka in an airtight container; set aside for at least 3 hours, then strain.
Make the cordials: Add 4 ounces of the candy corn vodka, the orange liqueur, lemon juice and egg white to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously for at least 30 seconds. Strain into 2 chilled martini glasses and garnish with candy corn.