Cocktails
658 recipes found
Guillotine
Franky Marshall of the Brooklyn cocktail bar Le Boudoir boldly created a cocktail using three tricky spirits that might not seem to mix well: mezcal, Scotch whisky and banana liqueur. Softened and slightly sweetened by honey syrup, they harmonize into a strong, smoky, seductive drink that might make you lose your head (in the best possible way).
Mr. Micawber’s Favorite Gin Punch
According to his great-grandson, Cedric, Charles Dickens ‘‘loved the ritual of mixing the evening glass of Gin Punch, which he performed with all the energy and discrimination of Mr. Micawber.’’ You may recall that, in ‘‘David Copperfield,’’ Wilkins Micawber is uplifted by a humble gin punch: ‘‘I never saw a man so thoroughly enjoy himself amid the fragrance of lemon-peel and sugar, the odour of burning spirit, and the steam of boiling water, as Mr. Micawber did that afternoon.” Although this is called a punch, note that it’s a serving for one — but don't let that stop you from making it for company. Its combination of spirit, warmth and spice will bring to mind a hot toddy, and it's fragrant and flavorful enough to supplant the more familiar whiskey-based version — at least for a season.
Cherry Crush
Vermouth Spritz
This is as easy at it sounds — almost effortless, really. Just be sure to use a vermouth you really love (I’m a fan of dark, robust, earthy Spanish ones) and keep the bottle in the fridge.
Tequila Shots With Sangrita Chasers
There’s only one way to improve on tequila shots: chase them with a short glass of spicy, citrusy sangrita. This recipe makes an entire pitcher of sangrita, enough for several shots, though you could also pair it with very cold Mexican beer.
Prosecco Lemon Slush
Similar to the Italian cocktail sgroppino, which calls for a scoop of lemon sorbet, this recipe instead freezes Prosecco and Meyer lemon juice for a fresher taste and a cooling dessert. The slushy concoction makes a refreshing finish to a meal, and, topped with raspberries (and more Prosecco, if you wish), it looks festive, sort of like pink lemonade for grown-ups. Best of all, it stays fresh-tasting for several days, and never freezes completely solid.
Punch Romaine
Originally a slushie of sorts devised by the legendary chef Escoffier, Punch Romaine is perhaps best remembered, according to Talia Baiocchi and Leslie Pariseau in their book, "Spritz," as “the sixth course of the Titanic’s final first-class dinner.” If you can get past the drink's tragic history, this updated version (adapted from Spritz) is beautiful — and beautifully refreshing.
Hummer
This popular Michigan drink, which is thick and creamy and tastes like coffee ice cream, is credited to bartender Jerome Adams, who invented it one night in 1968 at the Bayview Yacht Club in Detroit. The drink caught on with the local sailing set and over time spread inland. Mr. Adams, who died in 2018, went on to bartend at the club for more than 50 years, making countless hummers along the way. Brian Bartels, the author of “The United States of Cocktails,” has modified the recipe ever so slightly, topping his hummer with a cherry.
Any-Spirit Negroni
This take on the classic drink uses a combination of sweet and dry vermouths in the standard gin-vermouth-red bitter formula, adding depth and character. The vermouths are paired with the spirit of your choice for an adaptable drink that puts whatever bottles you prefer or have on hand to work. If you're not a fan of the traditional gin, rum, tequila or bourbon or rye whiskeys are all great here.
Lion’s Tail
All recipes for the Lion’s Tail depend on allspice dram (also known as pimento dram) to give the cocktail its distinctively spicy zest. Not all contain gomme syrup, but I include it here for the extra body and smoothness it imparts.
Rum With Iced Hibiscus Tea
Hibiscus tea creates an almost-instant punch. If you prefer it sweeter, add simple syrup to taste. And be sure to plan ahead; the tea steeps for eight hours.
Cyn-Cyn
I’ll admit it: I have a mild case of Negroni fatigue. It’s a good drink, for sure — and when it’s beautifully made, I readily succumb to its charms — but its ubiquity in recent years has become a tiny bit tiresome. So I welcome its rarer, lighter cocktail cousin, the Cyn Cyn, in which Cynar — the wonderful, mysterious, arguably underappreciated amaro made with artichoke — replaces Campari. It’s a favorite aperitivo of the author Elizabeth Minchilli, whose elegant, straightforward recipe this is.
Carlo Sud
Missionary’s Downfall
Pineapple Swizzle
X
This dramatically dark drink's elegantly equal proportions are offset by the addition of a small amount of activated charcoal powder — an unusual (and, yes, edible) ingredient that has been making appearances on inventive cocktail menus in recent years. Here, it joins navy-strength gin, maraschino, Chartreuse, lemon juice and Brennivín — a bracing Icelandic schnapps — in beautiful balance.
Rum Sour
Presumably with tongue in cheek, Field writes that “the inevitability of a 16th-century Rum Sour — sweetened with sugar and garnished with a pineapple stick — is well-nigh undeniable.” I do not share his sense of inevitability, but I do love the cocktail.
The Gibson
As with many classic cocktails, numerous origin stories have attached themselves to The Gibson like barnacles, and the truth is uncertain. One thing is clear, however: the pickled onion hasn’t always been part of the Gibson legend. The recipe in my 1933 edition of The Savoy Cocktail Book is essentially a formula for what many would call a 50/50 martini — half gin, half dry vermouth, with a faint spritz of lemon essence. Nonetheless, we now tend to regard The Gibson as a martini in which a cocktail onion is swapped in for the usual olive — and that’s the version of the story I’m sticking with in this recipe. Play with the proportions to your taste, but, as usual, I recommend that you don’t stint on the vermouth.
Lavender Hill Cob
Though it may seem demure, lavender should be handled with a delicate touch in drinks lest it overpower other ingredients. Here, gently deployed, it lends its gorgeous floral flavor and aroma to a tall, icy and refreshing cobbler. A small measure of crème de violette deepens the floral nature of this drink and adds a faint purplish haze. (The name honors the brilliant Ealing Studios comedy, "The Lavender Hill Mob," starring Alec Guinness).
Scorpion Bowl
Because many tiki recipes were kept secret from even the bartenders assembling them, the original scorpion bowl recipe is difficult to pinpoint. This recipe is an updated take on what many consider to be one of the originals: Trader Vic’s 1946 recipe. The quality of the ingredients is important, but just as important is the garnish. Put edible flowers, chunks of fruit and reusable straws to work. If fire is in your heart, float a flaming lime shell atop the drink (see Tip), taking care to attempt this only in the early stages of the night and to snuff out any lingering flames before serving.
Siesta
The Stray Dog
Basil Vermouth Cooler
A double dose of basil — infused in dry vermouth and used as garnish — ensures this drink is fresh and herbal throughout. A splash of olive brine and a garnish with the olives themselves add salinity and balance. Use the leftover basil-infused dry vermouth in a 50/50 martini, Vermouth Royale, a Fair Play or pour as is over a large ice cube and finish with a citrus twist.
An Adaptable Cosmopolitan Cocktail
In case you couldn’t help but wonder, this more refined Cosmopolitan is not a robust red but a dusty pink, deeply chilled, and walks the line between sweet and sour. You can even shed the notion that it must be served in a martini glass, and serve it in a coupe or smaller cocktail glass instead. Whatever your vessel, tuck it in the freezer for about 10 minutes to properly chill before pouring.