Cuba Libre

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The official version of a Cuba Libre is just rum and coke with optional lime. But don't knock simple. Some of the best cocktail recipes only include two or three ingredients. When you find two bold, complementary flavors, why complicate things with a lot of other stuff? Plus, it's easy for any bartender to make. Cuba ...


Painkiller

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You could think of the Painkiller as a more grown-up version of the Piña Colada. This cocktail recipe uses dark rum instead of light, and adds orange juice and nutmeg in place of the cream, making it a little more tart and sophisticated. But the easy-going tropical pineapple and coconut flavors still dominate. The original recipe ...


Fourth of July

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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 ...


Piña Colada

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The Piña Colada is a summertime classic that deserves more respect than it gets. It may be sweet and it may be palatable to people who don't drink much or are just starting, but it's a wonderful treat for seasoned cocktail lovers, too. The classic recipe is simply one part white rum, one part coconut cream ...


Sea Breeze

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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 ...


49 Margarita Recipes

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In a couple of days, it'll officially be summer. One of the great summertime mixed drinks is the margarita, which comes in so many varieties you could have a substantially different one every day for well over a month. To prove it, I've collected links to 49 different margarita recipes. (We could get into a ...