Archive for April, 2010

Drink of the Week – Martini Month – Ocean Water

Ocean Water

1 part blue curacao

1 part raspberry vodka

1 part apple pucker

splash of lime juice

Combine all ingredients in an ice filled shaker, shake, strain into a martini glass.

Bar/Bartending Terminology

Here is some common bar terminology to help you get by!!

Call Drink
A liquor and mixer, of which the liquor is a defined brand. (ie. Tanqueray and Tonic, Bacardi and Coke)

Chaser
A mixer that is consumed immediately after a straight shot of liquor to create a different taste.

Collins
A drink akin to a sour which is served in a tall glass with soda water or seltzer water.

Cooler
A drink consisting of ginger ale, soda water, and a fresh spiral or twist of citrus fruit rind, served in a collins or highball glass.

Eggnog
A traditional holiday drink containing a combination of eggs beaten with cream or milk, sugar, and a liquor such as brandy, rum, or bourbon.

Fizz
An effervescent beverage. (ie. that which is carbonated or which emits small bubbles.)

Frappé
A partially frozen, often fruity drink. It is usually a mixture of ingredients served over a mound of crushed ice.

Highball
Any spirit served with ice and soda water in a medium to tall glass (often a highball glass).

Lowball
A short drink made of spirits served with ice, water or soda in a small glass.

Neat
The consumption of a spirit as a straight, unaccompanied shot.

Nip
A quarter of a bottle.

Nightcap
A wine or liquor taken before bedtime.

On The Rocks
A wine or liquor poured over ice cubes.

Punch
A party-size beverage consisting of fruit, fruit juices, flavorings and sweeteners, soft drinks, and a wine or liquor base.

Shooter
A straight shot of whiskey or other kind of spirit taken neat.

Sour
A short drink consisting of liquor, lemon/lime juice and sugar.

Supercall
Also known as top shelf or super premium. The high octane, often higher proof alcohols, or super-aged or flavored versions.

Toddy
A sweetened drink of liquor and hot water, often with spices and served in a tall glass.

Virgin
A non-alcoholic drink.

Well Drink
A liquor and mixer, of which neither are defined brands. (ie. Gin and Tonic, Rum and Coke)

Drink of the Week – Martini Month – Skittle Martini

Skittle Martini

1 part raspberry vodka

1 part citrus vodka

1 part vanilla vodka

1 part blue curacao

cranberry juice

Rim a martini glass with sugar.

Combine all ingredients in an ice filled shaker, shake, strain into a martini glass.

Drink of the Week – Martini Month – Lemon Drop

Lemon Drop

1 part citrus vodka

1/2 part triple sec

1 part sweet and sour

Rim a martini glass with sugar.

Combine all ingredients in an ice filled shaker, shake, strain into martini glass.

Garnish with a lemon.

Martini Tips

Ingredients
Always select quality ingredients. There are plenty on the market, try your favorite, pick a new brand, or even try some flavors out. Have some fun! Try some different combinations.

Tools
This should without being said, but always use clean tools! Using dirty tools or ones previously used to make a drink can retain the flavor of the previously made drink.

Chilling
Chill your martini glass! Using a chilled martini glass will help keep your martini colder longer. To properly chill a glass, freeze it, or use a nifty little bartenders trick! Take the martini glass, fill it with ice and water. Filling the glass with water will increase the surface area that gets cold, instead of just having parts of the ice touch parts of the glass.

Shaking
Shake to your hearts content! Just remember, the more you shake your martini, the more it gets diluted and the cloudier it can get, but it gets colder this way. The less you shake, the more flavors you will retain, but it won’t be as cold.

On a side note, a classic martini is made with gin. It has been a recent trend to use regular and flavored vodkas for martinis.

Dry Martini – Traditionally uses more dry vermouth, however recent trends define a Dry Martini as using little or no vermouth.

Gibson – Garnish with a cocktail onion.

Perfect Martini – Use equal parts of sweet and dry vermouth.

Dirty Martini – Add a small amount of olive brine.

50-50 -Use equal parts of gin and dry vermouth.

Vodka Martini – Replace gin with vodka for a nice alternative.

Drink of the Week – Martini Month – Orange Creamsicle

1 part vanilla schnapps

1 part orange vodka

fill with orange juice

splash of cream

Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice, shake, strain into a martini glass.

Drink of the Week – Harvey Wallbanger

Harvey Wallbanger

Fill a tall glass with ice.

1 1/2 oz Vodka

Fill with orange juice.

Float 1/2 oz Galliano on top.

Garnish with an orange.