fav cocktails?

jonesryand

Woodford Old Fashioned w/ Peach Bitters

nolaegghead

pescadorzih said:

I used to drink vodka and tonic, until by mistake, I drank a friends tequila and tonic. That is my favorite summertime drink. Fill a pint glass halfway with ice, squeeze 1/4 of a lime, 10 count of tequila( I like a good reposado), top off with tonic.

hmmmm...that sounds good and I have a case of decent reposado I need to use.  I drink tonic on the rocks, love the stuff.  Haven't had a case of Malaria yet, so I think it's working.

Theophan

Like many here, I used to mostly drink bourbon on the rocks, gin & tonic sometimes in the summer, dry martini, sort of sneered at most cocktails because most of them were too sweet. But a number of years ago, watching the old Thin Man movies, I loved the old elegance of that era (though I don't have an elegant bone in my body), and it got me interested in the old cocktails.  I've made a couple of hundred different ones, over several years, even though I usually just have one drink in an evening, sometimes two, often none.

A few favorites: Old fashioned (no fruit - 2oz Bulleit bourbon, 1/4oz simple syrup, 2 dashes of Angostura), Martini (everybody's different, but for me, Tanqueray gin, about 1:6, usually, but sometimes Plymouth gin 1:3, up, olive, and of course, stirred, not shaken, James Bond or no James Bond), Negroni (equal parts Tanqueray, Campari, M&R sweet vermouth), Left Hand (bourbon, Campari, Caprano Antica Formula vermouth, Xocolatl Mole Bitters), Vieux Carré (rye, Cognac, sweet vermouth, Benedictine, Peychaud's Bitters, Angostura Bitters), Sazerac (rye, simple syrup, Peychaud's Bitters, absinthe), Daiquiri (see below).

I love a number of tropical "Tiki" drinks, but to make most of them properly, the way they really were wonderful, you not only have to have different fruit juices, etc., but also orgeat, falernum, sometimes other syrups, and so many different, exotic rums that it's not worth it unless you're really obsessed (as I guess I was, a few years ago). A few favorites for me are the Molokai Mule (here's a recipe, but the original recipe specifically called for Demerara rum, and it won't be quite as good with a different dark rum), Trader Vic's Mai Tai recipe, Jeff "Beachbum" Berry's reporting of the original version of the Royal Hawaiian's Mai Tai recipe, Dale deGroff's Hurricane recipe, Jeff Berry's version o La Florida.

I used to think I disliked Daiquiris and much preferred Caipirinhas, but then I tried a 7 or 8 or more different Daiquiri recipes, and tried different rums with several of them, and discovered that very small differences in the proportions make a HUGE difference in how good the drink is.  With the right proportions, I much prefer a Daiquiri to a Caipirinha, though I still love those, too. I narrowed it down to two recipes that my wife and I love, depending on how good the rum is (one recipe tastes terrible with decent rum but superb with superb Cuban-style white rum, while the other one is MUCH better with decent rum than the other one, but not quite as wonderful as the other one with really superb rum). Different people have different tastes, but for most rums, my wife and I like gaz regan's proportions: 2oz light rum, 1 oz fresh lime juice, 1/2 oz simple syrup.

Theo

ksmyrl

nolaegghead said:

pescadorzih said:

I used to drink vodka and tonic, until by mistake, I drank a friends tequila and tonic. That is my favorite summertime drink. Fill a pint glass halfway with ice, squeeze 1/4 of a lime, 10 count of tequila( I like a good reposado), top off with tonic.

hmmmm...that sounds good and I have a case of decent reposado I need to use.  I drink tonic on the rocks, love the stuff.  Haven't had a case of Malaria yet, so I think it's working.

@nolaegghead shall I send you my address to help you "use" that decent reposado? I'm a fan of Herradura and El Jimador myself. But I'm open to trying new things?

NPHuskerFL

Many many moons ago my wife and I while deployed would meet up to have blender ops with our friends.  Margaritas, melon balls, and me usually with a bottle of bourbon. 

pgprescott

NPHuskerFL said:

Many many moons ago my wife and I while deployed would meet up to have blender ops with our friends.  Margaritas, melon balls, and me usually with a bottle of bourbon. 

Sounds like a lot of great memories to me. Good you could enjoy the moments when you could. 

Focker

pgprescott said:

I am a scotch and bourbon lover, but also enjoy a nice gin martini. I prefer either beefeater or Hendricks gin, not as " piney" IMO. Also love a stiff Manhattan made with either a good rye or better yet bourbon. Moscow mules are really refreshing on hot days also. Watch out they are called mule for a reason! I could keep going but you guys will get a bad opinion of me. 

On board with all of this, except the scotch.  Always made the Manhattans at the bar on the sweeter side, spoonful of cherry juice.  The Martini Rossi Sweet Vermouth is much better than the well crap.

Dead on about the Moscow Mules.  Budweiser all day at an eggfest is similar.  You've seen me at my eggfest functioning finest.  lol

NPHuskerFL

@pgprescott Some of the memories are hazy but, ya we had and still are having fun and enjoying life  

pgprescott

Focker said:

pgprescott said:

I am a scotch and bourbon lover, but also enjoy a nice gin martini. I prefer either beefeater or Hendricks gin, not as " piney" IMO. Also love a stiff Manhattan made with either a good rye or better yet bourbon. Moscow mules are really refreshing on hot days also. Watch out they are called mule for a reason! I could keep going but you guys will get a bad opinion of me. 

On board with all of this, except the scotch.  Always made the Manhattans at the bar on the sweeter side, spoonful of cherry juice.  The Martini Rossi Sweet Vermouth is much better than the well crap.

Dead on about the Moscow Mules.  Budweiser all day at an eggfest is similar.  You've seen me at my eggfest functioning finest.  lol

Quite impressive I must admit. I understand the lack of love for scotch, it's an acquired taste. unfortunately for my liver and wallet, I've been bitten by the bug. I have the Martini Rossi sweet at arms reach at my bar. I'm no longer man enough to drink the leaded beer and function as I did in my twenties. I have contributed to the Busch family inheritance in the past. 

JRWhitee

I am pretty simple, Crown Rocks, Kettle One Rocks a little dirty, Good Scotch neat, average Scotch one Rock. 

CincyTiki

MaiTai's or Hurricanes for warm weather

Be REALLY careful of the Hurticanes!
2 oz fresh lemon juice
2 oz Passion Fruit Syrup
4 oz dark Jamaican Rum
shake with crushed ice

Focker

JRWhitee said:

I am pretty simple, Crown Rocks, Kettle One Rocks a little dirty, Good Scotch neat, average Scotch one Rock. 

Again, on board here.  

stike influenced a purchase of Laphraig sp? in the past.  Not bad, but too smokey for me, even watered down with a cube or two.  May have to revisit hunting season.   

pgprescott

Focker said:

JRWhitee said:

I am pretty simple, Crown Rocks, Kettle One Rocks a little dirty, Good Scotch neat, average Scotch one Rock. 

Again, on board here.  

stike influenced a purchase of Laphraig sp? in the past.  Not bad, but too smokey for me, even watered down with a cube or two.  May have to revisit hunting season.   

Brandon, that laphraig is really peaty. Loved by many and hated by many. Definitely not a middle of the road libation. My brother loves it, says it speaks BBQ to him. I prefer offerings from other regions. Has a cult following much like the egg, LOL. 

Focker

It is like sipping a pork butt cook. lol
Not ruling it out completely.  May have to try a different offering per your recommendations. 

Goose4u

Goose dirty, goose straight, goose with cranberry. Scotch as a change of pace  Ardbeg, Talisker and Craggenmore my top 3. Learning Jamison and Ginger. It's got potential to be a favorite

beatarmy

Old fashion with four roses bourbon.  once thats done i switch back to my kegerator.

Mclayborn79

Liquid vacation-- tastes great, fast buzz, crowd pleaser

Ratio

3--Tequila

3--Passion fruit rum

1--Grenadine 

6--Orange Pineapple Juice

1--Cream of Coconut

JRWhitee

Focker said:

It is like sipping a pork butt cook. lol
Not ruling it out completely.  May have to try a different offering per your recommendations. 

Crown Black has a little smoky flavor but not over powering.

500

If you like Whiskey Sours, try this version:  http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2012/i-make-the-best-amaretto-sour-in-the-world/

SmokeyPitt

This one is pretty simple but I was looking something low on sugar: http://www.titosvodka.com/recipes/38/titos-all-time-favorite I used Perrier Pink Grapefruit for a little extra flavor, but it is very subtle. I really enjoyed this. It is probably not for everyone because it is not sweet at all, but for a relatively low-cal beverage it was quite enjoyable.

EggObsessed

We make a drink that we call "Maker Fuzzy", that some of you might have tasted at some of the after parties in Texas.  It's Makers Mark mixed with PEACH flavored Fresca.  It's good any time of year!

avibug

For warm weather, we like a whisky smash (bourbon, fresh lemon juice, demerara syrup, mint) or a Hemingway daiquiri.
For Manhattans, agreed with @dmchicago that the Carpano Antica vermouth is key.