Drink Creations

The Monticello Cocktail, Shaken

We recently had to make a new batch of grenadine and ended up having some extra pomegranate juice on hand. The 12BB book has an original receipt for what they call the Monticello Cocktail. It's rye, Cointreau, grenadine and orange bitters served over pomegranate ice cubes. They turned out pretty good but the drink starts out really strong as you wait for the pomegranate cubes to melt into the booze. A few days later, we made them again but I decided to shake it to break up the cubes:

• 1-1/2 oz rye whiskey (used Old Overholt)
• 1 tsp grenadine
• 1/4 tsp Cointreau
• dash of orange bitters
• 3 pomegranate ice cubes

Combine with three pomegranate ice cubes and shake until you can't hear the cubes clanking around. Pour it all in a martini glass - no straining!

This is a fantastic drink. Probably the best drink I've made since I started fiddling with cocktail making. It consistently comes out with a white foam on top which lasts until you are done with the drink. I'd love to know what causes the foam to form.

Tom Collins

Although a regulation Tom Collins calls for Old Tom gin, the 12BB book recommends using genever. As fortune would have it, a friend of mine from Belgium gifted me a bottle of Bols Genever on a recent visit. He apologized profusely for giving us "Dutch crap" (apparently the Belgians have a better take on genever!) but I still think it's very tasty!

• 2 oz genever (used Bols)
• 1 oz lemon juice
• 1 tsp confectioners' sugar
• soda water

Stir genever, lemon and sugar with crushed ice until sugar has dissolved. Top with soda and garnish with a lemon slice.

This one turned out really nice, and it's easy to appreciate how distinct genever is from gin (as used in the John Collins). I'm looking forward to trying more genever drinks!

Bumbo

Found this one in the 12BB book and, despite not having quite all the ingredients, went for it anyways.

• 2 oz amber rum
• 2 oz water
• 1/2 oz lime juice
• 2 tsp brown sugar
• 2 pinches cinnamon
• 1 pinch nutmeg
• garnish: lemon slice, berries (didn't have)

Shaken, served in a Collins glass with ice.

Fantastic drink. Spices come through nicely and compliment the rum. Will have to try again with the recommended garnish.

Bacardi Cocktail

Another IBA official cocktail, although the proportions below are slightly different. The official recipe uses less grenadine, but I think our grenadine has less sugar than most.

• 2 oz white rum (used Brugal)
• 1 oz lime juice
• 1/2 oz grenadine
• 1/2 oz simple syrup

Shaken. Served in a martini glass, garnished with lime spray.

Great drink. Would definitely make it again. Maybe next time try with only grenadine (1 oz) as the sweetener to bring in more pomagranate flavor.

White Lady

Took a second stab at making some White Lady's. Last time, I tried the recipe in the 12BB book and came up with something way too tart. Ratio on that recipe was 2:1:1.

This time, I did as follows:

• 3 parts London Dry Gin (used Gordon's)
• 2 parts Cointreau
• 1 part lemon juice

Shaken with ice. Served straight, garnished with spray from lemon rind.

This one turned out great. It's not the official IBA ratio (4:3:2) though so I might have to give that one a shot next time.