cocktails

The BEST Gin And Tonic Cocktails To Make

Published

1 year ago

October 8, 2023

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Nothing signals summer more than the classic gin and tonic. The bracing refreshment of the quinine-a bitter beacon against the sweet/tart of the always cane sugar (never high fructose corn syrup) tonic water. Why cane sugar? First of all, the high fructose stuff is cloying and sweet. Cane sugar has depth and patience, along with a haunting sweetness; one that is neither too sweet, nor too tart and definitely not out of balance. The Gin and Tonic is more than just a sum of its parts. It is a metaphor for relaxation. Here are 5 ways to make them all for yourself.

Bourbon — Photo by Eaters Collective via Unsplash

Way Down East

2 oz. oven roasted lemonade (slice lemons in half, sprinkle with white balsamic vinegar and 1 tsp. ‘Sugar in the Raw’ then roast for two hours at 300 degrees, cool and juice, then add cane sugar to taste)
3 oz. botanical gin, such as Barr Hill, created from raw honey and local Vermont grain
1 oz. cane sugar tonic water (of your choice, but always made with cane sugar)
5 drops celery bitters
Roasted lemon rounds

Prepare the oven roasted lemonade according to the above. To a Collins glass, fill: ¾ with ice. Add the gin. Top with the oven roasted lemonade. Top that with the tonic water. Dot with the celery bitters. Garnish with a slice of roasted lemon. Serve.

Related: The BEST Delicious Whiskey Cocktails

The next take on the Gin and Tonic is with a brilliant gin from Spain that is botanical — from the gathered herbs — quite refreshing and the addition of lemon zest in the glass brings this cocktail to another level entirely. As the former cocktail had lemon juice in it that was roasted first, this cocktail is based on both a lemon oil rubbed into the walls of the cocktail glass and a few threads of saffron- combined with cane sugar simple syrup, tonic bitters and good sized splash of Stiegl Grapefruit Radler, a splendid grapefruit infused beer from Germany. I don’t see it used in cocktails much and I wonder why not?

The Intellectualist

2 oz. Mahon gin (from Spain)
1 oz. Royal Rose saffron simple syrup
4 oz. Stiegl Grapefruit Radler
4-6 drops tonic bitters
Lemon zest (no pith!)

Rub the inside of a Collins glass with the lemon zest. Add ice and set to cool. Meanwhile, in a cocktail mixing glass: fill ¾ with ice and combine the Mahon gin with the Royal Rose simple syrup. Strain over the Collins glass and ice. Dot with tonic bitters. Top with the Stiegl Grapefruit Radler. Serve. So easy!

Related: 5 Brilliant Cannabis-Infused Daiquiri Recipes

Another simple take on the classic uses ingredients that your supermarket has, I’m pretty sure of it.

The Optimistic Panda

3 oz. botanical gin, such as St. George rye gin
2 oz. lemongrass infused simple syrup — cane sugar only!*
3 oz. cane sugar tonic water
Splash of sherry (Fino style)

*smash lemongrass with the side of your chef’s knife, add to 1:1 simple syrup (cane sugar to boiling water, stir well) in the fridge overnight

Prep: To a pair of coupe glasses, pre-chill with ice and set aside to cool. To a cocktail mixing glass: fill ¾ with ice. Add the botanical gin and the lemongrass simple syrup. Stir. Strain into the coupes. Top with tonic water. Serve with a small strip of lemongrass over the top and a bar spoon of sherry.

If you love the refreshing characteristics of a Gin and Tonic in the heat of the summer to whet your appetite or sate your thirst, this Indian influenced sip is just for you!

Chai Masala Gin And Tonic

1 oz. chai tea mix (reconstituted into 3 oz. of botanical gin, such as Caorunn gin from Scotland)
Pinch of cardamom and clove powder
3 oz. cane sugar tonic of your choice

To a Collins glass filled ¾ with ice: Add the tea and gin mixture. Top with the cane sugar tonic water. Serve with brilliance and alacrity!

Ah, sage. My favorite kind of ingredient for the G&T is that leaf — a haunting reminder of the fall, easily translated to the experience of cocktail infamy with the addition of Fruitations cranberry syrup.

Related: 5 Great Ways To Use Fresh Herbs In Your Craft Cocktails

Pro-Tip: Toast the sage by lighting it on fire over a fire-proof surface and capturing the smoke inside an inverted Boston Shaker.

Smoked Sage And Cranberry Tonic And Gin

Sage leaf
Boston Shaker (well chilled to capture the smoke)
2 oz. Fruitations cranberry soda and cocktail syrup
3 oz. Bulldog gin
3 orange zests (preserved in cane sugar for a month before using)
6 oz. cane sugar tonic water

Toast sage leaf with fire, capture the smoke in your Boston Shaker. Quickly invert and fill ¾ with ice. Meanwhile, rub the inside of two double old fashioned glasses with the orange zests and deposit at the bottom of the glass. Add ice to the glass. Add the Bulldog gin to the Boston Shaker filled with sage smoke and ice. Add the Fruitations syrup. Cap and shake hard for 20 seconds. Strain into the double Old-Fashioned glasses. Top with cane sugar tonic water. Garnish with a toasted sage leaf.

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2025

The Best Cocktails To Get You Through The Week

Published

2 weeks ago

January 10, 2025

admin

The new year is starting with a bang – here are some cocktails to take off the edge.

The new year is coming in hot – back to work policies, the LA fires, snowstorms and just having to work is killing the 2025 start buzz. Now drinking your problems away isn’t a good or healthy solution, but sometimes a nip of something does help. January is already known as a bit of depressing month due to the post-holiday blues, cold weather, shorter daylight hours, and the potential for increased financial stress after the holiday spree. Here are the best cocktails to get you through the week.

Paloma

What better way to start the year with a semi healthy drink. The Paloma with tequila and juice is somewhat healthy. Good tequila is low calorie, low body impact coupled with a big dose of vitamin C helps make the dark days a little brighter.

Ingredients

2 ounces tequila
1/2 ounce lime juice, freshly squeezed
4 ounces Grapefruit soda, chilled, to top
Pinch of salt
Garnish: lime wheel

Create

Add the tequila, lime juice, and pinch of salt to the glass, and fill with ice.
Top with grapefruit soda, and stir briefly and gently to combine.
Garnish with a lime wheel.

The Spaghett

While beer drinking is down as people switch to California sober, it is still highly popular. Why now merge it with a favorite (Aperol Spritz and beer) for a refreshing and low alcohol treat? Try it, you will like it.

Ingredients

12 ounces light beer, such as Miller High Life
1 ounce Campari

Create

Take a big sip of chilled beer, about 1 ounce
Pour campari into beer bottle
Enjoy

Cucumber Cleanse

While friends talk about Dry January, Damp January, winter arc, and more – you can brag you are doing a cleanse. The lemon and cayenne juice cleanse is popular, you are just adding a lpersonal twist so it fits into happy hour or a tailgate. For the ginger syrup add 4 oz peeled while making simply syrup ginger and let it steep for 30 minutes. Strain and use.

2 ounces Absolut vodka
3/4 ounce fresh cucumber juice
1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice
1/4 ounce ginger syrup
1/4 ounce honey
1 egg white
Dash of ground cayenne

Create

Add all ingredients into a shaker and dry-shake (without ice) until frothy
Add ice and shake again until well-chilled
Strain into a cocktail glass
Garnish with a sprinkle of ground cayenne

RELATED: Rainy Weather Cocktails

Dirty Shirley

Like the actress, the Shirley Temple cocktail was sweet, wholesome and popular. But why not have the adult version of the beverage to start the year out breaking the norms?

Ingredients

2 ozs gin
1/2 oz orange juice
1/2 oz lemon juice
1 teaspoon grenadine
Orange slice

Create

Combine all ingredients in a shake with ice
Shake vigorously
Strain into martini glass
Garnish orange slice

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alcohol

The Best Cocktails To Make You Feel Festive

Published

3 weeks ago

January 3, 2025

admin

Now is the time to introduce something new and fresh to your drink menu – try out these new cocktails!

January is the time to introduce new things into your life. While 80% of those who join gyms drop out in 3 months, other habits tend to continue. Taking a break from social media is another popular resolution along with drinking more water. They are easier to implement. But if you are already enjoy a cocktail or two – why not resolve to try new ones? Here are some New Year new cocktails to try and expand your palate.

RELATED: Beer Sales Flatten Thanks To Marijuana

Brazen Hussy

A hussy is awoman who behaves in a disrespectful or inappropriate way or who has many casual sexual relationships. Sounds like the perfect drink to start 2025. Bold, sassy, and potent!

Ingredients

1.5 ozs vodka
1.5 ozs triple sec
Fresh lemon squeeze
Lemon wedge

Create

Zombie

This drink will put you on another plane. Taken from the Caribbean traditions of rum and voodoo, this Zombie lives up to all expectations.

Ingredients

1 oz dark rum
1 oz light rum
1/2 oz golden rum
1.2 oz apricot brandy (or any brandy in a pinch)
Juice form 1/2 lime
1 teaspoon Grenadine
1/2 pineapple juice
1/3 oz overproof rum
1/2 simple sryup
Pineapple wedge for garnish

Create

Combine all ingredients except overproof rum and pineapple wedge in shaker
Add ice
Shake until well mixed
Pour into tall highboy without straining
Using the back of a spoon, float the overproof rum on top
Add pineapple wedge for garnish

Lady of Leisure

January is the time to return to work….won’t it be great to be a lady (or lord) or leisure? Here is a drink which is indulgent, delicious and tasty. Feel like the 1% with one of these.

2 oz vodka
1/2 oz raspberry liqueur
1/4 oz Cointreau
Dash on lemon juice
Orange twist

Create

Combine all ingredients in shaker with ice
Shake for 20 seconds
Strain into a martini glass
Garnish with organza twist

RELATED: Rainy Weather Cocktails

Gin & Sin

Everyone is so “good” in January – exercising, starting healthy habits, reading more, trying to “lean in”….why not break the trend with this Gin and Sin. Embrace your own path.

Ingredients

2 ozs gin
1/2 oz orange juice
1/2 oz lemon juice
1 teaspoon grenadine
Orange slice

Create

Combine all ingredients in a shake with ice
Shake vigorously
Strain into martini glass
Garnish orange slice

Have a great holiday season!

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alcohol

The Best Cocktails To Make You Feel Festive

Published

1 month ago

December 19, 2024

admin

Lean into the joy of the holiday season with this merry cocktails – delight your taste buds and favorite people!

According to TikTok, it s the most wonderful, stressful, fun, boozy time of year. So why not lean into the season and make merry with something fun. Here are the best cocktails to make you feel festive, no matter what the situation. Plus, these are drinks you can make quickly with minimum effort and maximum fun. Pour one of these concoctions and have a moment of peace or share them with the one you like, love or tolerate at work. Sip, savor and bring a little ho ho ho into the moment.

RELATED: Beer Sales Flatten Thanks To Marijuana

Christmas Old Fashioned

Here is a way to settle into a cozy beverage which will warm your body and soul. Bourbon has been part of the holidays for generations…and you can make this a new tradition.

Ingredients

2 oz bourbon
1/2 oz simple syrup
2 dashes bitters
2 dashes orange juice
Garnish: cinnamon stick and orange peel

Create

Combine ingredients in a mixing glass and add ice
Stir for 20 seconds
Strain into a rocks glass with ice
Garnish with orange peel and a cinnamon stick

Easy, Tasty Egg Nog

You either you love it or hate it, but Egg Nog is a holiday staple. This recipe makes it lighter, tasty and a wee dangerous since it is so good. It bring a whole new take on a staid drink.

Ingredients

2 oz store bought egg nog
1 oz milk (2% is the best)
small splash vanilla
1 oz Licor 43

Create

Combine egg nog, milk and vanilla
Stir until well mixed
Add Licor 43 and stir again
Pour into a fun glass and enjoy

White Bishop

The Bishop’s Wife is a great holiday movie filled with the Christmas spirit and some never ending booze. This drink is an embraces the fun, warmth, snow, and spirit of the evening. Perfect as a dessert drink, a morning treat or just to lift your holiday mood.

2 oz vanilla vodka
1 oz heavy cream
1 oz Frangelico or Licor 43
Small splash of vanilla

Create

Combine all ingredients in shaker with ice
Shake for 20 seconds
Strain into a martini glass

RELATED: Rainy Weather Cocktails

Poinsettia Champagne Cocktail

Nothing says celebration like bubbles. Whether you use champagne or prosecco, this is bound to bring a smile to your face. And the poinsettia is Christmas tradition since

Ingredients