Caipirinha

The national cocktail of Brazil, the Caipirinha is a refreshing drink in winter or summer. Here's how to make it:

• 
  In a short glass, muddle 2 lime wedges and  2 teaspoons sugar.
• Fill the glass with crushed ice.
• Fill with Cachaca or rum (2 to 3 ounces).
• Stir

If you'd like to lighten up your caipirinha a bit, top with a splash of club soda or sparkling water.

Lemon Drop

I'll bet everyone reading this thinks a Lemon Drop is a sugar-rimmed cocktail served in a martini glass. That's probably what you'll get if you order one in a bar, and sure enough that's the one that's most popular.

It was first a vodka shooter, though.

Lemon Drop I

• Moisten inside of shot glass with Lemon Juice
• Coat inside of glass with Sugar
• Fill shot glass with chilled Vodka (or Citrus Vodka)

I know, you really want to know how to make the "other" Lemon Drop. OK, here it is:

Lemon Drop II 

In a mixing glass:

• 1 teaspoon Superfine Sugar
• 1 ounce fresh-squeezed Lemon Juice

Muddle or stir. Fill glass with ice.
Add:

• 3 1/2 ouces Vodka or Citrus Vodka
• 1/2 ounce Orange Liqueur (like Cointreau or Grand Marnier, or even Triple Sec)

Shake well. Strain into chilled, sugar-rimmed martini glass.

The Best Gin Gimlet (plus how to make Simple Syrup)

There are a couple of ways to make a Gin Gimlet. Here's one, a more traditional way:

• 2 oz. gin (see Bar Tip below)
• 3 oz. Rose's Lime Juice

Shake with ice in a shaker, and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a floating lime wheel.

The Gimlet can also be served over ice. In that case, pour the ingredients over ice in a barrel glass and stir. Garnish with a lime wheel or wedge on the edge of the glass.

Here's another way to make a Gin Gimlet, for those who prefer fresh juice:

• 2 oz. gin
• 2 1/2 oz. fresh lime juice
• 1/2 oz. simple syrup*

Shake and serve as indicated above.

 *Simple syrup is made as follows: Heat one cup water and one cup sugar in a saucepan until the sugar dissolves. Let cool before using. Keeps refrigerated one week. This is so "simple" to make, it doesn't make sense to buy commercial simple syrup, which has an indefinite shelf life and who-knows-what in it.

 

* * *

Another Variation: The Basil Gin Gimlet

In a shaker with ice, put 2 oz gin, 2-1/2 oz fresh lime juice and 1/2 oz simple syrup. Add 2 or 3 basil leaves that you have torn in half or thirds. Bruise, don't muddle, the leaves gently with the back of a bar spoon against the side of the shaker.

Shake briefly and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

Sip and savor!

Bar Tip: There's a lot of difference in taste from one gin to another. You do have to use a good gin. There are many, but my fave is Tanqueray, which is around the mid-point of the expense continuum.

The Manhattan

Recently a friend sent an urgent request from the East Coast where he was visiting family. "We've been having an intellectual debate . . .how do you make a Manhattan?" That's easy! A classic cocktail that's made a big comeback, the Manhattan is simple to make. Here's how:

• 2 oz. of a decent Bourbon (Woodford or Maker's Mark, always good)
• 1 oz. sweet vermouth
• A few shakes of Angostura (or other orange) bitters

Combine all in a shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a maraschino cherry or with a lemon twist. Make a toast to intellectualism, sip and enjoy!

A Manhattan can also be served over ice (in that case, just pour the ingredients over ice in a barrel glass and stir), for those who dislike trying to keep those tippy cocktail glasses upright!

The Best Tom Collins

I read in the New York Times that commercial sweet and sour has ruined the taste of a classic Tom Collins, and it made me curious. Sweet and sour is really nothing more than fresh lemon juice (sour) plus simple syrup (sweet), so I gave the "real" thing a try:

Fill a tall glass with ice and add 1-1/2 oz gin . Add the juice of a lemon (no seeds, of course) and 1/2 oz of simple syrup. Fill the glass with club soda and a generous squeeze of lime. Stir and sip.

It tastes amazing! And if you use vodka instead of gin, you have a Vodka Collins.

Bar Tip: You can easily make your own simple syrup by bringing 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar to a boil in a small heavy saucepan. Simmer on low to medium heat until the sugar has dissolved. Let cool to room temperature before using. Keeps for a week in the refrigerator.

The Best Bloody Mary

OK, so I've been bartending a lot this summer at a resort swimming pool. Guess what the most popular first-drink-of-the-day is...you got it! It's a Bloody Mary!

I will admit that other drinks take over in popularity as the day goes on and early evening approaches. But from opening time (usually Noon during the week and 11:00 a.m. on weekends) until about 2:00 p.m., the Bloody Mary reigns. Here's a photo of a Bloody at opening time - first one of the day on an sunny Friday morning.

And here's how to make The Best Bloody Mary:

Fill a tall glass (plastic at poolside) with ice.

• Add 2 oz. vodka of your choice. We use Hangar One, which is a locally made vodka.
• Fill with canned tomato juice (not Bloody Mary mix, you'll notice)
• Add a tablespoon Worchestershire sauce (or more)
• Add a few drops Tobasco Sauce (or more)
• Add a good sprinkling of ground pepper
• Add 1/4 teaspoon of prepared horseradish (or more). We use Beaver Extra Hot.

Stir very well to mix in the horseradish.

We garnish with olives and a lemon wedge. Celery sticks are traditional. Lime is also good, as are pickled green beans and peperoncini. You get the picture, be creative with the garnish, although savory works better than sweet.

The Best Mojito

An abundance of mint prompted me to perfect this refreshing drink. Mmmm.....heaven on a hot day. You'll swear you've taken a rocket run to the tropics - well, that's where the mojito originated!

Put a few ice cubes in a shaker glass, then add 4 or 5 fresh mint leaves. Fill shaker with ice.

Add 2 oz. Jamaican rum, 2 oz. fresh lemon-lime juice (equal parts fresh-squeezed lemon and fresh-squeezed lime), and a good splash of simple syrup. Shake, preferably to a reggae beat.

Pour all, including ice, into a tall glass. Top with club soda, and garnish with a sprig of mint and lime slices.

Adjust glam shades, apply sunscreen, and enjoy.

The Best Cadillac Margarita

I call the Margarita my specialty....here's how it's made:
 

Moisten the rim of a barrel glass with a cut lime, then dip in salt. Fill the glass with ice.

Add 1-1/2 oz tequila, 1/2 oz triple sec, 1-1/2 oz orange juice, and 1-1/2 oz sweet and sour (or substitute 1 oz fresh lemon juice and 1/2 oz simple syrup for the sweet and sour).

Stir, then float 1/2 oz Grand Marnier on the top and squeeze a wedge of lime.

Yum!
 

Bar Tip: Don't waste "sippin'" quality tequila on a mixed drink - save it for shots or sippin'. That said, a decent tequila is important even in a mixed drink. My fave is Zapopan Reposada, available at Trader Joe's for $9.99.