I pretty much stick to sipping spirits these days but if I'm in the mood for a cocktail I go old-school and/or masculine all the way. Here are some classics and favorites:
(Note: I would only order these in a bar where I know they can mix a decent drink. Even though we're in a cocktail renaissance of sorts, most bartenders are still totally clueless how to make a decent classic cocktail)
The American Trilogy
1 Sugar Cube
Orange Bitter
1 part Applejack
1 part Rye Whiskey
In a glass shaker, muddle the sugar cube with three or four dashes of orange bitters and a drop of soda water. Add equal parts rye whiskey and applejack. Fill with ice and stir briskly. Strain into an Old Fashioned glass with large ice cubes. Garnish with an orange twist.
Now, I've actually ordered this in a bar and the jackass sneered at me and said, "We don't carry apple pucker". I told him Applejack is American Brandy and he basically told me I don't know what I'm talking about. Bars like that are to be avoided. This cocktail will get you WASTED.
The Sidecar
8 parts Cognac or Armagnac
2 parts lemon juice
1 part Cointreau or triple sec
Shake vigorously with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a twist of lemon if desired. This cocktail has fallen out of popularity for some reason, probably because most people aren't big Cognac drinkers. I am, and this is one cocktail where you want to use a quality cognac. I tend to shy from Hennessy and Remy Martin, opting for smaller production Cognacs with more character.
The Jack Rose
8 parts Applejack
2 parts lemon juice
1 part Grenadine
Shake vigorously with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a twist of lemon if desired. Again this is an old classic that few bartenders know how to make. You REALLY want to order this from a place that makes their own grenadine (it's surprisingly easy, just pomegranate syrup and simple syrup), not that neon red mixer grenadine most places carry.
Here's one for the bitches that they'll love (and will get them wasted). Remember this one:
The Yellowjacket
2 ounces reposado tequila (such as Partida)
1 ounce St-Germain elderflower liqueur
3/4 ounce Yellow Chartreuse
1 dash Orange Bitters
1 lemon twist, for garnish
Pour tequila, elderflower liqueur, Chartreuse, and bitters into mixing glass. Fill about two-thirds full with ice cubes and stir. Strain into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with lemon twist.
This one's fucking delicious, a touch girly though (It's very strong). It has an amber yellow color that will attract a lot of attention and girls go nuts for it.
(Note: I would only order these in a bar where I know they can mix a decent drink. Even though we're in a cocktail renaissance of sorts, most bartenders are still totally clueless how to make a decent classic cocktail)
The American Trilogy
1 Sugar Cube
Orange Bitter
1 part Applejack
1 part Rye Whiskey
In a glass shaker, muddle the sugar cube with three or four dashes of orange bitters and a drop of soda water. Add equal parts rye whiskey and applejack. Fill with ice and stir briskly. Strain into an Old Fashioned glass with large ice cubes. Garnish with an orange twist.
Now, I've actually ordered this in a bar and the jackass sneered at me and said, "We don't carry apple pucker". I told him Applejack is American Brandy and he basically told me I don't know what I'm talking about. Bars like that are to be avoided. This cocktail will get you WASTED.
The Sidecar
8 parts Cognac or Armagnac
2 parts lemon juice
1 part Cointreau or triple sec
Shake vigorously with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a twist of lemon if desired. This cocktail has fallen out of popularity for some reason, probably because most people aren't big Cognac drinkers. I am, and this is one cocktail where you want to use a quality cognac. I tend to shy from Hennessy and Remy Martin, opting for smaller production Cognacs with more character.
The Jack Rose
8 parts Applejack
2 parts lemon juice
1 part Grenadine
Shake vigorously with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a twist of lemon if desired. Again this is an old classic that few bartenders know how to make. You REALLY want to order this from a place that makes their own grenadine (it's surprisingly easy, just pomegranate syrup and simple syrup), not that neon red mixer grenadine most places carry.
Here's one for the bitches that they'll love (and will get them wasted). Remember this one:
The Yellowjacket
2 ounces reposado tequila (such as Partida)
1 ounce St-Germain elderflower liqueur
3/4 ounce Yellow Chartreuse
1 dash Orange Bitters
1 lemon twist, for garnish
Pour tequila, elderflower liqueur, Chartreuse, and bitters into mixing glass. Fill about two-thirds full with ice cubes and stir. Strain into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with lemon twist.
This one's fucking delicious, a touch girly though (It's very strong). It has an amber yellow color that will attract a lot of attention and girls go nuts for it.