Tag: cocktail glass

The Classic Manhattan

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Looking back through the blog recently, I was shocked to find that I hadn’t made a single Manhattan in the nearly 4 years since starting this page. I have had no excuse to ignore this quintessential classic cocktail, so I apologize for my oversight.

The Manhattan is said to have first been made (or at least) introduced in the United States by the request of Winston Churchill’s Mother in a bar in NYC. Since those days the drink has become a true classic recipe known by even the most humble of bartenders. Plus it’s a great example of how a truly masculine drink can be presented in a fancy cocktail glass.

For a drink this simple if you’re not using quality ingredients you’ll be doing yourself and your guests a disservice. A cheap whiskey (traditionally bourbon or rye) will be far too harsh on the palette, while a cheap vermouth will leave quite literally a bad taste in your mouth. No, a good Manhattan is all about the right ingredients all coming together beautifully.

With a deep reddish brown color and garnished cherry this drink feels both classy and intimidating at the same time. With sweet vermouth on the forward aroma, it’s is as inviting to the senses as such a simple cocktail can be. Masked by the mixing of flavors you’re greeted with a pleasant mellow bourbon on the front of your palette. It quickly moves into the vermouth (again get a good one, you’ll thank me), and leads to an oaky bourbon and bitter finish. If you chose rye over the bourbon I imagine you’ll get of its flavor than you do the oak of your favorite bourbon.

The bite is strong, but the flavor keeps you coming back for more! It’s hard to hate a drink like this (unless of course you’re not a whiskey lover).

Alcohol Taste Rating: 8/10
Overall Rating 9.5/10

The Classic Manhattan

2 oz Bourbon or Rye Whiskey
3/4 oz Sweet (Red) Vermouth
2-3 Dashes of Aromatic Bitters
Cherry

“It puts the MAN in Manhattan”

Stir with ice for about 45 seconds. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass, and garnish with a maraschino cherry.

Queen Elizabeth’s Wine

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Well, at this point I think it’s safe to say that I can’t keep up with last year’s schedule of “a new drink every Monday,” but I will certainly try to keep getting drinks out to you guys. So, you may see a surplus of new recipes over the next week, then a bit of a break. Just remember to check back here occasionally for a new drink or two.

Ok so down to business. Today’s cocktail is certainly of a different caliber than most of the fruit based drinks you’ll find me making. The “Queen Elizabeth’s Wine” is appropriately named for both it’s color and taste. The cocktail’s main aroma comes from the dry vermouth in the drink, but unlike some other vermouth cocktails the flavor doesn’t overpower the drink. You’ll start off with a sweet wine taste (something like a Pinot Grigio), but it quickly moves to the lead liqueur of Benedictine. The finish has a nice mild vermouth taste and keeps you going back for more. It’s a rather small drink and fills a traditional small cocktail glass perfectly, but for a modern variation you could easily bump up the Benedictine to 2.5 oz and the lemon juice to 1.25 with a dash of citrus bitters. Even if you’re not huge on the taste of vermouth, this might be worth a try.

Overall Rating: 8/10
Alcohol Taste Rating: 5/10

Queen Elizabeth’s Wine

1 1/2 oz Benedictine
3/4 oz Dry Vermouth
3/4 oz Lemon Juice
Lemon Twist

Stir and strain with ice into a chilled cocktail glass. Garish with a lemon twist (rub over edge of glass)

Queen Elizabeth's Wine
(Insert generic offensive Queen of England joke here)

Blood In The Water (Original) Cocktail

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Today comes a brand new MoM Original Cocktail. A tropical smelling and tasting sweet drink with a great overall look. Red, then blue, then red again. I couldn’t quite get a good photo of it, but trust me it’s a great looking (and tasting) drink. What’s even better is you don’t even need a shaker for this drink, so it’s pretty simple to make even for the first time mixologist.

Blood in the Water

1 oz Tropical Rum (3/4 pineapple 1/4 coconut)
Splash of Light Rum (Optional, extra space filler for larger glasses and adds extra kick)
1 oz Maui Blue Hawaiian (Or Island Punch Pucker)
1 oz Sweet/Sour
Ice Cube
Dash Grenadine
Dash Sloe Gin

Start with a single ice cube to a cocktail glass. Add Rum(s), Blue Hawaiian, and sweet/sour directly over ice cube. Stir Gently. Add dash of Grenadine (should sink to bottom). Add Dash of Sloe Gin slowly over ice cube. Should swirl and sit on top of the blue mix. Serve and enjoy responsibly.

blood in the water
“Blood is thicker than water…and thinner too”

Surf Sider

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Today’s cocktail is a very interesting mix with some dark rum (then again it may depend on your choice rum). It’s dark sea foam green color adds intrigue and mystery as a start. It has a pleasant pineapple aroma and the lime garnish makes for a rather inviting mystery. It starts light and sweet, moves quickly to a citrus mix, then to a stiff spiced rum finish. It’s pretty good overall, but it is equally mysterious in taste and looks.

Alc. Rating: 7/10
Overall Rating: 7/10

Surf Sider

1 1/4 oz Dark Rum
3/4 oz Blue Curacao
3/4 oz Grand Marnier
1/2 oz Rose’s Lime Juice
1 1/4 oz Pineapple Juice
Lime Wedge

Shake and Strain into a chilled cocktail glass garnish with a lime wedge.

Surf Sider cocktail
“Surfs up! Move Over!”

Tidal Wave

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Today I bring you one of the best drinks I’ve had since the ” ‘57 T-Bird with Arizona Plates.” The Tidal Wave has great presentation and a very inviting coconut and almond aroma. It starts tropical and sweet, moves to a stronger coconut kick, then finishes with a more alcohol amaretto and sour bite. It’s not often you get such a great mixing of flavors across your palette, but this drink delivers in every respect. On my next menu revision I’ll be doing a section of “seasonal favorites” and this is sure to make the list!

Alcohol Taste Rating: 4.5/10
Overall Rating: 9/10

Tidal Wave

1 1/2 oz Coconut Rum
1 oz Blue Curacao
3/4 oz Lime Juice
1/2 oz Amaretto
1 tablespoon Coconut Cream
1 teaspoon Sugar (Superfine if you have it)
Lime Slice
(Additional Garnish: Small Orchid if available)

Shake all liquid ingredients with the sugar with ice. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish by floating a lime slice on top.

tidal wave
“Surfs up!”

Midorable Cocktail

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Is the name a little cheesy? Yes, but don’t blame me this time (it’s not an original).

The Midorable is a radiant green cocktail with a slight foam on top so it doesn’t require a garnish. It has a mild melon aroma which is very inviting. The flavor begins with a little banana, moves it’s way to the melon, and the finishes just a little sour. A sweeter variation might be worth a try (replace lime juice with simple syrup).

Alcohol Rating: 6.5-7/10
Overall Rating: 7.5/10 (could use 1/4 more of each ingredient to fill glass, the sour isn’t for everyone)

Make it Again? Yes. Possible Menu item

Midorable

1 oz Midori
3/4 oz Banana Liqueur (For less bite use Creme de Banana)
1/2 oz Lime Juice
1 oz Sweet/Sour

Shake and Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

midorable
“Not very cute, but it is Midorable”

Vodka Grand

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Today’s late night cocktail is a mildly aromatic and powerful drink. The Vodka Grand is bold both in appearance and taste. Strong and mildly sour you get a semi-sweet citrus start, then to a mid-range Grand Marnier on your main palette, finalized by the familiar sting of vodka. This drink is certainly a slow sipper, with a flavorful bite. Don’t take it lightly, but instead enjoy it’s tasty elegance.

Alcohol Taste Rating: 8.5/10
Overall Rating: 7.5-8/10
Make it again? Yes (It’s good enough to recommend, but not good enough for the menu)

Vodka Grand

1.5 oz Vodka
1/2 oz Grand Marnier
1/2 oz Rose’s Lime Juice
1/4 oz Lime Juice
Orange Slice

Stir and Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish by floating an orange slice in the drink.

vodka grand
“Grandios”

Blue Marlin

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A cast into the Atlantic catches you a “Blue Marlin!”
With it’s citrusy aroma, and brilliant blue color you know this one is a catch!

Ok so nautical puns aside this is an interesting and powerful drink. The Blue Marlin Cocktail features a sugar rim and feels very tropical. Unfortunately the taste doesn’t quite come up to par with the classy appearance. I feel the drink is very lacking in a more well rounded taste palette. Of course I do prefer sweeter drinks, so it might just be me.

That being said the addition of the sugar rim, really helps make the drink manageable. It’s not very sweet in the first place, so having that extra bit on your lips redeems the cocktail a bit. Also I did need to substitute a little citron vodka into the mix which may have thrown things off a little bit.

Either way the Blue Marlin is a great drink in terms of presentation, but the taste isn’t for everyone.
Alcohol Taste Rating: 6-7/10
Overall Taste Rating: 5/10
Make it Again? Maybe. Try again with all citron rum, or variation with more juice

blue marlin cocktail
“This is a catch! …Too bad we’re looking for Barracuda”

Blue Marlin

2 oz Citron Rum (1/2 citron vodka, 1/2 light rum used)
1/2 oz Blue Curacao
1/2 oz Sweet/Sour
Lemon Wedge and Sugar (for rim)
Orange Twist (or orange blossom)

Rum lemon wedge around edge and rim with sugar. Shake and strain rum, curacao, and sweet/sour with ice. Strain into prepared cocktail glass. Garnish with Orange Twist.

Ballet Russe

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Coming in pretty late this evening with the “Ballet Russe.” A Vodka and Creme de Cassis based cocktail with a sour tart flavor and a dark and mysterious color. The citrus juices create a foam when shaken that decorates the top of the drink, and smells slightly of sweet/sour mix.

A tart berry taste quickly moves to a sour and bitter finish as the taste of black currents rolls through your palette. Very few drinks I’ve found use any more than 1/2 an ounce of the stuff, but the citrus juices and syrup round this drink out well. I believe this drink could easily be remixed with other flavors such as raspberry, mint, or coconut (rum).

Alcohol Rating: 5-6/10
Overall Rating: 7.5/10
Make it Again? Yes, possible menu option

Ballet Russe

1 oz Vodka
3/4 oz Creme de Cassis
1 1/2 oz Lime Juice
1/2 oz Lemon Juice
1 oz Simple Syrup

Shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

ballet russe
“Wait, why am I tasting cranberries?”