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)

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.

Homemade Sour Mix

Here's my recipe for homemade Sour Mix.  It works great in my Perfect Margarita Recipe.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups Simple Syrup
• 1 cup fresh squeezed Lemon Juice
• 1/2 cup fresh squeezed Lime Juice

Instructions:

1. Juice the lemons and limes using a juicer.
2. Strain the lemon and lime juice.
3. Combine with simple syrup.
4. Bottle and store in the fridge.

Notes:
This is a great use for any lemons and limes that were used for juicing.  This Sour Mix must be kept refridgerated.  It should keep for 1 to 2 weeks.

My Bourbon Renewal Recipe

In my Bourbon Renewal recipe, I substitute Chambord for the more traditional Creme De Cassis.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Bourbon (Maker's Mark)
• 1/2 oz Chambord
• 1/2 oz Simple Syrup
• 1 oz Lemon Juice
• 1 dash Angostura bitters

Instructions

1. Shake with ice.
2. Serve over ice in an old fashioned glass.

My Limoncello Recipe

Back in March, I decided to try my hand at making my own limoncello. I just finished my first batch, and it turned out great! I decided to use a mixture of 190-proof grain alcohol and 80-proof vodka as a base. It turned out strong, but not overpowering. I've already started another batch to give out at Christmas.  Here is the recipe.  I'll post tips, comments, and pictures when I have a chance.

My Limoncello Recipe

Ingredients:

• 14 lemons
• 1 bottle(750 ml) 190-proof grain alcohol (Everclear)
• 1 bottle (750 ml) 80-proof mid-grade vodka (Skyy)
• 3 cups (750 ml) filtered water
• 4 cups pure white cane sugar

Instructions:

Step 1

1. Scrub lemons with a brush in hot water.

2. Remove the zest from the lemons using a zester (see Tips on Zesting).

3. Put zest in a large glass jar.

4. Add vodka and grain alcohol and shake.

5. Leave in cool dark place for a minimum of 45 days.

Step 2

1. Disolve sugar in water and boil for 5 minutes.
2. Allow mixture to cool.
3. While cooling, strain alcohol/zest infusion through a fine strainer to remove zest.
4. Pour infusion and sugar water back into jar.
5. Leave in cool dark place for a minimum of another 45 days.

Step 3

1. Filter the mixture through coffee filters changing the filters as they get clogged (I place coffee filter in a funnel).
2. Filter a second time.
3. Funnel into bottles (I just keep the empty bottles from the vodka and grain alcohol and other liquor bottles, clean them, and remove the labels).
4. Place in freezer until ready to drink.

Serve in a cordial glass.