Three More Cocktails!
The recent story entitled – Thee Cocktails You Must Know was one of our most popular articles last month. I’m still concerned that many of you enjoy reading cocktail recipes but haven’t made the leap to home bartender as yet.
Well it’s time to roll up your sleeves, grab the jigger, and start making cocktails. Making cocktails at home is simply a matter of arming yourself with the right tools and the ability to follow simple directions. In other words, there are no excuses.
With no further delay I present the next three cocktails that you must know and hopefully make and enjoy.
Three More Classic Cocktails
Margarita (recipe)
For me and many the Margarita is the official cocktail of summer. It is another classic cocktail that relies on just three ingredients. All three ingredients must be top-notch.
First, the Tequila has to be of the 100% agave variety and for me it must be a blanco. There are some who want to make an upscale version of the margarita by utilizing the more pricey aged versions but I’ve never been a fan of wood in my margarita.
The margarita is a cocktail that celebrates fresh and vibrant flavors like the raw and untamed beauty of a 100% agave blanco Tequila, fresh squeezed lime juice, and an orange liqueur that is also free of wood aging.
Negroni (recipe)
We owe a debt of gratitude to the Count Negroni (yes, he was a real guy – see the story) for altering the classic Americano and creating the cocktail that bears his name. Again this is a great classic cocktail that is built with just three ingredients:
Campari, Sweet Vermouth, and Gin.
It can be served up but I am partial to the Negroni being served on ice with a generous strip of fresh orange peel.
The Negroni classically calls for its three ingredients to be dosing in equal measure. In modern times many bartenders have modified the drink to feature Gin opting for a larger portion of the juniper-laced spirit. I prefer the classic and go with an once and a half of each ingredient.
French 75 (recipe)
The French 75 is a classic cocktail that is scandalously under-served. Perhaps it’s not glitzy enough – I disagree – or perhaps it’s because some bars have a problem keeping sparkling wine fresh and carbonated.
The French 75 is a cocktail that is apptreciated by all from the cocktail novice to the pro. Every single time I have introduced this cocktail to bar staff and servers they have always had an instant love affair with the French 75.
It’s easy to construct and it is a perfect aperitif to serve for guests to open your dinner party. You can get six French 75s from a single bottle of Champagne or sparkling wine and the other ingredients can easily be batched making quick to construct in front of your guests. On most occasion a quality, dry Prosecco will suffice but the drink is actually better when you use a dry Champagne. A decent non-vintage Champagne will cost you $25 to $30 a bottle but it’s worth it.
I hope that this has inspired you to shake-up some classic cocktails of your own at home.