Love Potion - the Heart-taker

1-2-3, fall in love with me

 This one comes straight from Africa, which is unusual thing for the Mixology. It is one of the rare mixed drinks that were invented there. Eventually, it was made by regular man. Neither drinkers, nor mixologists were involved. The story narrates about love affair for a woman, so one of the two decided to make sweet mixed drink with alcohol. He plotted to seduce her, while she is drunk. He gathered some advices of how to make cocktails, and it seems he looked for a Sex on the Beach. He was not even cloise to mixing it, but he found new one. With its own character and fairly well-rounded. The issue about the mix is not that much into the ingredients, but the mixing ratio. That is the key, which pushes ahead this cocktail. 

 It is still unclear, whether this cocktail is better than Sec on the Beach or not, I want to know what do you think?

Recipe of Love Potion

1 oz - Vodka

1 oz - Amaretto Liqueur

1 oz - Peach Schnapps

1 oz - Cranberry Juice

1 oz - Orange Juice

Mixing the Ingredients

Fill martini glass with ice an leave aside. Pour in shaker all the ingredients and do it vigorously with ice. Clean the glass from the ice and excess water and pour in softly. Garnish with fresh strawberries. Let's make Love Potion cocktail for our girls. 

Mai Tai - the Tiki Star

Tiki wonders last 3 days

 Rum rampage is on and hits hard, it can't miss the Mai Tai on its way. Originally inveted in Tahiti by 'Trader Vic' Bergeron, who has rival that said the recipe earlier, but it apperaed he is not the real author. He used clone of the well-known cocktail just to popularize his name and it was fail.

 But you will not be fooled, if you buy one. Best suited at the flavor-laden early spring days, welcoming the summer. This shiny cocktail survived a lot to be what we know today.

Initially they used Jamaican rum that was matured for 15 years, but it soon ran out of steam, so substitution was necessary. They decided to mix dark and white in unequal parts in favor of the dark, rich and flavored, rum.  To prevent spawning of other clones, they did change the recipe recently. So we know 11 distinct recipes of this mixed drink today. They involved pineapple juice, syrups and other citrus flavorizers. Thanks to the wannabes of Trader Vic, the original and authentic survived and it appears to be the best.

 It is double-standard with this cocktail, because it can be mixed with dark and white rum mix or matured Jamaican rum. Which do you prefer? Now here is the bitter.

Recipe of Mai Tai

2 oz - Dark Rum
1 oz - White Rum
3/4 oz - Orange Curaçao
3/4 oz - Orgeat Syrup
1/2 oz - Fresh Lime Juice

Mixing the ingredients

Chill a kind of Lowball glass and leave on the side. Fil shaker with the ingredients and ice, but pre-mix the rums. Shake vigorously for half a minute. Pour over the ice in the chilled glass. To garnish it take the rest of the lime you squeezed and scratch its skin. Drop the half of it in and place some lime-tree leaves in the glass. Use short strap to drink it.

Sidecar - the Motorcycle Attachment

Liquid of the Dominator

 It appeared on the scene at the time of the World War I and it took straight up the name of the popular motorcycle, from this time. Why? - because it is thought one of its possible creators was Captain in the army. As usual, for the legendary cocktails, this one too has unknown author and high competition for this title. Even more, there is no doubt that the cocktail is original.

 The authentic recipe of Sidecar calls for equal proportions, but this is from the time that the cocktail was not established at all. The consecutive and more sustainable version called for 2:1:1, but it was still imperfect. The perfection was found when the final adjustment took place - 3:2:2 is the code name of the drink thereafter.

 If we judge by the way it is mixed, Sidecar looks like Margarita, and it goes with sugar rim aswell, but when it comes to quality, it is the closest to Martini, Manhattan and the like. The same rules apply for it, easy-to-do, but requires high-quality ingredients and quick technique of mixing. If you can't chill quickly and effectively, you can't do it. However, there are supporters of the idea it is the same as Margarita. We want to know what do you think, is it Margarita-type sour or Martini-like mixed drink? Sip from, before you talk for.

Recipe of Sidecar

2 oz - Cognac / Armagnac / Brandy ( High-qualited )
1 and 1/2 oz - Triple Sec
1 and 1/2 oz - Fresh Lemon Juice

Mixing the ingredients

Pick a Champagne Coupe glass, fill it with ice and leave on the side to chill. Shake with ice the liquids for not so long, so do it vigorously - about 10 seconds. Drop the excess water and remove the ice. Use slice of lemon to cover the rim of the glass. Rim it with superfine sugar, if you do not know how to, you can learn the proper technique of rimming glass. Pour in the glass without ice. If you like it garnished, you can choose between lemon or orange slice.

Martinez - The Godfather

Possibly a vice without price

 Mystery surrounds this drink. Starting from the fact, it was found at the East Coast, which seems to be the only trustwrth, we can separate it from the Manhattan and the Martini, which are invented on the other side. Although, Martinez is very close to them. The official belief is Martinez is the father of the well-known Martini. In terms of age, it is merely sure that the bitter outages the latter, but is not confirmed. Maybe it is misinterpret version of Martini, because the East preferred sweet vermouth over dry. And they modified it further by adding Maraschino liqueur in the mix. This provided for overall sweeter cocktail, but the vice versa is also plausible, where they simplified the Martinez to the point where they get dry cocktail. Defnitely a dilema.

 On the other hand, this looks like "gin Manhattan". In the history of Mixology, there is one more cocktail that belongs to this modification. It is not so popular, but it is real and is named Torf Club. By this time, the first coctails with vermouth were made in America. After delivering the dry vermouth the Martini was invented. In the beginning it was known with doable name Martine or Martini. And this was opening to find use of the existing recipe

 What do you think, is the modification of the Manhattan father of the Martini or sweeter version of Martini was always known as Martinez? Look at the classic recipe to find support for your points.

Recipe of Martinez

1 and 1/2 oz - Gin
1 and 1/2 oz - Sweet Vermouth
Few dashes of Maraschino liqueur
2 dashes orange bitters

Mixing the ingredients

Fill a glass by choice with ice, and pour the liquids one after the other. Stir steadily long enough to mix well and more important chill enough. But be careful, because wasting to much time will make the drink watery. Twist lemon peel and squeeze over the drink. Then rub the rim gently and drop it in or garnish. Try and find out what is it - Martini or Manhatann variation.

Manhattan - The Gamechanger

Mother of Mixology bless

 All the great ideas grow with baby-steps, up and lows, but with persistent success. In the area of Mixology, the invention of Manhattan was solid jump, to be clear, kickstarter for the Art of Mixed Drinks. Unlike other great cocktails, it was never forgotten, after it was shown. This happened on private party hosted in the Manhattan club, New York. Indoors were the president and the like, one of which was the Winston Churchil's mother. The idea came from Dr. Iain Marshall. They mixed it and gave it out for a try. There is no doubt, the excitement fulfilled the air thereafter.

 Just like a snowball falling downhill, its rating and popularity was raising. This drink doesn't just hit the top on the Cocktail's scene, but it broke the ice for the rest. It is the initial approach that inspired the first mixologists ever born. The classic recipe of Manhattan calls for rye whiskey, equal ammounts of sweet and dry vermouth and bitters. But the real issue about this drink is its mixing technique that works better - Stirring or Shaking? - surely, stirring will leave neither foam, nor air bubbles in the cocktail. But to be honest, shaking will outburst stronger flavor and closer to homogenous mix. And it will be foamless and without bubbles, if your ingredients are with good-quality and you use clean bar tools. Doubtlessly, shaking wins over stirring! If you are supporter of the idea that stirring is better, then tell me why. But first I have to show you how to make Manhattan the classic way..

Recipe of Manhattan

4 oz - Rye Whiskey
1 oz - Dry Vermouth
1 oz - Sweet Vermouth
Dash of Bitters

Mixing the ingredients

The most important is maybe chilling the glass, you can choose between Martini or Old Fashioned Glass, as long as there is no Manhattan one. Pour in a shaker the ingredients, but do not forget to pre-mix the vermouths alone and then to pour the rest - this way they will add ideally to the mix.
Before you pour in the chosen glass, drop the excess water and renew the ice, but hold on one more second. We have to use trick, while pouring this mixture in the glass. Stem a Maraschino cherry over the glass and pour over it. Remove the cherry and stir hard, until the drink is completely cooled down. Bring back the cherry for garnish, but this time over the ice. Drink immediately.

Negroni - the Alcoholism's Prosperity

The Cypher of Geronimo

 Isn't Italy mother of the classics ? With its score - Negroni - next to the other inventions, Italy scores solid name assortiment of well-known Foods and Drniks. This one, in particular, was invented by customer. A well-known count in the countryside used to drink Americano in the locals. He did be-friend the bartender and once he did suggest to make a little substitute in its favorite drink. He wanted it bit stronger and the result was better than expected. Its popularity raised hand-to-hand with saying of the like "Gin is bad for your liver, but bitters is the opposite, so we found balance.", which was used only for excuse to get drunk from this strong cocktail. It's thought they named it behalf on their village or family name, but neither is confirmed. However, we do not need confirmation to try this Italiano.

Recipe of Negroni

1 oz - Dry Gin
1 oz - Campari
1 oz - Vermouth


Mixing the ingredients

Chill Old Fashioned glass and pour the ingredients on the rocks. Stir steadily for 15 seconds. Squeeze orange zest over the drink and then drop it in for garnish. Show us how many of these you can bottom-up one after the other!

Jack Rose - the Juicy Spirit

Liquide d'élégance

 There are many states that talk about who invented this cocktail, ranging from World's Mixologist champions to elite bars, it is not sure who did the initial mixture. But it is sure that it works. Nowadays, it is accepted that the name comes from its essentials - made of applejack and looking like rose. This cocktail was forgotten until 2 mixologists decided to revive it. They took bottle of applejack and thought bartenders in Washington, how to make it. No sooner, it was top ordered drink in the bars and is one of the most famous cocktails of all time. It is soft drink, with juicy taste. Even better, the cocktail can be done with ease even from mixology beginners, so give it a try.

Recipe of Jack Rose

2 oz - Laird's Applejack
3/4 oz - Grenadine
3/4 oz - Fresh Lemon Juice
Dash of Peychaud's Bitters


Mixing the ingredients

Fill Martini glass with ice and leave on the side. Pour in shaker applejack, grenadine, lemon juice and bitters. Fill with ice and shake vigorously for 30 seconds. Pour on the rocks in the Martini glass and take a zest of lemon. Squeeze it over the cocktail and the rub the glass edge Drink it right away.

Boulevardier - the Liquid of Deception

If it makes you think twitce, it worths its price

 Provided we make this cocktail with gin and campari, it is supposed to be sharp mixture and this is only suitable during summer. But against the odds, Boulevardier seems to be acceptable at any time of the year. It is because the Rye Whiskey, in the mix, neutralizes the strong character of the other ingredients so the cocktail flows smoothly. It is hard to believe you drink gin, when you sip from this drink, so try it on your own.







Recipe of Boulevardier

1 oz - Rye Whiskey ( Bourbon for even smoother cocktail )
1 oz - "Campari"
1 oz - Sweet Vermouth


Mixing the ingredients

Pour the liquids in a Sturdy glass and fill with ice. Stir for half a minute and strain into chilled Lowball glass. Place huge ice cube in and garnish with Maraschino cherry and optionally add orange zest, if you use Rye Whiskey, or Lemon one for Bourbon. Now see it really does magic.

Last Word - the Ancient Apparation

The grail of unholiness

 Bornt long ago then it almost died for about a century, but its recipe was lying in the dusty shelves, when suddenly a enthusiastic bartender wiped-out the dust and did the mix. It was like, the time of the cocktail came. It met the taste and flavor needs of the drinkers and in no time it went to the scene - shiny and classy as never before. With such a history behind its name, the vitality is always implied, so drink from the essence of Life.

Recipe of Last Word

3/4 oz - Gin
3/4 oz - Fresh Lime Juice
3/4 oz - Maraschino Liqueur
3/4 oz - Green Chartreuse


Mixing the ingredients

Simply chill a cocktail glass - preferably Martini glass and mix with ice the liquids. Mix vigorously and pour into the chilled glass. Garnish with lime slice.