The *What's your favourite cocktail(s)* thread

b.cummins

b.cummins

b.cummins

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So I had a little looksie around and haven't seen anything like this and thought I'd have a go starting up the thread.

A number of cocktail fans are lurking around the forums, you know who you are. I have become a huge cocktail nerd over the past few years and I can definitely narrow it down to 3 cocktails I couldn't live without now. Chime in with yours (1, 3 or however many you care to mention). I also thought it'd be great to share our own preferred ratios and what bottles we think makes the best particular cocktail.

#1 Manhattan Sweet

Top 3 Bourbon & Vermouth Combos:
Buffalo Trace and Cocchi Vermouth di Torino
Four Roses Small Batch and Antica Formula Carpano
Eagle Rare 10 Year and Martini Gran Lusso

I prefer 1/4 of a shot of maraschino syrup, which is quite frankly God's own nectar.

With bitters, experimenting at the moment, angostura will always give a good result but I am trying out fee brothers old fashion bitters which work well generally and tempted to get some whisky barrel aged bitters to try next.

#2 Smoky Whisky Sour

The best of Simon Difford's creations I've had. It was a really close toss-up between this and Sam Ross's Penicillin, which I've omitted from my list because I think it's a bit dull having all whisk(e)y cocktails. Will not mess with the ratios.

In terms of spirits, I am currently using Laphroaig 10 Year and Johnnie Walker Black Label having previously tried others I find this works really well. Now that the price has gone down I think I'll step up to Lagavulin 16 Year when the Laphroaig runs out.

#3 Caipririnha

Haven't found a better serve than this. Only with Abelha Cachaca, Leblon is nice but too refined.
 
Mmmmm cocktails! :D

1. Cosmo
2. French Martini (made using some fresh blackberries!)
3. Long Island Ice Tea

I even wrote some blog stuff about it a few years ago - was a fun lot of experimenting! :)
 
I don't think it's a particularly well known cocktail, but an Aquamarine goes down very easily. Too easily actually, they taste like a soft drink and they're lethal.
 
A properly made margarita in the summer is hard to beat but a mojito comes close. I'm also a big fan Mai-Thai and piña colada when sat on a tropical beach.
At a restaurant then an old-fashioned does the trick.
 
This one was a favourite from university. The 69... *No... I can't remember why it was called that, it had that kind of effect*

Take a well chilled pint mug.
Add an inch of whisky to the bottom. Doesn't have to be anything special.
Add an inch of pineapple chunks in pineapple juice.
Top up with ice cold lemonade.

Can also do it in larger quantities in a jug for lazy consumption.
 
Vodka Martini:

Exact recipe is up to you, but I like to let whoever is making mine do it their way, so I can try new things. It's part of the fun for me.

However, at my favourite places:
  • Vodka - If they have it, Crystal Head. Otherwise, down to personal preference from what they do have.
  • Vermouth - Dry, or Extra. Dolin and Martini are good enough, or a Noilly Prat if you like it dirty.
  • Gin - Gordon's is good enough, but again personal choice. Just remember that what you like in a G&T probably won't work in this.

Shaken, not stirred - Slap ANY sommelier who so much as bats an eyelid at mention of this, as they're clearly not professional enough for this job!!
Shake over ice, serve with large twist of lemon peel. Olive if you like it dirty.

I also quite liked the Vesper, as given in the book Casino Royale (3-1-0.5 gin, vodka, vermouth). Can't remember if the film(s) featured a different mix...?


Not sure if you'd call it a cocktail unless you allow any of those that might come in pitchers, but I still enjoy a good Snakebite & Black, too... Not sure how they used to do them at The Batcave and Gossips, but they always came out very creamy. The pernod and vodka options were just icing on the cake!
 
Mai Thai is probably my favourite.

White rum
Dark rum
Cointreau
Grenadine
Pineapple juice
Lime (fresh and or cordial)

Also like sex on the beach, long islands if done well and pina colada if on holiday with fresh coconut
 
My normal goto fave is a Vesper made with Navy Stength Plymouth Gin and Chase Vodka.

After that will probably say a Dirty Gibson is a great drink
 
A lot of good taste going on here, people seem to fall on either a very dry or tropical palate :D

Shelster said:
My normal goto fave is a Vesper made with Navy Stength Plymouth Gin and Chase Vodka.

After that will probably say a Dirty Gibson is a great drink
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What vermouth are you using in your Vesper?

scamartist said:
Caipirinha or if out of cachaca a caipiroska
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Have you tried a Black N' Blue Caipirovska? Divine!

Flibster said:
This one was a favourite from university. The 69... *No... I can't remember why it was called that, it had that kind of effect*

Take a well chilled pint mug.
Add an inch of whisky to the bottom. Doesn't have to be anything special.
Add an inch of pineapple chunks in pineapple juice.
Top up with ice cold lemonade.

Can also do it in larger quantities in a jug for lazy consumption.
Click to expand...

Going to give this a try. I think we could next-level this with fresh pineapple and juice and a few dashes of angostura.
 
Dry gin martini.

Prefer mine:

Stired - NOT shaken. Not a fan of layers of ice water in my gin. Fine if you like it with a twist but if you want citris and an easy sip, there are other drinks to be had.

Olive - no twist. As above, to me a dry gin martini should be dirty and strong.
 
Lima said:
Mai Thai is probably my favourite.

White rum
Dark rum
Cointreau
Grenadine
Pineapple juice
Lime (fresh and or cordial)

Also like sex on the beach, long islands if done well and pina colada if on holiday with fresh coconut
Click to expand...


That is not A Mai Thai!

You are missing the important Orange curaçao and Orgeat (almond) syrup.
 
Negroni

Equal parts dry gin, Campari and sweet/red vermouth (like Antica Formula or Martini Rosso).

Really simple to make but not to everyone's taste as it's very strongly flavoured. Bitter, sweet and jammy like marmalade. Warming, they always remind me of autumn.
 
the-evaluator said:
I'm not much of a cocktail drinker but on occasion I do enjoy a nice Mojito.

If you're in London and want somewhere good for cocktails then I'd highly recommend Artesian Bar in the Langham Hotel, Donovan Bar in Browns hotel near Green Park tube or Galvin at Windows in the Hilton on Park Lane.
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Artesian and Donovan bar look amazing; really wish they would make their recipes available (which would be madness I know but I really want to try some of these). 3rd link doesn't work :(


js58426 said:
Negroni

Equal parts dry gin, Campari and sweet/red vermouth (like Antica Formula or Martini Rosso).

Really simple to make but not to everyone's taste as it's very strongly flavoured. Bitter, sweet and jammy like marmalade. Warming, they always remind me of autumn.
Click to expand...

Two questions:

Have you experimented with different combinations of gin and vermouth; which ones do you enjoy the most?

Have you tried an English Negroni? (Using Sacred Gin, Sacred Spiced English Vermouth and Sacred Rosehip Cup)
 
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