Zephyr

978934_blue_martiniThe 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

El Cerro

843862_cocktailEl Cerro means “the hill” in English. No word on how this cocktail got that name, but El Cerro is a popular name for restaurants and nightclubs, so it may have come from one of them originally. The El Cerro is a rum-based cocktail that’s fairly strong, but it has enough fruit juice to be refreshing. The half-ounce of Galliano gives it an herbal note, but only enough to balance the sweetness from the rest of the ingredients. El Cerro 1 ounce ... READ MORE

Rum Sidecar

rumsidecarThe Rum Sidecar, as you can probably guess, is basically a traditional Sidecar in which rum replaces cognac. But the alcohol ratios are a little different in the Rum Sidecar, and this one doesn’t call for a sugar-rimmed glass because the natural sweetness of the rum is enough. This cocktail is of average strength, with two ounces of liquor in it, and is great for savoring during a nice after-dinner conversation or while reading a book on an evening in. Rum Sidecar 1 ... READ MORE

Scotch Cobbler

397711_jameson_in_the_bushThe Scotch Cobbler is a fun drink, particularly for those who aren’t crazy about scotch neat or on the rocks, but like it in cocktails. As with most Scotch cocktail recipes, you want a decent quality but not high-quality scotch for this drink. Not only would using higher quality be a waste of a liquor that deserves to be savored on its own, but higher quality scotches don’t play well with others. They tend to have distinctive notes of flavor ... READ MORE

Peking

631657_martini_glassThe Peking cocktail isn’t very well-known. It’s a moderately strong cocktail served in a martini glass. The Peking got its name from its hint of a mysterious, almost musky flavor that’s hard to place: that’s the Pernod, a liquor flavored with licorice and other herbs. You only use one-fourth of an ounce of it, so it’s not overpowering, but it’s an odd, fascinating flavor – the sort that keeps you sipping until you develop a taste for it. The Peking 2 ounces ... READ MORE