Basic Bar Drinks
- Although it is a popular recipe, the tomato juice-based cocktail is not for everyone. However, you want to have this in your arsenal of recipes just in case. To make a bloody Mary, add 1 1/4 oz. vodka to a glass of tomato juice and ice. Mix in a couple of dashes of black pepper, salt, tabasco sauce and Worcestershire sauce. Add celery salt to taste. Shake well and pour over ice. Garnish the drink with a celery stalk and lemon slice or green olives.
- Add a bit of sophistication to your bar menu with this cosmopolitan recipe. In a chilled mixing glass, add 2 oz. vodka, 1/4 oz. Grand Marnier or Cointreau, 1/4 oz. cranberry juice and a dash of lime cordial. Mix well. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with a slice of lime.
- Pour over ice in a hurricane or Collins glass 1 oz. each of gin, light tequila, light run, triple sec, sour mix and vodka. Fill the remainder of the glass with cola. This is a potent drink to sip on during a party. Garnish with a slice of lime and let your friends enjoy.
- Transport your guest to the big city with this classic cocktail. To create, add 2 oz. whiskey, 1/2 oz. sweet vermouth, and a dash of angostura bitters to a shaker with ice. Shake well. Then, pour the drink into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish the drink with a maraschino cherry.
- Margaritas are refreshing on hot summer days. Garnish the rim of the margarita glass with salt. Run a lime wedge around the rim of the glass to help the salt stick. To a blender, add 1 cup ice, 1 1/4 oz. tequila, 1 1/4 oz. traditional margarita mix and 1/2 oz. triple sec. Blend well and pour into the glass.
- This classic cocktail is a simple recipe to master. Shake 2 oz. gin and 1/2 oz. vermouth together in a shaker with ice. Pour into a cocktail glass and serve with an olive. The olive can be dropped into the glass by itself or skewered on a cocktail toothpick.
- You need a viva grande glass for this recipe. The viva grande glass is shaped like a figure eight. In a shaker, add ice. Pour in 2 oz. each pineapple juice, cream of coconut and light rum. Shake well and pour into the glass. Garnish with a slice of pineapple and a cherry. Skewer the cherry and pineapple with a cocktail toothpick.
- A bottle of dry red wine is the anchor to this recipe. In a punch bowl, add red wine, 1/2 cup brandy, 1/2 cup orange-flavored liqueur, 1/3 cup orange juice, 1/3 cup frozen lemonade, 1/4 cup lemon juice and ice. Stir well. Place in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve. When ready, pour in 2 cups chilled ginger ale. Garnish the sangria with fruit slices such as apples and pears.
- Sex on the beach has many variations, but start with learning the original recipe before attempting the spin-offs. In a tall glass, add ice to the just below the rim. Pour in 1 oz. each vodka, orange juice and cranberry juice. Fill the rest of the glass with peach schnapps. Skewer a cherry and orange slice for garnish.
- This sweet treat combines light cream, coffee liqueur and vodka. Fill an old-fashioned cocktail glass with ice. Add in 2 oz. vodka and 1 oz. coffee liqueur. Fill the rest of the glass with light cream. To make this sweet drink sweeter, top it off with whipped cream.
