If you’re locked inside because of self-isolation (or maybe a state mandated quarantine), you might be looking for a bit of the outside world to come back into your life; a quick reminder of fun nights out on the town and an ode to a time without needed social distancing. Although cocktails are generally considered to be suited best for formal affairs, you can craft some easy-to-make ones with your newfound free time. Here are 10 specialty and classic at home cocktails.
Specialty Cocktails
Campfire Cocktail
Marshmallow and graham cracker themed, the Campfire Cocktail created by Lark & Linen is the perfect fit for a summer-time themed soiree around a warm fireplace.
- Alcohol – Vodka
- Ingredients – 1 Marshmallow, 1 tablespoon of Graham Cracker Crumbs, 1 tablespoon of Chocolate Syrup, 1 ounce of Vodka, 2 ounces of Baileys and 2 ounces of 2% Milk.
- Preparation – “Place your marshmallow in a small pan, over medium heat, and toast until browned (1-2 minutes) Meanwhile, rim a lowball glass with chocolate sauce, and dip immediately in graham cracker crumbs. Fill your cocktail shaker with ice, toss in the vodka and bailey’s and shake vigorously (the longer the better. It should be FREEZING cold and well agitated). Place 2-3 ice cubes in your glass, pour liquor mixture overtop, fill the rest of the glass with milk, top with toasted marshmallow and enjoy!”
Red Moon Over Manhattan
Recipe by Sugar & Charm, the Red Moon Over Manhattan adds a new wine twist to an old cocktail classic.
- Alcohol – Bourbon / Red Wine
- Ingredients – 2 ounces of Red Wine, 1/2 ounce of Bourbon and 1/2 ounce of Simple Syrup. 1 large round ice sphere and 3 gourmet Maraschino Cherries.
- Preparation – “Shake all of the ingredients together with ice for 20 seconds. Rub orange peel around the rim of the glass. Add in the ice sphere and strain the cocktail over the ice. Scoop one cherry to place inside the drink and add two more on a twig or cocktail stirrer to garnish the glass! Enjoy this new classic!”
Winter Sea Breeze
Homebound from a quarantine, you might be on the lookout for a bit of an extra holiday feel. The Winter Sea Breeze cocktail by Catch My Party helps add a tinge of cheer to the home and any function you may have.
- Alcohol – Vodka
- Ingredients – 1 ounce of Vodka, 1 ounce of Grapefruit Juice, 1/2 ounce of Tonic Syrup, 2 ounces of Soda Water, 12 Pomegranate Seeds and 3 Mint Leaves for garnish.
- Preparation – “Fill your glass about 3/4 full with ice. A lowball glass is the perfect size. Add the vodka, grapefruit juice, tonic syrup and stir. Pour in the soda water and garnish with the pomegranate seeds and mint leaves.”
Frozen Ginger Lemon Drop
The Frozen Ginger Lemon Drop by Martha Stewart adds a bit of citrus zest to a vodka infused cocktail.
- Alcohol – Vodka
- Ingredients – Frozen Ginger Lemonade, 2-4 cups of Vodka, about a 1/4 cup of Lemon Juice for coating glass rims, as well as Superfine Sugar for the same purpose, and Lemon Zest Curls for the garnish.
- Preparation – Dip the rims of the glasses in lemon juice and then in sugar. Pour 3/4 of the the cup of frozen ginger lemonade into each glass, and then top with either a quarter or half cup of vodka. Serve garnished with a lemon curl.
Vanilla Rum Colas
Also a modern recipe by Martha Stewart, the Vanilla Rum Colas are a perfect for casual little tray display in your living room or dining area.
- Alcohol – Dark Rum
- Ingredients – Small Icecubes, three cups of Cola, 1 cup with two tablespoons of Dark Rum, 3/4 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract and 6 orange wedges or 4 sliced kumquats.
- Preparation – For each drink, fill a glass 3 quarters full with ice. Add 1/2 cup of cola, 3 tablespoons of rum and 1/8 of vanilla. Then, squeeze orange or kumquats into drink and stir.
If you want a cocktail with a fair share of storied history, our list of 10 specialty and classic at home cocktails just may have the perfect vintage refreshment.
Classic Cocktails
Daiquiri
Upon release, David A. Emury’s cocktail guide “The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks” garnered immediate popularity and rose to become one of the most cited and referenced cocktail books in any bartender’s arsenal. The Daiquiri, one of Emury’s “Six Basic Drinks,” stands out as a centerpiece of the iconic book.
- Alcohol – Rum
- Ingredients – 1/2 oz Simple Syrup, 1 oz Lime Juice, 1 1/2 oz White Rum
- Preparation – Pour all your ingredients into a shaker with ice cubes. Shake it well, then strain in a chilled cocktail glass. Serve it straight up without ice.
Mojito
Traditionally speaking, a mojito is a cocktail with five ingredients: white rum, lime juice, sugar, soda water, and mint. It was Ernest Hemingway’s favorite, and in 2016 was declared the most popular cocktail in Britain and France.
- Alcohol – Rum
- Ingredients – 1 1/2 oz White Rum, 1 oz Fresh Lime Juice, 6 Leaves of Mint, Soda Water and 2 Teaspoons of Sugar
- Preparation – Add some mint sprigs to sugar and lime juice, then add rum and top it off with soda water. Garnish the drink with sprig of mint leaves and serve it with a straw on the rocks, poured over ice.
Martini
One of the most widely known cocktails, the Martini is the tuxedo of before-dinner drinks. Becoming a commonplace order in Roaring Twenties, why not see if it holds up just as well in the Twenty Twenties? (It does).
- Alcohol – Rum
- Ingredients – 4 cl white rum, 3 cl Fresh Lime Juice, 2 Teaspoons of Sugar, Soda Water and 6 Sprigs of Mint
- Preparation – Muddle your mint leaves with lime juice and sugar, then add a splash of soda water and fill your glass with ice. Pour your rum and top with soda water. Then garnish the drink with sprig of mint leaves and some lemon slice, and finally serve with a straw.
Negroni
The Negroni is a popular Italian cocktail, made of one part gin, one part vermouth rosso, and one part Campari, garnished with an orange peel. It is considered an apéritif, an appetite stimulant before a meal.
- Alcohol – Vermouth, Campari & Gin
- Ingredients – 1 oz (1 part) Gin, 1 oz (1 part) Sweet red Vermouth, and 1 oz (1 part) Campari.
- Preparation – Stir your glass over some ice, garnish with an orange peel and serve on the rocks.
Side Car
The Side Car is yet another a key piece of Emury’s iconic cocktail guide, standing proud as the child of New Orleans cocktail classic, the Brandy Crusta.
- Alcohol – Cognac & Cointreau
- Ingredients – 1 1/2 of Cognac, 3/4 ounce of Cointreau, 3/4 ounce of Fresh Lemon Juice and garnish with an orange twist and sugar rim.
- Preparation – Coat the rim of a couple glass with sugar and set it aside, then add all ingredients into a shaker with ice and shake. Strain into your prepared glass and garnish with an orange twist.
As odd as it may seem, no one really knows how long our new self-isolating reality will take place. Maybe the quarantines will usher in a new generational shift of partying on our own time, and these 10 specialty and classic at home cocktails will have you deep ahead of the game.
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