Dad’s House

Thursday night is always a great night for a cocktail. (Actually, any night is. But I digress…) I try not to gender stereotype, but tonight’s cocktail tends to have a girlie reputation. Cosmos are that pink drink that so many girls-night-out women adore. As a man, I typically won’t order one in a bar. A three-olive martini not only gives me a stronger image, it usually hits the spot.

But at home, with dinner guests, I’ll shake up some Cosmos, no problem. The key is using Cointreau instead of Triple Sec, and not just for the liqueur’s Global Brand Ambassador. I also use a bit more cranberry juice than some other recipes – it gives the Cosmopolitan more color and tang. As for vodka, there are so many flavors mixed in this drink, I’m not sure the brand matters. I drink Ketel One, and keep a big bottle of it in my freezer.

Glass chilling tip – fill martini glasses with ice and water before you mix the cocktail in a shaker. The glasses will be plenty cold when you’re ready to pour.

Cosmopolitan Recipe

2 parts vodka
1 ½ parts cranberry juice
1 part Rose’s lime juice
1 part Cointreau
Shake sharply with ice
Pour into a chilled martini glass

If you liked this post, you might also enjoy:

• Perfect Gin Martini Recipe
• Vodka Martini Recipe with a Lemon Twist
• Friday Night Cocktails - Gimlet Recipe
• Negroni Cocktail Recipe
  

© 2008 DadsHouseBlog.com. All rights reserved.

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Last month on a Friday night my brother and his wife set up chairs and a card table on their front lawn and fixed themselves cocktails. Curious neighbors coming home from work stopped by and asked, “What’s the occasion?”

“It’s Friday,” my brother said. “Want a martini?”

And so started a neighborhood tradition. Families now take turns on Friday nights hosting drinks in the front yard, everyone trying to out-do the previous week’s host in quality or uniqueness.

Wouldn’t you know, it’s Friday. Maybe I’ll try that tonight in my neighborhood. Anyone for a Gimlet?

Gimlet recipe:

5 parts Plymouth Gin
2 parts Rose’s lime
Pour into a glass with ice. Stir. Garnish with a slice of lime.

© 2008 DadsHouseBlog.com. All rights reserved.

Image by stewf, some rights reserved.

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Some nights call out for a good stiff drink, and one of my favorite cocktails is a Vodka Martini. It’s practically straight vodka, so choice of brand makes a big difference. On a Santa Barbara road trip my buddies and I taste tested martinis made with Grey Goose, Absolut, Belvedere, and Ketel One. Ketel One was our hands-down favorite. But don’t take our word for it – try brands yourself, or check Slate for a nice, comprehensive review of several vodka brands.

It’s important for the ingredients to be extremely cold. I keep a bottle of vodka in the freezer (as do a lot of people.) To quickly chill a glass, fill it with ice and a little water and let it sit while you fix the cocktail.

I tend to like my vodka martini with a lemon twist, and a bartender showed me a nice technique for adding this. Cut a two-inch long ¼-inch slice of lemon rind, making sure to only get yellow and not the bitter white. Twist this slice over the drink to release the oils, rub it on the rim of the glass, twist it again into a curly shape and drop it into the drink. Here’s the vodka martini recipe:

7 parts Ketel One vodka (from the freezer)
1 part Martini and Rossi Dry Vermouth (Bianco)
Shake sharply with ice
Strain into a chilled martini glass
Serve with a lemon twist

© 2008 DadsHouseBlog.com. All rights reserved.

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Ah, the negroni, savior of many family get-togethers. One of the first things my brothers and I do when we’re at our parents’ house is make a pitcher of this cocktail. Booze is a great way to ease everyone into the swing of a holiday gathering. The negroni works well because it isn’t as harsh as a martini; its bitter and sweet taste makes for a great aperitif. Best of all, it’s plenty strong enough to make us all a bit loopy. And what’s more fun than watching Grandma get a bit loopy?

1 part Bombay Sapphire Gin
1 part Campari
3/4 part Martini and Rossi Sweet Vermouth (Rosso)
Build (pour ingredients into an old-fashioned glass with ice), and stir
Serve with a twist of orange peel (for burnt orange, hold a match under the twist)

© 2008 DadsHouseBlog.com. All rights reserved.

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One of my favorite vacations was spent sailing around the British Virgin Islands on a catamaran with six adult friends. By day, we sailed, snorkeled, swam, sunbathed, hit beach bars, relaxed. By night, we partied. We’d moor in a cove with other boats, motor our raft ashore and dine in a restaurant, hit the dance floor until the too-sleepy bartender sent us packing.

Along the way, we picked up some great cocktail recipes. Here’s one to serve at your next neighborhood party. If you’re short any ingredients, don’t worry. Every BVI bar has a different recipe for this drink.

1 part dark rum
1 part light rum
1 part amaretto
2 parts Kahlua
2 parts Bailey’s Irish Cream
2 parts crème de cocoa
1 part cream of coconut
Ice

Blend in a blender until smooth. Sprinkle nutmeg on top.
The soccer moms will never know what hit them.

© 2008 DadsHouseBlog.com. All rights reserved.

For years I was strictly a vodka martini drinker, until my brother introduced me to Plymouth Gin. Supposedly, the New York Times cocktail guru swears by the brand. Here’s my brother’s recipe for a perfect gin martini. For optimal drinking conditions, have his wife fix it while you sit on the deck, basking in the warmth of a late-afternoon Santa Barbara sun, relaxing, preparing to watch a beautiful Pacific sunset… (hey, it happened once. Let me dream!)

5 parts Plymouth Gin
1 part Martini and Rossi Extra-Dry Vermouth
Shake sharply with crushed ice
Strain into a martini glass
Serve with a blue-cheese stuffed olive

© 2008 DadsHouseBlog.com. All rights reserved.