There’s more than one recipe called a Peach Dream. This one uses cream, which seems most appropriate with peaches. It’s a fun little sweet treat, like something you might have been served at a soda counter in the 1950s, except with alcohol.

Some drinkers might find ... READ MORE]]> There’s more than one recipe called a Peach Dream. This one uses cream, which seems most appropriate with peaches. It’s a fun little sweet treat, like something you might have been served at a soda counter in the 1950s, except with alcohol.

Some drinkers might find this drink a little cloying with the use of sweet, syrupy peach nectar. If so, just change the ratios to include more of the peach schnapps or vodka and less of the nectar.

Peach Dream

• 3 ounces peach nectar
• 2 ounces half & half
• 1 ounce peach schnapps
• 1 ounce vodka

Shake the ingredients together with ice, then pour or strain into a highball glass. Ice works for this drink because you can swish it to keep everything stirred if you’re sipping along and because it waters down the rich ingredients. But if you prefer it straight, there you go.

Peach Dream Float

For a really fun variation on this drink, leave out the cream, mix everything else together in a shaker, pour or strain it and plonk a small scoop of vanilla ice cream into the drink. Serve it with a spoon so you can eat the ice cream or stir it into the drink, as you prefer.

Because it’s Monday, and even good Mondays can be kind of blue, the timing is perfect to feature the Blue Monday cocktail. This is one of those really simple cocktail recipes that even beginners can put together perfectly  – that’s important when it’s Monday and/or ... READ MORE]]> Because it’s Monday, and even good Mondays can be kind of blue, the timing is perfect to feature the Blue Monday cocktail. This is one of those really simple cocktail recipes that even beginners can put together perfectly  – that’s important when it’s Monday and/or you’re blue! The last thing you want is a pick me up that makes you feel inept before you even get to taste it.

It’s also got a very simple flavor (orange) that tends to agree with everyone. This is an ideal cocktail for pre-mixing in a pitcher.

Blue Monday

• 1.5 ounces vodka
• 1/2 ounce Cointreau or Triple Sec
• 1/4 ounce Blue Curacao

Shake with ice, strain into a martini glass. You can garnish it with an orange wheel or peel for color contrast, and to signal visually that the flavor of the drink will mainly be orange.

Flavored vodka

You can jazz this one up by using a flavored vodka, so long as the vodka is clear in color (most brands are). Vanilla would be a fascinating choice. Citrus or orange would intensify the other orange flavors. Or you could make some Skittles Vodka for this, using Pineapple Passion Fruit Skittles from the Tropical bag (they’re blue).

The Pomegranate Martini is a fairly new development in the cocktail world. The popularity of pomegranate juice both for flavor and antioxidants made this one inevitable. Because this particular mixed drink is new, there are a lot of variations on it. I’m going to present ... READ MORE]]> The Pomegranate Martini is a fairly new development in the cocktail world. The popularity of pomegranate juice both for flavor and antioxidants made this one inevitable. Because this particular mixed drink is new, there are a lot of variations on it. I’m going to present several of them, and once you see how many options you have, you can go to town coming up with your own.

Purists note: these really should be called “pomegranate cocktails”, because true martinis contain gin and vermouth. But these days, people call almost anything a martini. I figure drinking is about relaxing, not semantics, so I’m using the better-known term, inaccurate though it may be.

Pomegranate Martini

• 1 ounce vodka or gin
• 1/2 ounce Cointreau or the juice of one orange, lemon or lime
• 3 ounces pomegranate juice

Shake with ice and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with orange peel or a lime wedge or whatever.

The above version makes a very standard cocktail with the traditional 1.5 ounces of alcohol. To make this drink stronger, use 2 ounces of vodka or gin and 2 ounces of pomegranate juice. Some people use citrus-flavored vodka rather than plain. There’s no end to all the ways you can play with this recipe and still come up with a fabulous drink -  as long as you like pomegranate juice.

Party Tip

If you’re serving these for guests, you can pre-mix a pitcher of this cocktail. Unless you know all your guests prefer a stronger cocktail, start with the above alcohol ratio (so you end up with 1.5 ounces of alcohol in each cocktail). When pouring for a guest who likes it stronger, just pour an ounce of vodka or gin into the glass before pouring in the pre-mixed cocktail.

All of these drinks are Pirate Santa approved.

There are a number of traditional Christmas or winter holiday drinks, but in recent years people have gotten very creative. Some people have created Christmas-themed cocktails from scratch, while others have added Christmas twists to existing cocktail ... READ MORE]]>

All of these drinks are Pirate Santa approved.

There are a number of traditional Christmas or winter holiday drinks, but in recent years people have gotten very creative. Some people have created Christmas-themed cocktails from scratch, while others have added Christmas twists to existing cocktail recipes. This is a collection of… well, whatever struck my fancy as a winter holiday cocktail.

1. Eggnog is a tradition for a reason. It tastes great with or without alcohol, which makes it perfect for gatherings that include drinkers and non-drinkers.
2. Hot Buttered Rum is a classic, cuddly sort of drink – perfect for small parties and parties of two.
3. Mulled Wine is a wintertime classic – red wine with sugar and all sorts of spices.
4. It’s not exactly “cocktails” and certainly not traditional, but you can make Skittles Vodka in red and green in presentation flasks – or Vodka Gummi Bears in red and green.
5. The Peppermint Stick uses white crème de cacao and peppermint schnapps to get a mint chocolate flavor. Easy to serve one by one or in premixed pitchers.
6. The Chocolate Snake Bite doesn’t sound very Christmasy, but it’s Kahlua, Bailey’s, Goldschlager and brown crème de cacao, so how much more holiday spirit could you ask for?
7. The Cookie Dough is a simple but gorgeous two-layered shot with amaretto, Bailey’s and cinnamon.
8. The Chocolate Raspberry Martini is just what it sounds like. Oh, yes, it is.
9. The Red Hot Santa Tini uses chili-pepper infused vodka and a rim that’s cocoa powder mixed with cayenne. Not your typical Christmas fare.
10. The Mistletoe Makeout looks like red velvet, but the flavors are acai and other berries with orange.
11. The Poinsettia is very simple: champagne, Cointreau and cranberry juice.
12. Sandra Lee’s Christmas Cocktail mixes pomegranate, pear and champagne.

The main rule of thumb for selecting Thanksgiving cocktails should be: does it make you want to curl up by a fire and sip? Then it’s a potential Thanksgiving cocktail.

If you want to get even more of a Thanksgiving or autumn feel, think about fall ... READ MORE]]> The main rule of thumb for selecting Thanksgiving cocktails should be: does it make you want to curl up by a fire and sip? Then it’s a potential Thanksgiving cocktail.

If you want to get even more of a Thanksgiving or autumn feel, think about fall harvest and all the traditional foods of Thanksgiving. Look to flavors like apple, pumpkin, cranberry, ginger and other spices. Consider warm drinks with or without coffee, and drinks featuring heavy cream or eggs.

There are a number of very traditional cocktail recipes that work, but I’ve also collected some more inventive ones you might enjoy.

Classic Cocktails for Thanksgiving

First of all, there are some classic cocktails already featured here at Mix that Drink that will get your Thanksgiving off to a wonderful start, or finish:

1. You can’t get much more autumnal than a Brandy Alexander. Brandy, creme de cacao, half-n-half and nutmeg.
2. The B-52 is a delicious layered cordial made from Grand Marnier, Bailey’s and Kahlua. Or you can substitute amaretto for the Grand Marnier. Either way, it tastes something like caramel candy and looks very festive.
3. The Stinger pairs brandy with creme de menthe for a unique flavor that goes equally well with deeply chocolate desserts or a cigar.

Original Thanksgiving Cocktail Recipes

There are variations of several of these all over the internet, but these specific recipes are ours.

4. Pumpkin pie Martini

• 2 ounces vanilla vodka
• 2 ounces creme de cacao
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 1.5 tablespoons of pumpkin puree (pie mix)
• 1 dash of ground nutmeg (for garnish)
• Powdered graham cracker (for the rim)

Rim two martini glasses with crushed graham cracker. Fill a shaker with ice and add the vodka, creme de cacao, cream and pumpkin puree. Shake well until it’s chilled. Strain into the martini glasses. Sprinkle the ground nutmeg on top for garnish.

5. Caramel Candy

• 1/2 ounce cognac
• 3/4 ounce vanilla liqueur
• 3/4 ounce caramel vodka
• 1/2 ounce half-n-half
• Sugar (for the rim of the glass)

Rim a cocktail glass with sugar. Shake the ingredients together with ice. Strain them into the glass.

6. Pumkpin Pie Shot

• 1/2 ounce Irish Cream
• 1/2 ounce amaretto
• 1/4 ounce cinnamon schnapps

Layer the ingredients in the order listed here.

7. The Chocolate Raspberry

• 1.5 ounces vanilla vodka
• 1 ounce chocolate liqueur
• 1 ounce Chambord
• 1 ounce half-n-half

Shake the ingredients together for twenty seconds, then strain into a chilled glass.

8. Butterscotch Coffee

• 1 ounce butterscotch schnapps
  
• 1 ounce Irish cream
• Hot Coffee
• Whipped cream
• Nutmeg

Pour the liqueurs into a coffee cup. Fill the cup the rest of the way with hot coffee. Garnish with whipped cream and a sprinkle of nutmeg

9. Caramel Apple Martini

There are a number of different “Caramel Apple Martini” recipes out there – this is ours.

• 1.5 ounces DeKuyper Sour Apple Schnapps
• 1/2 ounce butterscotch schnapps
• 1/2 ounce cinnamon schnapps
• 1.5 ounces half-n-half or heavy cream
• Cinnamon sugar (for rimming)

Rim a martini glass with cinnamon sugar. Shake the ingredients with ice and strain into a martini glass.

10. Ginger Spice

• 1 ounce spiced rum
• 1/2 ounce ginger liqueur
• 1 ounce apple juice
• Cinnamon stick

Shake ingredients together and strain into chilled martini glasses. Garnish with whipped cream and a sprinkle of nutmeg, optionally.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Whether or not you celebrate U.S. Independence Day today, this is a fun drink. This gorgeous layered shooter cocktail is called the Fourth of July. It’s pictured here with vodka on top, but you can also layer cream on top for a true white effect. ... READ MORE]]> Whether or not you celebrate U.S. Independence Day today, this is a fun drink. This gorgeous layered shooter cocktail is called the Fourth of July. It’s pictured here with vodka on top, but you can also layer cream on top for a true white effect. (Here’s how to pour a layered cocktail.)

The overall flavor of this drink is a blend of pomegranate and orange – fruity, but not too sweet, and agreeable to most people’s palates. You can pour these before a party starts and put them in a tray in the refrigerator and bring them out as a surprise after dinner drink for guests. The presentation possibilities are amazing.

Fourth of July

Layer equal amounts of the following, in this order:

• Grenadine
• Blue Curacao
• Cream or Vodka

Enjoy responsibly while watching the fireworks!

The Sea Breeze is an excellent summer cocktail (not that it’s to be avoided the rest of the year). The ingredients are vodka, cranberry and grapefruit juice, so the taste is tart and refreshing. Perfect for sipping by the beach (or sipping while you imagine ... READ MORE]]> The Sea Breeze is an excellent summer cocktail (not that it’s to be avoided the rest of the year). The ingredients are vodka, cranberry and grapefruit juice, so the taste is tart and refreshing. Perfect for sipping by the beach (or sipping while you imagine you’re by the beach). The original Prohibition Era recipe called for gin and grenadine. But like so many Prohibition bathtub-gin cocktails, this one was improved upon once bartenders had better options.

Sea Breeze

• 1 jigger vodka
• 1 jigger cranberry juice
• 4 ounces of (preferably fresh) grapefruit juice

Pour the vodka into a highball glass over ice, followed by the grapefruit juice, and then the cranberry. Garnish with a lime wedge. Optionally, you can mix all ingredients in a shaker with ice to get a foamy surface.

Rich foods

Avoid spicy foods with this drink, unless you have a digestive system made of iron – it’s a recipe for indigestion. But rich, savory foods are a perfect complement to this light, refreshing cocktail. Try sirloin steak with garlic butter, bacon rosemary mashed potatoes and a greek salad for a meal accompaniment. For snacks to go with this cocktail, try gorgonzola bacon polenta bites.

The Cosmopolitan is considered by most sources to have been created by Florida bartender Cheryl Cook in 1986, making it one of the newer cocktails to be featured here. Aside from the call for Absolut Citron, it feels like a classic recipe – it’s dry ... READ MORE]]> The Cosmopolitan is considered by most sources to have been created by Florida bartender Cheryl Cook in 1986, making it one of the newer cocktails to be featured here. Aside from the call for Absolut Citron, it feels like a classic recipe – it’s dry and fruity rather than sweet and fruity, and even though it’s closer to a margarita, most people think of it as a type of martini.

It’s generally thought of as a “girly” drink, but aside from the pink color, I’m not sure why. It’s not sweet. It’s not frou-frou. It’s got plenty of alcohol.

Cosmopolitan

• 2 ounces citron vodka
• 1/2 ounce Cointreau
• 1/2 ounce Rose’s Lime Juice (some people prefer fresh lime, but Rose’s cuts the tartness of the cranberry just a little and mellows it out)
• 1 ounce cranberry juice
• Lemon slice (for optional garnish)

Shake the ingredients with ice, strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish if desired.

The overall taste of the Cosmopolitan is reminiscent of Ruby Red grapefruit juice, with goes well with salty dishes. Pretzels, nuts and traditional bar snacks are great. Try a Hot Crab Dip with crackers or Spinach and Artichoke Dip with corn chips. If you want a meal to accompany your Cosmo, try a mahi mahi or halibut recipe – any light, flaky whitefish will be delicious with this drink, as long as it’s not too spicy (for example, blackening spices could clash with the tartness of the drink).

It’s entirely possible you’ve never heard of the Raspberry Rickey. But with spring coming on now, soon to be followed by summer, this is one cocktail you want to get to know.

The Raspberry Rickey is one of those rare drinks that’s excellent with or without ... READ MORE]]> It’s entirely possible you’ve never heard of the Raspberry Rickey. But with spring coming on now, soon to be followed by summer, this is one cocktail you want to get to know.

The Raspberry Rickey is one of those rare drinks that’s excellent with or without alcohol. The recipe is exactly the same either way, except of course you leave out the vodka if you’re going for a non-alcoholic treat. It’s also a great recipe for a pre-mixer, and I’ve included the measurements for making it as either a single drink or a pitcher for four.

Raspberry Rickey

To make one drink at a time:

• 3 ounces red raspberries
• 1 ounces lime juice
• 1/2 cup mineral water
• 2 teapoons sugar
• 2 ounces Red Raspberry Vodka

First, you need to make the raspberry syrup. Put the raspberries in a bowl. Sprinkle the sugar sprinkled over them, then pour in the lime juice, and mash the whole mixture with the back of a wooden spoon. Let the mixture sit and marinate for about 10 minutes. Strain it through a sieve to remove seeds.

Fill a glass with ice and pour in the syrup. Add the sparkling water and stir. Add the vodka and stir. Top it off with sparkling water. Garnish can include raspberries and lime slices or wedges.

To make a 4 drink pitcher:

Follow the same instructions as above in a pitcher instead of a glass, using these measurements:

• 1 1/3 cups of red raspberries
• 1/2 cup of lime juice
• 3 tablespoon(s) sugar
• 2 cups of sparkling mineral water
• 1 cup of red raspberry vodka

You may need to re-stir the pitcher just before serving if it’s been sitting for a little while.

Syrup substitute

Can you use a pre-made raspberry syrup, like Torani, in this drink? Absolutely! The fresh-made raspberry syrup definitely adds some life to this drink, but many people make the drink with store-bought syrup. Just don’t abandon the fresh-squeezed lime – it makes the drink vibrant and fresh.

Pair raspberry with subtle flavors

Raspberry is a powerful flavor – nothing can compete with it, so you want to choose mild, subtle dishes to eat with it. For dessert, plain cheesecake, angel food cake and any light and mild pastries are the obvious choices. Chocolate also works just fine.

For an actual meal, try a chicken and mushroom frittata or halibut piccata with macadamia nut rice pilaf.

For snacks, try Artichoke & Crabmeat Triangles or Chicken Nut Puffs.

Please, no puns on the name of this drink. Whatever you think of – it’s been done. However clever you think it is – it’s not. Even if your friends giggle and snort, that’s just because they’re a bunch of doofuses. And so are you.

But ... READ MORE]]> Please, no puns on the name of this drink. Whatever you think of – it’s been done. However clever you think it is – it’s not. Even if your friends giggle and snort, that’s just because they’re a bunch of doofuses. And so are you.

But what the hell? That’s what kind of a drink Sex on the Beach is – fun, silly, light-hearted, easy-going fruity cocktail. It’s a stealth drink, meaning it tastes weaker than it is. In fact, the alcohol flavor is mild enough for most new or occasional drinkers, but the potency is actually a little higher than most cocktails.

Sex on the Beach

• 2 ounces of vodka
• 1 ounce of peach schnapps
• 2 ounces of orange or grapefruit juice
• 2 ounces of cranberry juice

Feel free to tweak the ingredient amounts to your taste. Throw everything in a highball glass with ice. Stir. Garnish with an orange round and some cherries. Drink up!

In Season

This fruity drink is great with seasoned and spicy foods. Try:

• Rachel Ray’s Fried Chicken Salad – fried chicken on a Ranch salad
• Shrimp Fra Diavolo – spicy Italian shrimp dish
• Spicy Baked Salmon – just what it sounds like