Sidecar

The Sidecar is another great classic cocktail.  Here's the recipe:

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 ounce Cognac
• 3/4 ounce Triple Sec
• 3/4 ounce Lemon Juice

Instructions:

1. Pour all ingredients into a shaker.
2. Fill shaker with ice and shake well.
3. Strain into a martini glass.

(Photo by Evan Swigart)

Martini Recipe

Here is a basic martini recipe.  A true martini is made with gin and vermouth.  However, many people (myself included) prefer their martinis to be made with vodka.  You can also alter the amount of vermouth that is used.

Ingredients:

• 4 ounces Gin or Vodka
• 1 ounce Dry Vermouth
• Green Olives or Lemon Peel

Instructions:

1. Pour vermouth and gin or vodka into a mixing glass or shaker with ice.
2. Stir or shake well.
3. Strain into a martini glass.
4. Garnish with olives or lemon peel.

Notes:

Stirring is often preferred to shaking (despite what Bond orders) because shaking causes the drink to become cloudy.


(Photo by Kyle May)

Manhattan Recipe

Here is my recipe for a great Manhattan:

Ingredients:

• 3 ounces Rye Whiskey
• 1 ounce Sweet Vermouth
• 2 dashes Angostura Bitters
• 1 Maraschino Cherry

Instructions:

1. Pour the rye, vermouth, and bitters into a mixing glass or shaker with ice.
2. Stir or shake well.
3. Strain into a martini glass or over ice in an old fashioned glass.
4. Garnish with a cherry.

Notes:

I prefer mine on the rocks in an old fashioned glass.

Traditionally, a Manhattan is made with rye.  However, it can be made with Canadian whiskey or bourbon.  A Manhattan made with scotch is a Rob Roy.

(Photo by larryvencent)

Old Fashioned Recipe

Here's a recipe for another classic cocktail, the Old Fashioned:

Ingredients:

• 4 ounces Bourbon or Rye Whiskey
• 2 dashes Augostura Bitters
• 1 Sugar Cube
• 1 splash Water
• Orange Slice
• Maraschino Cherry

Instructions:

1. Muddle the sugar cube with the water and bitters in the bottom of an old fashioned glass until the sugar dissolves.
2. Fill the glass with ice.
3. Add whiskey and stir.
4. Garnish with orange slice and cherry.

Notes:

I prefer my Old Fashioned with bourbon, typically Makers Mark.

(Photo from IBA)

Dirty Martini Recipe

A dirty martini is a martini with olive brine from a jar of olives added.

Ingredients:

• 4 ounces Gin or Vodka
• 1 ounce Dry Vermouth
• 1 ounce Olive Brine
• Green Olives

Instructions:

1. Pour vermouth, olive brine, and gin or vodka into a mixing glass or shaker with ice.
2. Stir or shake well.
3. Strain into a martini glass.
4. Garnish with olives.

(Photo by IBA)

Whiskey Sour

This is my new favorite cocktail for summer.  It's a refreshing drink when sitting outside on a patio with a cocktail and a cigar.  I was enjoying these last night on the patio of J Buck's in Clayton while smoking a Padron 1964 Principe Natural. 

Here's the recipe:

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Bourbon (Makers Mark)
• 2/3 oz Lemon Juice
• 1 tsp Sugar
• 1 maraschino cherry

Instructions:

1. Stir sugar and lemon juice together in a shaker.
2. Add bourbon.
3. Fill shaker with ice.
4. Shake bourbon, lemon juice, and sugar.
5. Strain into a martini glass, or serve over ice in an old fashioned glass.
6. Garnish with a maraschino cherry.

Notes:
Traditionally these are served in a martini glass or a whiskey sour glass.  However, I prefer mine in an old fashioned glass with ice.