CREATIVE COCKTAILS

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Rosemary Mandarin Sparkle
Strawberry Shag
Bistro Sidecar
Tangerine Drop
Smitten
(ri)¹ Number One Manhattan
5-Spice Side Car
Fresh Lemon, Lime, or Lemon-Lime Sour

Click here for tips on bar measurements.

STRAWBERRY SHAG
Fresh basil lends a fun flavor note to the classic combination of strawberries and lemonade. Soda water introduces a lively sparkle.

Makes 1 drink

1 to 2 large sprigs fresh basil
1/4 cup Sugared Strawberries, with juice (recipe follows)
1 1/2 oz vodka
1 oz fresh lemon juice
3 to 4 oz chilled soda water

For garnishing:
Fresh strawberry
Small basil leaf

In a cocktail shaker, press the fresh strawberries and basil together with a muddler to release the basil's flavor. Fill the shaker with ice. Measure in the vodka and lemon juice. Cap and shake vigorously. Pour into a large glass, top with soda water, and stir. Garnish with a strawberry and basil leaf.

Sugared Strawberries
Makes enough for about 6 drinks

1 pint fresh strawberries, stemmed and thinly sliced
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Mix the ingredients and let sit for 15 minutes before using.

Recipe from Sips & Apps, Chronicle Books, San Francisco. ©2009 by Kathy Casey.

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BISTRO SIDECAR
I “stretched the sidecar theme to the max,” according to spirits expert and author Gary Regan, when I created this cocktail in 2000. This new classic is now seen on cocktail menus across the United States.

Makes 1 drink

Superfine sugar for rimming glass (optional)
1 1/2 ounces brandy or Cognac
1/2 ounce Tuaca
1/2 ounce Frangelico
1/4 ounce fresh lemon juice
1/2 ounce fresh tangerine or orange juice

For garnishing
Toasted hazelnut, with skin

Rim a martini glass with superfine sugar, and set aside.

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Measure in the brandy, liqueurs, and juices. Cap and shake vigorously. Strain into the sugar-rimmed glass. Float a toasted hazelnut on top of the drink.

Recipe from Sips & Apps, Chronicle Books, San Francisco. ©2009 by Kathy Casey.

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TANGERINE DROP
If you love lemon drops, you'll love this great winter variation made with mandarin-flavored vodka and seasonal tangerines!

Makes 1 drink

1/4 tangerine
2 oz Absolut Mandarin Vodka
2 oz Fresh Lemon Sour (recipe follows)
     or use Dish D'Lish Lemon & Lime Sour Cocktailor™
Garnish: sugar-rimmed glass and long tangerine zest

Fill large martini glass with ice and let chill. Fill shaker with ice, squeeze tangerine and drop into shaker. Add vodka and lemon sour. Shake until very cold.
Empty ice from martini glass, dip rim in superfine sugar, then strain drink into chilled glass.
Twist tangerine zest and add to drink.

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SMITTEN
Makes 1 cocktail

1/3 cup fresh ripe watermelon, cut in 1-inch cubes
2 oz Sauza Hornitos Plata Tequila
3/4 oz Monin Organic Agave Syrup
3/4 oz fresh lime juice
2 dashes Tapatio hot sauce

Garnish: half-rim, single “scallop” of kosher salt

Muddle/press watermelon in pint glass with a muddler, being sure to press the melon well to release juices. Measure in tequila, agave syrup and lime juice. Shake in hot sauce—do not over-do it! Fill glass with ice. Cap and shake vigoroulsy. Strain into a martini glass with a partial salt rim.

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(ri)¹ NUMBER ONE MANHATTAN
Makes 1 drink

1 1/2 oz (ri)¹ rye
3/4 oz St. Germain liqueur
3/4 oz red vermouth
Garnish: Gilded Cherry (procedure follows) or long lemon twist

Measure (ri)¹ rye, St. Germain and vermouth into a pint glass. Fill with ice. Stir vigorously with a bar spoon. Strain into a martini glass. Garnish as desired.

Gilded Cherries

Drain 1 cup large maraschino cherries well. Be sure they are well drained so that the gold will stick; you may want to spread them out on paper towels for 30 minutes after draining. It is important that the cherries be very well drained.

Make the cherries in the container that you are going to store them in. Place the cherries in the container and sprinkle in about 1/2 tsp. of Gold Luster Dust (available at cake-decorating stores or online). Stir gently to coat cherries in gold. Do not over-stir as this will make the gold “stirred in” instead of coating. Store refrigerated for up to one month.

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5-SPICE SIDE CAR
Makes 1 drink

1/8 fresh orange
1/8 fresh lemon
1 pinch ground Chinese 5-spice
1/2 oz dry sake
1 1/2 oz brandy
1 1/2 oz Fresh Lemon-Lime Sour (recipe follows)
     or Dish D'Lish Lemon & Lime Sour Cocktailor
Garnish: 1 pinch ground Chinese 5-spice

Rim martini glass with sugar, and reserve. In a pint cocktail shaker, hand-press orange and lemon wedges with muddler. Add pinch of Chinese 5-spice. Fill shaker with ice. Measure in liquors, and add mixer. Cap shaker, and shake vigorously. Strain into sugar-rimmed martini glass. Garnish with pinch of Chinese 5-spice floating on top.

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FRESH LEMON, LIME, OR LEMON-LIME SOUR
Makes 2 cups

1 cup fresh lemon or lime juice, or 1/2 cup of each
1 cup simple syrup*

In a large jar with a lid, combine ingredients. Cover and keep refrigerated for up to 2 weeks, or freeze.

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*Simple syrup is available at bar supply stores. Or, to make it, combine 4 cups sugar and 1 quart water in a heavy pan. Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Boil for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool. Bottle and store at room temperature until needed. Keeps indefinitely.

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A NOTE ABOUT BAR MEASUREMENTS:
In bar measurements, "ounces" of liquids means fluid ounces. If you do not have a marked bar measuring tool, use standard kitchen measuring spoons and refer to the following chart.

4 ounces = 8 tablespoons = 1/2 cup
3 ounces = 6 tablespoons
2 ounces = 4 tablespoons = 1/4 cup
1 ounce = 2 tablespoons
1/2 ounce = 1 tablespoon
1/4 ounce = 1 1/2 teaspoons
1/8 ounce = 3/4 teaspoon

Print bar measurements

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