BevX Cocktail List
When I offer this cocktail to guests, the inevitable question is heard, "Is this spicy?" A logical question with a name like El Diablo. However, the name refers to the bright red color. The devil never seemed so soothing and gentle as the El Diablo cocktail. The recipe originally appeared in print a...
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Regular readers at BevX know that we are subscribers to the theory that less is often more. This cocktail illustrates this point perfectly. Just three ingredients are required while the flavors are certainly more than a sum of its parts. The Whiskey Sour is the ideal aperitif and it is not too sh...
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Playa del Carmen is a great and easy beach destination. The sea air and bright sun conspire to lull you into a mañana state of mind.
While at the beach, I am always blessed with the duty of bartender. While the margarita is the default cocktail of choice, I use the opportunity to play w...
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The wine cooler or spritzer is suffering from a poor reputation. Why would this great summer cocktail be out of fashion for so long? Well apparently there are still shivers caused by the numerous wine cooler brands sold in the 80s and 90s. It's time to put all of those Bartles & Jaymes nightmares...
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The martini, as typically ordered dry, is simply a glass of chilled gin. If someone you know orders their martini “very, very dry,” meaning that they want not a whiff of vermouth, they are simply afraid to order 3 oz. of gin, chilled and served up. In my view, they are missing the beauty of t...
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This long staple of the Italian cafe or Apéritivo bar was born at Caffè Camporino in Milan circa 1860. It was originally known as the "Milano-Torino," taking the name from the two homes of the primary ingredients. Later, during Prohibition, the drink became commonly known as the Americano, with th...
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Nothing says summer like the Margarita. Remember that no great Margarita can be made with inferior Tequila. Some may argue that the best in any category of Spirits should be relegated to a solo performer but in the case of Tequila, and the Margarita, this is simply not true. Don't skimp on your m...
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This classic cocktail has the dubious reputation of being among the most potent cocktails ever created. The crisp and refreshing combination of Gin, sparkling wine, and lemon passes the lips with ease but can certainly leave your head in the clouds. The unique name is said to be homage to the Fre...
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The Sidecar is a great example of a classic cocktail that is built with just three ingredients. Every element serves a purpose and every ingredient has to be good as there is nowhere to hide. We have tweaked this classic, as many bartenders have through the years, to feature the rich and complex...
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If you're looking to spark a bit of romance or just trying to get out of the doghouse this simple yet exotic cocktail is just what the doctor ordered. There are countless variations on the Champagne Cocktail but I'm a big fan of this one as it captures the sweet and bitter elements of the classi...
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Some study the universe in hopes of finding the meaning of life. Some dive the ocean's depths seeking treasure. I spend my days seeking to perfect the Piña Colada - until now. After years of trying and coming close but never finding the elusive balance of flavors, I have finally cracked the cod...
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The Manhattan is a classic American cocktail. Like many classics, it has inspired many inventive variations. The Manhattan is believed to have been conceived in Manhattan, of all places, in the late 19th century. It is widely accepted that the first Manhattan was made with Rye Whiskey. In the ug...
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As is the case with so many classic cocktails, no one knows for sure when and where it was invented. We can be pretty comfortable in saying that it was first created at the end of WWI. However, the city of origin is hotly disputed while some historians insist that London was the Sidecar's city of...
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This beautiful and tasty classic cocktail has been an unfortunate platform to "create" a slew of flavor variations that have haunted the bartenders of years past (and still do in suburban strip malls). The Daiquiri was born organically if ever a cocktail was. By organic we mean of the climate an...
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There is perhaps no other beverage that is so associated with a sporting and cultural event as is the pairing of the Mint Julep and The Kentucky Derby. Since 1938 Churchill Downs and The Derby have promoted the Mint Julep as the official drink. It is estimated that in the two days of the Kentucky...
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