These are a few of our favourite cocktails - the list grows weekly (sometimes daily!) depending on what new liquor I acquire. They have become a nightly institution before dinner (as any visitor from UK knows). The measure is one of those metal do-dahs with double ended cones but basically anything would do. I always keep 2 glasses in the freezer ready for action. Most recipes come from the Ultimate book of Cocktails by Stuart Walton, published by Hermes House.
| Negroni | A classic cocktail which is very nice as an aperitif | 1.5 measures Gin 1 measure Campari 1 measure Sweet Vermouth |
Shake the ingredients well with ice, and strain into cocktail glass. |
| Zorro | One of my favourites at the moment | 1.5 Measures Gold Tequila 1 measure Creme de Banana 1 measure Lime Juice |
Shake the ingredients well with ice, and strain into cocktail glass. |
| Berliner | A dry, and very grown-up sort of drink, Berliner is full of herbal flavours from the vermouth and kummel and has a finishing tang of lemon. | 1.5 measures GIN .5 measure DRY VERMOUTH .5 measure KUMMEL .5 measure LEMON JUICE |
Shake all ingredients well with ice, and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Squeeze a bit of lemon rind over the top and garnish with half slice of lemon |
| Green Dragon 1 | You will find one glass of this dry, savoury and extremely strong cocktail is more than enough. Sip it slowly, or be brave and take it at a couple of gulps. Then lie down. | 2 measures VODKA 1 measure GREEN CHARTREUSE |
Shake the ingredients well with ice, and strain into cocktail glass. |
| Blackhawk | This is a very moreish short drink with an appealing balance of sweet and sour | 1.5 measures VODKA .5 measure CREME DE MURE .5 measure LIME JUICE |
Shake the ingredients well with ice, and strain into cocktail glass. |
| Columbus | Simple and appealing mixture of sweet and sour, it must be made with light rum but if you don't have it, then a mixture of dark and white will do. | 1.5 measure LIGHT RUM 3.4 measure APRICOT BRANDY 1 measure LIME JUICE |
Shake the ingredients well with ice, and strain into cocktail glass. |
| Milano | The assertive flavour of Galliano comes through strongly in this short, sour cocktail, which has a long aftertaste | 1 measure GIN 1 measure GALLIANO JUICE OF HALF LEMON |
Shake the ingredients well with ice, and strain into cocktail glass. |
| Cosmo | Yummy, need I say more! | 1.5 measures Vodka 1 measure Cointreau 1 measure Cranberry Juice .5 measure Lime Juice |
Shake the ingredients well with ice, and strain into cocktail glass. |
| Katinka | Sweet and Sour | 1.5 measure Vodka 1 measure Apricot Brandy Juice of half Lime |
Shake the ingredients well with ice, and strain into cocktail glass. |
| Mockingbird | A recipe to use up that bottle of Creme de Menthe! | 1.5 measures Tequila 3.4 measure Creme de Menthe Juice of half Lime |
Shake the ingredients well with ice, and strain into cocktail glass. |
Some cocktails web sites are idrink.com which lets you enter all the ingredients you have available and comes up with a huge list of cocktails; Drinkboy.com is also useful for a explanation of each type of liquor or liqueur.