All posts tagged with: gin

In the 1880’s, Colonel Joe Rickey was a Democratic lobbyist in Washington, D.C., who spent many hours at Shoomaker’s bar, entertaining politicians over cocktails. Joe’s drink of choice was a simple mix of fresh squeezed lime juice, bourbon whiskey, and soda. A decade later, the highball would become a worldwide hit when it was mixed with other base spirits, predominantly gin, and being renamed The Gin Rickey.

In recent years classic cocktails have made a huge comeback and the Gin Rickey has become a favourite once again. The simple cocktail is easy to make and perfect for warm spring and summer weather. It’s also a perfect beverage to serve at cocktail and garden parties. It’s important to use a premium gin and fresh lime juice.

• 2 oz Gin
• Fresh Squeezed Lime
• Club Soda

Fill a cocktail glass with ice. Pour in gin. Squeeze in fresh lime juice. Top with club soda. Give a quick and gentle stir. Garnish with a lime wheel.

In honour of Vancouver’s largest plant sale on Sunday, April 28, it seems fitting to celebrate with a botanical-inspired cocktail. After all, you’ll probably need a drink after attending the VanDusen Botanical Garden’s annual plant sale. From 10am – 4pm there will be over 40,000 plants for sale starting at $2 each, and will attract over 10,000 people! It’s truly green-thumb madness! It’s free to attend, so why not go and check it out.

Back to the Cocktail of the Week feature… In the 18^th century, Sir Hans Sloane was a leading botanist and plant collectors in London. The professor introduced England to drinking chocolate and made significant contributions to the founding of the British Museum. On top of all these achievements, he was enjoyed a good drink. Sloane Square Bar in London English, has honoured the influential nobleman by creating a tasty cocktail, and respecting his love of nature. The Sir Hans Sloane Botanist is a refreshing cocktail perfect for enjoying on a spring day.

• ¾” Slice of English Cucumber
• 6 Fresh Mint Leaves
• 2 oz Gin
• ½ oz Apple Juice
• ½ oz Elderflower Cordial

Dice cucumber, then muddle in the bottom of a cocktail shaker. Fill the cocktail shaker half full of ice. Add remaining ingredients. Stir until mixed. Strain into a chilled martini glass.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! May the luck of the Irish be with you. Many celebrations will be taking placing including parades, festivals, and Irish-themed parties. The more common drinks for the occasion are scotch, Irish whisky, and green-coloured beer. How about mixing things up? Literally. The St. Patrick’s Day martini combines the natural aromas of gin with the crispness of mint, and the calming notes from the bitters. It’s quick and easy to make. Remember, gin is delicate, so you’ll want to stir, not shake. Enjoy!

• 2 oz Gin
• 0.5 oz Green Crème de Menthe
• 2 dashes Bitters

Fill a martini shaker half full of ice. Pour in gin, crème de menthe, and bitters. Stir. Strain into a chilled martini glass.

In 1874, New York, Pennsylvania and other north eastern states would have conversations that started with, “Have you seen Tom Collins?” The listeners to the conversation would have no idea who Tom Collins was, and the story-tellers would make up fictitious stories that he was just around the corner or at the bar across the street. It became known at the hoax of 1874.

Just two years later, in 1876, the first recipe for a Tom Collins appeared in the Jerry Thomas, The Bartenders Guide. By 1878, bars all across New York City were serving up this best-selling cocktail, considered ‘fancy drinks’ in their time.

The Tom Collins cocktail is sweet, full of flavor and has a fun kick of lemon. While it is known as being the perfect summer sipper, it’s perfectly acceptable to enjoy all year round.

• 2 oz Gin
• 1 oz Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice
• 1 oz Simple Syrup
• Club Soda

Fill a tall glass ¾ full of ice. Pour in gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup. Top with club soda. Stir well. Serve with a slice of fresh lemon and a straw.

Autumn is all about crisp and comfort. This cocktail is all about the intense feelings and spicy notes. You can taste the bouquet of exciting flavours. The gin gives this cocktail a rustic, fall flavour, while the fruit and spices make you long for a warm, wood-burning fire. Cuddle up; it’s going to be a long, enjoyable evening!

• 1 ½ oz Gin
• 1 oz Pear Nectar
• ½ oz Maple Syrup
• ½ oz Lemon Juice
• ¼ oz Goldschlager

In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine all ingredients. Shake well and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.

A refreshing summer sipper!

• 2 oz Gin
• Club Soda
• 1 oz Lemon Juice
• 1 tsp Powdered Sugar

Shake with ice and strain into an ice filled highball glass and fill with Club Soda.

It’s the 98 Days of Summer at Cactus Club Cafe, and to celebrate, every week they are featuring cocktail specials for just $4! That’s unheard of! In addition, there will be three signature cocktails available for this sumer, and this summer only. The first is a summer favourite, gin n’ juice.

• 1 oz Gin
• 2 oz Tonic
• Splash of Grapefruit Juice

Fill a rock glass with ice. Add gin, tonic and then top with a splash of grapefruit juice. Garnish with a lime wheel.

There will be lots of available bachelors this weekend at Pride Toronto… some of them being confirmed bachelors. This one is yummy and might not get you into as much trouble… depending on how many you have.

• 1.5 oz Gin
• 1 tsp Rose’s Lime Juice
• 1 tsp Grenadine
• 1 Egg White

Pour ingredients into a shaker half filled with ice. Shake well. Pour into a martini glass.

If you have enough of these, maybe you can get lucky, with the Irish… and yes, you can blame the gin.

• 1 oz Gin
• 2 oz Blue Curacao
• 2 oz Orange Juice

Fill a hurricane glass full of ice. Pour in gin and curacao. Add orange juice. Stir and serve.

Pronounced Christine. If you really love gin, then this is your drink. It’s berry hard to drink.

• 2 oz Gin
• 1 oz Chambord Royale

Add all ingredients to a martini shaker half-filled with ice. Shake. Pour into a chilled martini glass.

For those who typically don’t enjoy gin, this is a good place to reacquaint yourself. The ‘sweet gin’ is refreshing and fragrant.

• 2 oz Lavender Infused Gin
• 1 oz Lemonade
• 1 oz Cranberry Juice
• 0.5 oz Simple Syrup

Add all ingredients to a martini shaker half-filled with ice. Shake. Pour into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with lavender.

It’s the last drink of the night… you’re running out of booze and someone yells out they want another martini. This holiday season the MaryInVanCity is your go-to drink. Just make sure you have these ingredients on hand and memorize how to make it.

• 2 oz. Raspberry Vodka
• 1 oz. Chambord
• 1/2 oz. Gin
• 1/2 oz. Raspberry puree
• Splash of 7-up

Pour vodka, Chambord, gin and puree into a shaker filled with ice; shake vigorously. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Add a splash of 7-up.

Each individual ingredient comes alive in this dazzling martini.

Ingredients

• 1 oz pineapple juice
• 1 oz grapefruit juice
• 1 tsp honey
• 2 oz gin

Directions

In a martini shaker filled with ice, combine pineapple juice, grapefruit juice, honey and gin. Shake until frothy. Pour into a martini glass and serve.

You can also substitute the honey with Agave syrup.

Dazzle your senses with this blue-wonder.

• 2 oz Gin
• 1 oz Blue Curacao
• 1 oz Lemon Juice
• 1 oz simple syrup

A martini perfect for a warm summer evening on the patio watching the sunset. The herb-flavoured gin compliments the natural flavours from the earl grey tea. Squeeze in some fresh lemon and it’s just like a glass of iced tea!

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon Earl Grey tea leaves
• 2 (1.5 fluid ounce) jiggers gin
• white sugar, for rimming
• 1 wedge lemon
• 1 (1.5 fluid ounce) jigger fresh lemon juice
• 2 fluid ounces simple syrup

Directions

Sprinkle the tea leaves over the gin in a small glass, and set aside to steep for 2 hours.

Pour 1/4 to 1/2 inch of white sugar ont a small, shallow plate. Moisten the rims of 2 martini glasses with a wedge of lemon, dip the moistened glasses into the sugar; set aside.

Strain the infused gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup into a cocktail shaker over ice. Cover, and shake until the outside of the shaker has frosted. Strain into the rimmed glasses to serve.

A sexy and smooth blue martini recipe.

Ingredients

• 2 oz Gin
• 1 oz Blue Curacao
• twist of lemon

Into a cocktail shaker, pour the gin and curacao. Add ice. Shake well. Strain and pour into amartini glass. Finish by arranging a twist of lemon on the edge of the martini glass.

Looking for a refreshing way to cool down this summer? I highly recommend making some fresh-squeezed, homemade lemonade. It’s quick and simple to make too.

The secret to making great lemonade is starting off making simple syrup. Simple syrup will mix the sugar into the lemonade better and most consistantly than just adding sugar on it’s own.

Here’s how:

• Start by making the simple syrup in a small pot. Bring to boil 1 cup of sugar and 1 cup of water. Stir until all the sugar is completely dissolved. You can let it cool down and store it in a re-sealable air-tight container in the fridge.
• Squeeze the juice from 4 – 6 lemons. Here’s a great tip – before you cut the lemons, rolled them back-and-forth on the counter  - it will release the juices easier. You should end up with about a cup of lemon juice.
• Final step – pour the lemon juice, simple syrup and 4 – 6 cups of ice cold water into a large pitcher. Stir it together. Add ice. You can even add some extra lemon slices if you wanted into the pitcher as garnish.

Serve your homemade lemonade in sugar-rimmed glasses, with a straw and lemon slice.

There you have it – fast, easy and delicious homemade lemonade. If you want to give it an adult kick, I highly recommend gin!