Terminology

Bitters
As their name suggests, bitters are a bitter additive made from hundreds of herbs, spices and plants used to flavor cocktails. The come in four basic tastes: sweet, sour, bitter, salty. (Yes, sweet bitters. Go figure.) Use them in moderation, too many can ruin a cocktail.

Dirty
A Dirty Martini will have olive juice added to the cocktail, slightly clouding it.

Dry
A Dry Martini will have a small amount of Vermouth. When more Vermouth is added, the martini becomes “wetter.”
Learn terms associated
with martini recipes, like dry martini, dirty martini, layering, let it
stand, rimming, straight up and more,

Learn terms associated
with martini recipes, like dry martini, dirty martini, layering, let it
stand, rimming, straight up and more,

Jigger
Composed of two metal cups (back to back), one cup larger than the other. The larger cup normally holds 1.5 ounces, and the smaller one, 1 ounce. Used to measure liquids.

Layering
A cool technique that gives cocktails a layered look. Some liquors are heavier or denser than others, which causes a natural separation where one will sink below or float on top of another.

Let Stand
This is when you pour your ingredients into an ice-filled shaker and don’t shake it. You are just “letting it stand” for a minute or so, then straining it into a martini glass.

Muddling
A wand-like instrument, similar to a mortar in chemistry, about 6-8 inches long, made of wood or glass that is used to mash up non-liquid cocktail ingredients that will be mixed with the liquid. It’s usually done in a mixing glass, pint glass, or shaker.

Olive Pick
A fancy toothpick used to hold olives.

On the Rocks
This is a drink with ice in it.

Part
A part refers to the relative amount of an ingredient, NOT a fixed amount. For example, if a recipe calls for 1 part X and 2 parts Y, then the final drink should have twice as much as X as it does Y. This way you can make the drink as big or little as you want.

Rimming
Some cocktails call for sugar or some other ingredient on the rim of the martini glass. This is done by wetting the rim first, with water or flavored juice, then dipping the rim in sugar and coating it.

Rinse
Some recipes call for a glass to be “rinsed” with a particular liqueur, like Vermouth. This simply means that you need to place a small amount of the liqueur in the glass and swirl it around so that the inside of the glass is evenly coated. Pour out any extra liqueur after rinsing.

Roll
Take the contents of the glass the drink has been mixed in, pour into the shaker and then pour it directly back into the same glass.

Scoring
A score is a very long twist of lime, lemon or orange, ideally 2-3 inches long. This is a beautiful garnish for any cocktail. Simply dangle it over the lip of the glass.

Shake
When you take a cocktail shaker filled with ingredients and ice, and physically shake it to mix and cool your ingredients, this is shaking.

Shaker
A martini shaker is a stainless steel or glass container filled with alcohol and ice. It is used for mixing the drink.

Stir
The other method of mixing your drinks. Add your ingredients into an ice filled pitcher and stir, mixing and chilling your ingredients. If you need to use a cocktail shaker, rock gently back and forth.

Straight Up
A Straight Up, or just Up, drink has no ice. This is the opposite of “On the Rocks.”

Strainer
A device that fits onto the top of a tumbler which allows you to pour the liquid into a glass, while keeping the ice in the shaker.

Twist
A garnish made from the rind of a lemon, lime or orange.

[source]

Candy Martinis

As if they weren't sweet enough already, here are some cool candy flavored martinis to soothe even the sweetest tooth. Bubblegum Martini Ingredients: 2 oz. Three Olives Bubblegum Vodka 1 oz. Cask & Cream Splash of grenadine Directions Shake all the ingredients together with ice Strain into a chilled martini glass Sweet-Tart Lollipop Martini Ingredients DeKuyper Razzmatazz Raspberry Schnapps - 1/4 shot Absolut Citron - 1/4 shot Amaretto - 1/4 shot Bacardi Limon Rum - 1/4 shot Peach Schnapps - 1/4 shot Lemonade - fill Directions Mix all ingredients in a Collins glass over ice (if a 32 oz. glass is available double all the ingredients), mix in a shaker and serve with a cherry. Serve in a Collins Glass Cotton Candy Martini Ingredients Raspberry flavored vodka, 2 oz Chambord (Raspberry liqueur), 1 oz Grenadine, a splash Champagne, a splash Pink cotton candy, a generous chunk Crushed ice Sugar Directions Chill your martin

Cocktails with Funny Names

So we are all familiar with drinks like Cosmos, Dirty Martinis, Manhattans, Red Headed Sluts and Irish Car Bombs but what about other drinks that are a little more kookier? Like have you ever heard of a James the Evil Leprechaun, Sex with an Alligator or Smoker’s Cough (the ingredients to this one is groooosssss!) I know that I haven't but apparently they are pretty popular and some (with exception to Smoker's Cough) actually sound pretty good and are easy to make. Here is a listing of other cool cocktails that I have found that have some pretty interesting names. Rooster Tail 1 shot Jose Cuervo® Especial gold tequila 1 shot orange juice 1 shot tomato juice 1 dash salt Lick hand, add salt, and lick salt. Consume quickly as shots, in order; Jose Cuervo, orange juice, and tomato juice. Barking Spider 1 1/2 oz Tarantula Azul Tequila 1 1/2 oz Blue Curacao liqueur 3/4 oz Bacardi® 151 rum 1 dash triple sec 1 dash sweet and sour mix 1 splash orange juice. Serv

Really, really gross cocktail names

So if Pink Squirrels and Spicy Chuiahuas weren't bad enough here are some cocktails that sound so gross it's hard to imagine they'd taste good. I will even put the cocktail on a rating list of thumbs up and thumbs down if it's not that bad, maybe even good or if it is just out right gross: Duck Fart Jack Daniel’s® Whiskey, Amaretto Almond Liqueur, Bailey’s® Irish cream Rating: Thumbs Up I like whiskey and the ingredients are super yummy. Smoker’s Cough Jagermeister, Mayonnaise Rating: Thumbs Down Who the hell puts mayonnaise in their drinks . Panty Remove r Lemon Gin, Sprite, Grenadine Rating: Thumbs Up Sounds tasty enough to remove even the toughest panties. James the Evil Leprechaun Jameson® Irish Whiskey, Bushmills® Irish Whiskey, Tullamore Dew® Irish Whiskey, Powers® Irish Whiskey Rating: Thumbs Up Like I said...I like whiskey...a lot. Sex with an Alligator Sweet and Sour Mix, Midori® Melon Liqueur, Raspberry Liqueur, Jagermeister® He

Yummy Autumn Cocktails

While the weather is getting slightly chillier and the days are getting darker earlier, all the tall tell signs of fall are closing in quickly! Time to break out the cinnamon and spices and prepare some fall cocktails. Yamazaki Autumn Delight All of my readers should know by now how much I love whiskey! Here is a great whiskey recipe perfect for the fall. Ingredients: 2 oz Yamazaki 12 year old whiskey 6 oz Apple Cider Fresh cinnamon Preparation: Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake and strain into an ice filled old-fashioned glass . Dust with fresh cinnamon. Garnish with 2 apple slices and a cinnamon stick. Banana Nut Bread Martini Serves 1 From Christina Torres, mixologist at Geisha. 1 ounce Frangelico liqueur 1/2 ounce banana liqueur 1 ounce biscotti liqueur Dash of ground cinnamon 1/2 banana sprinkled with cinnamon and mint leaf, for garnish Directions In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine all ingredients except the ba

Halloween Themed Drinks/Shots

Building your cocktail list for your upcoming Halloween party, or just want to try some fun drinks with the girls? Here are a few cocktail and shot recipes that are sure to be as big of a hit as they are creepy! Brain Hemorrhage This shot definitely more tasty than it looks! Using Baileys and grenadine definitely adds to the "brainy" affect, even in a small shot glass! Ingredients/ Directions: 1/2 - 3/4 oz. Peach Schnapps Float 1-2 Tbl. of Baileys on top Drop 1 tsp of grenadine through the Baileys. Theatrical magic . . . and it tastes like Peaches and Cream! Pumpkin Punch Make this festive Halloween cocktail throughout the fall. This is the perfect mild cocktail to serve your guests. Serve in a martini glass and garnish with a black licorice straw or black and white peppermint stick. The bright orange color is super-festive for Halloween! Ingredients 2 cups orange juice 2 cups chilled sparkli

Pumpkin Cocktails!

It's official- it is now fall. Time to break out the comfy sweaters and prepare for the brisk days ahead. With Halloween being less that thirty days away why wait until get your hands on a yummy pumpkin treat? Here are a few recipes that sure to warm up the chilliest afternoon! Pumpkin Milkshake Ingredients 2 Oz Dark Rum 1 Can Pumpkin Puree 1 Pint Vanilla Ice Cream, softened 4 Cup(s) Skim Milk 1 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon 1/2 Teaspoon Ground Nutmeg Whipped Cream (Optional) Directions Place the pumpkin, ice cream, milk, cinnamon, and nutmeg into a blender. Blend slowly until thickened. Serve with a dollop of whipped cream on top, if you'd like. To make this drink pregnant friendly just remove the rum from the recipe! Pumpkin Cocktails- from Girlydrinks.com Spiced Pumpkin Pie Martini Spiced Pumpkin Pie Ingredients 4 ounces vodka Pumpkin spice 1 ounce Vanilla vodka Spiced Pumpkin Pie Recipe Pour all of the liquid ingredients into a shaker of ice; shake. Strain ma

Heeeeey Margarita!

Who doesn't love a good margarita during the summer? Be it blended or on the rocks, these tasty treats can be easily made and decorated with great fruits! Here are a few recipes to try! El Patron -A generous pour of Patron® Silver Tequila (100% Blue Agave), Cointreau® and Grand Marnier,® with fresh squeezed lime juice. Shaken and served on the rocks. Baja Caborita - Sammy Hagar’s Cabo Wabo® Blanco Tequila (100% Blue Agave), Midori® Melon Liqueur, sour mix, pineapple juice and fresh squeezed lime. Lightly blended, served on the rocks. Hornito Rita - Experience a whole new class of margarita. Sauza® Hornitos 100% Blue Agave Reposado Tequila, Cointreau® Orange Liqueur and lime juice served on the rocks and topped with Grand Marnier® Orange Liqueur. Margarita Fresa - A frozen strawberry (fresa) ‘Rita with Sauza® Commemorativo oak-aged Anejo Tequila, Cointreau® Orange Liqueur, Island Oasis® Strawberries and sour mix with a pink sugar rim. [ Source ] Beer Mar

Want To Drink Like A MadMen?

Though I have only watched a few episodes of the show, I know quite a few people who are totally enamored by it's wittiness and charm. This show, which is set in the 60's, is chalked full of old fashioned but tasty cocktails. So why not try one? Here are a few cocktails that have been featured on the show: Moscow Mule Ingredients 1¼ oz vodka 3 oz ginger beer 1 tsp sugar syrup ¼ oz lime juice 1 sprig mint 1 slice limeInstructions In a copper mug or cocktail glass, pour vodka over ice. Add sugar syrup and lime juice. Top with ginger beer and stir. Garnish with mint sprig and lime slice. Brandy Alexander Ingredients ¾ oz cream ¾ oz brandy ¾ oz dark crème de cacao Nutmeg Instructions Pour the liquors and cream into a mixing glass. Shake and pour in martini glass. Garnish with a sprinkle of nutmeg on top. Greyhound (Wow there is actually a name for mixing vodka and grapefruit juice? I just called it my Wednesday afternoon.) Ingredients 2 oz vodka 5 oz grapefr

Summertime + Good Wine = Good times!

Now that it's summer what better way to enjoy the weather and good conversation than over a nice glass of wine. Here are some great summer wines that will please your pallet and your wallets. LaMarca Prosecco ($14) For a surprisingly nice sparkling wine, try the new LaMarca Prosecco. The nose hints at sweetness, but there's plenty of acidity to give this lightly fizzy wine good snap, and a sort of sweet-tart quality. Jekel Riesling 2008 ($11) Breathe in a wonderful bouquet of peach, apricot and orange blossom, while your taste buds experience a basket of fresh fruits with a melange of lemon, apple, peach and pineapple. Bring anything spicy, salty or smoked to fruition with this easy sipper. Wild Rock Rose Vin Gris 2008 ($15) This blush is the ideal summer sipper thanks to its ripe strawberry and red cherry flavors, with tropical fruit notes and a refreshing lift of acidity. Try it with chicken satay or spicy Singapore n

Bread Martinis

Who said bread is only for eating? Try these fun bread influenced martini cocktails and have your slice of heaven today. Gingerbread Martini Ingredients 1 ounce vanilla vodka 1 ounce hazelnut-flavored liqueur (recommended: Frangelico) 1/2 ounce butterscotch schnapps Ice cubes 4 ounces ginger beer (recommended: Reed's Ginger Brew) Dark rum Gingerbread man cookie (recommended: Pepperidge Farm), for garnish Directions Pour the vanilla vodka, hazelnut liqueur, and butterscotch schnapps into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well. Strain into high ball glass or any 8-ounce glass filled with ice. Top with ginger beer. Pour a little dark rum over the back of a spoon and float on top of the ginger beer. Garnish with a gingerbread man cookie. Chocolate Pumpkin Pie Martini (Yes it is as yummy as it sounds) Ingredients ¾ ounce vanilla flavored vodka, Smirnoff ½ ounce Irish cream liqueur, Baileys ½ ounce coffee liqueur ½ ounce crème de cacao 1/5 teaspoon

Moms in the City - Cocktails

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