Update: New Cocktail added Today (8/7) – The Negroni Being sheltered in place or simply staying at home can be difficult, it can be boring and it can be repetitive, however, it is good for our collective well being. The Three Bottle Cocktails Series aims to upend the boring and ease the difficulty just a bit. Since it is good for our mental health to laugh and carry on a bit, let’s have some fun. A great way to do so is to enjoy an evening cocktail. Being shut in as we are, however, may mean that we are limited to what is on our bar. We have re-launched our Fancy A Drink series, “The Three Bottle Bar”. The goal is to make crafting a cocktail simple and enjoyable by requiring three ingredients, no more. For these cocktails, we have generally eliminated garnishes to focus on a base spirit and two mixers. Each recipe in the series is tagged “Three Bottles“. There are approximately 20 cocktails on the Three Bottle Cocktails list which should just get us through quarantine and into early May. The newest Three Bottles Cocktail recipe on the list is the Bees Knees. Please let us know […]
The Grave Digger is an excellent Bourbon based winter cocktail when it is cold outside and warm inside. This version of the Grave Digger uses Bourbon as the base spirit and red wine as the secondary alcohol. We have mixed up slight variations of this using Rye in place of Bourbon and even hard cider in place of the red wine. Have fun, mix and match the ingredients but most importantly, enjoy the cocktail and stay warm. Find the recipe here.
Start the weekend off right with a Colonial Gimlet. My grandmother wrote this recipe down for my grandfather in the 1980s. As a result, I’m certain he took this hint and made that exact cocktail for her. The note has survived time and recently made its way to us here at Fancy A Drink and we now bring you both the photograph and recipe. The recipe can be found here and we hope you enjoy it. We will be making our Colonial Gimlet with BUMBU (The Original) Rum.
With it being 15 years or so since Prohibition ended and the end of WWII was near, Gin was all the rage in the ’40s. Here we present two classic 3 Bottle Cocktails from that time: the Gin Fizz and the Gin Sour. Simple ingredients: Gin, Simple Syrup, Lemon, Bitters. That’s it. Enjoy and let us know what you think. All photos taken by the author from the book, 3 Bottle Bar by H.i. Williams. 1943
This is now a thing. This week is a Mezcal Margarita as we have discussed before here at Fancy A Drink? Next week, perhaps a Mezcal Sour? You can also follow us on Instagram. Here is your Mezcal Monday recipe.
We have hyped the Corpse Reviver #2 a lot here at Fancy A Drink as it is definite favorite. That said, any ghoulish cocktail to keep you warm on this Hallow’s Eve will do this morning. We recommend you try both the Sazerac and the Negroni. Enjoy and Happy Halloween.
Oktoberfest in Munich ran from September 22 to October 7 and, while the festivities have been over for a while there, many of its related American celebrations are still going strong through next weekend. The festivities in the US feature some similarities and many differences. The Oktoberfest beer, which is a Märzen/Festbier style, can be found in both Munich and the US. Naturally, beers such as Bud Light and Coors Light, which are available at many US celebrations, are not on the beer menus in Munich. The Festbiers that are seasonally available in the Fall in Munich, and quickly disappear after Oktoberfest draws to a close, are clear and golden in color. Great Oktoberfest beers are slightly creamy and mildly caramelized pale malt with a hint of sweetness. They are not hoppy like IPAs. Some of the local favorites in Munich are Oktoberfest brews from Hofbräu, Paulaner, Lowenbräu, and Hacker-Pschorr. Paulaner is strongly recommended and is available in the US. A favorite this year has been the Benadiktiner Oktoberfest, which is brewed by monks at Klosterbrauerei Ettal in Bavaria. The monasteries in Bavaria produce some of the region’s best beers. If you see Benadiktiner on tap and like Festbiers, give […]
Fall has officially, definitely arrived in most parts of the country. And with the seasonal change, comes our annual migration from Beer, Rosé, White Wine and Vodka spritzes to the base spirits such as Whisky, Tequila, Gin and Mezcal. Today, let’s talk about Whisky and why blended is best and how to pair Bourdon with food. Enjoy!
We here at Fancy A Drink are big fans of Italian Liqueurs; specifically Amaro Averna, Campari, Cocchi Americano, Aperol and Fernet-Branca. As we are heading into the weekend, we thought we would highlight some of our staff’s favorite cocktails made with these Italian beauties. Interestingly, with the exception of Averna, each of these Liqueurs here was created and first consumed in Northern Italy, approximately four hours from one another in Novara, Asti, Padua and Milan. Averna was developed at the complete other end of Italy, on the island of Sicily. Amaro Averna was invented in 1868 on the island of Sicily and is named after it’s inventor, Salvatore Averna. We recommend The Black Manhattan. Campari was first produced in 1860 -a few years prior to Averna- in Novara Italy by Gaspare Campari. It is the essential ingredient in the ever classic, Negroni. Cocchi Americano. Initial production began in 1891 in the Asti Province of Italy by Giulio Cocchi and we love both the Vesper Martini and the Corpse Reviver #2. Aperol was originally introduced in 1919 in Padua. It’s popularity took off in post World War II Italy and it is now an international success. The Aperol Spritz is excellent anytime, but particularly on a warm afternoon. […]
During Prohibition, good Gin was hard to come by. Americans, ever the entrepreneurs, distilled Gin in their own bathtubs. It was not necessarily very good but it was good enough with a bit of lemon thrown in to revive the corpse when necessary. This is the origin story for the Corpse Reviver #2. Enjoy this before your Saturday evening dinner or Friday evening cocktail at home after a productive week. Salud! Find the recipe here.
Labor Day is a federal holiday in the US dating back to the late 19th century. While today it is considered the unofficial end to the summer, it originally was made a holiday to celebrate and recognize the contributions of workers, laborers, to the prosperity and strength of the United States. As we get together with friends and family this weekend to enjoy one last summer bbq, let’s raise a class to ourselves and our ancestors for the long hours and effort everyone has put forth to make this country great. In honor of this day, we here at Fancy A Drink propose two cocktails: The Corpse Reviver 2, based on Gin La Paloma, based onTequila
August 10 is Skyscraper Appreciation Day To celebrate, we’ll give you a drink called the Skyscraper, but if you’re thinking of the tall Manhattan by that name, we’re throwing you a curve ball. We’ve already covered the Manhattan and several bourbon drinks, so it’s time to mix it up. Too much? You can shake this drink. First, here are a few notable skyscrapers for you to celebrate. The world’s first skyscraper was the ten story Home Insurance Building in Chicago, which was built in 1885. This building is not tall by today’s standards, but it changed the way cities were designed in ways that hadn’t been imagined. The world’s tallest building is the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, which is 2,722 feet (829.8 meters) tall. One World Trade Center in New York City is the tallest building in the US, standing 1,776 feet (541 meters). Not everything is about height, so cheers to the iconic Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building! The Salesforce Tower in San Francisco is the tallest building west of Chicago, standing at 1,070 feet (326 meters) and it’s truly an impressive sight. There are so many iconic and impressive structures, so pick your favorite, and have […]
Many of us have done it. If you’re young and ready to party and someone shows up with booze, we drank it. This decision invariably did not end well. Whether it was doing something ill advised or just feeling lousy the next day, the choices of drink did not yield positive results. At some point, it is time to mature your drinking tastes and habits. We here at Fancy A Drink believe 25 is a great age to start. So, here’s a short list of drinks to skip once you’re north of 25. Everclear. It’s not common for someone to arrive at a party with this, but if they do, skip it. It’s rocket fuel. It tastes awful. You will probably end up doing something dumb. Bacardi 151. The combination of sugar and high alcohol content is a path to disaster. There’s never been a documented case of a person who didn’t drink too much of it. Boone’s Farm Strawberry Hill. It’s $3.99 a bottle on the high end. It can’t be good and trust us, it isn’t. Cuervo Gold. This has ruined tequila for countless people. Many will never be able to sip a quality tequila because of one […]
The Summer Ale Spritz cocktail was created by Rael Petit in the Hollywood Hills. The master mixologist is originally from Switzerland and is renowned for his work in New York City. The story of how Petit ended up in the Hollywood Hills to create this drink is unclear as he works at Delilah in New York City. There is also a West Hollywood location so it is impressive to think he may have just been on vacation at his bar’s LA location and he was still creating new drinks. This beer cocktail brings together the lemon and wheat flavor of Sam Adams Summer Ale with Rosemary syrup and the timeless Aperol Spritz. We’ll explain how to make the syrup in the recipe. This drink is a frozen, blended cocktail served on the rocks. It’s considered a refreshing afternoon drink as opposed to an evening cocktail. Enjoy and, when you make it, please let us know what you think on Instagram, Facebook or the comments below.
Fourth of July drinks for guests…and hosts…to enjoy The Fourth of July is this Wednesday. As we prepare to celebrate the birth of the United States, we remember hosting parties on this date in past years and spending a lot of time behind our own bar making drinks for guests. Hosting is a lot of work and you usually miss out on at least some fireworks and fun. To help our readers who are hosting Fourth of July parties this year, we want to share a simple, delicious punch recipe so you can step away from the bar and enjoy. Though this is not red, white, and blue, it is appropriately named The American Dream Punch. It’s easy to make in advance and you’ll only need to refill the punchbowl, depending on how thirsty your guests are. If you’re expecting a larger group, consider making a few pitchers ahead of time. Please remember to designate a driver or use a service like Lyft or Uber. Photo credit: https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/images/dreampunch-1498164554.jpg
A lot of us had an experience with tequila in our young lives that may have happened to steer us away from it. Tequila is not to be shied away from just because of a bad night in high school or college. The right tequila can be sublime. It’s very nice to sip with a decent sized block of ice in a glass. Don Julio Blanco and Don Julio Reposado are not very pricey and they are tasty, just by themselves. Lime is a decent addition to cut it just the right amount. Margaritas are also a very popular summer choice, however, they contain a lot of sugar. If you don’t want to add a lot of sugar to your daily intake, a Paloma, may be an excellent Margarita modification for you. For the end of June and early July we are going with La Paloma. For further experimentation, trade out the Tequila for Mezcal and enjoy the La Smokey Paloma.
Happy Summer Solstice! Today is one of the longest days of the year. Summer is officially here. Get out and enjoy the pleasant weather, but don’t forget to celebrate the season with a nice, refreshing cocktail. To get the Summer started off right, we’re going with a delicious spin on the Mojito. The classic Mojito was created in Havana, Cuba, though some cocktail historians say the Mojito is derived from a 16th century drink known as “El Draque”, named after Sir Francis Drake. One theory behind the name Mojito is holds that name is related to “mojo”, a Cuban seasoning made from lime and used to flavor dishes. While the classic Mojito is a great Summer cocktail, we suggest adding fresh fruit to make a Blueberry Mojito.
June 19 is National Martini Day. The history of the drink goes back to Manhattan. Forget about James Bond for a moment. Picture yourself walking in to a Manhattan Club. Even if you’ve never been in New York City, you are sharply dressed. The bartender notices you. You want a cocktail. Have a Martini, it is National Martini Day after all. The Martini is steeped in controversy. It might be with gin and vermouth. It might be with vodka and vermouth. The history is not quite as clear as you might find with the bourbon or whiskey drinks, that are made in specific parts of the US. Hopefully, it’s good news that vodka or gin are just fine for National Martini Day, because either is great to celebrate this day. James Carville said, “The ultimate feeling in the world is to be about two-thirds of the way through my second Martini with people I like. Anything seems possible.”
June 14, the US Army’s birthday Since we know you’ve been keeping up on our articles, you already know that June 14 is National Flag Day and National Bourbon Day. It’s also the date the US Army celebrates its birthday! When the Continental Congress authorized enlistment of expert riflemen to serve the United Colonies for one year on June 14, 1775, the US Army was born. We thank all who have served and are serving in the US Army. We’ve recommended the American Flag to celebrate National Flag Day and the Manhattan to celebrate National Bourbon Day. If you want to join us in celebrating the Army’s birthday, go with The Highball. Happy birthday Army! Cheers and enjoy.
June 14 is National Flag Day and we thought we’d give you a fun way to celebrate. National Flag Day commemorates the adoption of the US flag on June 14, 1777 by resolution of the Second Continental Congress. Flag Day is also significant as the day the US Army celebrates its birthday. President Woodrow Wilson first established Flag Day on May 30, 1916 and it was immediately celebrated in various communities across the country with parades and festivities. The oldest continuing parade in the country is said to be in Fairfield, Washington, where revelers have celebrated the flag since 1909. On August 3, 1949, President Harry Truman signed an Act of Congress designating June 14 as National Flag Day. If you can’t make it out to a parade this year, why not celebrate with a cocktail? The American Flag
Celebrate the Weekend of Negroni week with, of course, the iconic, somewhat bitter, Italian classic. Of course, if you are up for an Italian adventure, several variations exist as well. Try one of the following, for example: –>Replace the Gin with Prosecco or Sparkling White Wine –>Replace the Campari with Aperol –>Replace the Vermouth with Lillet Have fun, enjoy, Salute! Negroni – the classic
June 14 is National Bourbon Day. Bourbon is originally from Bourbon, Kentucky and distilled from one of the states two primary crops; corn. Bourbon sales have increased sharply in the past several years and was often a featured drink in the swanky advertising offices of Mad Men. While Roger Sterling and Don Draper usually drank their bourbon straight, we thought we’d suggest a cocktail to help you truly getinto the spirit of National Bourbon Day. The top three bourbon cocktails for this celebration are the Manhattan, the Old Fashioned, and the Bourbon Rickey. Our top pick for this fine holiday is theManhattan. The Manhattan is said to have been invented in New York City’s Manhattan Club in the early 1870s. There are conflicting reports of who first poured a Manhattan, but the cocktail’s fashionable appeal has never been in dispute. There are several variants of the Manhattan including some that are made with other spirits, but today is about bourbon! For bourbon cocktails, it’s all in the name. The Manhattan Bourbon Rickey Bourbon Old Fashioned
While the words “Russia” and “Moscow” may be tainted to some these days, the Moscow Mule is still a perfect Spring and Summer drink. In a copper mug or not, this cocktail is straightforward to make and perfect for a warm afternoon or evening. Recipe here.
February 22nd is National Margarita Day (though, any Thursday will generally do just fine). To the surprise of no one, the exact lineage of National Margarita Day is a bit clouded in mystery, however, it is clear the goal; enjoy a refreshing Margarita with friends and family. Salud! The Fancy A Drink staff’s consensus favorite modification to the classic Margarita is to substitute in Mezcal for the Tequila and up the amount of lime juice (unsweetened). The Mezcal brings a nice smokiness and the additional lime takes away some of the sweetness. The Mezcal Margarita can be found here
If I were committed to silence, this would definitely by my drink of choice. A great balance of Rum and the Aperol make this drink infinitely enjoyable. It works well made in bulk or batching as well (just don’t over-ice it) so you can enjoy the cocktail and the party. Recipe can be found here: fancyadr.ink/recipe/bitter-monk/
To get started, you should have the following tools in your home bar: 1 oz jigger (to measure the liquids) Shaker Strainer Bar spoon Wine opener Bottle opener Cocktail glasses You can have some fun with glasses and additional tools later as there is no shortage of fun to be had and money to be spent. But for now, save some of that cash for good spirits and proper mixers (which we will cover in a separate post).
And why not? Mix up the base spirit a bit in this classic and let us know what you think. Try this recipe from Liquor.com! https://fancyadr.ink/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Rum-Old-Fashioned.mp4
