Yes, cocktails. When I’m not working or parenting, I meticulously read about, concoct, and, of course, drink cocktails. What began as a casual hobby evolved into a passion over the course of the COVID-19 Pandemic. This page provides specs for the most successful efforts.
A word on technique
Shaken drinks should be vigorously shaken with lots of ice for at least 10 seconds. You’ve basically reached the upper bound on dilution & temperature after that point, so anything beyond 10 seconds accomplishes very little.
Stirred drinks should be stirred either in the glass itself (i.e., a “built” cocktail) or in a mixing glass and then poured into your drinking vessel. In contrast to shaking, it is possible to over dilute a stirred drink. Assume about 60 revolutions for all stirred cocktails to reach (my) desired level of dilution.
The secret to good cocktails is good liquor (but not too good, which is unnecessary). Some of the below cocktails list specific brands of a given alcohol (e.g., Rittenhouse for rye). Substitutions are – in theory – fine. But, if you use a subpar product, you should expect subpar results.
All juices should be freshly squeezed. All syrups should be homemade. I prefer 1:1 simple syrup, because I like my drinks less sweet. 2:1 simply syrup can be used as an alternative if you desire something sweeter.
Egg whites are fantastic in cocktails. When preparing a cocktail with egg whites, you should first do a vigorous “dry shake” – shaking all the ingredients without ice. Then add ice and do a second shake. This allows for maximal foam.
When garnishing with a fruit peel, first “express the oils” by folding the peel – rind side down – over the top of the completed drink. Wipe the drink with the peel. You may or may not wish to place the peel in the drink.
Big ice cubes are not only aesthetically pleasing, but also control the rate at which a drink dilutes. Any drink served on the rocks is best with a single large cube of ice. Make it clear if you want to be extra fancy.
Classics
Margarita
2 oz Milagro, 1 oz Cointreau, 1 oz lime juice, 1/4 oz simple
shaken, rocks, salt rim
Negroni
1.5 oz Beefeater, 1 oz Campari, 1 oz Carpano Antica
stirred, up, orange squeeze & peel
Hemingway daiquiri
2 oz white rum, 1/2 oz Luxardo Maraschino, 1/2 oz grapefruit juice, 3/4 oz lime juice, simple to taste
shaken, up
Old fashioned
2 oz Rittenhouse, 1/3 oz cinnamon simple, 3-4 dashes Angostura bitters
stirred, rocks, orange peel w/ oils
Whiskey sour
2 oz Rittenhouse, 1 oz lemon juice, 1/4 orange juice, 1/3 oz (cinnamon) simple, 1 egg white
dry shake, shake, orange peel
Gibson martini
2 oz Beefeater, 3/5 oz Dolin Dry Vermouth
stirred, up, pearl cocktail onion
Champs Élysées
2 oz Cognac, 1/2 oz Chartreuse, 3/4 oz lemon, 1/4 oz simple, 1 dash Angostura bitters
shaken, up
Sidecar
1.5 oz Cognac, 3/4 oz Cointreau, 3/4 oz lemon juice, 1/4 oz simple
shaken, up, sugar rim
Tiki
Maui wowi
1 oz Beefeater, 1 oz Pimms, 1/2 oz St. Germain, 1/2 oz Luxardo Maraschino, 1/4 oz coconut rum, 1/2 oz lime juice, simple to taste
shaken, crushed ice
Road to Hana
1 oz dark rum, 1 oz light rum, 3/4 oz pineapple juice, 1/2 oz orange juice, 3/4 oz passion fruit simple
shaken, optional top w/ club soda, orange slice
The white bandana
2 oz white rum, 1 oz lime juice, 1/2 oz Luxardo Maraschino, 3/4 oz orgeat
shaken
Tiki old fashioned
2 oz Rittenhouse, 1/4 oz orgeat, 1/4 oz cinnamon simple, 3 dashes Angostura bitters
stirred, rocks, lime peel
Everything else
Patience makes pretty good
2 oz Beefeater, 2/5 oz St. Germain, 1 oz lemon juice, 1/4 oz simple
shaken
Kingston oldies
1 oz Smith & Cross, 1 oz aged rum, 3 dash Angostura bitters, 1 1/2 teaspoons maple syrup
shaken; lemon peel
Nurse nick
Muddle 4 blackberries & 2 cucumber slices, 2 oz vodka, 1/2 oz lemon juice, 1/4 oz simple
shaken
The stranger
1.5 oz mezcal, 3/4 oz Cointreau, 1/3 oz St. Germain, 3/4 oz lime, 1/2 oz lemon, 1/3 oz simple, muddled raspberries
shaken
Jan’s dinner
1.5 oz Rittenhouse, 1/2 oz Luxardo Maraschino, 1/2 oz Dolin Dry Vermouth, bar spoon simple, 4 bar spoon Chartreuse
stirred, lemon peel
The prophet
2 oz bourbon, 3/4 oz Chartreuse, 1/2 oz Carpano Antica, 1 dash Angostura bitters
stirred, lemon peel
Chartreuse sidecar
1.5 oz Cognac, 1/2 oz Chartreuse, 1/4 oz Cointreau, 3/4 oz lemon juice, 1/5 oz simple
shaken, lemon peel
Kristen cocktail
1 oz Smith & Cross, 1 oz white rum, 1/2 oz pineapple juice, 1/2 oz lime juice, 1/4 oz cinnamon simple
shaken, lime wheel
Adam Weinberger 