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Recent discussions on Difford’s Guide
20 best Summer cocktails
When it comes to cocktails, summer screams "Sex on the Beach", or at least fruit-forward rather than spirit-forward, more refreshing cocktails, but not...
Heidi Della Pesca
29th June at 00:36
:D *mitful*
Forever Sixteen
Fresh watermelon and blanc vermouth provide the foundation for this low-ABV summer aperitif, lifted by sparkling rosé and quietly framed with basil, lemon...28th June at 23:50
The search for well-organized cocktails using lemon syrup is on.... Let me know if we're off to a good start!
Je suis l'Amour
Cognac and cask-aged dry vermouth form the base of this refined cocktail with complex ginger, pink grapefruit, and chocolate notes28th June at 23:39
This is really good! It starts off with cognac/vermouth richness (I used a local brandy-based vermouth from Mt. Defiance), briefly moves into grapefruit, before finishing with warm ginger and a whisper of chocolate from the bitters. Very nicely balanced with a great evolution, highly recommended.
Final Ward
The Last Word is classically made with gin, maraschino, Chartreuse and lime juice. In this riff, whiskey replaces the gin, and Mr Ward switches citrus...
28th June at 22:49
Masterful! The switch to rye appeals to me hugely, even though I used a budget rye for this one (a George Dickel chill filtered). The rye keeps spice in the profile and the maraschino and herbal liqueur (I used Luxardo Del Santo) blend deliciously to create a bittersweet cocktail that I think is making it into my shaker on a regular basis. The mix just seems to work for my palate without making me consider any changes.
Noblesse
A light, sweet and sour, herbal and fruity aperitif cocktail
28th June at 22:40
Needed a red cocktail to celebrate Canada's win today. Maybe not bright red, but close enough and more importantly a delicious cocktail. First time last year I noted it was a tad tart and sweet, so followed J Hinojos suggestion below and upped the cognac but only by 5ml. I also ever so slightly decreased the D.O.M. Much better balanced for me, but I rather suspect the big variable will be the limes on hand.
Final Ward
The Last Word is classically made with gin, maraschino, Chartreuse and lime juice. In this riff, whiskey replaces the gin, and Mr Ward switches citrus...28th June at 21:21
I can sort of see the appeal of this, but it's not nearly as good as the Last Word for me. I'm not sure if it's the change to rye or the change to lemon.
Give it a try though, maybe it's just my tastes.
Give it a try though, maybe it's just my tastes.
Highland Sling
A surprisingly good combination of diverse flavours28th June at 20:59
Very sweet. It taste like pears
Matador No.1
A Margarita lengthened with pineapple juice. The lime and tequila work wonders with the pineapple
28th June at 20:59
A fav "riff" on this I keep up my sleeve is to muddle some chili in the base of the shaker and shake with a couple of cloves. Find this drink somewhat flat without the spiced element
Heart of the Sunrise
Still developing this recipe28th June at 20:39
A lovely pink coulored cocktail, not only for ladies. Well balanced and tasty, will make it again.
Hell Diver
The classic mix of gin and red quinquina (see Dubonnet Cocktail No. 1 and Zaza), enhanced by chocolate and dashes of bitters
28th June at 20:33
I found the cacao overwhelming. Tried orange bitters, then aperol to tame the sweetness. Ashamed to say this one went down the drain :-(
Jägerita
This Margarita may look a little like liquid mud but is surprisingly tasty with liquorice-forward herbal notes alongside bright citrus28th June at 19:54
Very complex and refreshing Cocktail and a very good use of a left over Jägermeister Bottle. Adding a pinch of salt and a little extra lime juice took this drink from being very good to being exceptional on a very hot summer evening!
Elixir Tropical
There's a load of orgeat (almond syrup) in this Daiquiri-style cocktail, but it's only just on the sweet side of balanced with that almond richness contributing...28th June at 19:33
Have to agree with it not seeming "tropical/tiki" despite having really all the necessary components. Still a good drink.
Palmetto Cocktail
The orange bitters are key to balancing and adding depth to the equal parts aged rum and sweet vermouth. However, go easy with those dashes or bitter orange...28th June at 18:58
Must have got my dashes just right as this was lovely! Perfectly rounded with nothing fighting for attention in the glass.
My rum was Brugal 1888 and the vermouth Del Professore. I see the other tastings were all around winter time, but this was surprisingly light and summery. I’ll make this one again and again.
My rum was Brugal 1888 and the vermouth Del Professore. I see the other tastings were all around winter time, but this was surprisingly light and summery. I’ll make this one again and again.
The Malagueña
Bittersweet dark pungent rum is lightly sweetened, aromatised and bittered by amaro and bitters duo. A sharpener of an aperitivo28th June at 17:40
Alambique Serrano 3 Años, with it's robust complexity, stands up well to the Amaro in this recipe.
20 best Summer cocktails
When it comes to cocktails, summer screams "Sex on the Beach", or at least fruit-forward rather than spirit-forward, more refreshing cocktails, but not...28th June at 17:38
My absolute favourite cocktail! At this point I just call it "summer drink".
1.5oz dry gin (tanqueray rangpur or our local Willing to Learn gin)
1.5oz st Germaine
1/4 oz lime juice
Mitful basil leaves
Muddle shake strain and top with tonic 👌🏻
I have no idea if this is an existing recipe or my roommate and I made it up one day
1.5oz dry gin (tanqueray rangpur or our local Willing to Learn gin)
1.5oz st Germaine
1/4 oz lime juice
Mitful basil leaves
Muddle shake strain and top with tonic 👌🏻
I have no idea if this is an existing recipe or my roommate and I made it up one day
Cantinflas
This Agave spirit-forward, bittersweet cocktail is a pleasing digestivo or late-night sipper28th June at 17:20
It must come from the mexican actor. I've checked the official on-line Spanish dictionary, and all words sounding like that (cantinflear, cantinflada,...) derive from Mario Moreno's stage name, Cantinflas. So, there's not a previous meaning for that word. The cultural impact of Cantinflas in Spanish-speaking countries between 1940 and 1980 was huge.
Sentimental Gentleman
A surprisingly dry, herbal Scotch whisky Old Fashioned
28th June at 16:44
Wonderfully balanced, with a delicate nocello finish. Much depends in the Choice of scotch, I used Cutty Sark Prohibition. I might try some tweaking with bitters next time.
Ranch Water
This refreshing Rickey-style cocktail is best made as per the original recipe, with a slightly salty sparkling mineral water such as Topo Chico. My recipe...28th June at 16:43
I leave out the Cointreau, but I do add a few dashes of grapefruit bitters. One of my favorite poolside drinks.
Yellow Bird
With its sunny colour and tropical fruity flavour and rum base, the Yellow Bird certainly evokes the Caribbean. Two rums and three fruit juices, but the...28th June at 16:34
Enjoyed this. Agree it wasn’t too sweet. Banana and galliano came through but weren’t overpowering.
Exit Strategy
An easy-drinking, bitter-sweet digestivo. Be sure not to omit the orange zest twist28th June at 13:12
One of our favourite gentle late night sips. We serve it straight up in a Nick and Nora glass. A bit of patience and warming will offer balance and harmony in a way that a chunk of ice never will.
Rum Punch-Up
Exactly what the name promises - a Rum Punch served straight-up, Daiquiri style28th June at 12:42
Did this one yesterday, without knowing about it, with the difference that I used dark rum (Diplomatico). Great drink, rum forward with nice acidity from the lime juice.
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia" is Latin for "New Scotland" and this cocktail presents Scotch whisky in a contemporary take on an Old Fashioned
28th June at 12:21
Great observation, Ian. I'll add the Midnight Cocktail to Difford's Guide and link the two.
Safe Word
The Last Word meets the 20th Century28th June at 11:42
Good choice! A cracking cocktail.
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia" is Latin for "New Scotland" and this cocktail presents Scotch whisky in a contemporary take on an Old Fashioned28th June at 11:27
The “Midnight Cocktail” in the 1925 L’Art du Shaker (and doubtless pre-dating it) has the same ingredients (sans saline), only in a 2:1 ratio… so perhaps not so contemporary!