top of page
Jim Welborn Bar Services



Hendrick’s Breakfast
Martini
The most important meal of the day just got a whole lot more fun.

1 1⁄2 oz Hendrick's Gin
2 tsp Orange marmalade
3⁄4 oz Fresh lemon juice
1⁄2 oz Simple syrup
Garnish:
1 Lemon peel
Glass:
Cocktail
Add all of the ingredients to a cocktail shaker and fill with ice.
Shake, and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a lemon peel and serve with buttered toast on the side.

Please contact us with any questions
Jim Welborn
302-438-7388
JimWelbornBarServices@gmail.com
and visit
www.JimWelbornBarServices.blogspot.com
for Great Cocktail recipes!
Lynchburg Lemonade
Lemonade, Southern Style

1.5 ounces of Jack Daniels
3/4 ounce of triple sec
4 oz. Sour mix
Garnish:
Lemon slices
Glass:
Mason Jar.
Fill a shaker with ice and all the ingredients. Shake well strain and pour into ice filled mason jars. Garnish with lemon slices.

Mudslide
The Mudslide is a decadent mix of vodka, Kahlua and Bailey’s Irish Cream. Perfect for sipping in warm weather or cold, this frozen cocktail is rich, sweet and very, very cold. Ditch your cocktail shaker, bust out the blender and knock back this creamy concoction.

1 oz Vodka
1 oz Kahlua
1 oz Baileys Irish cream
1 oz Milk or cream
1 cup Ice
Garnish:
1 Chocolate syrup (optional)
Glass:
Martini or Hurricane
Add all the ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth.
Squeeze and swirl the chocolate syrup in the galss. Pour the Mudslide into a Martini or Hurricane glass.
If desired, drizzle with more chocolate syrup on top.


Bushwacker
I know, I know. We just posted a similar cocktail and some of you are under snow, but there are some of us who are still lounging by the pool in 80 degree plus weather....With that being said, this cocktail is not only delicious, but very chilling on a hot day and for those of you who have Nanook of the North sitting next to you, a fabulous dessert!
4 oz Cream of coconut
2 oz Coffee liqueur
1 oz Black rum
1 oz Crème de cacao
4 oz half and half
Vanilla ice cream
Chocolate Syrup (optional)
1 scoop Ice Cream (optional)
Glass:
Hurricane
Garnish:
Whipped cream with chocolate chips and chocolate syrup (optional)
Pour all of the ingredients into blender with ice. Optionally add ice cream to the blend mix. Blend and pour into a glass that has been swirled with chocolate syrup. Top with whipped cream, chocolate chips and more chocolate syrup Again, optional).

LORDS-A-LEAPING
This scotch cocktail will warm you up for a night of caroling or any time. But if you start leaping because you think it's fun..stop! LOL

2 oz The Macallan Fine Oak 10-year-old single-malt scotch
1/4 oz St. Elizabeth allspice dram
1/4 oz Angostura bitters
1/2 oz Fresh lime juice
1/2 oz Honey syrup (1 part honey, 1 part water)
Garnish:
Grated nutmeg
Barker & Mills bourbon vanilla cocktail cherry
Glass:
Coupe
Add all the ingredients to a shaker and fill with ice. Shake, and strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with grated nutmeg and a Barker & Mills Bourbon Vanilla Cocktail Cherry.

WHITE RUSSIAN
The White Russian is decadent and sophisticated. Combining vodka, Kahlúa and cream and serving it on the rocks create a delicious alternative to adult milkshakes. The White Russian came about in the ’60s when someone added a bit of cream to the Black Russian. It would be a great story to say that the White Russian’s star rose from that point on, but unfortunately that would not be true.

2 oz Vodka
1 oz Kahlúa liqueur
Heavy cream
Glass:
Old Fashioned
Add the vodka and Kahlúa to an Old Fashioned glass filled with ice.
Top with a large splash of heavy cream and stir.

FRANCOPHILE
Say merci beaucoup to a glass of this warm wine-based drink.

1 oz Calvados
1 1/2 oz Rioja wine
1/2 oz Cinnamon Syrup (see note below)
1/4 oz Lemon juice
3 oz Water
Garnish:
1 Apple slice and a Cinnamon stick
Glass:
Mug
Add all the ingredients to a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat until hot. Pour into a thick-walled mug and garnish with an apple slice and a cinnamon stick.
*Cinnamon Syrup INGREDIENTS:
2 to 3 Cinnamon sticks, broken into pieces
5 oz Sugar
5 oz Water
Add all the ingredients to a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce heat to low and simmer for a few minutes. Remove from heat, cover, and let stand for at least 6 hours. Strain, and store in the refrigerator.

Brandy Alexander
With cream, crème de cacao and brandy, classic is a creamy, indulgent delight perfect for the Holidays. With many details of its origin unknown, the Brandy Alexander became popular in the early 20th century. Try this cocktail as a decadent after-dinner sipper.

2 oz Cognac or other fine aged brandy
1 oz Dark crème de cacao
1 oz Heavy Whipping Cream
Garnish:
1 Freshly grated nutmeg
Glass:
Cocktail
Add all the ingredients to a cocktail shaker and fill with ice.
Shake vigorously and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
Garnish with freshly grated nutmeg.

BAILEYS PEPPERMINT CREAM
Hot chocolate + minty liqueur + whipped cream = an adult dessert. What could be bad?

1 1/2 oz Baileys with a Hint of Mint Chocolate
4 oz Hot chocolate
Fresh whipped cream
Candy canes, crushed
Garnish:
1 Mint leaf
Glass:
Coffee mug
Pour the Baileys and hot chocolate into a coffee mug. Top with a dollop of whipped cream and sprinkle crushed candy cane on top.
Garnish with a mint leaf.

Blackberry Ombre Sparkler
It doesn't get much Merrier than this beautiful Christmas cocktail!

1 cup fresh blackberries
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
4 sprigs fresh rosemary
1 bottle champagne
Garnish:
Sprig of Rosemary
Fresh Blackberries
Glass:
Champagne
In a small saucepan, combine blackberries, sugar, and water. Bring to a boil on high heat, and then reduce to a simmer and let cook for approximately 15-17 minutes. The blackberries will become soft and bright in color and a pinkish purple syrup will form. Making sure it cooks down enough is essential to keeping the ombre effect. Take off of the heat and drain the blackberries, keeping the syrup in a separate bowl. Set both aside and allow to cool.
Once blackberries and simple syrup are cooled, spoon about 4 tablespoons of syrup into the bottom of each champagne flute
Top with champagne.
Garnish with fresh blackberries or the cooked blackberries, and a sprig of rosemary.

Sugar Cookie Martini
Yes Virginia, there is a Sugar Cookie Martini (and a Santa Claus...)

1 ounces vanilla vodka
2 ounces amaretto
2 ounces Frosted Sugar Cookie or Vanilla International Delight Coffee Creamer
Garnish:
Cookie sugars/sprinkles
Glass:
Martini
Rim your glass with light corn syrup and then dip the rim in sprinkles. Place ice in a martini shaker, along with all ingredients and shake. Strain into prepared glass. Serve immediately.
If you can’t find the Frosted Sugar Cookie creamer, you can substitute Vanilla. Or, substitute 2 ounces of half and half or whole milk for the creamer, and add a few drops of vanilla extract.

CRANBERRY MARGARITAS
Sweet and tart cranberry juice makes for extra festive margaritas!

Makes 4 - 6 oz. cocktails
1 1/2 cups cranberry juice (I recommend using a brand that is 100% juice)
3/4 cup fresh lime juice
3/4 cup tequila
1/2 cup orange-flavored liqueur, such as Cointreau or Triple Sec
Garnish:
Cranberries and a lime wheel or wedge
Glass:
Double Old Fashioned, Margarita
Stir all ingredients together until blended. Serve over ice in a sugar- or salt-rimmed glass, garnished with fresh cranberries and lime wedges if desired.

JACK FROST COCKTAIL
This winter cocktail is a festive version of the piña colada! Blue curacao and shredded coconut help give this drink it's wintry flair.

1 tbsp light corn syrup or simple syrup
1/3 cup shredded coconut for garnish
3 cup ice for a thicker drink, use 4 cups
1 cup pineapple juice
1/2 cup vodka or light rum
1/2 cup Blue Curacao
1/2 cup cream of coconut (not coconut milk)
Glass:
Pina Colada, Martini, DOF, Champagne
Garnish:
Sweetened Shredded Coconut
On a small plate, add shredded coconut. Wet the rim of a glass with light corn syrup (can also use simple syrup, but it won't hold the coconut as well) and gently dab the top the glass in the shredded coconut, coating the rim. Set glass aside.
Add ice, pineapple juice, vodka, blue curacao, and cream of coconut to a food processor. Pulse until smooth, about 2-3 minutes.
Pour Jack Frost Winter Cocktail into prepared glasses. Serve immediately.

Christmas Coffee Cocktail
Coffee never had it so great! Strong, freshly brewed coffee with four (4) different liquors and of course the absolutely needed whipped topping makes for a delicious, warming holiday cocktail!

4 oz strong coffee
1 1/2 oz amaretto liqueur
1 1/2 oz coffee liqueur
1 oz butterscotch schnapps
1 oz creme de cocoa
Garnish:
Fresh whipped cream, grated chocolate
Glass:
Irish coffee Mug or other glass mug.
Combine strong coffee and liqueurs in a glass. Stir to combine and top with fresh whipped cream. Garnish with grated chocolate. Serve warm or over ice.

Raspberry Limoncello Prosecco
A refreshing, fruity treat your Christmas party needs. Who says you can't enjoy summer flavors in the winter?

3 cups prosecco, chilled
1 cup limoncello liqueur, chilled
1 cup frozen raspberries
6 sprigs fresh mint
Garnish:
Raspberries
Mint sprigs
Glass:
DOF or stemless wineglass
In a large pitcher, whisk together prosecco and limoncello.
Serve over raspberries, garnished with mint, if desired.

Apple Pie on the Rocks
Who wouldn't want to have a slice of apple pie in the form of a cocktail?

1 oz Vanilla Vodka
1 oz Fireball Whiskey
4 oz Organic Apple Juice
Pinch of Ground Cinnamon
Brown Sugar for the rim. (Grind a little finer for more successful sugaring).
Garnish:
Cinnamon Stick for Garnish
Glass:
Double Old Fashioned
Wet the rim of your rocks glass just a little, and gently sugar the rim with the brown sugar. In a shaker, pour the vodka, Fireball, apple juice and ground cinnamon together with a handful of ice cubes. Shake and pour the contents into the glass without wiping off the sugar rim.
Serve chilled and with a cinnamon stick, for garnish.

Satsuma and Pomegranate Campari
Remember getting an orange in your stocking at Christmas if you were good? Well this brings a whole new meaning to the word "Good"

4 parts satsuma juice, (fresh squeezed)Tangerine or Orange juice can be substituted
2 parts pomegranate juice, (fresh squeezed) or POM at your grocers
1 part simple syrup (recipe follows)
1 part Campari
Simple syrup
1 part sugar
1 part water
Glass:
Tall Iced Tea or Hurricane
Garnish:
Citrus slice/wheels
Fill a tall glass with ice. Pour Satsuma juice over ice; set aside. Add the pomegranate juice, simple syrup and Campari into a cocktail shaker and shake until combined. Pour the pomegranate and Campari mixture over the Satsuma juice.
Simple Syrup
Place sugar and water in a pot and bring to a boil, stirring until sugar has dissolved. Cool before using.

White Christmas Mojito
Because all Christmases should be white.

juice of 1 lime
8 leaves mint
1 tablespoon sugar
2 tablespoons white rum
1 tablespoon coconut rum
1/4 cup canned coconut milk
sparkling water for topping
pomegranate seeds for serving
Garnish:
Mint leaves and pomegranate seeds
Glass:
Double Old Fashioned or glass coffee cup
In a glass, muddle the lime juice, sugar and mint leaves until the leaves have broken down. Fill the glass half way with ice. In a blender, combine the white rum, coconut rum, and coconut milk and pulse until smooth. Pour over the ice and stir to combine. Top with sparkling water, mint and pomegranate.

Peppermint White Christmas
White chocolate + champagne + peppermint sticks = Christmas perfection. Reindeer antlers strongly suggested!

1 bottle chilled Champagne
White Creme de Cocoa
Candy canes
Garnish:
Candy Canes
Glass:
Tom Collins or Champagne
In a ziplock bag, crush 1 whole candy cane with a rolling-pin or something sturdy until you are left with a semi fine powder.
Dip the rims of your champagne flutes in a small dish of White Creme de Cocoa and then in the crushed candy cane. Fill champagne glasses 1/3 full with White Creme de Cocoa and then the rest of the way with chilled Champagne. Garnish with a whole candy cane. (this adds color and flavor to the cocktail!).

The Harvest Sparkle
Cider honey syrup mixed with whiskey and topped with Prosecco and rosemary makes for a Christmas cocktail with a kick.

For the cider honey syrup
1/2 cup honey
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1 cup orange juice
For a large batch/pitcher (serves 18)
2 1/4 cups whiskey or bourbon
1 1/2 cups of the cider honey syrup (entire batch)
2 1/4 cups prosecco, champagne, or sparkling white wine
9 sprigs of rosemary
For a single cocktail
1 ounce whiskey or bourbon
1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon cider honey syrup
1 ounce prosecco, champagne, or sparkling white wine (or enough to top off the glass)
1/2 sprig of rosemary
Garnish:
Rosemary Sprig
Glass: Martini
In a small saucepan over medium heat, whisk the honey, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and orange juice together until it starts to bubble. Remove from heat and let it cool for 5 minutes.
In a pitcher or shaker, mix the honey syrup and whiskey together with a good amount of ice so that it is completely chilled. Strain into a different pitcher or serving glass. (Note: caution that you don’t let the honey and whiskey mixture sit in the ice for too long so that it doesn’t get watered down.)
Keep refrigerated.
Just before serving, add prosecco to top off the glass and garnish with a ½ sprig of rosemary.

Peppermint Chocolate Martinis
The Perfect Christmas Gift!

1 cup chocolate milk (non-dairy preferred - I like almond)
1 shot chocolate liqueur
1/2 shot peppermint liqueur
Glass:
Martini
Garnish:
Crushed peppermint/candy canes, for garnish (optional)
Moisten the martini glass edge with light corn syrup and dip into a shallow plate of crushed peppermint candy canes. Pour the chocolate milk into a martini shaker. Add the liqueurs and shake to combine. (Stirring also works.)
Pour into a glass and serve!

For the Sparkling Branches
1 cup sugar, divided
1/2 cup water
Fresh rosemary sprigs
Fresh cranberries
For the Cocktails
1/2 cup gin
1/2 cup cranberry juice
1 tablespoon fresh squeezed lime juice
1 tablespoon simple syrup
Club soda
Garnish:
Frosted Rosemary sprigs and cranberries or
mint leaves, slice of lime and pomegranate seeds.
In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, combine 1/2 cup of the sugar and the water, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is completely dissolved. Remove the saucepan from the heat and let the simple syrup cool slightly.
While the simple syrup is cooling, assemble the sparkling branches. Trim your rosemary sprigs so they are about 1-inch longer than the width of your cocktail glasses. Remove and discard some of the lower leaves, leaving the main stem intact. Using a toothpick, poke a small hole all the way through the cranberries. Then thread two cranberries onto each rosemary stem. You'll want to make at least one sparkling branch for each cocktail.
Pour the cooled simple syrup into a shallow bowl. Place the assembled branches in the simple syrup, turning them to coat. Then working with one branch at a time, remove it from the simple syrup and gently shake off any excess liquid. Hold the branch over your sink or a bowl and sprinkle it lightly with a small amount of the remaining sugar, turning the branch as you sprinkle the sugar so it coats all sides evenly. Place the sparkling branch on plate and set aside. Continue working until all the branches have been coated. Reserve some of the simple syrup for making the cocktails.
To make the cocktails, add the gin, cranberry juice, lime juice and simple syrup to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously to chill. Then strain into two glasses with fresh ice. Top with club soda, stirring gently to combine. Garnish with a slice of lime and a sparkling branch or a lime wheel threaded onto a toothpick with mint leaves and pomegranate seeds on top. Serve immediately. See photos above.
Christmas Tree Cocktail
No trees lost their lives to make this cocktail!



SEELBACH COCKTAIL
The glittering mixture of local bourbon, orange liqueur, two kinds of bitters, and Champagne is the signature drink of Louisville’s Seelbach Hotel. Once thought to be a classic rediscovered in the ’90s after decades of obscurity, the drink’s inventor recently confessed to having fabricated the vintage backstory. Regardless, the elegant sip is sure to be delighting guests (and faraway strangers) for years to come.

1 oz Bourbon
1⁄2 oz Cointreau orange liqueur
4 dashes Angostura bitters
3 dashes Peychaud’s bitters
Champagne or sparkling wine
Garnish:
Extra-long orange twist
Glass:
Champagne flute
Stir together bourbon, Cointreau and bitters in an ice-filled mixing glass. Strain into a chilled Champagne flute. Top with cold Champagne or sparkling wine, and garnish with twist.

Winter Sangria
Warm up this winter with a glass of sangria filled with apples, pomegranate, cranberries, clementines, and a hint of rosemary.

1 bottle of sweet red wine
1 bottle sparkling cran-apple cider
2 clementines, sliced thin, peel on
2 granny smith apples, cored and diced
1/2 cup pomegranate arils
1 cup cranberries sliced in half
Garnish:
Rosemary sprig
Glass:
Mason jar
Mix wine, cider, and fruit in a large pitcher. Serve over ice and garnish with rosemary sprig.

Jingle Juice
This big-batch cocktail is filled with rum, mango, pineapple, and orange juice.

Citrus Sugar
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 teaspoon lime zest
1 teaspoon grapefruit zest
1 teaspoon orange zest
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Punch
3/4 cup Citrus Sugar
1 cup lime juice
1 cup lemon juice
2 cups orange juice
1 cup grapefruit juice
1 cup mango nectar
1 cup pineapple juice
3 3/4 cups Captain Morgan Spiced Rum
2 1/4 cup Grand Marnier
1 1/2 cups Amaretto
3 cups sparkling water
Garnish:
Orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit slices, frozen cranberries
Glass:
Stemless wine glass, double old fashioned
Make the citrus sugar by combining the sugar, zests, ginger and cinnamon. Rub the zest between your fingers to release the oils. Let sit at room temperature for 4 hours or up to a a few days in an airtight container.
Peel the skins off of the fruit and juice.
I squeeze everything ahead of time and put in a pitcher. I keep it icy cold in the fridge. Just give it a shake before you pour it into the punch bowl. I also do the same with the liquors too. I like everything to be really cold.
Make the punch by adding the sugar to the bottom on the punch bowl. Pour in the juice and stir to start to dissolve the sugar. Pour in the alcohol.
Garnish with frozen cranberries and fruit slices. Give it a taste, just to make sure that it tastes okay and is balanced. Or to just because you want to!

Earl Grey–Bourbon Punch
Earl Grey tea never had it so good!

1/4 cup loose Earl Grey tea or 4 bags
1/2 cup honey
4 sprigs thyme
2 sprigs rosemary, plus more for garnish
1 cup fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 cups bourbon
1/2 cup Cognac or brandy
1 teaspoon orange or regular bitters
Ice ring and lemon wheels (for serving)
Garnish:
Rosemary sprig and a lemon wheel
Glass:
Punch or Double Old Fashioned
Combine tea and 1 1/4 cups boiling water in a heatproof bowl. Let steep 5 minutes, then strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a measuring glass (you should have 1 cup). Let cool.
Meanwhile, bring honey, thyme, 2 rosemary sprigs, and 1/2 cup water to a gentle simmer over medium heat, stirring to combine. Let cool; discard herbs.
Combine tea, honey syrup, lemon juice, bourbon, Cognac, and bitters in a large pitcher or punch bowl. Add 2 cups ice and stir until ice is melted and punch is very cold.
Do Ahead: Syrup and tea can be made 3 days ahead; cover separately and chill. Punch can be made 1 day ahead; cover and chill.
How to make a great Ice Ring...Please go to:
https://www.epicurious.com/expert-advice/how-to-make-an-ice-ring-for-punch-article

Winter Wonderland Cocktail
A winter wonderland of unexpected flavors....and of course FUN!

1 oz Cream of coconut (such as CocoLopez)
1 1/2 oz Vanilla Vodka
1 1/2 oz Creme de Cocoa
Ice
Garnish:
Sweetened flaked coconut (optional)
Straw
Glass:
Small brandy snifter
In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine cream of coconut, vanilla vodka and creme de cocoa. Shake until well chilled and combined. Strain into an ice filled glass..

Cranberry Cheer Cocktail
Infuse simple syrup with fresh cranberries and spices to create this one-of-a-kind, holiday-friendly whiskey cocktail.

1 c. sugar
2 stick cinnamon
2 whole star anise
3 green cardamom pods
1 c. fresh cranberries
6 oz. rye whiskey (such as McKenzie)
2 oz. fresh lime juice
Seltzer
Garnish:
Lime slices
Glass:
Stemless wineglass or Double Old Fashioned
In a small pot over medium heat, stir sugar in 1 cup water until dissolved to create simple syrup; reserve 1/4 cup.
Place spices on an 8-inch square of cheesecloth and secure with twine to create a sachet; crush spices lightly. Add sachet and cranberries to simple syrup. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and cook for 3 minutes. Remove from heat and discard sachet.
In a shaker, mix 4 teaspoons cranberry mixture, whiskey, lime juice, simple syrup, and ice. Pour into 4 glasses with ice. Top each with a splash of seltzer; garnish with lime.

Good Luck Charm Cocktail
We can all use a little luck in the New Year ahead. Here is a cocktail that may not make us lucky, but it sure will make it fun trying!

1 1/2 ounces Jim Beam Bourbon
3/4 ounce limoncello
2 ounces lemon sour
5 to 6 spearmint leaves (minced and whole)
Garnish:
Lemon wheel
Fresh mint leaves
Glass:
Martini
Mince 3 mints leaves into very fine pieces.
Shake all ingredients with ice until well blended. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass with an optional sugared rim.
** Please note that the little pieces of mint that should be floating around in the cocktail are little bursts of flavor that are considered good luck.
Lemon Sour Mix
Combine 1 cup sugar with 1 cup water until sugar is completely dissolved. Add 1 cup fresh lime juice and 1 cup fresh lemon juice and refrigerate.
This can be done over heat by bringing the sugar and water to a boil and simmering for about 5 minutes before adding the juices and allowing the mix to cool before bottling.

Whiskey Smash Cocktail
Like Mint Juleps? You’ll love the Whiskey Smash, a citrusy 19th-century cooler. Legendary bartender Dale DeGroff at the Rainbow Room in New York modified the classic recipe by adding muddled lemon wedges. DeGroff calls the citrus-and-mint combination the perfect cocktail for those who say they’ll never drink whiskey.

Half Lemon, cut into wedges
4 Mint leaves
3⁄4 oz Simple syrup
2 oz Elijah Craig 12-Year-Old Bourbon
Garnish:
1 Mint sprig
Glass:
Rocks
In a shaker, muddle the lemon. Add the remaining ingredients and fill with ice. Shake, and double-strain into a rocks glass filled with crushed ice or one large ice chunk. Gently roll a mint sprig between your fingers to release its oils and use as garnish. Serve with a straw.

Holiday Sauce Cocktail
Cranberry Sauce on a turkey sandwich or in a cocktail??? Hmmm... Decisions, Decisions! Cranberry sauce pairs perfectly with cognac in this fruity holiday tipple by Hennessy...You may never look at cranberry sauce the same again!

Cinnamon
Sugar
1 1/2 oz Hennessy V.S. cognac
1/2 oz Fresh lemon juice
1 tsp Cranberry sauce (heaping tsp)
1 dash Fee Brothers cranberry bitters
Garnish:
1 Orange twist
Glass:
Coupe or Martini
Coat the wet rim of a Martini or coupe glass with a mixture of equal parts cinnamon and sugar, and set aside. Add the remaining ingredients to a shaker and fill with ice. Shake, and strain into the prepared glass.
Garnish with an orange twist.

Mai Tai
Let's try to bring a little summer into winter!
The Mai Tai is perhaps the most famous Tiki cocktail for a good reason. Trader Vic’s is credited with inventing the drink, and the first person to try it was said to cry out “Mai Tai!” which means “the best—out of this world” in Tahitian. The Mai Tai took a star turn by earning a prominent role in the Elvis film Blue Hawaii. The Mai Tai was created as a way to showcase the flavors of good-quality rum. It should never be neon-colored or overly sweet. A proper Mai Tai is a deep amber hue and allows the rum to shine through with the other ingredients. While some Mai Tai variants call for pineapple juice, this recipe omits it in favor of the more classic recipe favored by Martin Cate’s award-winning Tiki bar Smuggler’s Cove’s.

3/4oz Fresh lime juice
1/4 oz Rock candy syrup (2 parts sugar, 1 part water)
1/4 oz Orgeat almond syrup
1/2 oz Orange Curaçao
2 oz Premium aged rum (Appleton Estate 12-Year-Old, El Dorado 12- Year-Old)
Garnish:
1 Lime rind and fresh mint sprig
Glass:
Double Old Fashioned
Add all the ingredients to a shaker and fill with crushed ice.
Shake vigorously until the shaker is well-chilled and frosty on the outside. Pour (unstrained) into a double Old Fashioned glass.
Garnish with half of a juiced lime and a fresh mint sprig.

Dubonnet and Champagne
Simple but elegant

2 oz Dubonnet Rouge
4 oz Champagne
Garnish:
1 Lemon twist
Glass:
Champagne flute
Add both ingredients to a Champagne flute.
Garnish with a lemon twist.

Jockey Club
Mix up this distant cousin of the Manhattan

1 1/2 oz Bourbon
1 oz Sweet vermouth
1/4 oz Maraschino liqueur
Garnish:
1 Brandied cherry
Glass:
Cocktail
Add all the ingredients to a mixing glass and fill with ice.
Stir, and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
Garnish with a brandied cherry on a cocktail pick.

Gin and Tonic
With a Twist!
Why wait till summer to enjoy this delicious cocktail!

1 1/2 oz of a high quality gin
Tonic water (very very fresh)
Garnish:
Lime wedge
Cucumber ribbon
Crushed red and black peppercorns
Juniper berries or capers
Glass:
Highball or stemed full bowl glass
Add the gin to a highball glass and fill with fresh ice. Top with tonic water. Squeeze the lime wedge into the drink, drop into the glass and stir gently. Top with cucumber ribbon, peppercorns and juniper berries or capers.

CITIUS, ALTIUS, FORTIUS
"Faster, Higher, Stronger"
Prepare for Olympic glory with this multinational cocktail.

2 oz Bluecoat Gin
1/2 oz Noilly Prat Dry Vermouth (France)
1/2 oz Martini & Rossi Rosso Vermouth (Italy)
2 dashes The Bitter Truth Orange Bitters (Germany)
1 tsp Kübler Absinthe (Switzerland)
1 tsp Crown Royal Whisky (Canada)
1 tsp Simple syrup
Garnish:
1 Orange half-wheel
Glass:
Cocktail
Add the ingredients to a mixing glass and fill with ice. Stir, and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with an orange half-wheel.

606 Swizzle Cocktail
Sherry, pineapple juice and a rummy homemade mix are the stars of this cocktail. In case you are scratching your head, 606 is the prefix of a Chicago zip code where this cocktail was created.

1 oz East Indian sherry
1 oz Amontillado sherry
1 1⁄4 oz Blackstrap banana mix*
3⁄4 oz Fresh pineapple juice
3⁄4 oz Fresh lime juice
Pilsner
Garnish:
Mint sprig
3 dash Angostura bitters
Glass:
Hurricane
Add all ingredients except the pilsner to a hurricane glass filled with crushed ice. Mix well, and top with pilsner. Garnish with a mint sprig and 3 dashes of Angostura Bitters.
*Blackstrap banana mix:
4 oz Bacardí 8 Rum
3 oz Briottet Crème de Banana
2 oz Blackstrap rum
2 oz Honey syrup (2 parts honey to 1 part water)
Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass and stir until fully combined.

Heated Affair
This hot tequila-and-cider concoction will warm you head to toe.

2 oz quality Tequila
6 oz Hot Spiced Apple Cider*
Heavy cream, whipped
Garnish:
1 Nutmeg
Cinnamon stick
Glass:
Irish Coffee
Add the tequila and cider to a pre-warmed Irish Coffee glass.
Float a little whipped heavy cream on top and garnish with freshly grated nutmeg and a cinnamon stick.
*HOT SPICED APPLE CIDER
Heat apple juice in a small saucepan over low heat. Add winter spices like cloves, cinnamon sticks, allspice and orange peel as desired. Cook for about 15 minutes and strain before using.

LAGERITA
Add a light Mexican beer to get a super-refreshing Margarita.

Salt (optional)
2 oz Cabeza Tequila
3⁄4 oz Cointreau
1 oz Lime juice
4 oz Modelo Especial Beer
Garnish:
1 Lime wheel
Glass:
Highball
If desired, coat the rim of a highball glass with salt, fill with ice (or not) and set aside. Add the tequila, Cointreau and lime juice to a shaker and fill with fresh ice. Shake, and strain into the prepared glass. Top with the beer and garnish with a lime wheel.

Tom and Jerry
Warm up on a chilly day by fixing a bowl of decadent Tom & Jerry and share it with your family and friends.

Boiling water
1 tbsp Tom & Jerry Batter
1 oz Cognac
1 oz Dark rum
Whole milk, hot
Garnish:
1 nutmeg, ground clove and allspice
Glass:
Coffee mug
Rinse a small coffee mug with boiling water to warm it and discard the water. Add the batter, cognac and rum to the cup and fill with hot milk.
Garnish with a mixture of 2 parts freshly grated nutmeg to 1 part each ground clove and ground allspice.
Tom & Jerry Batter
Ingredients
12 Eggs, separated
1 tsp Cream of tartar
2 lb Sugar
2 oz Dark Jamaican-style rum
1 tsp Vanilla extract (optional)
In a nonreactive bowl, whip the egg whites with the cream of tartar until they form stiff peaks. In a separate bowl, beat the yolks with the sugar, rum and vanilla (if using). When the sugar has completed blended in (no granules), fold it into the whites.

Whiskey Sour
The Whiskey Sour is one classic cocktail that won’t make you sour.

1 1⁄2 oz Bourbon
3⁄4 oz Fresh lemon juice
3⁄4 oz Simple syrup (1 part water, 1 part sugar)
1 Cherry
Garnish:
1 Lime wedge
Glass:
Rocks
Add all the ingredients to a shaker filled with ice and shake. Strain into a rocks glass filled with fresh ice. Garnish with a cherry and lemon wedge.
bottom of page