Entries Categorized as 'The Mixers'

The Beachcomber: The Beachcomber cocktail is a fun drink that’s not frou-frou. It’s got the rum and lime you’d expect from any drink with a name that makes you think of strolling along tropical beaches. This cocktail is great for summertime, but keep in mind it’s stronger than it tastes. It’s got a higher percentage of alcohol than the Zombie, but is nearly as easy to drink quickly, so it can really sneak up on you. The Beachcomber 2 ounces light rum 1 ounce Cointreau 1 ounce ... READ MORE

Strawberry Sunrise: The Strawberry Sunrise is a dessert cocktail. You can certainly drink it as an aperitif or with a meal or by itself, but if you’ve got a hankering for sweets, this drink will take care of it. No cheesecake necessary. The Creme de Fraises is a very sweet and powerfully flavored strawberry liqueur. Combined with several ounces of orange juice, this drink is almost like a big orange and strawberry smoothie. Definitely a hit with novice drinkers and people who ... READ MORE

Bayou: A lot of cocktails use peach schnapps or Southern Comfort (which is a peachy liqueur), but peach juice as an ingredient isn’t that common. The Bayou is one exception: it uses peach juice as a main ingredient. This gives it a nice fresh fruitiness that’s different from the usual citrus or pineapple juice mixers. I do wonder where this cocktail got its name. Peaches are associated with Georgia, but the Bayou is associated with Louisiana. Ah, who cares? Bayou 2 ounces cognac 2 ounces ... READ MORE

Yellow Sea: The Yellow Sea is not a very well-known cocktail. It’s perfect for summer-time with its hints of banana and lime, it’s a bit on the strong side, and it’s very drinkable. Galliano is a complex liqueur, with notes of anise, lavendar and mint, but those flavors are hidden well behind vanilla. Experienced palates may pick them out and appreciate them, but less experienced ones will just pick up on the vanilla, which is fantastic alongside the banana and lime. (If ... READ MORE

South Beach: The South Beach is perfect for a day on the beach. It’s a little more sophisticated than the usual fruit juice based cocktails associated with hot summer sun and white sand that burns your feet. But it’s mostly orange juice with a reasonably good helping of alcohol that’s very drinkable. The South Beach 1 ounce Campari 1 ounce Amaretto 5 ounces orange juice 1 dash simple syrup Build ingredients into a highball glass and garnish with an orange slice. Even if you hate Campari, it’s still worth ... READ MORE

Tequila Sunset: There are a couple of different recipes under the name Tequila Sunrise. The most common one online involves orange juice and blackberry brandy. This is not that recipe. The Tequila Sunset I like is one of those fantastically simple cocktails that hits just the right note. It blends lemon juice and honey with tequila. You probably already know what a great pair lemon juice and honey are when you add them to tea or just hot water – teaming them with ... READ MORE

Prohibition: What ingredient does a cocktail called Prohibition absolutely have to feature? That’s right – gin. But this is not your typical gin cocktail. Prohibition 1 ounce gin 1 ounce Kina Lillet 2 dashes lemon juice 1/4 ounce apricot brandy Shake ingredients in a shaker with ice; strain into a martini glass. Serve with a twist of orange. Kina Lillet is a wine aperitif made from Bourdeaux wines and citrus liqueurs. As you’d expect from that description, it’s a little fruity but not terribly sweet. This, along with ... READ MORE

Zephyr: The Zephyr cocktail is brandy-based and similar to the Hawaiian Brandy in flavor and mood. It’s fairly strong, with over 2 ounces of liquor in it. Most drinks with pineapple syrup are pretty sweet, but this one only uses two dashes of it. In fact, the dominant ingredient by far is the cognac, so while the ingredients make the Zephyr sound like a good choice for people who don’t drink often or are still developing a taste for alcohol, this ... READ MORE