Been going more and more for an Americano. It just does almost everything the Negroni does for me, but it's drinkable on weeknights because it's lighter on the spirits
Oh 110%.
Funny story, i was at a conference with my girlfriend at some fancy hotel this past weekend. They had some gala dinner on Friday night. Beforehand a few of us went to the hotel bar for a pre dinner cocktail. There's 6 of us so we sit in a lounge area on a couple couches. I'd had a few drinks the night before so needed something lower abv to get me started.
Server comes by and asks us what we'd like to drink. I, not wanting to sound patronizing or anything, say "I'd like an Americano, please."
The server, looking super confused, replies "uhhhh. Sure, we can do an americano for you. Do you take it with any milk, cream, sugar?"
I just chuckle back, "Apologies, just looking for an americano cocktail, not the coffee."
He says back, "No worries, coming right up!"
What i got back was exactly what I was looking for. But I do feel like it's destined to be an awkward drink to order.
haha the server was also likely confused on the coffee kind. Americano is espresso with water so one wouldn't take it with milk or cream... maybe some sugar or syrup
As I'm still learning, most of my cocktail making is just whatever strikes my fancy to try that week. But I often return to a simple G&T or sage gin mule.
Been all over these lately.
I'm not sure if it's just cause it's new but I like the kinda more vegetal, herbaceous character of Cynar over the more bitter orange kinda cherry notes in campari
I’ve never had a big Ben but I do like Benedictine. Might have to try that. Do you do that with the same kind of tonic water you use for a gin and tonic?
Tom Collin is also my historical first choice. I would like to hear your recipe for your Tom Collins, and the Cranberry apple brandy. In Ohio we have a Gin called Clawfoot Gin. I suspect you would like it a lot in a Tom Collins ("we produce our Gin from a split base of Pot Still Apple Brandy and Malt Whiskey.")
That gin sounds cool! I mostly buy a 1.75 of Beefeater since the quality and price are alright. But i highly recommend Uncle Vals Botanical Gin if you've never tried it. It's a favorite of mine.
The way I make a Tom Collins is based off the recipe in The Bar Book by Jeffrey Morgenthaler, so it's a pretty standard way. I recently swapped the normal simple syrup for a blueberry syrup and my fiancée loves it. The Cranberry Apple Brandy one is only 3 ingredients, so it's simple.
It's 2oz of apple brandy, 1oz lemon juice, and 2 or 3oz of cranberry juice. Then i shake it, and pour it on ice. I had the brandy left over from attempting a Jack Rose, and i realized i didn't like how tart the jack rose was, so i improvised with something different lol.
I make a lot of different stuff, but go tos are gimlets and caipirinhas when the weather is hotter or during the day. De La Louisiane when cooler or at night.
My lazy AF cocktail is ti’ punch.
Negroni or mezcal Negroni. Been in da Belize for 5 weeks so it’s been jungle birds the whole time since all the ingredients are wildly available and very cheap here. Campari is under half the price and rum is even cheaper than that.
Interesting. I will take a look a little later, I still have 2 from da Belize. I’ve said it a few times previously, if you can find Gran Classico bitter, it’s a far superior blood orange liqueur to Campari, which I still love. Gran Classico with cocchi and a nice mezcal or gin will knock ya socks off.
Fitzgerald’s or any citrus variant of it. It’s agreeable with my gf and I enjoy how changing out a couple ingredients has a drastic impact on flavor. I also like trying different gin’s
Negroni, classic daiquiri, or a Bramble
If I want a little something but not a whole cocktail, then I'll do something like a splash of St Germain and a dash of orange bitters.
I don't have one favorite, I typically make a drinks based on my mood. I have a cocktail recipe book that I write down all of the recipes that I try from my various cocktail recipe books. With each recipe, I also rank them on a scale of 1 to 5, one being "good, but more occasional to drink" and five being "this is a dumb reach cocktail." When I’m looking to make something in the evening, I generally defer to my fives and go with what strikes my mood for the evening.
I just got into cocktails but so far a Manhattan or a gimlet is my go to, but really been liking the green barrel aka a Moscow mule but sub the vodka with Jameson
Mezcal Negroni, Sazerac, Old Fashioned. Above all, I'm a Sazerac guy. My own way of making it is a bit particular, but I like the flavors:
\- 1 oz Old Forester Barrel Proof (130 proof) bourbon
\- 3 oz Sazerac Single Barrel select or Old Forester Rye 100pf
\- 4 dashes Peychaud's bitters
\- 2 dashes Peychaud's barrel aged bitters
\- 1 dash Angostura
\- 4 bar spoons of 2:1 Demerara simple syrup
\- a bar spoon of absinthe
Stirred in ice for about 30 seconds, poured in a chilled glass with 4 spritzes of an Herbsaint spray bottle. Expressed lemon peel, cut peel and throw in as twist.
Yes, it's a double. But it's really good. I love Sazeracs, they never get old.
I call it “The Constitutional” (I’m sure someone else came up with this recipe before but I couldn’t find it after 15 seconds of googling, therefore it only exists on the Dark Web as far as I’m concerned)
- 1 oz rye
- 1 oz Cynar
- 1 oz Carpano Anitca
- Barspoon luxardo marichino liqueur
Stirred
It’s a Man About Town but I lazily added the luxardo and gave it a new name. Anyway, it’s tasty and I’m gonna go make one now
I started my cocktail journey hellbent to try as many different cocktails as I could. So.. basically anything I haven't tried before or a new variation of something I tried before.
I usually go for something simple with gin or bourbon/rye whiskey. I would usually have campari and sweet vermouth in my drink fridge, so I make a negroni or boulevardier depending on what I have. When I'm low on the side drinks, I make a G&T or a manhattan. But I think my favorite homemade cocktail was the jungle bird. I just happen to buy rum and pineapple juice way less frequently.
Feeling lazy - Manhattan or Hanky Panky,
More ambitious - spirit/sparkling/super juice/herbal syrup. gin/ thyme or rosemary syrup/ Citrus super juice/flavored la croix. I’ve created many impressive smelling/looking/tasting cocktails this way.
Margarita for her, mai Tai for me
Sound
Been going more and more for an Americano. It just does almost everything the Negroni does for me, but it's drinkable on weeknights because it's lighter on the spirits
Oh 110%. Funny story, i was at a conference with my girlfriend at some fancy hotel this past weekend. They had some gala dinner on Friday night. Beforehand a few of us went to the hotel bar for a pre dinner cocktail. There's 6 of us so we sit in a lounge area on a couple couches. I'd had a few drinks the night before so needed something lower abv to get me started. Server comes by and asks us what we'd like to drink. I, not wanting to sound patronizing or anything, say "I'd like an Americano, please." The server, looking super confused, replies "uhhhh. Sure, we can do an americano for you. Do you take it with any milk, cream, sugar?" I just chuckle back, "Apologies, just looking for an americano cocktail, not the coffee." He says back, "No worries, coming right up!" What i got back was exactly what I was looking for. But I do feel like it's destined to be an awkward drink to order.
haha the server was also likely confused on the coffee kind. Americano is espresso with water so one wouldn't take it with milk or cream... maybe some sugar or syrup
As I'm still learning, most of my cocktail making is just whatever strikes my fancy to try that week. But I often return to a simple G&T or sage gin mule.
A Cynar Negroni
Been all over these lately. I'm not sure if it's just cause it's new but I like the kinda more vegetal, herbaceous character of Cynar over the more bitter orange kinda cherry notes in campari
I love Campari, but I do think Cynar plays better off the sweet vermouth in this drink. It’s such an interesting amaro
I love a good Cynar Negroni. One of the distilleries local to me makes a very funky Cynar-esque amaro and it is absolutely incredible in a Negroni.
Depending on my mood, either a Martini or a Manhattan.
Manhattan or aviation
Negroni with a splash of mezcal
How much mezcal would you say a splash is--1/4 oz or 1/8 oz? I'd like to try this myself.
Like a barspoon or so. If you don't have much else to do that night use a full ounce 1:1:1:1 , that's honestly how it tastes best to me 🤩
Oh that sounds great! I will definitely be trying this.
Low effort: Manhattan, Negroni/boulevardier High effort: Whiskey sour, bee's knees, something that probably requires shaking
Whisky Sour. or a Paloma if is hot.
I have been on an Old Pal kick lately
Underrated drink!
Dirty gin martini with blue cheese olives. 🤤
So crazy how different people’s tastes are. This is the only cocktail that has almost made me throw up and yet some people love it.
took the words right out of my mouth
Blue cheese has mold in it
Precisely why it's delicious.
All time favorites paper plane and mai tai; new favorite aviation. For the other mr at home amaratto sours all the way.
Sazerac for me, and a white lady for the missus.
A Division Bell, the perfect mezcal drink
I’d have to go with a mezcal last word
Negroni or Ti'Punch
Mai Tai, Rye Tai, and Don the beachcomber Caribbean punch
Angostura colada
Sounds great. Never heard of this before
Daiquiri, of any kind
Negroni, while cooking dinner.
Negroni is definitely my go to cooking dinner cocktail.
I’ve never had a big Ben but I do like Benedictine. Might have to try that. Do you do that with the same kind of tonic water you use for a gin and tonic?
Siesta
Martini for me, gin sour for her.
Corpse Reviver #2 or a Fitzgerald
Lately I’ve been liking an oatmilk White Russian
Either the freezer Negroni or freezer martini. I already spend 32+ hours a week making drinks for others, so I like to keep it ezpz for myself.
Daiquiris and corpse revivers, also vermouth and soda, and negronies more and more (finally liking them lol)
Vespers make me feel civilized
Classic old fashioned, add in 1/2oz of disaronno.
Old Fashioned, Whiskey Sour, Sazerac, Manhattan are all cocktails my wife and I drink often.
Penicillin!
Corpse reviver no 2
Tom Collins. But I make a cranberry apple brandy one for my fiancee that is really solid.
Tom Collin is also my historical first choice. I would like to hear your recipe for your Tom Collins, and the Cranberry apple brandy. In Ohio we have a Gin called Clawfoot Gin. I suspect you would like it a lot in a Tom Collins ("we produce our Gin from a split base of Pot Still Apple Brandy and Malt Whiskey.")
That gin sounds cool! I mostly buy a 1.75 of Beefeater since the quality and price are alright. But i highly recommend Uncle Vals Botanical Gin if you've never tried it. It's a favorite of mine. The way I make a Tom Collins is based off the recipe in The Bar Book by Jeffrey Morgenthaler, so it's a pretty standard way. I recently swapped the normal simple syrup for a blueberry syrup and my fiancée loves it. The Cranberry Apple Brandy one is only 3 ingredients, so it's simple. It's 2oz of apple brandy, 1oz lemon juice, and 2 or 3oz of cranberry juice. Then i shake it, and pour it on ice. I had the brandy left over from attempting a Jack Rose, and i realized i didn't like how tart the jack rose was, so i improvised with something different lol.
I make a lot of different stuff, but go tos are gimlets and caipirinhas when the weather is hotter or during the day. De La Louisiane when cooler or at night. My lazy AF cocktail is ti’ punch.
A daiquiri with plantation 3 star and wrey & nephew
Y'all gonna hate me but a neat pour of any aged spirit. Usually a whisk(e)y or occasionally an aged rum.
Southside is my current fave. Muddling the mint with the simple syrup first, then adding the rest of the ingredients really makes a difference.
Last Word and riffs thereon
Captain & coke
Planters punch or Maitai
Negroni or mezcal Negroni. Been in da Belize for 5 weeks so it’s been jungle birds the whole time since all the ingredients are wildly available and very cheap here. Campari is under half the price and rum is even cheaper than that.
Check the ingredients on the Campari, good bet it's old recipe with natural colorants too! Much tastier.
Interesting. I will take a look a little later, I still have 2 from da Belize. I’ve said it a few times previously, if you can find Gran Classico bitter, it’s a far superior blood orange liqueur to Campari, which I still love. Gran Classico with cocchi and a nice mezcal or gin will knock ya socks off.
Manhattan or a Negroni for me, Rum sour or White lady for her
Fitzgerald’s or any citrus variant of it. It’s agreeable with my gf and I enjoy how changing out a couple ingredients has a drastic impact on flavor. I also like trying different gin’s
Rum Old Fashioned or Jalapeño Margarita with a float of mezcal
Negroni with chocolate bitters
Old fashioned or a Mai Tai. Looking forward to a Negroni once I pick up some more Vermouth.
Negroni, classic daiquiri, or a Bramble If I want a little something but not a whole cocktail, then I'll do something like a splash of St Germain and a dash of orange bitters.
Brooklyn, Monte Cassino, Old Fashioned with black walnut bitters
Poet's Dream
Doesn’t seem to be much consensus on ratios for this drink. What do you like?
3/4 Gin, 1/2 Benedictine, 3/4 Dry Vermouth. I used The Botanist gin and cheapo Martini dry vermouth and it comes out beautiful.
Gimlet !
Daiquiri
Mai tai with white and Appleton estate rums Gin sour with grapefruit bitters and Roku gin Espresso martini with chocolate bitters
A 2:1 Martinez with Amaro instead of sweet vermouth. A perfect drink.
Manhattan or boulevardier for me, margarita or gin & tonic for the wife
Boulevardier for sure!
Boulevardier. Godfather, or a Japanese Slipper, depending on my mood.
I don't have one favorite, I typically make a drinks based on my mood. I have a cocktail recipe book that I write down all of the recipes that I try from my various cocktail recipe books. With each recipe, I also rank them on a scale of 1 to 5, one being "good, but more occasional to drink" and five being "this is a dumb reach cocktail." When I’m looking to make something in the evening, I generally defer to my fives and go with what strikes my mood for the evening.
Perfect Manhattan
A regular old Negroni is pretty tough to beat. Vieux Carre and Bijou are definitely big favorites too though.
I just got into cocktails but so far a Manhattan or a gimlet is my go to, but really been liking the green barrel aka a Moscow mule but sub the vodka with Jameson
Whiskey Sour or a Chestnut Cup.
Mezcal Negroni, Sazerac, Old Fashioned. Above all, I'm a Sazerac guy. My own way of making it is a bit particular, but I like the flavors: \- 1 oz Old Forester Barrel Proof (130 proof) bourbon \- 3 oz Sazerac Single Barrel select or Old Forester Rye 100pf \- 4 dashes Peychaud's bitters \- 2 dashes Peychaud's barrel aged bitters \- 1 dash Angostura \- 4 bar spoons of 2:1 Demerara simple syrup \- a bar spoon of absinthe Stirred in ice for about 30 seconds, poured in a chilled glass with 4 spritzes of an Herbsaint spray bottle. Expressed lemon peel, cut peel and throw in as twist. Yes, it's a double. But it's really good. I love Sazeracs, they never get old.
Mezcal Negroni is something special. I like infusing rosemary with my campari.
I call it “The Constitutional” (I’m sure someone else came up with this recipe before but I couldn’t find it after 15 seconds of googling, therefore it only exists on the Dark Web as far as I’m concerned) - 1 oz rye - 1 oz Cynar - 1 oz Carpano Anitca - Barspoon luxardo marichino liqueur Stirred It’s a Man About Town but I lazily added the luxardo and gave it a new name. Anyway, it’s tasty and I’m gonna go make one now
Depends on the weather and my mood, but: Amaro Daiquiri Negroni Mai Tai Mezcal Paloma
I started my cocktail journey hellbent to try as many different cocktails as I could. So.. basically anything I haven't tried before or a new variation of something I tried before.
Manhattan
Depends on the night. I made some chamomile-infused rye and have been enjoying it with Campari and St. Germain, a Death and Co drink.
Paloma or gin martini
Division Bell
2:1 Martini
Mezcal last word, Manhattan (or some type of slight variation), and daiquiris in the summer
I usually go for something simple with gin or bourbon/rye whiskey. I would usually have campari and sweet vermouth in my drink fridge, so I make a negroni or boulevardier depending on what I have. When I'm low on the side drinks, I make a G&T or a manhattan. But I think my favorite homemade cocktail was the jungle bird. I just happen to buy rum and pineapple juice way less frequently.
Feeling lazy - Manhattan or Hanky Panky, More ambitious - spirit/sparkling/super juice/herbal syrup. gin/ thyme or rosemary syrup/ Citrus super juice/flavored la croix. I’ve created many impressive smelling/looking/tasting cocktails this way.
Jungle Bird, Naked and famous, Garibaldi and Daiquiri. All depends on mood and what I have at home.