The Negroni

In 1947 Orson Welles reported on the drink in correspondence with the Coshocton Tribune while working on his film Cagliostro.  He said "The bitters are excellent for your liver, the gin is bad for you. They balance each other."  I love his logic.

This is one of those drinks that I have found people either love or hate.  I made one for a gin loving friend of mine who had never met a drink he did not like and he could not even finish it.  I will admit that Campari can be an acquired taste, but the combination of flavors in the negroni dulls some of the bitterness.

The most popular account of this drinks creation takes place in Florence, Italy in 1919 at Caffè Casoni, (now called Caffè Cavalli).  Count Camillo Negroni, needing something a little stronger than his usual Americano, asked bartender Fosco Scarselli to replace the soda with gin.  I love his logic too.

There really is not much to making this drink; it is equal parts of three ingredients.  I like Plymouth gin in this; I also like to make them small so I can have a few.  One ounce each of gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth in an ice filled old fashioned glass with a twist of orange is all there is to this Italian classic.  Do not forget to toast the good count and his boozy ways as you suck these little guys down.

Negroni
1 oz gin

1 oz campari

1 oz sweet vermouth

Combine all ingredients in an ice filled old fashioned glass and garnish with a twist of orange.

The Harvard Cocktail

After a December to remember, I am sure you have all been missing your bi-daily dive into the library of liquor.  Fear not, I have something to tide you over for the next few days.  The Harvard cocktail just invokes images of 1960’s frat boys sitting around in sport coats, smoking cigarettes, and playing poker.  They no doubt needed a cocktail and this one fits the bill just fine.

Dating back to 1895, this drink definitely makes up for what it lacks in popularity with longevity.  It’s true origin, other than the year it first came to print, has been lost to history so we are left to our own imagination.  Having similarities to the Manhattan, it is quite possible that this made its debut on the Harvard campus during a party when a partially inebriated bartender got a little creative with a drink order.  

In a shaker combine one and a half ounces of cognac, three-quarters of an ounce sweet vermouth, one-quarter ounce lemon juice, a teaspoon of grenadine, and three dashes angostura bitters.  Fill with ice and shake.  Pour into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with a lemon twist.  A variation on this drink omits the grenadine and adds an ounce of soda water to the top after straining into the glass.  I prefer the grenadine version, but if there is one time in your life to experiment, it’s college.

Harvard Cocktail

1 ½ oz cognac

¾ oz sweet vermouth

¼ oz fresh squeezed lemon juice

1 tsp grenadine

3 dashes bitters

Mix all ingredients in an ice filled shaker.  Strain into a cocktail glass.  Garnish with a lemon twist.

The Rob Roy

For my first foray into spirits to keep you in the holiday spirit I have a classic for you, the Rob Roy. This Scottish cousin of the Manhattan is here in proxy as the Manhattan has already been covered not once, but twice. The Rob Roy has a deeper flavor than the Manhattan due to the peaty, earthy flavor of scotch, and in fact tastes very different depending on the type and region of the scotch used. I encourage you to experiment excessively to see whether you prefer a blend or single malt.

One would think that a scotch-based cocktail would originate in Scotland, but the Scots would not defile their water of life by mixing it with anything. This drink originated in Manhattan coincidentally, at the Waldorf hotel in 1894. The drink is named after the Scottish folk hero and outlaw of the same name. He was also known as the Scottish Robin Hood.

This drink is simple to make and will appeal to scotch drinkers and Manhattan drinkers alike. I prefer a different ratio from the Manhattan for the Rob Roy though, otherwise the flavor of the scotch overpowers the vermouth. Start with an ice filled shaker and add two ounces of blended scotch, I like Johnnie Walker Red. Add an equal amount of sweet vermouth. Then a dash or two of Peychaud bitters, I think it melds better with the scotch. Shake vigorously and pour into a chilled cocktail glass, garnish with three cherries and serve.

Rob Roy

2 oz blended scotch

2 oz sweet vermouth

2 dashes peychaud bitters

Combine all ingredients in an ice filled shaker.  Strain into an ice-cold cocktail glass.  Garnish with three cherries.

The Manhattan Revisited

In an effort to make up for my recent dereliction of duty, I am coming with one of the best recipes to cross my lips in a very long time. Most would argue that it is a losing proposition to try and improve on one of the all time classics, but this amazing variation comes damn close. Whichever version you prefer the Manhattan is the epitome of a classic and seems most in its element in the cold months of the year; if you can add a roaring fire, a tweed jacket and a pipe, you’ll become my new mascot and poster boy.

A friend of mine told me that locals in Manhattan don’t drink Manhattans, I am still debating the statement, but either way it is where the drink originated. As with many cocktails from the nineteenth century, there are many who claim credit for creating the drink, and many variations on the story. It is safe to say that the drink as we know it originated in the 1860s or 1870s in Manhattan, whether in the Manhattan club or another bar. The history behind this variation is very clear though. The recipe appears in the 1930 holy book of cocktailing, the Savoy Cocktail Book. In a reckless act of pure genius that could only have been pulled off by a Yank serving a bunch of Brits, the ratio of vermouth and whiskey is switched from the more traditional version served on this side of the pond. Add a bit of maraschino and you have Craddock’s take on the Manhattan.

To create this drink start with two ounces of sweet vermouth, my current favorite is Cinzano, in a cocktail pitcher. Add an ounce of good bourbon, Maker’s Mark has not failed me yet in a Manhattan. Add a teaspoon of the syrup from your cocktail cherry jar and two dashes of Angostura bitters. Fill with ice and stir well. Serve in a chilled cocktail glass with three homemade cocktail cherries.

Savoy Manhattan

2 oz sweet vermouth

1 oz bourbon

1 tsp cocktail cherry syrup

2 dashes angostura bitters

Stir all the ingredients in an ice filled cocktail pitcher. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with cherries.

Blood and Sand

Scotch to me is a very interesting spirit, as popular as it is by itself or with a simple mixer like water or soda, I rarely see many people drinking it in a cocktail. Perhaps this is due to it being so complex and flavorful on its own.

Named after the silent 1922 bullfighting film staring Rudolf Valentino, the drink dates back to the 1930s and possibly even earlier. A glance at the ingredient list will turn many people off of this drink, but I assure you it is worth trying. It is as strange as it is delicious.

In an ice filled shaker, add ¾ ounce each blended scotch such as Dewar's (save the single malt for sipping neat), Cherry Herring, sweet vermouth, and fresh squeezed orange juice (blood oranges seem appropriate, but not required). Shake well and strain into a cocktail glass. I also really like this drink with bourbon instead of the scotch; it is slightly reminiscent of a Manhattan.

Blood and Sand

¾ oz scotch whisky

¾ oz cherry herring

¾ oz sweet vermouth

¾ oz orange juice

Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a cocktail glass.

Rosita

I know that my long hiatus has left many of you longing for the early days of June when new recipes were coming out with some regularity. Well fear not, after a short recess for extensive “research,” I have the first tequila based cocktail to wet your whistle!

While many of the cocktails featured here have been rich in history, this one is a little hard to pin down. While the story does not have the cachet of most, it is a cocktail well worth enjoying. The best I have been able to come up with is it was deduced in the late eighties or early nineties (yes, nineteen, not eighteen) by a bartender/writer. The references I have found are all circular between three cocktail writers. One wrote about it and forgot about it until he read about it from another writer, the first writer then asked a third writer about it who told him the he (the first writer) had written it; or something along those lines, there are too many pronouns in this sentence for even me to follow, so let’s all just agree to move on to the best part, the drink!

I think I may be falling into a rut here as the supporting cast for this drink has become very familiar, in the coming weeks we’ll be breaking out of this shell and delving into brave new worlds. For the time being though, Campari, vermouth and bitters are here to stay. In an old fashioned glass full of ice, start with an ounce and a half of your favorite anejo tequila, I like Patron’s mild flavor for this drink. Add ½ ounce each of sweet vermouth, dry vermouth and Campari. A dash (or two) of Angostura bitters rounds out the ensemble. Stir well and garnish with a lime twist. Turn on your favorite Mariachi music and be prepared to sing along and dance til dawn!

Rosita

1 ½ oz anejo tequila

½ oz campari

½ oz sweet vermouth

½ oz dry vermouth

dash of angostura bitters

Build this cocktail in an ice filled old fashioned glass and garnish with a lime twist.

Boulevardier

          Boulevardier
          Pronunciation: \ˌbu̇-lə-ˌvär-ˈdyā, ˌbü-, -ˈdir\
          Function: noun
          Etymology: French, from boulevard
          Date: 1871
          a frequenter of the Parisian boulevards; a man-about-town

The name of the drink is enough to make a lesser man nervous. But have no fear; this is a drinking man’s cocktail.

The origin and history of this cocktail alone, should place it in the same company as the other bourbon based cocktail mainstays, unfortunately this red-headed step child of a drink has been relegated to second class status, known only in small but distinguished drinking circles.

Much like our third president, this drink is all American but very much at home in Paris. Harry McElhone, had been the bartender at the Plaza Hotel in New York prior to prohibition. Once Volstead’s law was passed he headed overseas to ply his trade. After a stint in London, he headed to France, eventually opening his own place. Harry’s New York Bar, maybe you’ve heard of it. The Boulevardier, first appeared in Harry’s 1927 bar guide, Barflies and Cocktails.

Similar to it’s cousin the Negroni, this concoction starts with Campari and sweet vermouth. The gin is replaced by bourbon. I like this drink on the rocks, but it can easily be shaken and served in a cocktail glass. Start with an ounce and a half of good bourbon, I like Gentleman Jack or a nice smooth small batch bourbon. Add an ounce of Campari and an ounce of sweet vermouth. This drink has the confidence to stand on it’s own, without the need for a garnish. This drink should be mixed, served and consumed with an extra air of panache.

Boulevardier

1 ½ oz bourbon

1 oz campari

1 oz sweet vermouth

Build this drink in an old fashioned glass full of ice.

Clementine Negroni

After a slight detour down Morning Buzz Boulevard, we have returned to our gin crusade with a variation on a truly timeless cocktail. I have always longed to love the Negroni, but have found myself infatuated by it’s Yankee cousin the Boulevardier; don’t let it’s ex-pat nom-de-guerre fool you, it's roots are one hundred percent American. This adaptation, or bastardization depending on whom you ask, adds a new flavor to this already complex drink. A gin connoisseur friend of mine was not a fan when I introduced him to the Negroni, he felt overwhelmed by the Campari. The solution is adding clementine juice, completely changing the taste of this drink, resulting in a balance that is pleasing to even the most discerning palate.

As this is a modern deviation, there is no need to delve deeply into the history of this cocktail, just read on and prepare your taste buds for a flavor explosion. As this is a perfect drink to share with a lady friend on a warm summer’s eve, this recipe is for two, adjust as your company dictates…

Start by placing three peeled clementines (or mandarin oranges, for simpletons like the author) in an over-sized shaker. Add four or five solid dashes of orange bitters and muddle thoroughly. Add two ounces Hendrick’s gin (I find the flavor more complimentary), two ounces Campari, and 1½ ounces of sweet vermouth. Fill shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Divide between two chilled cocktail glasses, garnish with clementine slices. Prepare to be praised excessively.

Clementine Negroni

3 clementines, peeled

5 dashes orange bitters

2 oz hendrick’s gin

2 oz campari

1 ½ oz sweet vermouth

Place clementines and orange bitters into a large shaker, muddles until fruit is pulverized. Add gin, campari and sweet vermouth. Fill with ice and shake vigorously. Divide between two chilled cocktail glasses, garnish with a clementine slice.

Satan's Whiskers

I’m slightly embarrassed to admit that gin is an area of cocktail knowledge where I am severely lacking for recipes that I really enjoy. I partially blame my devotion to bourbon for this deficiency; I also blame the fact that I have not taken the time to get past the very basics. To remedy this misfortune, I have committed to trying at least one new gin based cocktail per week for the next eight weeks. I was hoping to find three or four that are suitable for publication; on my first dive into the gin filled pool, I came up with a winner. With a name like Satan’s Whiskers how could I have gone wrong!

The earliest reference I could find to this cocktail is the original Savoy Cocktail Book from 1930. Craddock’s recipe is slightly different from mine; I prefer a little less orange juice and a little more Gran Marnier. I was worried that the orange flavor would overpower the rest of the drink, but the gin and sweet vermouth have a nice presence and provide good balance.

This is a fairly straightforward cocktail to make. Since juicing the orange is the only step that requires any effort that is where I like to start. I tried this using both Plymouth and Hendrick’s gin and preferred the flavor of the Hendrick’s, but with all of the other flavors going on, any decent gin should yield favorable results.

One note of caution, this is one of those drinks that can really sneak up on you!

Satan’s Whiskers

¾ oz gin

¾ oz dry vermouth

¾ oz sweet vermouth

½ oz gran marnier

½ oz orange juice

2 heavy dashes orange bitters

Put all ingredients into an ice filled shaker.  Shake vigorously.  Pour into a chilled cocktail glass.  Garnish with cherries and serve.

The Americano

Arriving on time to a birthday dinner Saturday night, I was of course the first one there so instead of sitting alone at a large table, I found my way to the bar. The establishment is one of the better restaurants in the city and serves very good Tuscan cuisine. I took a quick look at their wine list and drink menu, sitting at the very top was one of the simplest yet unique drinks that is in my usual summer rotation, the Americano.

What I really love about this drink is how easy it is to make, how well the flavors blend together, and that I can drink them by the gallon without falling over! What can be simpler than equal parts Campari and Sweet Vermouth served over ice? I find no garnish necessary, but an orange slice makes a nice accompaniment. The bitter flavor of the Campari really stands out so feel free to adjust the ratio if you like a sweater drink. This can also be mixed in a Collins glass and topped with club soda for a very refreshing summer drink.

Americano

2 oz campari

2 oz sweet vermouth

Pour the both ingredients into an ice filled glass and garnish with a slice of orange.

The Perfect Manhattan

The holy grail of my cocktailing career is the perfect Manhattan.  I thought it only appropriate to start the rebirth of this blog with this exceptional concoction.  The Manhattan is a true classic: simple, elegant and potent.  Thurber’s spot on quote about Martini’s is just as applicable here.

With only three ingredients (two if you omit the bitters), the perfect recipe comes down to the brands and the ratio of whiskey to vermouth.  For many years I stuck with a three to one ratio, but lately I have felt that the vermouth needed a slightly stronger presence, so I have switched to a two to one ratio.  The number of Sweet Vermouths available is relatively limited, making this selection easier.  My current favorite is Martini & Rossi. 

As for whiskey there are countless options here, bourbon, rye, Tennessee whiskey and Canadian whisky.  I have tried many variants.  Rye did not agree with me and the Canadian was a little too sweet. I was a die hard Maker’s Mark proponent but recently tried Gentleman Jack and have given it a slight edge.  Rounded out with a strong dash of angostura bitters and three cherries you have the perfect flavor balance.

Serve this devilishly good mixture in a chilled cocktail glass and enjoy every sip!

Manhattan

3 oz bourbon

1 ½ oz sweet vermouth

dash of angostura bitters

Combine everything in a cocktail shaker or pitcher with ice and mix.  Serve in a chilled cocktail glass with three cherries.