SUPER BOWL 2014 FOOD & DRINKS!

This Sunday is Super Bowl and you can't have a Super Bowl without Super Bowl food, right? First of all you need BOOZE! Then you have to have those wings, pizzas, chips & dip and even something sweet!

Below are links to recipes for some of my favorite football enjoying food (let's be clear here, I'm not a huge football aficionado but I am a HUGE fan of football food!)

SUPER BOWL SIPS & SNACKS

PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY Updated 2-2017

Tropical Cocktails for National Escape Day

January 30th is National Escape Day. If you live in the Western Hemisphere, it's winter, it's cold and maybe even freezing. Who wouldn't want to escape to the tropics?
While it's not always possible to escape to a tropical location, it is possible to escape to a tropical happy hour with a cocktail. Below are myriad ways to do so.
COCONUT COCKTAILS DAIQUIRI COCKTAILS MOJITO COCKTAILS PINA COLADAS  PINEAPPLE COCKTAILS RUM COCKTAILS
KEEP CALM & ESCAPE!

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Updated 1-2017

56th GRAMMYS COCKTAILS & CUISINE

I don't know about you but I will be glued to the television screen tonight to watch the Grammy awards, if only to see if Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr perform together for the first time in decades!  Being who I am, I will be watching with cocktails and a little nosh.
So I did a little research and found out what they're serving to the Grammy nominees, officials, presenters and hangers-on. Here is the inside scoop on what the glitterati will be eating and drinking at the 56th Grammy Awards tonight:
At the Levy Restaurants and Staples Center executive chef Joseph Martin will be serving Grammy guests:
Braised Short Ribs Ahi Tuna Sandwiches Peking Duo Sandwiches
Sweet Chili Chicken Salad, made with Asian pears, toasted sesame seeds, chili-spiced cashews garnished with black and watermelon radishes and drizzled with honey-ginger dressing.
Atlantic Wild Salmon, cooked on charred cedar planks, gemstone potato salad and skewers of chicken tikka served over pistachio rice and garnished with mango-red pepper chutney.
Nicoise Salad, made with grilled artichokes and seared ahi tuna, and deviled eggs with candy bacon.
Chocolate Covered Strawberries. 
The official cocktail? The GRAMMY OLD FASHIONED featuring a miniature Grammy Award Ice Sculpture re-frozen inside a sphere of clear ice and a Grey Goose Vodka Martini rimmed with Gold!
GRAMMY OLD FASHIONED
2 Luxardo Maraschino Cherries 1 Tsp. Brown Sugar 2 Oz. Hudson Manhattan Rye Whiskey Dash Orange Bitters Candied Bacon* Orange Zest Garnish
Muddle the cherries and brown sugar in the bottom of an old fashioned glass. Add the whiskey, bitters and a large ice cube then stir thoroughly. Garnish with the candied bacon and the orange zest.
*Recipe for Candied Bacon
24K GREY GOOSE MARTINI
2 Oz. Grey Goose Vodka Splash Dry Vermouth Edible Gold Leaf Rim
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, pour the vodka and the vermouth and shake until chilled. Pour into a chilled martini glass.
The official after party will feature PATRÓN SPIRITS cocktails:
The PATRÓN GUITAR
1-1/2 Oz. Patrón Silver Tequila 1-1/2 Oz. Patrón Citrónge Orange Liqueur 2 Oz. Cranberry Juice 1 oz. Mango Juice Blackberry Garnish Served in a Mason jar 
The ULTIMATE MUSIC
1-1/2 Oz. Ultimat Vodka 1/4 Oz. Patrón Citrónge Orange Liqueur 2 Oz. Fresh Cranberry Juice 1 Oz. Fresh Orange Juice Orange Garnish Served in Cosmopolitan glass.
Here's a great slide show of the 2014 Grammys Nibbles, Nosh & Spirits.
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Vintage Cocktails: THE MANHATTAN

Current cocktail trends are doing a time warp towards great vintage cocktails, bringing a big resurgence in Post-Edwardian, pre and post Prohibition, Tiki and even sixties and seventies drinks to happy hour.  Interestingly, I seem to be right in tune with this retro kick and have been revisiting some of my favorite classic cocktail recipes for a while now, especially those involving whiskey. Probably a backlash from all my tinkering with those flavored vodkas back when I first got interested in cocktailing.

I particularly love a Manhattan. It's a classic cocktail whose origins are, like many vintage drinks, clouded in the mists of time. The first full written recipe occurred in 1884 in The Modern Bartenders' Guide but a reference was made in 1882 in The Sunday New Morning Herald of a whiskey, vermouth and bitters drink that was referred to alternately as a Manhattan, a Turf Club cocktail and a Jockey Club cocktail. 

Many vintage recipes called for a bit of maraschino liqueur and a few even popped up using absinthe and many used gum syrup (simple syrup with gum arabic) as well. Below is today's accepted standard recipe.

The original drink was most likely made with rye whiskey, as it was highly favored in New York in the 1800s. It is my preferred whiskey for a Manhattan as well, but others have used Canadian whiskeys and even Bourbon. As far as I'm concerned, the sweet vermouth isn't up for play.  If you use dry vermouth you have a Dry Manhattan and equal parts sweet and dry give you a Perfect Manhattan, just like you have in the Martini. See below for additional variations, including a couple of my own recipes.

The
MANHATTAN

INGREDIENTS

2 Oz. Rye Whiskey

3/4 Oz. Sweet Vermouth
2 Dashes of Angostura Bitters

Garnish: Cocktail Cherry

DIRECTIONS

Fill a mixing glass with ice.

Add ingredients.

Strain into a chilled cocktail glass, garnish and serve.

Voiceover Video with Ingredients and Instructions: 

VARIATIONS

• A Rob Roy, made with Scotch Whiskey instead of Rye
• A Dry Manhattan which uses Dry Vermouth in place of Sweet
• A Brandy Manhattan which is made with Brandy instead of Rye
• A Royal Manhattan which uses Crown Royal instead of Rye
• A Ruby Manhattan, made with port rather than vermouth
• A Metropolitan which is a Brandy Manhattan with a ratio of 3:1 cognac or brandy to vermouth
• The Chocolate Manhattan is a favorite way of mine for bringing in some chocolate to the mix. 
• The You Don't Need A Man, You Need A Manhattan is another chocolate version with a very special cherrywood rye out of my old stomping grounds in Sonoma.

Get the MANHATTAN COCKTAIL RECIPE ART on Posters & Prints, Party & Bar Supplies, Cards & More:

Get the MANHATTAN COCKTAIL RECIPE ART on Posters & Prints, Party & Bar Supplies, Cards & More:

Updated 3-2022
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BOURBON OLD FASHIONED COCKTAIL

HISTORY OF THE OLD FASHIONED:

The Old Fashioned is possibly one of the oldest drinks to be called a cocktail.  The earliest known printed use of the word “cocktail” was in 'The Farmer’s Cabinet' published in April 28, 1803 with the first definition of the word coming in May 13, 1806 in the 'Balance and Columbian Repository' and it's description is a very close approximation to the recipe for an Old Fashioned made with brandy:

“Cocktail is a stimulating liquor composed of spirits of any kind, sugar, water, and bitters — it is vulgarly called a bittered sling and is supposed to be an excellent electioneering potion, inasmuch as it renders the heart stout and bold, at the same time that it fuddles the head. It is said, also to be of great use to a Democratic candidate: because a person, having swallowed a glass of it, is ready to swallow anything else.”

The

Bourbon

OLD FASHIONED

INGREDIENTS

2 Oz. Well Aged Bourbon

2 Drops Angostura Bitters
1 Tsp. Sugar

(Or 1 Sugar Cube)
2 Orange Slices

Garnish:

Homemade Bourbon Maraschino Cherries

Orange Slice

DIRECTIONS

Classic (and Proper) Preparation

Add the sugar cube to an Old Fashioned glass (yup, that's why they're called Old Fashioned glasses).

Tap the bitters on the cube.

Add a dash of water to soften the sugar cube then muddle until sugar has dissolved.

Fill glass with ice.

Add your bourbon, stir to chill, garnish and serve. 

My (Pansy Ass*) Version

Muddle a teaspoon of sugar, 1 orange slice, bitters and a cherry in the bottom of your Old Fashioned glass.

Remove the orange rind.

Add ice to the glass, pour in the bourbon and stir gently until chilled.

Garnish with the second orange slice and more Homemade Bourbon Cherries.

*I admit to adding a little extra orange, an extra teaspoon of sugar and a bunch of extra cherries for my own personal version. Yes, I'm a bit of a pansy, but mainly this was exactly how I was introduced to the Old Fashioned way back when.

National Old Fashioned Day is June 14th and Old Fashioned Week is celebrated the first week in November.

VOICEOVER VIDEO WITH INGREDIENTS

MORE OLD FASHIONED COCKTAIL RECIPES

Updated 3-2021

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ESPRESSO YOURSELF COFFEE COCKTAIL on Coffee Break Day

ESPRESSO YOURSELF

COCKTAIL

1 Oz. Pinnacle Whipped Cream Vodka
2 Shots of Espresso
Splash of Half & Half
Whipped Cream
Shaved Dark Chocolate

Into a warmed coffee cup add your hot espresso, pour in the whipped cream vodka, add a splash of half & half, stir gently then top off with the whipped cream and garnish with some dark chocolate shavings.

Nothing easier and what a great way to perk up your coffee break!

Or you might like to try one of my other
COFFEE COCKTAILS

Updated November 2015

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CHEAP THRILLS COCKTAIL TRIBUTE TO JANIS JOPLIN

SOUTHERN COMFORT, CHEAP THRILLS AND THE BLUES
A COCKTAIL TRIBUTE TO
JANIS LYN JOPLIN
January 19, 1943 – October 4, 1970  

For a child of Woodstock, there is no female singer who holds a candle to Janis Joplin. Her whiskey soaked, bluesy voice and "Screw You" attitude endeared her to a generation of disenfranchised youth. Her music, along with her contemporaries, was the soundtrack to the whole hippie counterculture. 

Janis' philosophy was to have a good time, which included a goodly amount of alcohol, and her favorite libation was Southern Comfort. She was rarely without a bottle on her person and even knocked Jim Morrison out cold* with a bottle of of the liqueur** at their first meeting.. It's said the bottlers of Southern Comfort gave her the lynx coat she wore on the Pearl album (at her prodding) because she boosted their sales, though I can't find any hard and fast proof of this tale.
Her love of Southern Comfort is recorded for history by David Dalton, who writes of the contents of Janis' purse in his book "Piece of My Heart":
"two movie stubs, a pack of cigarettes, an antique cigarette holder, several motel and hotel room keys, a box of Kleenex, a compact and various make up cases (in addition to a bunch of eyebrow pencils held together with a rubber band), an address book, dozens of bits of paper, business cards, match box covers with phone numbers written in near-legible barroom scrawls, guitar picks, a bottle of Southern Comfort (empty), a hip flask, an opened package of complementary macadamia nuts from American Airlines, cassettes of Johnny Cash and Otis Redding, gum, sunglasses, credit cards, aspirin, assorted pens and writing pad, a corkscrew, an alarm clock, a copy of Time, and two hefty books-Nancy Milford's biography of Zelda Fitzgerald and Thomas Wolfe's Look Homeward, Angel."
Yes, Janis liked her Southern Comfort.

THE CHEAP THRILLS COCKTAIL     INGREDIENTS 4 Oz. Southern Comfort Liqueur Juice of One Lemon 2 Drops of Fee Brothers Peach Bitters 
2 Tablespoons of Honey

DIRECTIONS
Combine all the ingredients in a cool flask, give it a good shake, toss it in your purse (or pocket) and rock on.
Voiceover Video with Ingredients & Directions

A BIT ABOUT THE CHEAP THRILLS ALBUMThe Cheap Thrills Album by Big Brother and the Holding Company was released on August 12th, 1968 and is the last one where Janis performed with the band before going solo in December of that same year. The album cover was drawn by underground cartoonist Robert Crumb to replace the original cover idea of the group in bed together naked, an idea frowned upon by the record company.  Joplin loved Crumb's work and insisted on this illustration being used as the substitute cover though it had originally been planned for the back cover. This album design hit number nine on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Greatest Album Covers. The album itself was ranked #338 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.Not only was the original cover idea rejected by Colombia Records, the original album name - Sex, Dope and Cheap Thrills - was vetoed as well and Cheap Thrills became the album name.
SOME JANIS JOPLIN TRIVIA 

• Janis' nickname in The Haight was Pearl
• The movie The Rose was based loosely on Janis' life.
• Her last recording was a birthday greeting (Happy Trails To You) for John Lennon.
• Her ashes were scattered into the Pacific Ocean along Stinson Beach, by the San Francisco Bay.
• The first record Joplin ever bought was by Leadbelly.
• She was a huge fan of Billie Holiday, carrying an autobiography of the legendary singer with her to San Francisco.
• She once worked as a computer programmer.

Joplin's last public performance, with the Full Tilt Boogie Band, took place on August 12, 1970, at the Harvard Stadium in Boston. Janis Joplin died at age 27, October 4, 1970. 

"Don't compromise yourself. You are all you've got." ~ Janis Joplin

"When I get scared and worried," she said at the time, "I tell myself, 'Janis, just have a good time.' So I juice up real good and that's just what I have."
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PEARL. Here's hoping Heaven's bar carries Southern Comfort.
* Break On Through: The Life and Death of Jim Morrison
** Contrary to popular believe, Southern Comfort in NOT a whiskey as contains only neutral spirits, fruit flavors, spices and "whiskey flavorings" and not any actual whiskey (except for the "Special Reserve" version).  Classified as a "liqueur" Southern Comfort has a distinct peach flavor with a bite from the spices and a bit of smoky aftertaste from the "whiskey flavorings".
Updated January 19th, 2022 PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY

WATERMELON ROSEMARY GIN SOUR

With the availability of produce from all over the world it's easy to indulge in a summer cocktail even in the dead of winter.  Believe it or not it's been in the high 70's here for the last week and right about cocktail time is the warmest part of the day so I was craving something cool and refreshing.   This Watermelon Rosemary Gin Sour is truly more of a summer cocktail, but thanks to the global fruit availability I happened to have one of those nice little "personal" watermelons to bring to the cocktail shaker.  A little lime, a splash of sparkling water and some honey and I was chilling on my deck with the sun setting on a warm Arizona winter day.

I bowed to winter with the addition of the rosemary, it is after all January!!
Get my recipe for this: WATERMELON ROSEMARY GIN SOUR   
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APRICOT LAVENDER BOURBON SOUR COCKTAIL

 

I happen to be having a tiny little love affair with bourbon right now and I had a sweet little jar of apricot preserves from Crofter's Organic so I thought to do an apricot version of my Blackberry Jam Bourbon Sour.  I do love whiskeys and bourbons in cold weather, they just warm you up from top to bottom as they slide down.  Add some acid and some sweetness and mix in a fresh herb and you have a lovely winter cocktail.

The apricot jam and lavender syrup bring the sweet element, the lavender syrup and garnish bring a subtle floral essence, the orange brings the citrus (the sour portion), the orange twist adds a nice little dash of bitterness and the bourbon brings the happy!

APRICOT LAVENDER BOURBON SOUR

2 Oz. Bourbon
Juice of One Large Orange
1 Tablespoon of Lavender Syrup
(recipe for the syrup below)
2 Tablespoons of Apricot Jam
Sprig of Fresh Lavender
Twist of Orange

Warm the apricot jam with the orange juice in the microwave for about 15 to 30 seconds - long enough to thin the jam only. Fill a chilled cocktail glass with ice, pour in your whiskey, the lavender syrup, and the lemon juice/apricot jam mixture. Stir until chilled, twist the orange over the top, drop in then garnish with the lavender spring and serve.

If you prefer you can add all the ingredients except the garnishes to an ice filled cocktail shaker and shake up your cocktail then pour into your glass.

Lavender Syrup

Bring 2 cups of sugar and 1-1.2 cups water to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir as the sugar dissolves. Remove from burner and add 5 large springs of lavender. Cover and let the lavender steep until the syrup has cooled. Strain mixture through a fine mesh strainer into a clean squirt bottle with a cap. This should keep if refrigerated for a month or longer.

Cheers & Enjoy!

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COCKTAILS, BIRTHDAYS and LIFE

Today is my birthday. I'm not going to tell you exactly how old I am, suffice to say I'm old enough to know better but still young enough to ignore the warnings occasionally. I attribute my not-so-great-but-still-respectable age to a young at heart attitude and my habit of observing Happy Hour on a daily basis.
The civilized ritual of stopping work at a proper hour, enjoying friends and good conversation and sipping a cocktail or two relaxes the mind, allows time for laughter and helps to keep a balanced perspective on life. These are all touted as good medicine for a long life. The fact that having a little booze in moderation is now proven to be beneficial to your health doesn't hurt the equation either.
At this point in my life I am a devout believer in moderation in all things except, occasionally, moderation. Part of being young is indulging yourself, getting a little crazy and being passionate about something in your life and this doesn't have to stop as you pile up the years and the candles on your birthday cake.
Don't let a number take away your joy or dictate your life. Age, as they say, is all in the attitude. If you want to live longer then live! Get out there every day and do, dream, love and laugh....and have a cocktail at happy hour!
Today I plan on doing just that.

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COCKTAILS for the GOLDEN GLOBES

For this year's airing of The GOLDEN GLOBES I've put together six fun cocktail recipes to fit in with a Golden Hollywood theme. First are three golden cocktails and the second three are La La Land inspired.

This year's Golden Globe Drinking Game? Take a sip every time someone gets political.

"Overture, curtains, lights
This is it, you'll hit the heights
And oh what heights we'll hit
On with the show this is it!"

Enjoy the Show.

THE GOLDEN CADILLAC

THE GOLDEN NECTARINE

1 Oz. Peach Vodka
1/2 Oz. Peach Brandy
1 Large, Fresh Nectarine

(reserve a slice for the garnish)
1/2 Cup Cream

Put all the ingredients except the nectarine slice into a blender and pulse blend until smooth. Pour into a chilled coupe glass, place the nectarine slice on the rim and serve.

THE GOLDEN MIMOSA

1 Oz. Pineapple Juice
1 Oz. Orange Juice
Champagne

Edible Gold Flakes

Pour chilled pineapple and orange juices into a chilled Champagne flute, top off with the Champagne and garnish with a sprinkle of edible gold flakes.

THE GINGER ROGERS

1 Oz. Gin
1 Oz. Dry Vermouth
1 Oz. Apricot Brandy
1/4 Oz. Lemon Juice
Lemon Twist

Shake gin, vermouth, apricot brandy and lemon juice with ice in a cocktail shaker and shake until chilled. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with the lemon twist.

CARMEN MIRANDA MARTINI

1 Oz. Dark Rum
1/2 Oz. Spiced Rum
1 Oz. Pineapple Juice
1/2 Oz. Tangerine Juice
1 Tablespoon Coconut Cream
Slice of Fresh Pineapple
Edible Orchid

Add the rums, pineapple juice, tangerine juice and coconut cream to an ice filled cocktail shaker and shake vigorously until well mixed and chilled. Pour into a chilled martini glass and garnish with the fresh pineapple and the edible orchid.

THE CHARLIE CHAPLIN

1 Oz. Apricot Brandy
1 Oz. Sloe Gin
1 Oz. Fresh Lime Juice
Lime Twist

Pour the apricot brandy, sloe gin and lime juice into an ice filled cocktail shaker and shake until chilled.  Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with the lime twist.

Charlie Chaplin Tribute reprinted with permission from PopArtDiva Dot Com.

Updated January 8, 2017

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BLACKBERRY JAM BOURBON SOUR

  The BLACKBERRY JAM BOURBON SOUR   I was sent some coupons to try out some Crofter's Organic Jams & Spreads in some cocktail recipes and I picked up several flavors, one being blackberry.  I happen to love blackberry jams and I felt it would be dynamite with some nice, aged bourbon.  I was right!
Ingredients: 2 Oz. Aged Bourbon 1-1/2 Oz. Fresh Lemon Juice 3 Tablespoons of Crofter's Blackberry Spread (Jam) 1 Tablespoon of Local Organic Honey* Fresh Blackberries & Mint Sprig for Garnish
Directions: Chill your cocktail glass in the freezer.  Warm the Crofter's and the honey in the microwave for 20 seconds then add to your ice filled cocktail shaker.  Pour in the bourbon and lemon juice and shake until icy cold. Garnish with the fresh blackberries and the mint sprig and enjoy.   I also picked up some of Crofter's Apricot so be on the lookout for an Apricot Bourbon Sour in the near future!

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The ELVIS SPECIAL - A Peanut Butter Banana Martini

Today is Elvis Presley's birthday and to honor The King I have created a cocktail inspired by his favorite sandwich, a grilled peanut butter and banana concoction his mother used to make for him. If you've never tried this combination, I suggest you do as it's really a great sandwich. It also makes a pretty fun cocktail.

Now let's get down to Taking

 Care of Business:

The
ELVIS SPECIAL
PEANUT BUTTER & BANANA
MARTINI

1-1/2 Oz. Castries Peanut Rum Creme
(You may substitute Frangelico)

1/2 Oz. Bols Banana Liqueur
1/2 Banana
Chocolate Syrup
Crushed Peanuts
Banana Slice

Rim your martini glass with the chocolate syrup, then dip in the crushed peanuts. Chill the glass in the freezer. Add 1/2 cup of ice to a blender then add the Castries, half of banana and the banana liqueur and blend until smooth. Pour into your chilled glass and garnish with a banana slice and enjoy!

"Ladies & Gentleman, Elvis Has Left the Planet"

Art Tribute by PopArtDiva.Com.

Updated January 2019.

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TUXEDOS AND TALES of Downton Abbey Cocktails

Updated March 6, 2016

DRINKING DOWNTON ABBEY STYLE

Tonight we Yanks settle in for the final episode of Downton Abbey and I don't know about you, but I intend to enjoy my last moments of my favorite lords, ladies and post-Edwardian, upstairs-downstairs hi-jinks with a nice vintage cocktail or two!

The new cocktail rage from across the pond (that would be us upstart Prohibition defying folks here in America) was introduced to the Crawley manse in the past few seasons, bringing some good old Yankee know-how to the liquor cabinets of the social hierarchy of Yorkshire.

As top hats and tails gave way to tuxedos and the landed gentry saw their world turn topsy-turvy, glasses were filled with a widening array of early twentieth century libations as the upper classes of British society embraced the American happy hour. The Crawleys' world changed and their drinking habits followed suit.

For this final episode enjoy this vintage taste of the era, the Tuxedo Cocktail #2 which makes use of two ingredients stocked in all proper English parlors, gin and sherry. It then goes all speakeasy and gets downright flapper on the English aristocracy with some serious Volstead Act nose-thumbing spirits.

Grab your cocktail pitchers, stir up a batch and salute the final episode of one of the best period dramas on television:

THE TUXEDO MARTINI #2

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The TUXEDO COCKTAIL

A LITTLE HISTORY OF THE TUXEDO COCKTAIL:

The Tuxedo Cocktail dates back to the late 1800s, though like many vintage cocktails, it gained popularity during Prohibition as a way to mask the impurities of bathtub gins and inferior, unregulated alcohols. It is an adaptation of a classic gin martini.

Named for Tuxedo Park, NY, the original Tuxedo cocktail recipes were gin based, martini inspired and could contain dry vermouth or sherry or both. Some included a maraschino liqueur in later decades (the early 1930s) and all contain a few drops of orange bitters.

This Tuxedo Martini #2 is my favorite way to enjoy this vintage cocktail:

THE TUXEDO MARTINI #2

2 Ounces Plymouth Gin

3/4 Ounces Fino (dry) Sherry

1/4 Ounces Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur

2 Dashes Orange Bitters

Absinthe Rinse

Maraschino Cherry (homemade!)

Lemon Twist

Chill a coupe glass in the freezer.

Fill your cocktail pitcher with ice then add the gin, sherry, Maraschino liqueur and orange bitters and stir until chilled.

Rinse the inside of your chilled coupe with absinthe then discard the excess.

Strain stirred ingredients into your chilled coupe.

Garnish with the cherry and lemon twist.

Updated 4-2018

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