Drink recipes: Cosmopolitan

Belonging to all the world; polished; sophisticated; worldly, all embracing. We could also add to that description versatile and limitless, as in the possibilities of what can be done with the Cosmopolitan cocktail.

The Cosmopolitan or Cosmo came to be known by many during the glory day run of the HBO television series, Sex in the City from 1998 to 2004. It was the sophisticated pink cocktail of choice sipped by the character, Carrie Bradshaw, played by Sarah Jessica Parker who in a campy sort of way even went so far as to order a Cosmo at a drive thru burger window in one episode.

Madonna is also given credit for helping the Cosmo “arrive” on the cocktail circuit. The paparazzi photographed a Cosmo in the hands of Madonna at the Rainbow room in 1996 and overnight the drink became a sensation the world over. Bartenders and restaurant managers from as far away as Germany and Australia called the Rainbow Room asking for the recipe. It was then that Dale DeGroff added the finishing touches of Cointreau and a flamed orange peel to the already existent recipe that has become the standard to which all others make their variations.

So where did the Cosmopolitan get its start? Between 1956 and 1970 Ocean Spray advertised a series of drink recipes in their brochures and even on their bottles of juice. One of these drink recipes was the Harpoon. The Harpoon was simply vodka, fresh lime, and a splash of cranberry juice. Later, that drink evolved into what we know as the Cape Codder or Cape Cod. It still has the same ingredients, but in much different proportions with more cranberry and only a splash of lime. One drink built on the next. What happened with the Cosmo is what likely happens with quite a few cocktails. A bartender here or there adds or takes away, gives a drink a twist here and a dash there, and pretty soon, one drink evolves into another drink. HarpoonCape CodderCosmopolitan.

In looking up the Cosmopolitan in several of my trusted cocktail books, not one of them had the exact same measurements as the next. This is not such an unusual find as you may have discovered in the bar books stocked on your own shelves. It is for this very reason that bartenders and drink enthusiasts alike begin tweaking cocktails to their liking. For the purposes of this experiment the basic Cosmopolitan recipe I’ve chosen comes from the Craft of the Cocktail by Dale DeGroff.

Cosmopolitan

1-1/2 oz Citron Vodka

1/2 oz Cointreau

1/4 oz

Online exotic cocktails recipes

In the past few years, the popularity of cocktails increased dramatically. More and more types were invented; some of the most exotic fruit juices were mixed with powerful alcohol and the mixing of drinks quickly transformed into some kind of art.

Today, we can find on the Internet a wealth of information about cocktails and their recipes. Even though the cocktail dates back from the 19th century, its popularity is quite recent due to the advertising of such products online and with the help of the media (commercials and films). Bartenders pride themselves in mastering the art of mixing various drinks and other people are quite pleased to try all kinds of mixtures at home.

However the case may be, it is amazing how much the world of cocktails has grown. Online, we can find dozens of cocktail creations, all mixed in special ways and decorated with all sorts of things including orange peels, mint twigs and cherries. Cocktails are far from being boring; on the contrary, they are considered by most people hip and in style.

Online, one can find stories about cocktail secrets, recipes for the most famous cocktails in the world and also some valuable information about cocktails in general. The basic ingredients are presented by some websites, meaning the base, the main flavoring and the special flavoring. Also, there are details about decoration and preparation, not to mention types of glasses, such as longdrinks glasses.

Mixing a cocktail is not something that is done by strict rules; quite the opposite, the drink must be made after the personal taste. Special ingredients can be added while shaking or stirring, leading to some of the world’s most spectacular mixed drinks.

Along with preparation, decorating a cocktail has also become an important part. All kinds of fruits are used and there are many cocktails and especially longdrinks that are served with straws or wooden sticks. Straws are known to fit very well with a certain type of cocktail, served in a highball glass. Another common method for decoration is frosting and this is used on a large scale today for a multitude of cocktails.

Some of the most popular cocktails of the modern world are longdrinks. Served in tall glasses or highball glasses, these have a comparatively big volume and they have plenty of ice, being made especially for hot weather.

Alcoholic longdrinks include Mai Tai, Caribbean Night and Long Island Ice Tea. All of them are popular cocktails, served everywhere around the world and it is a good thing that their recipes are presented online. The Mai Tai is made from brown rum, cointreau, lemon juice and almond syrup. It also contains brown sugar, a half of lemon and crushed ice. This amazing drink is awfully tasty and usually comes decorated with fresh mint or a cherry.

Some people also prefer cocktails with alcohol such as: Sex on the beach or Tequila Sunrise. The first is prepared with vodka, orange and cranberry juice. A very special ingredient is represented by the peach liquor, which gives the drink a very special flavor. This cocktail is also part of the list of popular longdrinks and its recipe is quite easy to follow.

There are also non-alcoholic long drinks such as Alex, Orange Fizz or Sweet victory. These are strong flavored made from various fruit juices such as: currant, apricot, pineapple, orange and cherry. Other key ingredients are: almond and strawberry syrup, tonic water (for Orange Fizz) and lemons. All have ice and some also have grenadine, in order to enhance the flavor of the basic ingredients.

What you have to remember about cocktails is that they require dedication. You have to put your heart into the making of a mixed drink and read all about different recipes. The Internet is the perfect place to discover all sorts of strange yet interesting recipes and try them at home or order them the next time you go into a bar.

Guide to champagne and wine cocktails – Part 1

The next time you are having friends over for a Sunday brunch, instead of pulling out the tried and true Mimosa recipe, why not serve something with a little more pizzazz? Champagne and wine cocktails make for a fun and/or fizzy additional to any festivity and give those who do not want a heavy drink, something to sip while munching a well done canape.

Champagne has been around since the 1700’s when Dom Perignon messed up the wine he was making and then realized that his mistake was instead a timeless creation that was sure to please. Since that time, generations have been celebrating by popping the cork on a bottle of bubbly. In the 19th century, well bred ladies and gentlemen took champagne cocktails at late supeprs and the champagne cocktail has long been the favorite drink of the genteel set. Nowadays, we can all sit back and enjoy the fizzy goodness whether we are genteel or just pretending to be.

Champagne and wine cocktails are great to serve at parties because of their ease. You can make ten of them just as easily as you can make two, and no blender is used. The other nice thing is that while you wouldn’t want to skimp and buy the cheapest bottle, because then you’ll end up with a bitter mess, you don’t have to break out the bottle of Champagne you’ve been saving for your daughter’s wedding, either.

So what is the difference between a wine cocktail and a champagne cocktail? As champagne is wine, just of the sparkling variety, there really isn’t much of a difference. The bubbles might be one difference and the quality of the wine might be another. While champagne cocktails are served straight up, and usually in a fluted glass for extra elegance, wine cocktails can be served straight up, in a glass, or on the rocks. Wine cocktails are a bit more flexible and can be mixed with other spirits, depending on the flavor of the wine. In either case, it is best not to use your best bottle of wine for wine cocktails, as the subtle flavors that you would otherwise savor, will be lost in the mixture.

There are many great resources that will give you recipes for both wine cocktails and champagne cocktails, but my favorite one has champagne cocktails listed by color. If you are a coordinating fanatic, like me, it is always nice to serve drinks that compliment your decor or party theme!

Here are a few websites that will help you mix just the right cocktail for your next soiree. Bottoms up!

1. http://wineintro.com/champagne /cocktails/

2. http://cocktails.about.com/od/ cocktailrecipes/a/chmpgn_cktl. htm

3. http://www.drinksmixer.com/cat /9

Drink recipes: Sidecar – Part 2

A Sidecar comes in two very distinct versions-a brandy or a cognac version. First I will give you the basic recipe for each, and then I will give some tips for customizing these smooth and simple drinks.

BRANDY SIDECAR

1 ounce of brandy

3/4 ounce of triple-sec

3/4 ounce of fresh-squeezed lemon juice

Gently combine all ingredients and then pour into a chilled “old-fashioned” or rocks glass. A garnish of lemon peel is optional.

COGNAC SIDECAR

1 ounce of cognac (Hennessey is great for this recipe, though if you are feeling a bit luxurious go for the Courvoisier VSOP or the Remy-Martin VSOP)

3/4 ounce of triple-sec

3/4 ounce of fresh-squeezed lemon juice

Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Briefly shake to blend and then pour into a chilled cocktail/martini glass. Garnish with a lemon or orange peel.

Several substitutions can be made upon these two base recipes. The most popular is to replace the triple-sec with Cointreau or Grand Marnier for a more complex and richly flavored Sidecar. Some bartenders also like to lightly rim the glass with sugar for a sweeter Sidecar. To put an New England touch on the Sidecar, prepare the above recipe except substitute 3/4 ounce of brandy and 3/4 ounce of light rum for the 1 ounce of brandy to make a Boston Sidecar. Applecars are another popular variation by preparing the base recipe, but substituting applejack or apple brandy for the regular brandy.

Lastly, if you are new to drinking brandy, you can make a lighter, sweeter version with this recipe:

1/4 ounce of lemon juice

1/4 ounce of triple-sec, Cointreau, or Grand Marnier

1 ounce of fresh-squeezed orange juice

1 ounce of brandy

Combine all of the above ingredients in a shaker filled with ice and shake well. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with an orange or lemon peel. This lighter version of the sidecar is great with a slightly sugared glass.

So whether you prefer brandy or cognac, a Sidecar is a delicious and simple mixed drink to enjoy anytime. Served in either a rocks or martini glass, it will always offer sophistication and class at hand.

Cocktail recipes: Paris Hilton – Part 1

To make the Paris Hilton Cocktail, you need to think about how Paris sees herself, well she does think she’s classy after all she’s a Hilton. What’s the classiest cocktail you know? The martini of course, but she was born in the 1980s so she’s probably more a vodka martini than a genuine one. What else does she think, well after she came out of jail she was acting all sweet, and of course we have to celebrate her imprisonment.

How does this sound?

2 parts vodka

1 part dry vermouth

2 parts pineapple juice

2 parts orange juice

Place all of the ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake well, strain and serve in a martini glass.

Vodka & vermouth equals class

Pineapple juice equals sweet

Orange juice equals prison jumpsuit.

There we have it the Paris Hilton Cocktail!

Christmas 2007: Hottest new cocktail recipe books – Part 1

I must admit that I absolutely love a good cocktail from time to time, and who doesn’t? When you walk into a book store and want to choose a great book to give as a gift it can be overwhelming when you see just how many there are. Rest assured that there are many new and great cocktail recipe books to give to the cocktail lover in your life.

Here are a few that I have looked over and I would love to have as a gift to add to th bar in my home….

Food and Wine Cocktails 2007 ~ With this book there are many great cocktail recipes to choose from. Food and Wine is a popular magazine that I personally subscribe to simply get a hold of some fabulous recipes. Now they are offering this great cocktail recipe book at just under $15.00.

Imbibe ~ This is a fun book that takes a look back at famous cocktails over the years. From the author David Wondrich, comes this great look at the legendary drinks we have come to love. Listed at just under $25.00 it is an affordable book to add to any bar.

The Bartender’s Black Book ~ This is the eighth addition to the list of books and it offers some classic cocktail recipes as well as many new ones. With 500 martini recipes alone your sure to find a few that you love. Listed just under $15.00 it is a great book to give to any cocktail lover. The author lists around 2800 recipes for different great cocktails in this book.

Of course classic recipes never die out, and there are plenty of great classic cocktail that will never go out of style. So when you are looking for a great cocktail book to give as a gift simply scan through it and see if you like the way certain recipes sound.

The perfect springtime cocktails

The kids may be selling lemonade at the corner stand, but a real thirst quencher for adults is a Lemon Drop with a twist. Lemon Drop cocktails have usually been too sweet and grainy for my taste, so I’ve strayed away from them in the past. But lately I’ve been playing around with them a bit. Mmmm…my mouth is watering already just thinking of making this drink.

If you order a Lemon Drop in a bar it is typically made as a shot or shooter with a sugared lemon wedge. It may be served as simply as a shot glass rimmed with granulated sugar, filled with citron vodka and a lemon wedge on the side or a lemon wedge dipped in granulated sugar as well. The patron licks the sugar, sucks the lemon and shoots the citron vodka. In my opinion, there is little fuss about it and also little to make it worth coming back for. So, instead of making a shot of it, let’s make a cocktail out of it and make it worth drinking. This one is so thirst quenching you may still be tempted to throw back a few, though.

Let me address the granulated sugar rather quickly. Working with granulated sugar in cocktails like the Lemon Drop which is shaken or a Mojito which is muddled, you will find that the sugar does not dissolve like expected. That makes for a gritty drink going down and residue left over in the bottom of the glass. Neither is very attractive. It takes a great amount of time and patience to finally get sugar to melt into other liquids when it isn’t heated. So, instead of using granulated sugar as some cocktail recipes call for, try either making your own simple sugar syrup or there is a great product on the market by Collins called Bar Syrup.

It is relatively easy to make your own sugar syrup. It is two parts sugar to one part water. Heat the water in a saucepan on the stove to a simmer. Gradually stir in the sugar. Continue stirring until all of the sugar is dissolved. Remove pan from the stove and allow mixture to cool completely. The mixture must be stored in the refrigerator and will keep for two to three weeks. Since the homemade syrup does eventually go bad due to mold, the Collins Bar Syrup is an excellent product. It does not have to be refrigerated after being opened making storage very handy. You can find Collins Bar Syrup at your local liquor store or online.

Raspberry Lemon Drop

2 oz Ciroc Vodka

Juice of One Freshly Squeezed Lemon

1/2 oz Collins Bar Syrup

1/4 oz 1/2 oz Mathilde Liqueur Framboise (Chambord may be substituted)

1 Lemon Wheel (remove seeds)

In a cocktail shaker combine Ciroc Vodka, lemon juice, and Collins Bar Syrup. Fill shaker 1/3 full with ice. Shake 15 20 seconds. Strain into a well chilled cocktail glass. Gently float the lemon wheel on top of the cocktail drink mixture. Very carefully pour the Mathilde Liqueur Framboise onto the lemon wheel only. Some of course will filter through, but be careful not to stir it into the drink to allow for a nice layering effect.

This makes a beautiful drink. The raspberry liqueur continually sinks to the bottom of the glass giving the illusion of a rather plump looking raspberry at the bottom. You could even garnish this drink with a skewer of fresh raspberries if you would like. The last third of the drink is where the lemon wheel and raspberry liqueur start working together for an extra burst of flavor. Again, my mouth is watering. I think I’ll have to go make one now.

Drink recipes: Stinger

The true origins of the “Stinger Drink have remained obscure and sexily elusive. It is considered a sophisticated after dinner drink. In fact the Stinger is even mentioned by Sir Cary Grant himself “Stingers, and keep them coming.” in the film Kiss Them For Me. Some say that the Stinger’s main ingredient (creme de menthe) was the high society way of masking the smell of liquor on the breath. Whatever the origins the Stinger is still considered an upper crust after dinner cocktail and is amazingly smooth going down. The following drink recipes are three variations of the drink.

2 oz cognac

1 oz white creme de menthe

Sprig of mint

Fill the cocktail shaker halfway with ice, add cognac and crme de menthe, and shake well. Strain into decorative cocktail glass. Garnish. Serves one.

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Stinger #2

1 1/2 oz brandy

1/2 oz white creme de menthe

Shake ingredients with ice, strain into a cocktail glass, and serve.

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Stinger #3

1 1/2 oz brandy

1/2 oz white creme de menthe

1/2 oz vodka

Add ice shake well, strain, serve in cocktail glass

Drink recipes: Mojito

I was last year in Cuba and was so delighted about their Cocktail called M O H I TO

The Cubans told me with smiling faces that this was tho most preferred one of

Ernest Hemingway when he lived in Cuba before the bay of pigs disaster.When he left

Cuba he never was happy again.

HERE IS THE FAMOUS RECIPE

Mohito

An easy mohito cocktail recipe

1.5 oz Havana Club Rum

12 fresh spearmint leaves

1/2 lime

7 oz club soda

2 tbsp. simple syrup

(or 4 tsp. sugar)

For the smoothest mohitos, gently crush mint leaves and lightly squeeze lime in a cool tall glass. Pour sweet syrup on top to cover and fill glass with ice. Add Havana Club, club soda, and stir your emerging mohito well. Garnish with a lime wedge, a few sprigs of mint, toast, sip, and enjoy mohitos…..

Drink recipes: Fresh juice cocktails – Part 1

Cocktails are great during summer time, so why not invite all of your friends over to try out some exciting new cocktail recipes on your deck? Start the summer right by trying some of these easy and quick recipes and you will surely become the life of the party!

Sex on the Beach:

Build the following ingredients over ice: mix 2 shots of vodka, 1 shot of peach Schnapps, 3 shots of cranberry juice and 3 shots of orange juice. Pour the mixture in a tall glass and top off with a slice of lime. Voila! Sounds easy enough? That’s because it is!

Zombie:

This recipes is slightly more elaboratebut well worth trying. Mix 1 shot of rum, 1 shot shot of dry rum and 1 shot of gold/spiced rum. Add a dash of sugar syrup, followed by .5 shots of lime juice and .5 shots of pineapple juice. This drink is clearly for those who likes more alcohol than juice in their cocktails. Great drink for guys!

Strawberry Martini:

Muddle 3 strawberries in a cocktial shaker and add the following ingredients:1 teaspoon of sugar, .5 shots of lime juice, 2 shots of vodka and .5 shots of De Kuyper Creme de Cassis. Add ice and shake, shake, shake. Pour the mixture in a martini glass and enjoy!

Big Mac Daddy:

Mix 1 shot of bourbon, 1 shot of Amaretto, a handful of raspberries (or as many as you wish, for that matter), and 2 shots of cranberry juice. Shake the ingredients up with ice and after pouring into a glass, top off with a splash of ginger ale.

In The Pink:

A so-easy-to-make-I-Can’t-Believ e-it’s-so-good drink for the ladies. Mix one shot of cranberry liqueur with one shot of grapefruit juice. Shake with ice and garnish with a zest of lime

Rainbow Punch:

Another instant summer time classic. Mix 3 shots of orange juince, 3 shots of pineapple juice, 1 large dash of grenadine, a splash of soda water, .5 shots of lime juice and a table spoon of sugar syrup. Shake all ingredients except soda water together and strain into a sling glass, then top with soda water.

Russian Spring:

A good drink if you like apple flavored cocktails. You will need 1 shot of vodka, .5 shots ofcreme de menthe (green), 2.5 shots of soda, and one shot of apple juice. You know the drill – shake up the ingredients with ice, top off with soda water and garnish with a sprig of mint to complete the drink.

Now that I’ve provided you with essential cocktail recipes, it is up to you to invite your friends out on the patio, deck or even a balcony, blast some Caribbean music and toast to the start of agreat summer!

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