margarita

Never, never serve one slushed.

2 oz tequila
1½ oz triple sec
2 oz lime juice

Combine over ice in an old fashioned glass.

Alternate: combine in a shaker over ice, and strain into a cocktail glass.

sazerac

I first tried the Sazerac at a packed New Orleans bar in the Lower Queen Anne neighborhood of Seattle called Toulouse Petit. The bartender spent a while slowly building the drink, and the result was unexpected. You can achieve 90% of the effect with much less effort. Just go easy on the absinthe.

1 ½ oz rye whiskey
1 tsp sugar
3 dashes Peychaud’s Bitters
¼ oz absinthe or herbsaint

By tradition: Pack an old fashioned glass with ice. In second glass, dissolve the sugar in rye and bitters. Discard the ice, and coat the glass with absinthe; discard the excess. Pour the whiskey mixture into the chilled glass.

Or, dissolve the sugar in the whiskey and bitters, add a couple of ice cubes, a few drops of absinthe, and call it good.

jersey soda

Because every cocktail list needs a crazy drink. A friend discovered this in eastern Washington. Tastes like an Italian soda.

2 oz Pinnacle Whipped Cream Vodka
3-4 oz diet cherry 7Up. Maybe more.

Combine over ice. Add a straw.

bourbon crusta

Two options for this one. The first is simple, and fruity. The second is more citrusy and complex.

Option #1
1 ½ oz bourbon
½ oz triple sec or curacao
¼ oz luxardo maraschino
¼ lemon juice

Option #2
2 oz bourbon
½ oz triple sec
½ oz lemon juice
2 dashes Angostura bitters
1 drop cardamom bitters

Combine in a shaker over ice, and strain into a cocktail glass.

kir normand

We discovered this in Normandy. It replaces the champagne in a Kir Royale with cider as is fitting Normandy’s agricultural specialty. The splash of calvados (apple brandy) gives it a little extra kick.

2¼ oz hard cider
½ oz crème de cassis
½ oz calvados

Combine over ice in an old fashioned glass.

Alternate: Chill ingredients, and serve without ice in champagne flute.

greyhound

Some people will tell you that greyhounds demand vodka. There’s few vodka drinks that cannot be improved with gin.

2 oz gin
2 oz grapefruit juice
splash of triple sec

Combine in a shaker over ice, and strain into a cocktail glass.

Alternate: vodka

fallen guru

Inspired by a friend’s brush with a cultish guru.

2 oz bourbon or whiskey
2 oz chai with milk

Combine over ice in an old fashioned glass.

Recommendation:
1 oz Morning Glory Chai (or other spicy and not sweet chai)
1 oz vanilla soy milk

sidecar

The most classic of classic cocktails. And, my first. You always remember your first.

2 oz brandy
1 oz triple sec
1 oz lemon juice

Combine in a shaker over ice, and strain into cocktail glass.

last word

Classic cocktail, rediscovered at the Zig Zag Café in Seattle.

1 oz gin
1 oz green chartreuse
1 oz Luxardo Maraschino
1 oz lime juice

Combine in shaker over ice, and strain into a cocktail glass.

white russian

Because really, who doesn’t like a nice white Russian?

2 oz vodka
1½ oz kahula
2 oz cream

Combine over ice in an old fashioned glass.