Tie One On Tuesday!

One thing that I am so passionate about is the history of the cocktail. If you look at  what people were drinking at certain times, you can tell the climate of the world. 1900 brought the death of Queen Victoria, the Wright Brothers flew their plane in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina and San Francisco had a horrible earthquake followed by a 3 day fire. So many amazing changes came during the first ten years of century. So many wonderful cocktails chronicled the times.

The Original Negroni was named after an Italian gentleman who ordered the same drink every day. Nowadays the cocktail is considered a Aperitif  to stimulate the the appetite for dinner. Although the drink originated in Europe, it rose to popularity in the US during the early 1900's.

The Original Negroni
1 oz. Campari (in the family of bitters)
1 oz Gin
3/4 oz Sweet Vermouth
Combine all ingredients in an ice filled shaker. Shake until well chilled and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

The Old Fashioned is considered the very first cocktail. Although the drink was around  before 1900 it hit it's height of popularity during 1900-1910.The drink was served at the Pendennis Club in Louisville, Kentucky and to some it is the perfect concoction of what a cocktail should be. A little hooch, a sweet and a bitter.

Old Fashioned
1 sugar cube
2-3 dashes Angostura bitters
2 orange slices
3 oz bourbon
Cherry for garnish
Place the sugar cube at the bottom of an old fashioned glass
Saturate the cube with bitters
Add one orange slice and muddle
Fill the glass with ice 
Add the Bourbon
Garnish with a cherry and the other orange slice. 


Another drink that came about a few years before 1900 but rose up through the ranks is a Tom Collins. First off, there was never a man named Tom Collins. There was a Jerry Thomas( he is considered the father of American mixology). So, the Tom part comes from the type of gin used and the Collins was named after the type of glass used. The lore around Tom Collins continues, but I will tell you that regardless of who or what Tom Collins is-I love this drink. 

Tom Collins
2 oz gin
1 oz lemon juice
1 tsp superfine sugar 
3oz club soda
1 cherry for garnish
1 orange slice
In a shaker half-filled with ice cubes, combine the gin, lemon juice, and sugar. Shake well. Strain into a Collins glass almost filled with ice cubes. Add the club soda. Stir and garnish with the cherry and the orange slice.

So, what do our cocktails tell us about our history during the early 1900's? Like our world history our cocktails are full of flavor, have a dash of mystery and  wet our appetite for bigger and better things. Until next week! Bottoms up!

Tie One On Tuesday!

You guys bring out the animal in me! ROAR! Okay, that sounded better in my head then it does typing it out on my keyboard. Now I just feel creepy and weird-like a 40 year old man standing on the corner in a boy scout outfit. This week's Tie One On Tuesday is all about animal cocktails. Now, I'm not talking about drinks with animals in them or even animals mixing cocktails (I haven't perfected the dogs mixing my drinks yet, the no thumbs kind of get in the way). I'm talking about cocktails with animal names.

First up in our cocktail zoo is The Pink Squirrel
1 oz creme de noyaux
1 tbsp white creme de cacao
1 tbsp light cream
Shake all ingredients with ice, strain into a cocktail glass, and serve.

Next on our zoo cruise is the Funky Monkey-a few of these you will be dancing on tables and throwing things at people who are staring at you.
1 oz gold rum
1 oz creme de bananes
5/8 oz dark creme de cacao
3 oz coconut milk
1 banana
coconut flakes
Blend with ice until smooth. Pour into a hurricane glass and garnish with coconut flakes.

Ouch! What just bit me? Oh, that's just the Barking Spider! This drink packs a punch!
1 1/2 oz Tequila
1 1/2 oz Blue Curacao liqueur
3/4 oz 151 rum
1 dash triple sec
1 dash sweet and sour mix
1 splash orange juice
Serve over ice in a collins glass, or blend for a frozen version of this drink.

These animal cocktails are like nothing Noah encountered. If you drink a pair of these babies, you will definitely be seeing pink elephants!

Tie One On Tuesday

Now is the time when I normally give you awesome recipes for your drinking pleasure but tonight I have a different idea up my sleeve. Let's say you're out with your friends, wanting to have a little drinky drink and you ask the bartender for three dots and a dash. He looks at you like you've just grown another head. Well, today is for you! Here are a few drinks that you can order that are tasty, don't take a lot of effort and make you look like you know what you are talking about (even when you don't)

First up is a favorite of OMP's, it's the Sidecar and it is delicious! This is the original recipe from Harry's in Paris.

1 1⁄2 oz.  cognac
3⁄4 oz. Cointreau
3⁄4 oz. fresh lemon juice

Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass with a sugared rim.
Garnish with an orange peel.

Next up on the drink menu is a Manhattan. Interesting island, but a better drink.

1 1/2 oz. Bourbon - Maker's Mark will do
1/4 oz. Sweet Vermouth
dash Angostura Bitters

Combine all ingredients in cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well and strain into a Cocktail glass. Garnish with a Maraschino Cherry

This last beverage is a favorite of mine, that I always seem forget when I have been drinking. It is SOOO tasty! Plus, the name is really fun to say - Singapore Sling

1 1/2oz. Gin
3/4 oz. Cherry Liqueur or Cherry Brandy
1/2 oz. Lemon Juice
Club Soda
Sugar

Combine gin, lemon juice, and sugar in a shaker with ice.
Shake well until sugar is disolved. Strain into a chilled Collins glass filled with ice.
Fill with soda and float the cherry liqueur/brandy on top.

So TOOT fans, there are a few drinky drinks to impress your friends on your next outing. They are classic cocktails that  will make you look suave and sophisticated-even when you're wearing your flipflops, tank top and cut offs! Bottoms UP!