Cocktails...Mixed Drink Ingredients & Recipes

Just what cocktails should be, how they should be made, and when the cocktails should be served, are frequently subjects of controversy.

These concoctions serve three entirely different needs, and should be chosen and prepared accordingly.

First: They provide a graceful and a pleasant way to drink for those who enjoy the relaxation or the stimulation of alcohol — they are simply gin, vodka, whiskey, brandy or rum, pleasantly colored, flavored, and served in a pretty glass. Use 2 ounces or more of liquor per serving for such drinkers.

Second: They are excellent stimulator's of appetite when they are not sweet, and thus provide a perfect before dinner course which awakens the palate while it relaxes the nerves.

Third: They offer the seldom drinker a pleasantly-flavored small quantity of alcohol to drink for social purposes. Use about 1 ounce liquor for each serving.

Obviously, if you are making cocktails for vigorous drinkers, you will make them long on liquor and short on flavoring and sweetening. If you are making them before dinner you will make them short on sugar or sweet flavoring. If you are making them for amateurs, maiden aunts, and such, you will make them short on liquor and strong on flavoring and sugar.

The recipes given below are for experienced drinkers. You will want to make modifications to suit your guests.

Apricot Brandy Sour

• 6 parts Brandy
• 2 parts lime juice
• 1 part Apricot Cordial

Shake with ice, and strain.

Bacardi

• 6 parts light Bacardi (Rum)
• 2 parts Lime Juice
• 1/2 part Sugar Syrup
• 3 dashes Grenadine per drink

Shake with ice, and strain into glass.

Bee's Knees

• 6 parts Gin
• 2 parts Lemon juice
• 1 part Honey

Shake with ice, and strain into glass.

Bloody Mary

• 6 parts tomato juice
• 3 parts vodka
• 1 part lemon juice
• 2 dashes Worcestershire sauce per drink

Shake with ice, strain into juice glass. Try also adding a little sugar and a dash of bitters.

Bourbon Cocktail

• 4 parts Bourbon whiskey
• 1 part Curacao
• 1 part Benedictine
• 2 parts lemon juice
• 1 dash bitters per drink

Shake with ice, and strain.

Blossom

• 6 parts White Label Rum
• 2 parts lime juice
• 1 part pineapple juice

Shake with ice, and stain into glass.

Bughouse

• 3 parts Brandy
• 1 part Italian(sweet)Vermouth
• 1 teaspoon Absinthe (Pernod) per drink

Stir with ice, and strain into cocktail glass.

Bacardi Flyer

Half fill a Champagne glass with a Bacardi cocktail, and fill with iced champagne.

Brandy Alexander

• 2 parts Brandy
• 1 part Creme de Cacao
• 1 part sweet cream

Shake with ice, and strain into cocktail glass. The amount of Brandy may be doubled to make the drink less sweet.

Brandy Sour

• 6 parts Brandy
• 2 parts lemon juice
• 1 part sugar syrup

Shake with ice, and strain into cocktail or sour glass.

Brandy Cocktail

• 6 parts Brandy
• 1 part Curacao
• 1 part lemon juice
• 1 dash bitters per drink

Shake with ice, and strain into cocktail glass. Add a twist of lemon peel to each glass.

Champagne Cocktail

In a champagne glass, soak a piece of lump sugar, or a teaspoon of granulated sugar, with a few dashes of bitters. Fill with chilled champagne.

Daiquiri

• 6 parts White Label Rum
• 2 parts Lime juice
• 1 part sugar syrup

Shake with ice, and strain into cocktail glass.

Dubonnet Cocktail

• 2 parts Gin
• 1 part Dubonnet

Stir with ice, and strain into cocktail glass. Twist lemon peel over the drink, and drop in.

Dolores

• 2 parts Jamaica Rum
• 1 part Dubonnet
• 1 part Dry Sherry

Stir with ice, and strain into cocktail glass. Twist lemon peel over the drink and drop in.

Derby

• 6 parts Gin
• 1 part Peach Cordial
• 1 teaspoon sugar syrup per drink

For each drink, crush a sprig of mint and muddle it with the sugar syrup. Pour this mixture into shaker, add crushed ice and liquors, shake and strain into cocktail glass.

Frozen Daiquiri

• 6 parts White Label Rum
• 2 parts lime juice
• 1 part sugar syrup

Shake strenuously with finely shaved ice, or beat with shaved ice in electric blender. Pour without straining into champagne glass to make a mound, and serve with a short straw.

Grasshopper

• 1 part Green Creme de Menthe
• 1 part Creme de Cacao
• 1 part Cream

Shake with ice and strain into cocktail glass. (Obviously an afternoon or after dinner drink.)

Gin on the Rocks

Pour good Gin over two cubes of ice in an old fashioned glass. Add a twist of lemon peel. Add a little dry Vermouth, and you have a Martini on the rocks.

Gin Sour

• 6 parts Gin
• 2 parts lemon juice
• 1 part sugar syrup

A Whiskey Sour with Gin instead of Whiskey. Lime may be substituted for lemon juice - in which case you have a dry Gimlet.

Gimlet

• 4 parts Gin
• 1 part lime juice
• 1 part (or less) sugar syrup

Shake with ice, strain.

Golden Dawn

• 4 parts White Label Rum
• 2 parts orange juice
• 1 part lime or lemon juice
• 1 part Apricot Cordial
• 1 dash Grenadine to each drink

Shake with ice, and strain into cocktail glass. Decorate with a cherry. This drink may be made with Gin or Apple Brandy instead of Rum.

Honey Bee

• 4 parts Jamaica Rum
• 2 parts Lime juice
• 1 part honey

Shake with ice, and strain into cocktail glass.

Honeysuckle

• 6 parts White Label Rum
• 2 parts lime juice
• 1 part honey

A Rum Sour with Honey instead of sugar syrup.

Hot Buttered Rum

• 1 pat butter
• 1 jigger rum
• 1 tsp. sugar
• 1 tsp. lemon juice
• Dash of powdered cinnamon
• 1 c. boiling water

Place butter in a mug. Add rum, sugar and lemon juice. Pour in the hot water and sprinkle with cinnamon.

Jack Rose

• 6 parts Apple Brandy
• 2 part lemon juice
• 1 part Grenadine

Shake with ice, and strain into Cocktail glass. Raw Applejack will spoil this , or any other drink; so don't make this unless you have good Apple Brandy.

Kahlua

• 4 c. sugar
• 2 c. water
• 1 fifth unflavored brandy or vodka
• 2 heaping tbsp. instant coffee
• 1 vanilla bean, split open

Mix sugar, water, coffee, and vanilla bean. Boil 5 minutes. Cool. Add fifth of brandy or vodka. Bottle; age 30 days

Black Russian;

Use 2 parts vodka and 1 part kahlua. Serve on ice.

Kentucky Colonel

• 4 parts Bourbon Whiskey
• 1 part Benedictine

Stir with ice, and strain into cocktail glass.

Little Colonel

• 3 parts Southern Comfort
• 2 parts Bourbon Whiskey
• 1 part Lime juice

Shake with ice, and strain into cocktail glass.

Lover's Delight

• 4 parts Cognac
• 1 part Cointreau
• 1 part Forbidden Fruit (citrus cordial)
• 1 part lemon juice

Shake with ice, and strain into cocktail glass.

Martini

• 5 parts Gin
• 1 part French (dry) Vermouth

Stir with ice, strain into cocktail glass containing a small olive. Or, twist lemon peel over drink, and drop in. Important: use good Gin. Some extremists double or even triple the Gin. Not necessary or recommended.

Martini on the Rocks

Shake or stir with ice, and pour over 2 ice cubes in an old fashioned glass. If the liquors are not chilled first, too much of the ice in the glass will melt. Twist lemon peel over drink.

Memphis Belle

Put half a peach or apricot cut-side up in a champagne glass. Fill glass with shaved ice, pour in 1 1/2 jiggers Southern Comfort; float a spoon of Port, Sherry, or Marsala on top, and decorate with a cherry. Serve with short straw and dessert spoon. This is more a dessert than a cocktail!

Old-Fashioned

Into each Old-Fashioned glass put a spoon of sugar or sugar syrup with 2-3 dashes bitters. Blend with spoon, add 1 ounce Rye or Bourbon Whiskey.

Orange Blossom

• 3 parts Gin
• 1 part orange juice
• 2 dashes lime juice
• 2 dashes sugar syrup

Shake with ice, and strain into cocktail glass.

Pink Lady

• 4 parts Gin
• 2 parts Apple Brandy
• 2 parts lemon juice
• 1 part Grenadine
• 1 egg white for each 2 drinks

Shake all ingredients except liquors with cracked ice, until foamy. Add half of liquors and shake. Add the balance of liquors, shake, and strain into cocktail glass.

Red Roosters

• 1 (32 oz.) jar cranberry juice cocktail
• 12 3/4 oz. vodka (1/2 of a fifth)
• 1 (6 oz.) can orange juice concentrate ( do not add water)

Mix cranberry juice, orange juice and vodka; stir well until orange juice dissolves. Pour into 1/2 gallon plastic container; cover with lid and freeze for 12-24 hours. Drink will be like an ice. Spoon into cocktail glasses and serve with party straw. Makes 8-10 servings.

Rob Roy

• 3 parts Scotch whiskey
• 1 part Italian (sweet) Vermouth
• 1 dash Drambuie to each drink

A Manhattan with Scotch instead of Rye, and a dash of Drambuie. Benedictine is sometimes used instead of Drambuie.

Rhett Butler

• 6 parts Southern Comfort
• 1 part lemon juice
• 1 part lime juice
• 1 part Curacao

Shake with ice, and pour into cocktail glass. or mix with shaved ice in an electric blender, pour unstrained, and serve with a short straw in a champagne or large cocktail glass.

Sangria

• 1/2 c. lemon juice
• 1/2 c. orange juice
• 1/2 c. sugar
• 4/5 c. dry red wine
• 7 oz. bottle club soda
• 1/2 c. mixed fruit (oranges, pineapple cubes)
• Ice cubes

Mix ingredients together. Serve.

Scarlett O'Hara

• 6 parts Southern Comfort
• 2 parts lime juice
• 1 part cranberry juice or Grenadine

Shake with ice, and strain into cocktail glass; or mix with ice in an electric blender, pour unstrained, and serve with short straw in champagne or large glass.

September Morn

• 6 parts White Label Rum
• 2 parts lime juice
• 1 part Grenadine or sugar syrup
• 1 egg white to each 2 drinks

Shake all ingredients except Rum with ice, until foamy. Add half the Rum and shake again. Add balance of Rum, shake again, and strain.

Screwdriver

Put 3 or 4 ice cubes in a highball glass, add 1 to 2 ounces Vodka, fill with orange juice, and stir.

Twilight Delight

• 1/2 pt. whiskey
• 1/4 pt. heavy rum
• 12 eggs
• 1 qt. cream
• 1 pt. brandy
• 1/4 pt. sherry
• 12 tbsp. sugar
• 1 qt. milk

Mix spirits together. Add slowly to beaten egg yolks with sugar, beating slowly. Add cream and milk to yolk mixture, beating slowly. Fold the stiffly beaten egg whites into mixture and put aside for a few days. Taste frequently!

Tom and Jerry Southern Style

Beat 12 eggs very well and slowly add 1 pound of 4x sugar, continuing to beat. For each serving pour one large jigger of whiskey into a cup. Fill each cup 2/3 full of boiling water; put spoonful of egg mixture on top and a dash of nutmeg and serve.

Vodka Sour

• 6 parts Vodka
• 2 parts lemon juice
• 1 part sugar syrup

Shake with ice, and strain into cocktail or sour glass. Or try variations substitute lime for lemon juice, and fruit cordial for the sugar syrup.

Valencia

• 1 part Apple Brandy
• 1 part Dry Sherry
• 3 dashes orange juice per drink

Shake with ice, and strain into cocktail glass.

Whiskey Sour

• 6 parts Rye Whiskey
• 2 parts lemon juice
• 1 part sugar syrup

Shake with ice, and strain into cocktail or sour glass.

Note: This is a true before-dinner cocktail,like the Daiquiri. The usual sour, a good afternoon drink, has a higher proportion of lemon juice and sugar, should be served in a Delmonico glass, and may be decorated with fruit.

Muscadine Wine

• 1/2 gallon fruit
• 2 c. sugar
• 2 c. water
• 1/2 pkg. yeast

Crush fruit by hand until all pulp is out of hulls. Put all of this in a gallon jug. Add sugar, water and yeast. Stir really good. Seal loosely with saran wrap and rubber band, let stand for 5 to 7 days. Add 1 1/2 c. sugar, mix really good. Let stand for another 5 to 7 days. Then strain through cheese cloth or gauze. Repeat this process until wine is clear. This may take 3 or 4 times. Store in a cool, dry place.

Mint Julip

• 6 lemons
• 2 c. sugar
• 1 c. water
• 1 c. crushed mint leaves
• ginger ale

Boil sugar and water 10 minute. Pour over crushed mint leaves. When cold add juice of lemons. Fill glasses with crushed ice, add 1 tbsp of above syrup and fill with ginger ale. Stir and serve.

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