Most of us mere mortals would be hard-pressed to make water out of wine. But vinegar? Anyone can swing that—all you need to do is subject a bottle to suboptimal storage conditions for a long enough time. Chances are, you’re already familiar with the limitations of lower-proof alcoholic beverages like wine and beer: most properly … Read more
Thank you, thank you for giving the classic dry gin martini its proper elevated place. I consider every exotic variant – chocolate martini?? aberrant and unworthy of the name. It’s said that Churchill’s favored mix began with icy cold gin, followed by a glance across the room at a bottle of vermouth. Very dry!! My … Read more
The Siesta is a citrusy, tangy tequila creation that’s “here to raise you from the dead of winter,” says former drinks editor Alex Delaney: “To shout through a bullhorn made from fruit, sunshine, and booze that it’s time to wake the hell up.” Often overlooked next to heavy hitters like the margarita and paloma, the … Read more
Step 1 Bring 4 cups water to a simmer in a medium saucepan. Remove from heat and add 4 mint tea bags and ⅓ cup sugar; let sit 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove tea bags, gently pressing with a spoon to extract as much liquid as possible. Stir to dissolve sugar. Step 2 … Read more
A slice of ripe watermelon cannot be improved upon—unless you add a sprinkle of salt. This juicy pitcher drink goes one step further, adding a little heat in the salt mix on the rim of each glass. Lemon and just a touch of bitter Campari balance the ripe summer sweetness of watermelon juice and strawberry … Read more
This creamy blended coffee cocktail takes its cues from banana coffee, a popular mix of morning joe and frozen banana. Bold cold-brew coffee concentrate takes well to the earthy, softly smoky flavors of mezcal, cinnamon, and vanilla, and the frozen banana adds luxurious texture and a touch of sweetness to the drink. Serve at brunch … Read more
Not to be confused with the morning espresso drink, the Americano cocktail is meant to start your evening. The lightly alcoholic drink is a touch bitter; it whets your appetite and goes wonderfully with little predinner snacks. The formula is simple: a mix of bitter liqueur and fruity fortified wine lightened with sparkling water. Build … Read more
The Garibaldi served at Dante in New York is one of my favorite cocktails of all time—the simple combination of fluffy freshly squeezed orange juice and bitter Campari is, frankly, flawless. But lots of great drinks are even more fun when they’re frozen, and this low-ABV, brunch-friendly little number is no exception. Rather than starting … Read more
As with many classic drinks, the screwdriver cocktail has a long lineage. As legend has it, American soldiers stationed overseas during World War II created proto-screwdrivers by mixing orange juice with local neutral spirits. As vodka’s popularity grew across the United States throughout the 20th century, savvy producers like Smirnoff positioned the easy cocktail recipe … Read more
It’s easy to confuse Blue Hawaiian and Blue Hawaii, two similarly named tropical cocktail recipes with nearly identical vibrant blue colors. But the two have different ingredients and origin stories. The Blue Hawaii dates to 1957 when Harry Yee, a bartender at what’s now the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Resort in Honolulu, Hawaii, created a … Read more