Martinis 
For cocktail recipes. Martini is often used as a term for a variety of mixed drinks.
Friday Cocktail
Is it time for a Friday cocktail? If so, try the classic Ramos Gin Fizz. It’s a frothy drink with a slight sweet and citrus taste. It’s also one of the oldest cocktails. Fizz drinks have been around since the 1880s, and became even more popular around the turn of the century. Gin Fizzes are… Read More ›
Cocktail Special
Classic cocktails were on tap at the Aster Pantry & Parlor on Sunday afternoon, April 17th to celebrate the restoration of the Hotel Syracuse. The demonstration, sponsored by the Onondaga Historical Association, featured five cocktails. A crowd of about 40 people, including yours truly, witnessed how they were made before sampling a taste of each… Read More ›
Friday Cocktail
The Mikado. Is it a comic opera by Gilbert and Sullivan, an archaic term for the emperor of Japan, a brandy-based cocktail, or a hamlet in Saskatchewan? How about all of the above. But from whence does this Friday Cocktail come? It appears in the 1964 edition of Old Mr. Boston De Luxe Official Bartender’s… Read More ›
Friday Cocktail
It’s Winter! It’s Friday! It’s time for a cocktail! Pull out a fancy mug for the Moscow Mule! In the past couple years, this cocktail has been making a resurgence. I’ve noticed it appearing on more and more specialty drink menus. However, it’s origins date back to the 1940s. According to an article in the… Read More ›
Friday Cocktail
Celebrate life, liberty, happiness, equality, fraternity… with the Lillet Liberté. I first tried this cocktail on a 2013 trip to Seattle. At the time it was on the specialty drink menu of Maximilien Restaurant in Pike’s Place. The French bistro overlooks the Puget Sound, and this cocktail was a grand accompaniment to a great lunch…. Read More ›
Friday Cocktail
Be a little daring with this Friday’s cocktail, the Gypsy. Not to be confused with the 1930s Gypsy Queen (made with vodka, Benedictine, and bitters), this cocktail features gin and sweet vermouth, a sort of Manhattan with gin instead of whiskey (or bourbon). It’s a very easy drink to make. Those who enjoy Manhattans should… Read More ›
Friday Cocktail
Enjoy a touch of class with the Claridge. This cocktail dates back to the classic era of drinks, appearing in the Savoy Cocktail Book of 1930. A bit of a surprise considering Claridge’s was a rival hotel. However, Shaken: the Magazine cites an earlier creation date that was at neither London location, instead pointing to… Read More ›
Friday Cocktail
Stare deep into the dark amber liquid and what may you discover? A taste for this variation of a Manhattan, perhaps? Try an Affinity cocktail. The Affinity cocktail has been around since the early 1960s, and likely earlier. This variation of a Manhattan uses Scotch instead of bourbon (or whiskey) and eschews any cherry garnish. … Read More ›
Friday Cocktail
Toast the windy city with this Friday cocktail, Chicago! This brandy-based cocktail dates back to the late 19th century when so many mixed drinks named for cities were created. Just think of Manhattans! Recipes may vary, but the original and majority of them call for Curaçao, an orange-flavored liqueur. Sometimes the sugar is replaced with… Read More ›
Friday Cocktail
How’s your golf game? Celebrate or take solace with a Hole-in-One Cocktail. Consider a Rob Roy or a Manhattan, and try this variation. The Hole-in-One dates back at least to the early 1960s, appearing in the 1964 edition of Old Mr. Boston De Luxe Official Bartender’s Guide. The drink calls for scotch whisky, dry vermouth,… Read More ›
The Poisoned Martini 