Americano

2 ounces Campari 2 ounces Sweet Vermouth Club Soda Orange Slice for Garnish Fill a Collins glass two-thirds full of ice. Pour in Campari and Sweet Vermouth. Top off with club soda. Garnish with orange slice. Bacardi Cocktail

2 ounces Bacardi Superior 1 ounce Freshly Squeezed Lime Juice 1/2 ounce Grenadine Maraschino Cherry for Garnish Combine all ingredients in cocktail shaker filled one-third full of ice. Shake for 10 to 15 seconds. Strain into a well chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with maraschino cherry dropped to the center. Bacardi Rum must be used in this cocktail for it to be a true Bacardi Cocktail. Bellini 1 ounce Pureed White Peaches 1/4 teaspoon Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice Prosecco Sparkling Wine Peach Slice for Garnish Pour pureed white peaches and lemon juice in bottom of a champagne flute. Carefully top off with Prosecco. Stir gently. Garnish with peach slice. A 1/4 ounce of peach schnapps may be added to the pureed white peaches to give this cocktail added punch.

Black Russian WhiteRussian

2 ounces Espresso Vodka 1 ounce Kahlua Especial Fill a rocks glass two-thirds full of ice. Build drink in glass beginning with vodka and then Kahlua. Insert stir straw. To turn this into a White Russian: 1 ounce Vodka, 1 ounce Kahlua, 1 ounce half and half. Build in a rocks glass in the same manner. Bloody Mary

2 ounces Pepper Infused Vodka 1/2 Freshly Squeezed Lime Juice 6-8 Dashes Worcestershire Sauce 4-6 Dashes Tabasco Sauce 2-3 Dashes Peychauds Bitters 3 Dashes Celery Salt 2 Dashes White Pepper 2 Dashes Garlic Powder

2 Dashes Onion Powder Clamato Juice Coarse salt for rimming Garnishes: Celery stalk is standard. Try a dill pickle spear, jalapeo stuff olives on a skewer or shrimp cocktail for something off the beaten track. Rim a Collins glass with salt. Fill glass half full with ice. Season ice with sauces, bitters, powders, peppers and salts. Pour in vodka. Top off with Clamato Juice leaving a half inch at the rim of the glass. Squeeze in lime and drop into glass. Garnish. For a fantastic Bloody Mary Vodka infusion recipe click on my recipe here Bloody Mary Variations: Red Snapper and Cry Me a River Bucks Fizz 2 ounces Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice Brut Champagne Pour freshly squeezed orange juice into the bottom of a champagne flute. Carefully top off with Brut Champagne. Caipirinha

2 ounces Cachaca 1 lime cut into wedges 1/2 ounce Simple Syrup Place lime wedges in cocktail shaker, reserving one for garnish. Muddle. Pour Cachaca and bar syrup into cocktail shaker and fill twothirds with ice. Shake to combine well. Place ice into old-fashioned glass. Do not overfill. Strain contents of shaker into glass. Garnish with one reserved lime wedge. Champagne Cosmopolitan

The Cosmo has been done so many times, so here is one with a twist from a friend of mine, Dan Crowell. 1 ounce Citrus Vodka 1 dash Premium Orange Liqueur 1-1/2 ounce Cranberry Juice 1/2 ounce Fresh Lime Juice

1 Twist Orange 1 ounce Moet & Chandon White Star Champagne Shake Vodka, Grand Marnier, cranberry juice and lime juice over ice in a cocktail shaker. Strain into a chilled champagne flute. Top off with champagne. Garnish with orange twist. Harvey Wallbanger

2 ounces Vodka Orange Juice 1/2 ounce Galliano Build in a Collins glass filled two-thirds full of ice. Pour in the vodka. Add orange juice leaving room for the Galliano to float on top. A simple drink yes, but how often do you find Galliano in a cocktail? Variation: Screaming Fantasma

Horses Neck with a Kick This recipe is credited to Diffords Guide Cocktails #7. It makes the list for the garnish alone. 2-1/2 ounces Bourbon 3 dashes Classic Bitters Ginger Ale Garnish: Peel entire rind of a large lemon in a spiral and place in glass with end hanging over rim Pour ingredients into an ice filled Collins glass. Stir. Add garnish. Irish Coffee Unsweetened

1-1/4 ounce Irish Whiskey Hot Strong Coffee Whipped Cream (optional) Three Whole Coffee Beans for Garnish

Place a metal spoon in hot toddy glass. Measure in whiskey. Top off with hot coffee. Optional whipped cream may be added to the top with three coffee beans sprinkled on top. Irish Coffee Sweetened 1/2 ounce Irish Whiskey 3/4 ounce Irish Cream Hot Strong Coffee Whipped Cream (optional) Three Whole Coffee Beans or three chocolate covered espresso beans for Garnish Place metal spoon in hot toddy glass. Measure in whiskey and Baileys Irish Cream. Top off with coffee. Optional whipped cream may be added to the top with coffee bean garnish sprinkled atop. Kamikaze Cocktail While most twenty-one year olds are throwing back shots, this Kamikaze is a cocktail instead. An easy way to remember this one; throwing back too many will make for a Very Tough Landing.

1-1/2 ounce Vodka 1 ounce Triple Sec 3/4 ounce Lemon Juice Lime Wedge for Garnish Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled two-thirds full of ice. Shake for ten to fifteen seconds. Strain into a well chilled cocktail shaker. Garnish with a lime wedge. Variation: Blue Kamikaze Mai Tai Original This is an adaptation of the original formula as interpreted in The Joy of Mixology by Gary Regan.

2 ounces 17 year old J. Wray Nephew Jamaican Rum 1/2 ounce French Garnier Orgeat 1/2 Holland DeKuyper Orange Curacao 1/4 ounce Rock Candy Syrup

1 ounce Fresh Lime Juice 1 Sprig Fresh Mint for Garnish Combine all liquid ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Shake for 10 to 15 seconds. Strain into an old-fashioned glass filled half with crushed ice. Add mint sprig garnish. Mai Tai Variation These ingredients are much easier to find and this makes a fantastic Mai Tai. Credited to Dan Crowell. 2 ounces 10 Cane Rum (or 1 ounce each 10 Cane and Captain Morgan Private Stock) 3/4 ounce Orange Curacao 3/4 ounce Fresh Lime Juice 1/4 ounce Orgeat Syrup 2 Mint Springs & Lime Wedge for Garnish Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled one-third with ice. Shake well. Strain into an old-fashioned glass filled with ice. Garnish with mint springs and wedge of lime. Manhattan Dry, Perfect, Sweet Manhattan Dry

2-1/2 ounces Bourbon 1 ounce Dry Vermouth 3 Dashes Peychauds Bitters Orange Twist for Garnish Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Shake well. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with orange twist. Manhattan Perfect 2-1/2 ounce Bourbon 1/2 ounce Sweet Vermouth 1/2 ounce Dry Vermouth 3 Dashes Peychauds Bitters Orange Peel & Maraschino Cherry for Garnish Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Shake well. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a skewered maraschino cherry wrapped with an orange peel creating a flag.\ Manhattan Sweet

2-1/2 ounces Bourbon 1 ounce Sweet Vermouth Bar Spoon of Syrup from Maraschino Cherry Jar 3 Dashes Peychauds Bitters Maraschino Cherry for Garnish Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Shake well. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with maraschino cherry. Margarita

Everyone has their version of the perfect Margarita and their favorite tequila to add to the equation. Here is a basic recipe to build upon so you wont have to pick up a mix from the corner grocery. 2 ounces Tequila 1 ounce Fresh Squeezed Lime Juice 1/2 ounce Triple Sec Lime Wedge for Garnish Salt for Rimming

Rim edge of margarita glass with salt. Combine liquid ingredients in cocktail shaker filled two-thirds with ice. Shake for 10 to 15 seconds. Place ice in margarita glass. Strain contents of shaker into margarita glass. Garnish with lime wedge. To upgrade this margarita use quality tequilas such as Patron Silver or Reposado and Cointreau or Grand Marnier in place of the Triple Sec. Martini

A real martini doesnt have to be difficult, yet there are so many ways to mess it up. Stirred, shaken, up with a twist (is that a lemon or lime?), with an olive (stuffed with blue cheese, almonds, jalapeo, or pimento?) gin or vodka and did you say dirty or dry or extra dry? Oh, so many questions. This martini is pretty straight forward. When you saddle up at the bar all you have to say is, Tanqueray 10 Martini dry, up with a twist, please and then sit back and watch an inexperienced bartender squirm and an experienced bartender do their job. Make sure you get that please and thank you in there with a nice tip. 2-1/2 ounces Tanqueray 10 Gin Noilly Pratt Dry Vermouth Lemon Twist

Place ice in a martini glass. Drizzle approximately 1/4 to 1/2 ounce of dry vermouth in the ice and set aside. Measure out Tanqueray 10 Gin into a cocktail shaker filled one-third full of ice. Shake or swirl the gin (depending on your theory of bruising the gin) for at least fifteen seconds. Your goal is to chill the gin thoroughly. Take the martini glass with vermouth in hand. Swirl the glass so the vermouth coats the inside and pour out. Do not shake the glass until every drop is gone. Strain the contents of the cocktail shaker into the vermouth coated martini glass. Take your lemon twist and circle it around the rim of the martini glass before placing it halfway on the edge and partially inside the gin as garnish. Serve and drink while still chilled. Negroni

1 ounce Gin 1 ounce Campari 1 ounce Sweet Vermouth Orange Twist for Garnish Fill an old-fashioned glass half to two-thirds full of ice. Add liquid ingredients in the order given. Garnish with orange twist. More Negroni Variations: Cinnabar Negroni, Negroni Virtuoso, Unusual Negroni and Naughty Negroni

Old Fashioned

There is much debate over what is real Old Fashioned and what is just a fruity version of one. 2 ounces Bourbon 2 Dashes Peychauds Bitters 3 Maraschino Cherries (save one for garnish) 2 orange slices (save one for garnish) Bar Spoon of Maraschino Cherry Juice from Jar Place all ingredients (save one cherry and cocktail shaker. Muddle. Fill one-third full fifteen seconds. Fill an old-fashioned glass contents of shaker into old-fashioned glass. orange slice skewered. Orgasm Cocktail 1-1/2 ounce Cointreau 1-1/2 ounce Irish Cream 1 ounce Grand Marnier one orange slice) into a of ice. Shake for ten to half full with ice. Strain Garnish with cherry and

Maraschino Cherry for Garnish Fill an old-fashioned glass half full with ice. Place ingredients in glass in the order given. Garnish with cherry. Insert cocktail stirrer. Rob Roy 2 ounces Scotch 1 ounce Sweet Vermouth 2 Dashes Peychauds Bitters Maraschino Cherry for Garnish Place liquid ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Shake for ten to fifteen seconds. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with the maraschino cherry. This drink can also be built in an old-fashioned glass on the rocks. Salty Dog

This twist on an old favorite is proof that an old dog can be taught new tricks.

2 ounces Charbay Grapefruit Vodka 2-1/4 ounces Freshly Squeezed Ruby Red Grapefruit Juice Bar Spoon of Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur Salt for rimming Rim a chilled cocktail glass with salt and set aside. Combine liquid ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Shake for ten to fifteen seconds until well mixed. Strain into salt rimmed cocktail glass. Newly added drinks from reader suggestions are listed below: Gin & Tonic

2 ounces London Dry Gin 3 to 4 ounces Tonic Water Lime Garnish Build over fresh ice in Collins glass. Garnish with squeeze of lime.

Long Island Iced Tea 1/2 ounce Light Rum 1/2 ounce Gin 1/2 ounce Vodka 1/2 ounce Tequila Blanco 1/2 ounce Triple Sec 1 ounce Fresh Lime Juice 1/2 ounce Simple Syrup 1/2 to 1 ounce Cola Lemon Slice Garnish Build over fresh ice in Collins or Sling style glass saving cola topper as last addition. Stir. Garnish with lemon slice.

Russian Quaylude Shot 1/2 part Galliano 1/2 part Green Chartreuse 1/2 part Vodka Layer chilled liquids in order given in chilled shot glass. Layering can be achieved by slowly pouring liquids over back of bar spoon.