American Star Cocktail
When planning our Fourth of July celebrations this year Alice and I knew we wanted a cocktail that didn’t just celebrate American independence, but something that was a little different, but also classic. We didn’t want it to scream America (we have the Captain America Shot for that). So I dove into some cocktail research — always a great pastime. Which lead me to George J. Kappeler’s 1895 bartending guide “Modern American Drinks” and the perfect Fourth of July cocktail, the American Star Cocktail.
Peño Blast
A week or two ago, I stayed with a good friend of mine so we could carpool to E3 the next day (nerds you see). He asked me, over some serious gaming action, to come up with a cocktail for his upcoming birthday party. “No problem,” I told him, “what’ll it go with?” He said, “We’re having BBQ catered.” There was my task: a cocktail to go with BBQ. Light, summery, goes well with ‘que and bourbon based (his request). The final question? “What should I call it?” Him, “I dunno, something like the Peño Blast.” With a name like that, I couldn’t not.
Fiery Ginger “Sour”
Last September, Alice and I went to Peru. That’s a shorthand way of saying we went to Machu Picchu. As it was always a dream of mine to go there, you can easily imagine I was giddy as a school child. Let’s just ignore that whole got sick as a dog the morning of thing, that’ll be our secret. However, beyond just the sheer magnificence that was Machu Picchu, we got a taste for Pisco Sours. When I found myself hankering for one, but with a ginger twist, well, time to experiment. Allow me to introduce the Fiery Ginger “Sour.”
Parisian
I don’t know about you, but I don’t often find myself asking, “What would Owen Wilson drink?” In fact, I almost never do. That was right up until Alice forced me to watch “Midnight in Paris.” It had practically everything going against it: a Woody Allen movie, it’s slow, based in Paris, full of pretentiousness — or so I thought. Turns out it’s a winner! I then had to go on the line to find the perfect drink to compliment it. The Parisian!
Jack and Coke Float
During the time that my father was in the Navy, he discovered drinking. By discovered, I mean, he discovered he’s not really a fan. So, consider my shock when last year we were out for Father’s Day brunch (not a thing, but my mother insisted) and he ordered a Jack and Coke and liked it! His love of Coca-Cola certainly helped, but that inspired me. This one’s for my father: the Jack and Coke Float!
Scarlet Tea Cocktail
Just because the weather is warm outside (unless you’re in the southern hemisphere, then have a Hot Toddy for me!), that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy some nice tea. Heck, in the American South, you get the magic of sweet tea. Growing up, my mother would put out a glass pitcher full of water and various teas to make sun tea — just add ice and sweetener and you’ve got your very own sweet tea. Now that I’m grown up, I want to have my tea and drink it too. (That almost makes sense.) Seriously though, it’s time to upgrade your admirable daily tea habit to an occasional tea cocktail, but not just any tea cocktail, the Scarlet Tea Cocktail!
Seventh Heaven
Sometimes, you just want a classic cocktail. They’re usually not too fussy, don’t involve a whole bunch of super oddball ingredients and are fairly straightforward. That’s not to say I’m against overly fussy cocktails, those certainly have their place, but sometimes, you just want classic and good. For those times, it doesn’t hurt to look to the Savoy and see what they recommend. A real winner in their cocktail repertoire? The Seventh Heaven.
Apricot Whisky Sour
Fun fact, back in my formative drinking days, when it was time to call it a night my final round was almost always a Whisky Sour. At the time, I wasn’t drinking at places that made what you would call quality cocktails. These were more the I-can-get many for-very-little establishments. The kind of places where when you ordered a Whisky Sour, what you got was at best some Jack with bottled sweet and sour mix, with an iridescent cherry. I loved it. In fact, I probably still do, in that recapturing my younger days kinda way. However, when I don’t want to recapture my youth, but remember it and upgrade it, that’s when it’s time for an upgraded cocktail. That’s when it’s time for the Apricot Whisky Sour!
Strawberry Lime Tom Collins
When it’s nice outside, there are few finer ways to spend the day than grilling food with friends. As Memorial Day is behind us now and it’s the “official kickoff to grilling” (or something like that), it seems that most people agree with my sentiment. One good way to improve that scenario? With a cocktail. And as we’re working on the notion that you’re having friends over (or going to their house and bringing along a cocktail, as good guests do), one that scales up and is enjoyable by everyone (over the legal drinking age in your country, city or locale!) is in order. With that in mind, allow me to introduce to you the Strawberry Lime Tom Collins!
King’s Summer Cup
Summer cocktails — fruit, cool, delicious and spicy. Wait. Spicy? You bet spice. Seriously, as we’ve discussed (like with the Spiced Watermelon Cooler), a little bit of heat cools you off when it can be darn right unpleasantly warm in the outside world. Sometimes, though, you don’t need a hearty kick of chili to cool you down, sometimes you just need a little bit of ginger spice (no, not Ginger Spice). With that in mind, onto the King’s Summer Cup!