A 1970s throwback, the Amaretto Sour has long been relegated to the history books for being almost poisonously sweet; but the drink has recently seen a resurgence. The original Amaretto Sour recipe was created with equal parts amaretto and lemon juice over ice. Currently, most bartenders use their own creative mix to make the drink. Amaretto is a traditional…

Let’s just say it was not a hot-shouldered day when we made this summertime classic. In fact, autumn (and what felt like snow) was but a dozen days away. Alas, the basil crop on the porch seemed neither to know nor care, so… when summer gives you basil, make Basil & Lemon Gimlets! Hopefully you…

The origins of this classic cocktail are, as per usual, obscure but it’s definitely been around for most of the last 100 years, with most people labelling it a post WWI invention. Packing a punch — like most of the cocktails we’ve tried  — this one is pretty easy drinking but still with enough zing…

Described as “dry and zingy” on most of the websites we looked at, the first two words that unanimously escaped our recoiling lips were, “Ack!” and “Jesus.” That said, the Negroni is not without its charms. Bitter? Yes—like sucking on the pith of an angry orange peel. But as the ice melts and your taste…

The origins of the Cosmopolitan are shrouded in mystery with versions using gin appearing back to the 30s. The current accepted form uses vodka and seems to be a creation coming out of the American mid-west in the 70s. Or maybe from Miami in the 80s? But (ir)regardless of its origin, the Cosmo’s lovely pink hue, served in a traditional…

As a child, my father was especially fond of gin and tonics. Needless to say we never sneaked sips from his drinks. Later I discovered that the unique bitterness of gin could be a perfect salve on a hot summer day. So on a quiet hot afternoon in the beauty of one of Canada’s national parks,…

After binge-watching Mad Men this spring, I was taken with the mostly suave Don Draper and his ubiquitous Old-Fashioned. Hence this week’s cocktail selection. The Old-Fashioned is a traditional cocktail, originally developed in Kentucky in the late nineteenth century — and therein lies one controversy. Should we make it with Kentucky whiskey or with another liquor?…

Our first drink is a French 75. Originating in WWI, the name refers to the kick of French 75mm field gun. Ingredients 1.5 oz cognac (or gin) 2 dashes simple syrup .75 oz lemon juice 2 oz Champagne or dry sparking wine Combine gin, syrup, and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake…