We were three for dinner, and it was one of those evenings when no one had any energy. What’s a good go-to cocktail for that situation? Well, the Cuba Libre, for one. The Cuba Libre is a storied cocktail. It originates in Cuba, of course; Jamie Oliver calls it a “legacy” cocktail, and its creation…
Author: ell
Classic Caesar
Happy Canada Day! Well, in fact Canada Day will be behind us when you read this post, but it was Canada Day that prompted us to try a classic cocktail we’ve been intentionally avoiding: the Caesar. History and marketing tell us that the Caesar was invented in Calgary in 1969. Good Canadians that we are,…
Raspberry Daiquiri
We were three for dinner at a busy time of year, and there was no time for sourcing anything fancy. But necessity is the mother of search engines and all that, so I quickly found a promising recipe. Daiquiris are classic cocktails built from rum, fruit juice, and sweetener. I’ve had my share of oversweetened,…
Harvey Wallbanger
The name of this drink takes me right back to my childhood. For some reason, my father would say “Harvey Wallbanger!” in a silly voice and I would laugh like only a four-year-old can. In my memory this is related to Sesame Street, and a quick web search brings back Harvey Kneeslapper (the teller of…
Brandy Alexander
After a recent shopping trip, we had whipping cream in the fridge, something of a rarity. Then Bee remarked casually that one day we should make a Brandy Alexander for this blog. Since we were only three for supper, one of us looked at the other and decided this was the day. Given that only…
Winter Solstice Sangria
Often described as wine punch, sangria or some iteration thereof has been a staple of Spanish culture for centuries. There is no standard recipe for sangria; every sangria we’ve had over the years has been subtly or noticeably different. (A few years ago, Cee was making a super-simple sangria by mixing red wine with 7-Up,…
Southern Mule
It’s late fall in much of the country, but here in our neck of the woods, winter has arrived. A warming cocktail was definitely in order. Unless you’ve been living in a cave, you’re aware of the massive resurgence of interest in the Moscow Mule over the last couple of years. The Southern Mule is…
The Manhattan
Thanksgiving dinner is a time to for gratitude and tradition, so it seemed appropriate to explore a truly classic cocktail. Thus, the Manhattan, one of the oldest North American cocktails we’ve tried so far. The Manhattan is generally made with rye whisky, but apparently the cocktail craze has caused bourbon to become a popular alternative…
South of the Border
Another Sunday and autumn feels like it’s really here. Chilly wind, spitting rain, and dark grey clouds. A perfect night to stay in with a warming cocktail — ah, inspiration! This cocktail features two alcohols from warm, sunny Mexico. Though I grew up in the 80s, kahlúa is not one of my go-to liqueurs, probably…
Gold Digger
Road trip! That’s right. The BoozePhiles had packed up the car and were on our way to the country to enjoy a day of sunshine, green fields, local lore, and fireworks. Dinner was part of the plan, and so was an easy cocktail for sipping on the verandah. I turned to my trusty reference book…