The Cocktail Thread

stickyfiddle

Thought this could be a fun thread- everyone loves a good cocktail, right? Does anyone have any go-to stuff they order beyond the obvious G&T, Marghrita, Mojito, Martini etc?

I've been enjoying the wonderfully-named Suffering Bastard this week. Bourbon, gin, lime and ginger. Fantastic

roundthebend

I'd love to learn how to make a few cocktails for those occasions when we're having a house party and we want to add a bit more interest to the drinks, even though I don't drink them often.

When we were in Iceland recently there was a free gin cocktail bar at a gig and the guys were making gin with basil, and gin with thyme. The basil one was really nice.

What kit does one need?

Richardj

Have to admit I am a bit of a traditionalist.  A good Mojito, a 'Vesper' Vodka Martini or very large Mai Tai will always find a welcome home.

Jalapeno

Dry Martini Gin with a twist of lime is my go-to cocktail

chillidoggy

I tend to avoid cocktails these days. Spent too much time laying on the floor of bars in the past due to drinking them like beer, and too much time carrying various other cocktail-victims back home. Trouble is, they taste superb, but it hits you all of a sudden. By then, it's too late.

I'm sticking with G&T, or rum and coke.

Mind you, I do have a very good recipe for a strawberry daiquiri, which uses fresh strawberries, bacardi, orange juice and cream.

Phil_aka_Pip

Not really a cocktail but my favourite drink over the summer has been

25% Sainsbury's Lime Cordial (NOT Rose's which is way too sugary and not lime-y enough)
5%   Sainsbury's Hi-Juice Lemon (just enough to make the drink cloudy)
20% Gin
50% Sainsbury's Diet Indian Tonic Water

Good enough to make up in a pint glass ... but it goes down way too easily

stickyfiddle

roundthebend said:

I'd love to learn how to make a few cocktails for those occasions when we're having a house party and we want to add a bit more interest to the drinks, even though I don't drink them often.

When we were in Iceland recently there was a free gin cocktail bar at a gig and the guys were making gin with basil, and gin with thyme. The basil one was really nice.

What kit does one need?

Not much really. You can mix some straight into a glass. The main bits are a good cocktail shaker, a "muddler" (essentially a stick for schmushing stuff), a good knife for cutting limes and lemons and maybe a zester thingy too. And ice. Lots and lots of ice.

chillidoggy said:

I tend to avoid cocktails these days. Spent too much time laying on the floor of bars in the past due to drinking them like beer, and too much time carrying various other cocktail-victims back home. Trouble is, they taste superb, but it hits you all of a sudden. By then, it's too late.

Been there. Walking home after a night sitting down drinking cocktails is fun...

Jalapeno

Phil_aka_Pip said:

Not really a cocktail but my favourite drink over the summer has been

25% Sainsbury's Lime Cordial (NOT Rose's which is way too sugary and not lime-y enough)
5%   Sainsbury's Hi-Juice Lemon (just enough to make the drink cloudy)
20% Gin
50% Sainsbury's Diet Indian Tonic Water

Good enough to make up in a pint glass ... but it goes down way too easily

Gin Fizz is also great - just Gin and Cloudy Lemonade.

stickyfiddle

Jalapeno said:

Phil_aka_Pip said:

Not really a cocktail but my favourite drink over the summer has been

25% Sainsbury's Lime Cordial (NOT Rose's which is way too sugary and not lime-y enough)
5%   Sainsbury's Hi-Juice Lemon (just enough to make the drink cloudy)
20% Gin
50% Sainsbury's Diet Indian Tonic Water

Good enough to make up in a pint glass ... but it goes down way too easily

Gin Fizz is also great - just Gin and Cloudy Lemonade.

Totally. I was on bourbon highballs last night - just Jim Beam with ginger ale an a dash of bitters. Lovely

CabbageCat

chillidoggy said:

I'm sticking with G&T.

Might I recommend a few drops of Angostura Bitters in the glass on occasion to turn it into a pink G&T. Flowery.

chillidoggy

You know, at one time I never drunk a G&T without Angostura. Then the missus decided she didn't like it, because she thought the bottle we had had 'gone off', so we've not touched it since. Might have to revisit it now you've said about it.

rocktron

When I was returning to London from Leonardo Da Vinci Airport, Rome, at the end of August, I noticed that all the Duty Free Shops were promoting Limoncello Liqueur, and Melone Grappa Bottega.

Check here for Limoncello Liqueur:-  https://www.google.co.uk/?gws_rd=ssl#q=limoncello

Check here for Melone Grappa Bottega:- https://www.google.co.uk/?gws_rd=ssl#q=melone+grappa+bottega

I bought one bottle of each (long since finished).    I couldn't find any in Tesco's.  

Interestingly, Tesco's now have Limoncello Dessert, which can be found in their Dessert Aisle, next to Tiramisu, Cheesecake, etc. It is made in Italy for Tesco, but I expect it is available in other supermarkets.  

lloyd

My go to's are Manhattens, Old Fashioneds, Negronis, Americanos and the occasional classic Daquiri 

stickyfiddle

lloyd said:

My go to's are Manhattens, Old Fashioneds, Negronis, Americanos and the occasional classic Daquiri 

Love an Old Fashioned. Had a couple in Campbell's Apartment in NYC in the summer. Could barely walk back to my hotel! Best bar I've ever been in

mike_l

Jalapeno said:

Gin Fizz is also great - just Gin and Cloudy Lemonade.

Our old rugby club drink was Gin and Hooch. Exactly as it says, a double Gin mixed with a bottle of Hooch. Lovely, but kinda leathal at the same time.

Bit more upmarket than a "turbo shandy", which is half a Stella with a bottle of Smirnoff Ice mixed with it. Tastes like shandy, but is about a billion times more lethal.

Why do I only know drinks for getting really shitfaced on

lloyd

stickyfiddle said:

lloyd said:

My go to's are Manhattens, Old Fashioneds, Negronis, Americanos and the occasional classic Daquiri 

Love an Old Fashioned. Had a couple in Campbell's Apartment in NYC in the summer. Could barely walk back to my hotel! Best bar I've ever been in

Very envious mate, looks great. Bet they nailed the drink there too. Best bar I've been in was the Black Angel in Prague. Had a couple of Manhattens there, served traditionally with cured meat as a garnish...I'm a bit of a drink geek....as an ex cocktail barman it would fill me with dread to hear "6 Old Fashioneds" on a busy Friday/Saturday night shift...with them taking 6-7 minutes each to make......

Jalapeno

mike_l said:

Jalapeno said:

Gin Fizz is also great - just Gin and Cloudy Lemonade.

Our old rugby club drink was Gin and Hooch. Exactly as it says, a double Gin mixed with a bottle of Hooch. Lovely, but kinda leathal at the same time.

Gin & Hooch is excellent.  Good substitute for the now defunct LemonHead alchopop

mike_l

Jal, I've been pissed on G&H so many times I can't remember.

Hence why I stick to beer these days.

stickyfiddle

lloyd said:

stickyfiddle said:

lloyd said:

My go to's are Manhattens, Old Fashioneds, Negronis, Americanos and the occasional classic Daquiri 

Love an Old Fashioned. Had a couple in Campbell's Apartment in NYC in the summer. Could barely walk back to my hotel! Best bar I've ever been in

Very envious mate, looks great. Bet they nailed the drink there too. Best bar I've been in was the Black Angel in Prague. Had a couple of Manhattens there, served traditionally with cured meat as a garnish...I'm a bit of a drink geek....as an ex cocktail barman it would fill me with dread to hear "6 Old Fashioneds" on a busy Friday/Saturday night shift...with them taking 6-7 minutes each to make......

Ha! I don't make em at home... Needless to say these were excellent and huge but not as big as the godknowswhat MrsF ordered. I pretty much carried her home...

mudslide73

Johnny Blade - Carlsberg Special Brew, Diamond White and a single JD in the top. Named after the Sabbath tune of the same name. Like a nitro snakebite.

Myranda

I love to have a variety of cocktails if I go somewhere that does them. Sweet fruity silly things... 

Very nummy

But at home, I've never got the ingredients... especially as I like variety, I'd have to have dozens of different wobbly waters and a squillion mixers.

Which is why the house it just stocked with wines