As you might guess from the name, the Bellini is an Italian classic. The original recipe came from Venice and was simply two parts Prosecco (Italian sparkling wine) to one part white peach puree with a touch of raspberry or cherry juice, which gave the ... READ MORE]]> As you might guess from the name, the Bellini is an Italian classic. The original recipe came from Venice and was simply two parts Prosecco (Italian sparkling wine) to one part white peach puree with a touch of raspberry or cherry juice, which gave the drink a unique translucent pink hue. Since then, the recipe has developed a number of variations, largely because white peaches weren’t available everywhere at all times.

Bellini Recipe

• White peach puree
• Prosecco

The classic Bellini recipe is very simple. Just put one tablespoon of white peach puree into the bottom of a chilled flute glass. Now fill the glass slowly with Prosecco or champagne so it stirs up the puree.

For a non-alcoholic treat, use non-alcoholic sparking wine in place of the champagne.

Bellini for 2 (without fresh fruit)

If you haven’t got access to peaches and raspberries to puree, here’s a version of the drink that uses all bottled and canned ingredients. Remember: this one will pack a much bigger alcohol wallop than the traditional version.

Mix everything but the champagne together in a chilled flute glass. Add the champagne, stir and serve for two.

The drink of champions

In case it’s not already obvious, this is a wonderful alternative to a mimosa, and therefore a terrific breakfast or brunch drink. Egg dishes are especially great, like Asparagus and Mushroom Quiche, Bacon, Cheddar & Pea Frittata or a Very Veggie Omelet.

The Hurricane is a very sweet rum-based fruity cocktail that originated in the French Quarter in New Orleans. It’s traditionally served in a  – you guessed it – hurricane glass, but because New Orleans law permits people to leave bars with drinks in hand, New ... READ MORE]]> The Hurricane is a very sweet rum-based fruity cocktail that originated in the French Quarter in New Orleans. It’s traditionally served in a  – you guessed it – hurricane glass, but because New Orleans law permits people to leave bars with drinks in hand, New Orleans bars often serve it in a plastic cup.

The Hurricane

The traditional recipe is very simple:

• One part dark rum
• One part white rum
• passion fruit syrup
• lime juice

Shake with ice, then pour over ice.

Other recipes add an ounce of orange juice or amaretto, or a tablespoon of Grenadine, or even gin or vodka. Unlike, say, a dry gin martini which is considered to be a perfect recipe already, this is one of those cocktails people like to add their own signature twist to. Your perfect Hurricane may differ from someone else’s.

Drinks as sweet and fruity as the Hurricane are best drunk alone or served with traditional bar snacks, like nuts or pretzels. Salty cheeses work, too. Hurricanes also work well as an after-dinner drink served in place of dessert. If you want something more complex, try Wild-Mushroom Nachos without the Roasted Tomato sauce (tomato acid and lime juice can cause instant heartburn).

Unlike some drinks that include bitters, the Negroni tastes bitter. Some people love that about it, others wonder how anyone could find it drinkable. The flavor of the drink reminds me of pink grapefruit juice, except with that mild bitterness overlaying it. Maybe an apt ... READ MORE]]> Unlike some drinks that include bitters, the Negroni tastes bitter. Some people love that about it, others wonder how anyone could find it drinkable. The flavor of the drink reminds me of pink grapefruit juice, except with that mild bitterness overlaying it. Maybe an apt comparison would be with the white meat of a grapefruit, just inside the rind – by itself, it would be repulsive, but with the grapefruit juice in the same bite, some people love it. If you’re not one of them, go for a Cosmo, which tastes like ruby red grapefruit juice with a kick.

The Negroni

• 1 ounce gin
• 1 ounce sweet Italian vermouth
• 1 ounce Campari Bitters

Put ice in an Old Fashioned glass, and pour the ingrdients in. Garnish with a slice of orange.

Strong flavors

Be forwarned: this drink overwhelms meek foods. Pick something with bold flavor: steak or salmon dishes, like Green Peppercorn Steak or Osaka Grilled Salmon. For an appetizer, you can’t beat a good mussels recipe, but this eggplant rollati recipe could come close.

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 ... READ MORE]]> 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 Libre

• 2 ounces of light (white) rum
• The juice of a half-lime (fresh is best)
• Cola (diet works, if you prefer)

Put ice cubes into a highball glass. Pour the lime juice over them. Add the rum, then fill to the top with cola. Stir, garnish with lime wheels or wedges and serve.

Zesty Citrus

The Cuba Libre pairs well with anything that tastes good with cola, which is just about everything. Some of my preferred suggestions include a nicely seasoned lemon chicken with garlic mashed potatoes or spicy shrimp skewers with lime and jerk seasonings. For an appetizer or party snack (this drink is great served by the pitcher), try citrus-ginger crab cakes.

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 ... READ MORE]]> 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 was developed by Daphne Henderson, who ran a bar called The Soggy Dollar in the British Virgin Islands. It’s still a secret, but the Pusser Rum company came up with this version, which apparently tastes much like the original.

The Painkiller

• 2 ounces of Pussers Navy (Dark) Rum
• 1 ounce Cream of Coconut
• 1 ounce of orange juice
• 3 ounces of pineapple juice
• Sprinkle of nutmeg

Shake everything but the nutmeg, then strain into a glass filled with ice. Garnish with a sprinkle of nutmeg on top. You can tweak the ingredient ratios to your taste.

Go complex

This cocktail goes great with complex flavors. This chicken terriyaki recipe is a bit less sweet than some others, and with the addition of sesame seeds and red pepper flakes, you get a taste that’s delicious but hard to pin down, and a perfect complement to The Painkiller. Another delicious option is Smoked Salmon with 5 Peppercorn Crust. For a snack of finger food to go with your Painkillers, you can’t beat Thai Basil Rolls with Hoisin Peanut Sauce.

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. ... READ MORE]]> 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 this drink is a blend of pomegranate and orange – fruity, but not too sweet, and agreeable to most people’s palates. You can pour these before a party starts and put them in a tray in the refrigerator and bring them out as a surprise after dinner drink for guests. The presentation possibilities are amazing.

Fourth of July

Layer equal amounts of the following, in this order:

• Grenadine
• Blue Curacao
• Cream or Vodka

Enjoy responsibly while watching the fireworks!

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 ... READ MORE]]> 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 and three parts pineapple juice, and it’s delicious. But there are some other options.

Piña Colada

• 1 jigger of white rum
• 1 ounce of dark rum
• 1 jigger coconut cream (Coco Lopez is the best choice – whatever you pick, just avoid coconut milk)
• 1 ounce of heavy cream
• 3 ounces of pineapple juice
• 1 dash of Angostura bitters

Put everything in a blender, adding ice if you like, and blend it for about 15 seconds. Pour it into a hurricane glass and garnish with a slice of pineapple and/or maraschino cherry. This is a great drink for parties, especially if you have non-drinkers among your guests – the non-alcoholic piña colada tastes awesome.

Salad!

Honestly, the Piña Colada goes with just about any food. But one really great snack or appetizer to pair with it is fried plantain chips – the recipe I’ve linked here is not at all sweet, and the salty, starchy contrast with the drink is a lot of fun. For a meal choice, dinner salads work well with this somewhat heavy drink. Check out hoisin chicken salad or spinach salad with strawberries.

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 ... READ MORE]]> 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 for gin and grenadine. But like so many Prohibition bathtub-gin cocktails, this one was improved upon once bartenders had better options.

Sea Breeze

• 1 jigger vodka
• 1 jigger cranberry juice
• 4 ounces of (preferably fresh) grapefruit juice

Pour the vodka into a highball glass over ice, followed by the grapefruit juice, and then the cranberry. Garnish with a lime wedge. Optionally, you can mix all ingredients in a shaker with ice to get a foamy surface.

Rich foods

Avoid spicy foods with this drink, unless you have a digestive system made of iron – it’s a recipe for indigestion. But rich, savory foods are a perfect complement to this light, refreshing cocktail. Try sirloin steak with garlic butter, bacon rosemary mashed potatoes and a greek salad for a meal accompaniment. For snacks to go with this cocktail, try gorgonzola bacon polenta bites.

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 ... READ MORE]]> 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 debate about how many of these are “true” margaritas, but do we really care?) I’ll start with a few traditional recipes, then move onto the wild and crazy.

49 Margarita Recipes

1. Our classic Margarita recipe
2. Cadillac Margarita – very traditional
3. Top Shelf Margarita – another classic recipe
4. Presidential Margarita – knockoff of Chili’s recipe
5. Key West Margarita – Midori, pina colada mix
6. Blood Orange Margarita – juice of a blood orange, and just a touch of sage
7. Hibiscus Margarita – uses a syrup made from dried hibiscus flowers
8. Berriful Margarita - blackberry and lime
9. Cool Mint Rita - creme de menthe
10. Austin Margarita – olives!
11. Spicy Yubari Margarita - (third one down on the page) jalapeno and melon liqueur
12. Smokey Margarita – mezcal floating on top
13. Sunset Sage Margarita - uses sage to bring out the flavor of tequila
14. Frozen Cactus Pear Margarita – cactus pear syrup
15. Low Budget Raspberry Margarita – uses raspberries and raspberry preserves in place of Chambord
16. Pomegranate Margarita – uses pomegranate juice
17. Rhubarb Margarita – uses cooked rhubarb, which is tart and sweet
18. Strawberry Margarita - the slushy classic
19. Guava Margarita – guava blended with the classic lime and orange
20. Kiwi Margarita – pureed kiwi fruit
21. Watermelon Margarita – slice of watermelon
22. Brandy Margarita - calls for E & J VSOP Brandy
23. Mango Key Lime Margarita - classic margarita with key limes and mellow mango
24. Jimmy Buffet’s Perfect Margarita – uses Rose’s Lime Juice
25. Spicy Margarita – paprika and pepper! (This is yummy!)
26. Chocolate Margarita - Godiva liqueur
27. Vanilla Margarita - uses a vanilla bean for flavor
28. Cinnamon and Orange Margarita - cinnamon schnapps
29. Li Hing Margarita – mango puree and li hing mui powder
30. Highland Margarita Recipe – Drambuie!
31. Italian Amaretto Margarita – national identity crisis resulting in yummy sweet margarita
32. Blue Margarita – Blue Curacao for color
33. Esta Loca Margarita - orange and pomegranate
34. Beer Margarita – just what it sounds like
35. Cranberry Margarita - cranberry juice and sauce
36. Margarita Fizz Recipe - orange sparkling water
37. Pineapple Margarita – mmm, pineapple and lime
38. Banana Margarita - blended with bananas
39. Paula’s Awesome Margarita Recipe – Texas Orange Liqueur
40. Whitecap Margarita - creme of coconut
41. Lavender Margarita – lavender blossoms, blueberries, raspberries and more
42. Tin Can Margarita - Emeril proves you can make a great margarita with tin can fruit-ades, as long as you use a high-quality tequila
43. Ruby Red Grapefruit Margarita - ruby red grapefruit, and ruby red vodka (with tequila)
44. Creamsicle Margarita - vanilla ice cream
45. Margarita Granita - slightly sweet twist on the classic
46. Three Citrus Sunrise Margarita – (last one on page) lime, orange, grapefruit and Chambord, all in one drink
47. Hot Pear Margarita - (second one on page) uses Tanteo tequila for an infusion of jalepeno, chocolate and tropical fruit flavors
48. Mt. Dew Margarita – (third one down) uh, this one may be a little controversial, but you know, it’s citrus-ish
49. Ultimate Sugar & Spice Margarita – courtesy of TGIFriday’s, uses gingerbread syrup

Enjoy! If you have a special recipe of your own, add it in comments.

The Amaretto Sour belongs to a family of mixed drinks known as – you guessed it – “sours.” These cocktail recipes are defined by having at least one liquor (or liqueur), lemon or lime juice and a bit of sweetener. They include classics like the ... READ MORE]]> The Amaretto Sour belongs to a family of mixed drinks known as – you guessed it – “sours.” These cocktail recipes are defined by having at least one liquor (or liqueur), lemon or lime juice and a bit of sweetener. They include classics like the Margarita, Sidecar and Whiskey Sour. The smooth, sweet taste and mild kick of an Amaretto Sour makes it ideal for occasional drinkers as well as more dedicated cocktail fans.

Amaretto Sour

• 2 ounces amaretto
• 1 ounce lemon juice
• Granulated sugar for the rim (or about 1 teaspoon)
• Maraschino cherry

There are two ways to make this drink.

#1: Rub the rim of an old-fashioned glass with lemon juice, then dip it into a pile of granulated sugar several times until the rim is covered with sugar. Shake the amaretto and lemon juice without ice, then strain into the glass over ice. Garnish with a maraschino cherry. An orange round makes a nice additional garnish.

#2: Shake the amaretto, lemon juice and teaspoon of granulated sugar in a strainer without ice, then strain into a glass over ice. Garnish instructions are same as above.

Glaze it

The Amaretto Sour has a flavor that can overwhelm many dishes. It’s excellent alone or with mildly sweet desserts like tiramisu, cheesecake or a chocolate coissant. But it can also be paired with lightly-sweet entrees: try Brown Sugar Glazed Salmon, Apple-Honey Glazed Chicken or Stir-Fried Sweet Shrimp Vietnam.