The Kir is an old French cocktail that dates back to the mid nineteenth century. Originally called a cassis-blanc, reflecting its ingredients, it earned its new name in the aftermath of World War Two. This cocktail is supposed to be made with a mild Burgundy-region white (a Chablis is called for in many recipes), and…

A relatively new classic cocktail, the name is derived from the colour that the cola gives the drink and the sweet taste reminiscent of its namesake. A Long Island Iced Tea has a well know origin as it was first invented by Robert “rosebud” Butt in 1972. He came up with the drink for a contest…

The Black Russian dates back to 1949. The cocktail owes its name to the use of vodka, the prototypical Russian spirit, and the blackness of the coffee liqueur. The addition of cream in the mid 60s resulted in the White Russian. Both were once cocktail hour standards although they eventually faded in popularity. The White Russian…

“Shaken not stirred…” However offensive to the martini purists, this has to be one of the most evocative references in history to a cocktail. (For the uninitiated, martini’s are stirred—generally only cocktails needing texture and aeration [things with egg yolk, juices, cream etc.] are shaken.) And since my only  familiarity with this most classic of classic…

For our solstice dinner we decided we wanted a classic cocktail. I felt something tropical and sunny was called for to mark the shortest day and longest night of the year. The Singapore sling is truly a classic, developed more than one hundred years ago in a hotel in Singapore. There are numerous variations on…

The Paloma is a classic tequila highball everyone should try: just tequila with the addition of grapefruit soda, lime juice, and maybe a pinch of salt. But since tequila is a Halloween tradition, we decided to try a little harder. The Paloma Brava is a variation on the classic that is bit more complex, but with a…

Tea cocktails—who knew? The sad answer, unfortunately, is everyone but us. In fact, the oldest tea-based cocktail recipe (English Milk Punch) dates back to the 18th century. If like us, you’re late to the tea party, here are a few facts/Internet truths to catch you up: (1) Brown spirits are said to pair best with…

The Bee’s Knees cocktail is an easy cocktail of gin, lemon and honey that dates back to Prohibition era. The phrase “bee’s knees” was prohibition-era slang for “the best.” The story goes that the addition of citrus and honey were used to cover the often pungent smell and taste of bathtub gin. Improving the taste…

Misshapen peaches were on sale at the grocery store. Y’know, the “ugly” fruit that conventional shoppers apparently don’t want to buy. But these peaches were deliciously ripe and sweet — until, after a few days of sitting on the counter, they were on the verge of being over-ripe. Which called for emergency measures in the…

The Dark and Stormy (aka Dark ‘n’ Stormy, a proprietary name) is often associated with hot coastal climates. This cocktail has been described as the (unofficial) national drink of Bermuda and a favourite among yacht owners. In chillier regions, it’s more often associated with autumn, Thanksgiving, and the coming of winter — and it’s through…