Since we built a bar in the basement we started watching a bunch of YouTube bartenders. Anders Erickson, The Educated Barfly, Steve the Barman, etc. Been loving the classics cocktails.

I was horrified at a local nice restaurant when I ordered a whiskey sour and he put whiskey over rocks and covered it with sour mix. This was a $15 drink by the way.

Also had a Speakeasy party with our friends. About 35 people, they all dressed up and I was mixing drinks like a madman all night. Pic below of a few of my friends.

Anyhow, here's a proper whiskey sour. This one has Old Forester 1870, lemon juice, rich demerara syrup and egg white. Served up in a coup. A couple drops Angostura bitters on top.

Pretty dang cool

I bought a DrinkWorks machine a couple years ago during the pandemic.
Works great and I don't need a lot of booze or knowledge, to make drinks, all the alcohol is in the drink pods. Downside is the cost of the drinks, about $4 each, some like the Cuban Daiquiri, are nice if you use 2 pods for a larger drink.

During the pandemic we, of course, found ourselves with more time to drink. And I think a well-rounded Renaissance man ought to be able to throw a party and make a few good drinks. I have always liked to experiment, especially in the summer when straight bourbon is often a bit difficult to drink.

So we started with Old Fashioneds and got them down. I don't like to be fussy about things so I make something enough that I don't have to measure. I also make a whiskey sour with simple syrup, lemon juice, and whiskey. I can take or leave the egg whites. Then we got some sweet vermouth and started making Manhattans. My wife likes Aperol spritzes so we do those. And I've been making a decent margarita for awhile, although I do use a mix usually.

It's really amazing that almost all classic cocktails are variations of one another. Some combination of spirit, sugar, bitter/fruit. The hardest thing about it is finding somewhere to store all of the different mixers which could last years in your bar.

Looks like a good time. I got to go to a similar themed party once. The drinks were awesome.

Anything beyond straight whiskey (maybe some rocks) is a Manhattan for me, the wife loves mixed drinks. I have become quite good at Margaritas, Dirty Martinis, Chocotinis, Mint Chocotinis, Cappuccino Martinis, Southern orange creamsicle ,Mules and others that she likes

I always liked a mixed drink on occasion but mostly drank neat Scotch.
A Gin/Tonic, Margarita, Martini was pretty much it.
Recently I had a "Smoked Old Fashioned" and loved it and I was previously not a Bourbon fan.
However, recent diet regimen has curtailed beer drinking so cocktails are more KETO friendly and a better choice.

Gin/Tonic or Vodka/Tonic is my usual go-to.

My stepdad got me on Woodford on the rocks & Old Fashioneds

Local place to us does a good smoked old fashioned.

quote:

Originally posted by smschulz:
I always liked a mixed drink on occasion but mostly drank neat Scotch.
A Gin/Tonic, Margarita, Martini was pretty much it.
Recently I had a "Smoked Old Fashioned" and loved it and I was previously not a Bourbon fan.
However, recent diet regimen has curtailed beer drinking so cocktails are more KETO friendly and a better choice.

My go to at home is The Macallan 12 neat. I have other scotches, whiskeys and bourbons that I also drink but I don't mix with any of them at home.

Last summer we were in Vegas with some friends. We went to Giada's restaurant, they had a smoked Old Fashioned made with Macallan 12, absolutely delicious. Been trying Old Fashioneds everywhere since then.

I like an actual martini. I am also a fan of a Manhattan and an Old Fashioned. A mint julep is good, too. My wife likes a White Russian.

These are easy to make.

I’m not a fan of vermouth so manhattan’s are not my favorite. I’m loving gin with citrus and syrup style drinks. So perfectly balanced you have to be careful not to drink too fast.

I don’t understand margaritas using mixed. They are only 3 ingredients. Lime juice, tequila and triple sec or curaçao. So much better than mixes.

Summer is coming so my rum collection is expanding and tiki drinks are next.

Oh and try an old fashioned with 15 year Barbancourt hatian rum and maple syrup. It’s not classic but it’s delicious.

quote:

Originally posted by frayedends:

I don’t understand margaritas using mixed. They are only 3 ingredients. Lime juice, tequila and triple sec or curaçao. So much better than mixes.

Margarita mix gives me the worst acid reflux.

I mix my margarita with a little limoncello.

I've also gotten to where I like drinking tequila with a squeeze of lime over the rocks. I am using Codigo Reposado it is very good.

Margaritas, classic Sidecars and Rum Old Fashions.

And for God’s sake, get some decent rum, not that Bacardi or Captain Morgan’s crap.

I like a Manhattan about once a week. Occasionally I will drink a Martini. And as simple as it gets, 10 year old Slivovitz in a small glass.

I'm real simple...Single malt scotch in the evenings, vodka tonic during afternoons...

The classics, Whiskey Sour's and Tom Collins. Thanks, now I have a craving.

quote:

Originally posted by Nuclear:
Margaritas, classic Sidecars and Rum Old Fashions.

And for God’s sake, get some decent rum, not that Bacardi or Captain Morgan’s crap.

Note my post above with the Maple Rum old fashioned. Barbancourt Hatian 15 year is great and only about $50 for 750 mL. Got the recipe from a hotel nearby, it's the "Colonial Old Fashioned".

quote:

Originally posted by wingfoot:


Margarita mix gives me the worst acid reflux.

Me too, as well as sour mix.

Anyhow we have binders in our bar with our classic cocktail menu. Here's the index and a few examples. Note the Espresso Martini and Cosmo were not kept in the book for our Speakeasy party. They aren't classic but we keep them for regular parties.

My favorite of all time was the Mojito. When I used to go to bars, I found only 1-2 people that could actually make one right. Most of the time it was shit and I’d send it back or walk behind the bar and show them how. And the best guy I found, oh my. No driving for me after those. I learned how to make them perfect myself. I’d go to the farmers market and buy up all their mint. At first was using sugar cubes with lime and mint to crush but later figured out how to do it easier with the syrup. My friends would come over for beers and I remember two different times, someone wanted to try one. Fuck me, hands were sore the next day both times from making so many. They would just inhale them as would I. I never learned how to make them by the pitcher and thank God for that.

Cosmo for the wife with called vodka (Kettle One) and light on the juice. Little place in Cowtown Fort Worth (Lonesome Dove) that makes them perfect to her taste. If in FW, give it a try but call ahead for reservations or you won't get seated. We go for our anniversary dinner, and you need to bring two wallets.

quote:

Originally posted by Prefontaine:
My favorite of all time was the Mojito. When I used to go to bars, I found only 1-2 people that could actually make one right. Most of the time it was shit and I’d send it back or walk behind the bar and show them how. And the best guy I found, oh my. No driving for me after those. I learned how to make them perfect myself. I’d go to the farmers market and buy up all their mint. At first was using sugar cubes with lime and mint to crush but later figured out how to do it easier with the syrup. My friends would come over for beers and I remember two different times, someone wanted to try one. Fuck me, hands were sore the next day both times from making so many. They would just inhale them as would I. I never learned how to make them by the pitcher and thank God for that.

Pre, can you share your recipe/technique? I too have had bad luck getting a good mojito at a bar, but I can't tell how to alter the recipe to correct the problem.