BevX.com

[DanielJones]

Ok, here is one for those that enjoy a little spirits in their hot cocoa.

Rummy Hot Chocolate
In the holiday season we are encouraged to play with comforting cocktails. There is nothing more comforting than taking a childhood favorite and tweaking it for adult only consumption.
Hot chocolate is easy to put together but it is something that we have sadly relegated to instant preparations from ready-made mixes. Treat yourself and your friends to some homemade goodness and be a hero once again. Make this recipe once and you will be calling for a hot chocolate session every winter weekend.
If you would like to make hot chocolate for the whole family see our feature on the Return of Hot Chocolate.

Method
In a heavy saucepot add the milk and espresso bringing the mixture to a boil. Once at a boil remove it from the heat and add the chocolate whisking to combine. Cover and chill the mixture overnight or at least three hours.
When you are ready to serve, heat the mixture to just below a simmer. Remove the pot from the heat and add the pumpkin pie spice, Rum, and Liqueur stirring to combine. Divide among four mugs and top with a dollop of fresh whipped cream and dust with ground cinnamon.

http://www.bevx.com/node/1267



Enjoy and may that Merry your Christmas right up!

Cheers!

Dan

[DanielJones]

Here is a simple yet nice cocktail for scotch lovers.

Hopscotch
Whisky cocktails are back in favor and for good reason; Whisky brings a lot to the party in terms of flavor. Whisky pairs well with both savory and sweet. Hopscotch is a classic cocktail that combines just two Spirits with a dash or two of bitters for an accent.

We have seen some versions of the Hopscotch that include an Irish Cream but we far prefer the version included here at BevX with the semi-sweet and multilayered flavors of Sweet Vermouth. Enjoy.

http://www.bevx.com/cow/hopscotch



Cheers!

Dan

[DanielJones]

Here is one for those that are looking for a more tart and simple drink. The Red Lion Cocktail.

Red Lion Cocktail
The Red Lion is a great old cocktail hails from London and was first seen in print (we think) in the Café Royal Cocktail Book, 1937. We love its simplicity, its balance, and its drinkability.
This is a great cocktail to call for in any bar as most any bar worthy of being open will have the ingredients and can make this for you on the spot. The orange bitters is optional but we like the little tart accent it provides.

Method
Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with a scoopful of ice. Shake well and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. No garnish is required but an orange slice would be welcomed.

http://www.bevx.com/cow/redlion

Cheers!

Dan

[DanielJones]

Here's one for the Canuks with Gumption.

Gault's Gumption
This is a great classic cocktail that is based on a rye-centric Canadian Whiskey. It can also be made with a Rye Whiskey as is the fashion today.
It has the right touch of sweetness with a firm Whiskey backbone, which makes it a rather warming cocktail despite it being served cold.

Method
Add all ingredients to a mixing glass or cocktail shaker half filled with ice. Stir well (don't shake) and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a lemon twist if you like but it does not require a garnish.

http://www.bevx.com/cow/gault_gumption



Cheers!

Dan

[DanielJones]

Another tasty one to warm the spirit. No pun intended.

Napoleon Cocktail
It is recorded that Napoleon’s favorite wine was Chambertin, a great Grand Cru Burgundy from the Côte de Nuits. His favorite Cognac is said to have been Courvoisier. How does that relate to this cocktail that bears his name? We have no idea.
We love this cocktail as it is yet another fantastic three-ingredient cocktail that can be made in virtually every bar. The Gin base of this drink with classic modifiers conspires to create a tasty result. It’s happy hour somewhere.

Method
Add all ingredients to a mixing glass with a scoopful of ice. Stir well for ten seconds and then strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a lemon twist or slice.

http://www.bevx.com/cow/napoleon



Cheers!

Dan

[DanielJones]

Here is a new one to treat the taste buds of us Irish Whiskey lovers.

Blackthorne
The Blackthorne is a lovely old Whiskey cocktail that is in the Manhattan family relying on a base of Whiskey. However, we find the Blackthorne to be more than just a Manhattan with a unique twist. The deep and mellow flavors of Irish Whiskey provide the perfect canvas for the supporting ingredients and the Absinthe adds a distinctive punch.
This old favorite is one of the featured cocktails in the upcoming Ultimate Cocktail Challenge.

Method
In a cocktail shaker stir all ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a lemon zest twisted over the top of the drink and dropped into the drink.

http://www.bevx.com/cow/blackthorne



It just sounds out and out tasty.

Cheers!

Dan

[DanielJones]

Here's a good classic. Whiskey Sour.
http://bevx.com/node/1144

Whiskey Sour
Regular readers at BevX know that we are subscribers to the theory that less is often more. This cocktail illustrates this point perfectly. Just two ingredients (Okay, we confess that the sour mix has several ingredients but this mixer can be used in countless recipes.) are required while the flavors are certainly more than a sum of its parts. It’s a cocktail that punches well above its weight and it’s a great choice for your next cocktail party.

Method
Add the pair of ingredients to a cocktail shaker along with a handful of ice. Shake vigorously to obtain the perfect mix and healthy foam. Keep the garnish simple. An orange slice or perhaps or a maraschino cherry is all that is needed.

Cheers!

Dan

[DanielJones]

Now here is one that has piqued my interest.

Irish Siesta
This complex yet refreshing cocktail utilizes the deep and mellow flavors of blended Irish Whiskey in an unexpected way by marrying it with flavors from south of the border. I absolutely love the flavor of tamarind and the sodas made with this unique fruit. (Tamarind soda can be found in most every Mexican market.) Together the ingredients combine to create unique flavors that won’t soon be forgotten.

Method
Combine the first three ingredients in a shaker with a handful of ice. Shake well and pour off into a tall glass filled with ice. Top with the tamarind soda and stir to combine.

http://bevx.com/cow/irish_siesta

Cheers!

Dan

[DanielJones]

Really. if you want a nice refreshing drink the Irish Siesta is on point.

Cheers!

Dan