WHAT’S
TO
DRINK
Essential cocktail recipes
for your home bar
Who isn’t playing home mixologist these days? Many people are heading to the liquor store to make sure they have all the essentials on hand
to blend classic cocktails and creative drinks for socially distant happy hours over Zoom or to toast to birthdays and other special events with
loved ones at home. Novice mixologists and even seasoned amateur barkeeps may benefit from a rundown of all the elements necessary to
create cocktails from the comforts of home.
Margarita:
Makes 2 drinks
(courtesy of Serious Eats)
1 lime wedge, plus 2 lime wheels for garnish
1 tablespoon coarse salt, for glass rims
4 ounces high-quality blanco tequila
2 ounces Cointreau or other triple sec
1-1⁄2 ounces fresh juice from 2 limes
Run lime wedge around the outer rims of two rocks glasses and dip rims in
salt. Set aside.
In a cocktail shaker, combine tequila, Cointreau, and lime juice. Fill with ice
and shake until thoroughly chilled, about 15 seconds (the bottom of a metal
shaker should frost over).
Fill glasses with fresh ice and strain margarita into both glasses. Garnish
with lime wheels and serve.
Tom Collins
Makes 1 drink
(Courtesy of The Spruce: Eats)
11⁄2 ounces gin
1 ounce lemon juice
1⁄2 ounce simple syrup
3 ounces club soda (or enough to fill)
Maraschino cherry
Lemon or orange slice
In a collins glass filled with ice cubes, pour the gin, lemon juice and simple
syrup.
Stir thoroughly and top with club soda.
Garnish with a cherry and an orange or lemon slice.
Whiskey Sour
Makes 1 drink
(Courtesy of Liquor.com)
2 ounces bourbon
3⁄4 ounces fresh lemon juice
1⁄2 ounces simple syrup
1⁄2 ounces egg white (optional)
Angostura bitters, for garnish
Add all ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake.
Strain into a coupe.
Garnish with three dashes of Angostura bitters.
Manhattan
Makes 1 drink
(Courtesy of Liquor.com)
2 ounces bourbon or rye
1 ounce sweet vermouth
2 dashes Angostura bitters
1 dash orange bitters
1 brandied cherry
Add all the ingredients into a mixing glass with ice, and stir until wellchilled.
Strain into a chilled coupe.
Garnish with a brandied cherry.
Tequila Sunrise
Makes 1 drink
(Courtesy of Liquor.com)
2 ounces tequila
4 ounces fresh orange juice
1⁄4 ounces grenadine
orange slice, for garnish
cherry, for garnish
Add the tequila and then the orange juice to a chilled highball glass filled
with ice.
Top with the grenadine, which will sink to the bottom of the glass, creating
a layered effect.
Garnish with an orange slice and a cherry.
Long Island Iced Tea
Makes 1 drink
(Courtesy of Liquor.com)
3/4 oz Vodka
3/4 oz White rum
3/4 oz Silver tequila
3/4 oz Gin
3/4 oz Triple sec
3/4 oz Simple syrup
3/4 oz Fresh lemon juice
Cola, to top
Garnish: Lemon wedge
Add all ingredients except the cola into a Collins glass with ice.
Top with a splash of the cola and stir briefly.
Garnish with a lemon wedge.
10 | HUNTSVILLE LIVING | FALL 2020