Hitchcock Happy Hour!
During quarantine Melanie and I decided to have a drink on the front porch in the evenings. Just to take the edge off. Since we were in a new house we had nothing in the liquor cabinet so we took this as an opportunity to rebuild our stock and try some new drinks. This was the result.
Drinks are rated from 1-5 stars and tasting notes provided.
Strawberry Gin Smash ⭐️⭐️⭐️
2 oz gin
1/2 oz simple syrup
2 strawberries
1 oz fresh lime juice
Club soda
Muddle lime juice and strawberries in shaker. Add ice, gin, and lime juice to shaker and shake vigorously. Pour into glass with ice and top with club soda. Garnish with fresh strawberries.
Tasting Notes: This sounds like it might be too sweet but it’s actually very muted. The strawberry is not too strong and is well balanced and smooth with the floral qualities of the gin. I thought this was wonderful for a warm day on the porch.
Chalino Special ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
3 oz silver tequila
1/2 oz Chambord
1/2 oz fresh lime juice
1/2 oz fresh lemon juice
1/2 oz simple syrup
Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into chilled martini glass. Garnish with lemon or lime wheel.
Tasting notes: This is a tequila martini basically... and it’s a solid cocktail. I am really enjoying this. Citrus, berries, and a smooth tequila finish.
Sex on the Beach ⭐️⭐️⭐️
1.5 oz vodka
1 oz peach schnapps
2 oz orange juice
2 oz cranberry juice
Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and strain over ice in a collins glass.
Tasting notes: This was my maiden voyage with this drink (excuse the pun). It was actually pretty good. You can use orange or pineapple juice and we tried both. I suggest the orange. Pineapple was overpowering. The peach really shines in this drink.
Purple Haze ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
1.5 oz vodka
1/2 oz Chambord
2 oz cranberry juice
1 oz ginger ale
Add all ingredients except the ginger ale to a shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and strain over ice in a tall glass. Top off with ginger ale. Garnish with fresh berries.
Tasting notes: Quite simple delicious. This is my favorite kind of drink to have on a hot day sitting on the front porch. It’s raspberry and sweet in the right way without being to candy sick. The ginger ale cuts the sweetness actually and adds a nice bubble.
Tequila Pineapple Cocktail ⭐️⭐️
3 oz pineapple juice
1.5 oz silver tequila
1/2 oz Grand Marnier
Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and strain over ice in a rocks glass. Garnish with a lime wedge.
Tasting notes: This drink is good. The low score is because it’s really just a pineapple margarita. If you subbed orange juice in here you would just have a margarita. It’s good but it’s not surprising in any way.
Watermelon Margarita ⭐️⭐️⭐️
4 chunks fresh watermelon
2 oz white tequila
1 oz lime juice
1 oz simple syrup
Muddle the watermelon in a shaker. Add ice along with the rest of the ingredients and shake vigorously. Strain over ice in a rocks glass. Garnish with a lime wedge.
Tasting notes: Do you like margaritas? Do you like watermelon? Are you currently living on the sun and need a refreshing kick? This is for you. We were in Palm Springs and it was 110° when I made these. They hit the spot.
Palm Springs ⭐️⭐️⭐️
1 oz fresh grapefruit juice
1/2 lime squeezed for juice
1.5 oz vodka
1 oz Cointreau
Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and strain over ice. Garnish with an orange peel and a jalapeño slice.
Tasting notes: It was refreshing. That’s about all I can say for this drink. It’s a little boring and I don’t really understand the garnish.
Blue Hawaii ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
2 oz pineapple juice
1.5 oz rum
3/4 oz blue curacao
3/4 oz cream of coconut
Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and strain over ice in a collins glass (or similar).
Tasting notes: This gets the max score because for a tropical drink this thing is a winner. It’s like a piña colada had a baby with a blue raspberry otter pop. It would be a great first drink as you arrive to your Hawaiian vacation.
Barbados Surprise ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
1/2 oz grenadine
3 oz orange juice
1.5 oz white rum
1/2 oz blue curacao
Slowly add the grenadine to an empty glass being careful not to splash. Gently add the ice. Pour the orange juice gently over the ice trying not to disturb the grenadine. In a separate glass combine the rum and blue curacao. Once mixed pour the combination slowly over the ice.
Tasting notes: It looks fun, it tastes fun. Colorful and sweet. You need to mix it before you take a sip but it was nice and tropical.
Copa Verde ⭐️⭐️⭐️
2 oz silver tequila
1 oz fresh lime juice
1 oz water
1 oz agave syrup
1/4 peeled avocado
Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth. Then add contents to a shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a coup glass rimmed with salt.
Tasting notes: This was weird but good. It has the consistency of a yogurt drink but it’s sweet like a margarita. Good but strange. Just like me.
Blood Orange Martini ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4 oz vodka
1/2 oz orange liqueur
2 oz blood orange juice
Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a blood orange.
Tasting notes: This is a rather simple martini but it tastes great. I garnished it with a blood orange wheel that I dehydrated. It floated nicely and added a little sweet note to every sip. YUM.
When in Rome ⭐️⭐️
2 oz citron vodka
3/4 oz lemon juice
3/4 oz agave syrup
3 raspberries
3 blackberries
1 slice jalapeño
club soda
Muddle berries, jalapeño, and agave syrup in shaker. Add vodka and ice. Shake vigorously and pour over ice in a collins glass. Top off with club soda and garnish with fresh berries.
Tasting notes: I was a little disappointed with this drink. It has the appearance of a drink that is going to be sweet and refreshing. It ends up being herbaceous because of the jalapeño. It just presents different than it tastes and it threw me.
Easy Bourbon Tea ⭐️⭐️⭐️
1.5 oz bourbon
1/2 oz limoncello
4 oz iced tea
Add all ingredients to a rocks glass with ice and stir to combine. Garnish with a lemon wheel.
Tasting notes: This is an easy four stars from me, but Melanie did not like it. It’s not a fair judgement because she doesn’t like bourbon so… now you know… she isn’t perfect. It reminded me of summer in the south. Banjo listenin’ hot sticky night kind of drink. I loved it. I will have this again.
Mezcal Mule ⭐️
2 oz mezcal
4 oz ginger beer
Fresh lime juice to taste
Add all ingredients to copper mug. Stir slightly to combine. Garnish with a lime wedge.
Tasting notes: If you like campfires, or more specifically campfires in your mouth.. then you might like this. I did not. I hated it. I really don’t like smoke as a flavor. If that’s your thing though you are going to love this drink. Mescal you dirty.
Raspberry Jalapeño Paloma ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
2 oz silver tequila
1 oz agave nectar
1 oz fresh lime juice
Grapefruit soda (Squirt)
2 slices jalapeño
6 raspberries
Muddle raspberries, jalapeño, and agave nectar. Add to shaker with lime juice and tequila. Shake vigorously and strain over ice in a rocks glass. Top off with grapefruit soda and garnish with fresh raspberries.
Tasting notes: We’ve made Palomas before and loved them. This is just a twist on that libation with two things I love, raspberries and jalapeños. Needless to say I love this drink too.
Planter’s Punch ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
3 oz dark rum
3/4 oz fresh lime juice
1 oz simple syrup
1 barspoon grenadine
3 dashes bitters
Soda water
Add all ingredients except the soda water to a shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and strain over ice in a tall glass. Top off with soda water. Garnish with a lemon wheel and cherry.
Tasting notes: This was pretty good. It tastes like its right out of a tiki bar. OH YEAH! Rummy, fruity, drinky, belly.
El Jefe ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
1.5 oz silver tequila
1/2 oz fresh lime juice
1 oz pineapple juice
3 pieces fresh pineapple
1/2 tsp Tajin
1/4 oz simple syrup
Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and strain over ice in a rocks glass. Garnish with a lime twist.
Tasting notes: What’s not to like about this? It’s sweet and salty at the same time. I personally thought a little jalapeño would be nice in here as well.
Rum Babalu ⭐️⭐️⭐️
2 oz Kirk and Sweeney 12 Year Rum
3/4 oz fresh lime juice
1/2 oz maple syrup
1 oz ginger beer
1 dash bitters
Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice except for the ginger beer. Shake vigorously and strain over ice in a rocks glass. Top off with ginger beer and garnish with an orange peel.
Tasting notes: Almost all these rum drinks with ginger beer taste like my favorite vacation drink the Dark & Stormy. They are freaking delicious. This is also good. The maple syrup is the twist. It tastes like your drinking an Eggo waffle soaked in Dark & Stormy. It was good. I just like it better without the waffle.
Orange Splash ⭐️⭐️⭐️
2 oz Absolut Citron
1 oz Cointreau
Splash fresh lime juice
Splash fresh orange juice
Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and strain over ice in a rocks glass with a sugared rim. Garnish with an orange peel.
Tasting notes: If a lemon drop and a screwdriver had a baby this would be the result. It’s delicious but maybe a bit too boozey (if such a thing exists). It lacks just a little sweetness for a drink like this. Maybe add simple syrup or more OJ.
Anejo Honey Sour ⭐️⭐️⭐️
2 oz anejo tequila
3/4 oz fresh lemon juice
1/2 oz honey syrup (3 to 1 honey and water)
egg white
Combine all ingredients in shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and strain over ice in rocks glass. Garnish with a grapefruit peel.
Tasting notes: This was really good. Sweet, sour, rich, foamy. Lots of goodness to go around. It lacks a little creativity or it would have gotten 4 stars.
Coffee Gin & Tonic ⭐️⭐️⭐️
1.5 oz cold brew coffee
1.5 oz gin
1.5 oz tonic
1 oz simple syrup
Mix gin, tonic, and simple syrup. Place in freezer for 1-2 hours. Pour mixture over ice and top off with fresh tonic to add more bubbles. Pour cold brew over back of spoon to layer on top. Garnish with lemon.
Tasting notes: This one is odd but good. Odd in that it will surprise you. I didn’t expect to like this but it tasted like chocolate and then later it tasted like iced tea. It was really complex and the flavors changed as I drank it. Interesting. Good. I think the coffee you use will have a lot to do with this. I used a Washed Ethiopian courtesy of my good friend Danny Iverson who does small batch coffee bean roasting. If you like coffee check him out online.
Roy’s Hawaiian Martini ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
2 oz vodka
1 oz Malibu Rum
1/2 oz vanilla vodka
2 oz pineapple juice
Combine all ingredients in shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with a pineapple wedge. I have heard that you should combine and let sit over fresh pineapple for 5 days. I couldn’t wait that long.
Tasting notes: If you could get a sunburn from a drink it would be from this. It makes you feel like you are on a beach in Hawaii. If a state can have a flavor this is the aloha state. So good. So very good.
Captain Morgan’s and Coke ⭐️⭐️⭐️
2 oz Captain Morgan’s Spiced Rum
Top off with cola
Add the Captain Morgan’s to a glass with ice. Top off with the cola of your choice. Garnish with a lime wedge
Tasting notes: This is a classic. Super easy. Super tasty. I would give this more stars but it lacks creativity. I would drink this again… and again… and again.
Mosé ⭐️⭐️⭐️
3 strawberries (two for drink one for garnish)
1 tsp sugar
2 oz silver tequila
1 oz fresh lime juice
3/4 oz rosé
Muddle strawberries and sugar in a shaker. Add remaining ingredients with ice and shake vigorously. Pour over large ice cube (This is optional. You could use regular ice. I just like the big cubes.). Garnish with a strawberry.
Tasting notes: Melanie said it tasted like a chunky strawberry margarita. It does. That said it is fruity, tart, and easy drinking. Good afternoon drink in the summer.
Morgan Mule ⭐️⭐️
2 oz Captain Morgan’s Spiced Rum
1/2 lime
3 mint leaves
Ginger beer, top off
Peel lime and cut into pieces. Add lime and mint to glass and muddle. Add ice and top off with ginger beer. Garnish with a lime wheel and mint sprig.
Tasting notes: Just ok. It lacked sweetness and the mint didn’t really work in my opinion. I wouldn’t order this.
Tom Collins ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
2 oz gin
1 oz fresh lime juice
1/2 oz simple syrup
Club soda, top off
Add gin, lime juice, and simple syrup to shaker with ice. Shake vigorously. Strain over ice in a collins glass and top off with club soda. Garnish with a lime wheel.
Tasting notes: Melanie and I agreed that this was an easy drinker. The booze is not terribly forward and it’s more citrus and sweet. Good on a hot day. I should note that common recipes for this go back and forth on lemon or lime juice. I like lime but lemon lends itself to sweet a little more so maybe try that too!
Añejo Highball ⭐️⭐️
1/2 oz lime juice
1.5 oz dark rum (Añejo)
Top up with ginger beer
2 dashes of Angostura bitters
1/2 oz Grand Marnier
Add rum, lime juice, Grand Marnier, and bitters to shaker with ice. Shake vigorously. Strain over ice into highball glass. Top off with ginger beer. Garnish with lime peel.
Tasting notes: This drink is delicious. It was supposedly invented by some famous mixologist in the 90’s. WRONG!!! This drink is a lie. It’s just a Dark & Stormy with a dash of bitters and Grand Marnier. Total rip off. I give it two stars for pretending to be something it’s not. Just be a Dark & Stormy. Like my mom used to say, “There’s nothing cooler than being yourself.”
The Gallagher ⭐️⭐️⭐️
3 oz fresh watermelon juice
2 oz gin
1/4 lemon peeled and sliced
4 mint leaves
1/2 oz simple syrup
Blend about 2 cups of watermelon to get about 1 cup of juice. Strain and set aside. Muddle lemon and mint in a shaker. Add ice, gin, watermelon juice, and ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a rocks glass over ice. Garnish with a sprig of mint.
Tasting notes: This is the second day in a row that I have used gin with fruit juice and I have been amazed at how well they go together. This drink is light and refreshing. The lemon juice really brightens up the watermelon juice. It was 90° today again. That makes just about anything cold go down much much easier.
Front Porch Punch ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
1.5 oz coconut rum (Malibu)
1 oz gin
4 oz pineapple juice
Watermelon chunks
Pineapple chunks
Add all ingredients to a pint glass and stir to combine. Drink. Be awesome.
Tasting notes: This is freaking delicious. So good. I drank them too fast but in my defense it was 92° out when I made them. They are perfect for a hot day.
Watermelon Rancher ⭐️⭐️⭐️
1.5 oz vodka
2 oz watermelon Jolly Rancher simple syrup
Splash of soda water
Make simple syrup by melting 5 watermelon Jolly Ranchers in 2 oz of boiling water. Let cool. Add all ingredients to rocks glass with ice. Stir to combine.
Tasting notes: This is my creation. It’s basically a vodka soda but with the sweetness of watermelon Jolly Rancher.
Peach Jalapeño Margarita ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
1.5 oz tequila
1 oz Grand Marnier
1 oz fresh lime juice
1/2 ripe peach
1 slice jalapeño
Remove the pit and skin from the peach. Muddle peach with lime juice and jalapeño in shaker. Add ice, tequila and Grand Marnier and shake vigorously. Strain over rocks glass with ice. Garnish with a peach slice.
Tasting notes: Sweet and spicy seem to work well in drinks. I guess I’m on a tequila and jalapeño kick right now. It’s so good together.
Hemingway Daiquiri ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
1 3/4 oz cane rum
3/4 oz Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur
1 oz fresh lime juice
3/4 oz fresh grapefruit juice
1/4 oz simple syrup
Add all ingredients to shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into cocktail glass. Garnish with a lime-cherry flag.
Tasting notes: Soft and fruity. Cherry really shines. This baby packs a punch. I guess that’s why Hemingway liked it.
Green Flash ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
1.5 oz silver tequila
1/2 oz Midori
3.5 oz lemonade
Splash of grenadine
Fill a rocks glass with ice and add the lemonade and tequila. Gently pour in the Midori and the grenadine being careful not to mix.
Tasting notes: We both enjoyed this. It’s sweet and the tequila is forward. The Midori might have added a little sweetness but mostly it’s just there for color. The lemonade and the tequila are the real stars.
Old Fashioned ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
1/2 teaspoon sugar
3 dashes Angostura bitters
1 teaspoon water
2 ounces bourbon
Add the sugar, bitters, and water to a rocks glass and stir until sugar is dissolved. Fill the glass with ice and add the bourbon. Stir gently to combine. Express the oil from an orange peel and drop it in the glass to garnish.
Tasting notes: This is a classic. Choose a good bourbon and you can’t go wrong.
Blueberry Freckles ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Handful of ripe blueberries
1 oz fresh lemon juice
1 oz simple syrup
1/2 scoop acai sorbet
1.5 oz silver tequila
Splash of soda water
Add the blueberries, lemon juice, simple syrup and sorbet to a blender and give them a whirl. Add the contents to a shaker along with the tequila and some ice. Shake vigorously. Pour over ice in a rocks glass and top off with soda water. Fresh blueberries to garnish.
Tasting notes: This one is completely my creation. It’s tart and sweet but not too much of either. If you like blueberry you will love this.
Japanese Slipper ⭐️⭐️⭐️
1 oz Midori Melon Liqueur
1 oz Triple Sec
1 oz fresh lemon juice
Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a martini glass (I’m partial to these Nick & Nora glasses. You can buy them on Amazon). Garnish with one Luxardo cherry.
Tasting notes: We liked this one. It’s a little too sweet for me. It tastes like candy you might find on an ice cream truck.
White Russian ⭐️⭐️⭐️
2 oz vodka
1 oz Kahlua
Heavy cream
Add vodka and Kahlua to a rocks glass with ice. Top with heavy cream. Abide.
Tasting notes: What’s to say? It’s creamy and boozy. It feels like a cold drink you drink on a cold day.
Conflict & Compromise ⭐️⭐️⭐️
1.5 oz silver tequila
3/4 oz Midori
3/4 oz fresh lime juice
1/2 ounce agave nectar
2 slices jalapeño pepper
7 slices cilantro
Muddle lime juice, agave nectar, jalapeno, and cilantro in shaker. Double strain to remove cilantro and jalapeno. Add tequila, Midori and ice. Shake vigorously. Pour over ice in rocks glass and garnish with a sprig of cilantro.
Tasting notes: It’s herbaceous and I dig that about this drink. I am a fan of tequila drinks with jalapeño in them. They just seem to go so well together.
Mango Martini ⭐️⭐️⭐️
1.5 oz vodka
1.5 oz Grand Marnier
1 oz mango puree
1 oz fresh lime juice
Rim a martini glass with sugar. Add all ingredients to shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Strain and serve.
Tasting notes: Tart. Sweet. Good… well good enough at least. I wouldn’t order this drink but it’s good enough to finish.
Silver Breeze ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
1.5 oz silver tequila
1 oz grapefruit juice
1 oz cranberry juice
1 oz lemonade
Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and pour over ice in a rocks glass. Garnish with a lemon wedge.
Tasting notes: Tequila and juice. These things work together.
Sea Breeze ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
1.5 oz vodka
3 oz cranberry juice
1.5 oz grapefruit juice
Combine all ingredients in a highball glass with ice and stir. Garnish with a grapefruit wedge.
Tasting notes: Vodka and juice. These things also work together.
Jalisco Express ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
2 oz silver tequila
3/4 oz agave nectar
3/4 oz fresh lime juice
1 slice of jalapeño
2 slices of cucumber
Pinch of basil
Rim a rocks glass with Tajin. Add basil, jalapeño, cucumber, and agave syrup to shaker and muddle. Add rest of ingredients and ice. Shake vigorously. Strain over ice in rocks glass.
Tasting notes: I love this drink. It’s sweet, spicy, and herbaceous. It scratches just about every itch I have when it comes to a cocktail.
Tequila Mockingbird ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
1 jalapeño slice
3 watermelon cubes (about 1/3 cup)
2 oz silver tequila
3/4 oz fresh lime juice
3/4 oz agave syrup
Muddle the jalapeño and watermelon in a shaker. Add the remaining ingredients and ice. Shake vigorously and strain over ice in a rocks glass. Garnish with fresh watermelon chunks.
Tasting notes: This has been my favorite cocktail to date. Watermelon and jalapeño together? YES! Soft and sweet with a little tingle after every sip. I could drink this all day. I think I will.
Rhett Butler ⭐️⭐️⭐️
2 oz Southern Comfort
1/2 oz Grand Marnier
1/2 oz fresh lemon juice
1/2 oz fresh lime juice
Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake vigorously. Pour over ice in a rocks glass. Garnish with lemon and lime peel.
Tasting notes: It’s a little sour for me but it was good. If you like Southern Comfort it’s a nice trip.
Scarlett O’Hara ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
2 oz Southern Comfort
Dash of fresh lime juice
4 oz cranberry juice
Combine all ingredients in a rocks glass with ice. Garnish with a lime twist.
Tasting notes: Good. Solid drink. We already knew cranberry with a little lime was good. This just has SoCo along for the ride.
Oaks Lily ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
1.5 oz vodka
1/2 ounce Grand Marnier
1/2 oz simple syrup
1/2 oz fresh lemon juice
3 oz cranberry juice
Add all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a highball glass with ice. Garnish with a lemon wheel and fresh blackberries.
Tasting notes: I love this drink. It’s a delicious fruit punch with a kick. Imagine the Kool Aid man breaking down your wall screaming OH YEAH! and then apologizing, writing you a check for the damage and sitting down for a drink. That’s this.
Whiskey Sour ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
2 oz bourbon
3/4 oz fresh lemon juice
1/2 oz simple syrup
1/2 oz egg white
Add all ingredients in a shaker (no ice) and dry shake. Add ice and shake again. Strain into a rocks glass with ice. Add 3 to 4 dashes of Angostura bitters and garnish with an orange wheel and a Luxardo cherry.
Tasting notes: Classic and delicious. Me likey.
Cuba Libre ⭐️⭐️⭐️
1.5 oz Rum
4 oz Cola
Add rum to a rocks glass with ice. Top off with cola of your choice. Garnish with a lime wedge.
Tasting notes: This is just a rum and coke. I say just but honestly this is a good hot day drink just about anytime. Even when it’s not hot.
Tequila Sunrise ⭐️⭐️⭐️
2 oz Tequila
4 oz orange juice
1/2 oz grenadine
Add tequila and orange juice to a rocks glass with ice. Gently pour grenadine in being careful to let it settle and not mix. Garnish with a cherry.
Tasting notes: Too sweet for me. It’s not bad though. OJ and tequila do a little dance that I enjoy.
Kir Royale ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4 oz champagne
1 oz Chambord
Fill a champagne flute with champagne of your choice. Top with Chambord. Garnish with fresh blackberries or raspberries.
Tasting notes: Melanie’s favorite drink. It just boosts the sweetness factor on any champagne. Good.
Rum Runner ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
1 oz light rum
1 oz dark rum
1 oz banana liqueur
1 oz blackberry liqueur (Chambord)
1 oz orange juice
1 oz pineapple juice
Splash of grenadine
Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and pour over ice in a collins glass. Garnish with an orange wheel and a strawberry.
Tasting notes: Delicious. Definitely created to get you drunk quickly on an island. Also works really well.
Negroni ⭐️
1 oz gin
1 oz Campari
1 oz sweet vermouth
Add all ingredients into a mixing glass with ice. Stir until chilled. Strain into a rocks glass with ice. Garnish with an orange peel.
Tasting notes: Just don’t. I like gin but apparently I hate Campari. Melanie said it tasted like a dirty band aid. It did.
French 75 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
1 oz gin
1/2 oz fresh lemon juice
1/2 oz simple syrup
3 oz champagne
Add all ingredients except champagne into a shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a champagne flute and top with champagne of your choice. Garnish with a lemon twist.
Tasting notes: Like a gin and tonic if a gin and tonic was a cartoon. Fun and delicious.
Sidecar ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
1.5 oz cognac
3/4 oz Grand Marnier
3/4 oz fresh lemon juice
Rim a coupe glass ( I prefer the Nick & Nora glass) with sugar. Add all ingredients into a shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into the glass. Garnish with an orange twist.
Tasting notes: One of my favorites. It’s like a fancy lemon drop only better.
Pimms Cup ⭐️⭐️
2 oz Pimm’s No. 1 Cup
3 oz lemon lime soda or ginger ale
1 slice cucumber
Add all ingredients into a collins glass with ice and stir. Garnish with a mint sprig and strawberries.
Tasting notes: Melanie hated it. I thought it tasted a little like iced tea. Meh.
Gin Fizz ⭐️⭐️⭐️
2 oz gin
1 oz fresh lemon juice
3/4 oz simple syrup
1 egg white
1 oz club soda
Add all ingredients except the club soda to a shaker without ice and dry shake for 10 seconds. Add ice to the shaker and shake very well. Strain into a rocks glass and top with club soda.
Tasting notes: The egg white is what creates the foam. Melanie didn’t like the foam. It was really just a texture thing for her. I love this drink. If it was me I would give this 4 stars all the way. It’s a sweet gin drink. I even like the foam.
Banana Daiquiri ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
1 banana
1/2 cup coconut milk
1/2 lime, juiced
1/4 cup sugar
3 cups ice
2 oz white rum
Add all ingredients into a blender and give it a spin. Pour into a collins or hurricane glass and top with whipped cream and a couple banana slices.
Tasting notes: Melanie LOVES this drink. It’s pretty… pretty hard to make. It’s good if you like bananas and you don’t want to taste the alcohol.
Paloma ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
2 oz tequila
1/2 oz fresh lime juice
4 oz grapefruit soda (Squirt)
Add tequila and lime juice to a collins glass with ice. Top off with grapefruit soda and give it a stir. Garnish with a lime wheel.
Tasting notes: Perfect summer drink. Cool and refreshing. The grapefruit soda pairs well with tequila.
Moscow Mule ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
1.5 oz vodka
1/2 oz fresh lime juice
4 oz ginger beer
Add all ingredients to a copper mug filled with ice. Stir to combine. Garnish with a lime wedge.
Tasting notes: Classic. Copper mugs help you enjoy this drink more. They get SOOOO cold.
Dark and Stormy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
1.5 oz Gosling’s Black Seal Rum
4 oz ginger beer
Add rum and ginger beer to a rocks glass filled with ice. Garnish with a lime wedge.
Tasting notes: We fell in love with this drink in Bermuda. It’s the absolute best. I still love them and drink them on the regular. I recommend using Barrits Ginger Beer. It’s the one they use in Bermuda.
Death in the Afternoon ⭐️
1.5 oz absinthe
4.5 oz champagne
Pour absinthe in a coupe class. Top with champagne.
Tasting notes: No. Just no. This drink was created by Ernest Hemingway. He was a severe alcoholic and even that can’t explain why he drank this. NO.
Caipirinha ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
1/2 lime
2 teaspoons sugar
2 oz cachaca
Cut the lime into small wedges. Place the lime and sugar into a rocks glass and muddle well. Add ice and top with the cachaca. Garnish with a lime wedge.
Tasting notes: If you like mojitos then you will like this. It’s just missing the mint. Cool and refreshing. GOOD.