Currently browsing Ingredients
Playing favourites
When people first learn I have a passion for mixology they often ask me what my favourite cocktail is, a question I’m never quite sure how to answer. On certain evenings though, under certain circumstances, I do have a temporary favourite. Tonight that drink is a Manhattan variation that for one day at least, is my favourite cocktail.
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Old Fashioned
Dating from the 19th century, the Old Fashioned is a cocktail in the truest sense of the word, being a simple mixture of spirit, sugar, water and bitters. This simplicity belies the amazing complexity of a well made Old Fashioned though, so grab you bar spoon and prepare to stir for a long, long time.
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Coming Out
The most famous cocktail in the world, the Martini, is also a misunderstood one. These days most associated with James Bond and vodka, a real Martini should be made with gin and most definitely stirred, not shaken. It’s certainly not a cocktail for beginners, so find out what I made of my very first Martini.
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Maraschino
Maraschino is a liqueur which gains its flavour from Marasca cherries. During production the whole cherry, including the pits, seeds and stems, is used which lends an almost almond like taste to the spirit. It has a fresh, slightly dry, bittersweet flavour which is very different to regular cherry liqueurs, and somewhat hard to describe. [...]
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Tips for beginners: Ingredients
Getting started in the world of cocktails can seem like an expensive venture to those with few spirits in their alcohol cabinet. There is a huge variety of alcohol available, from the key base spirits like gin, vodka and whisky, to the more exotic likes of rye and Cachaça, and the huge array of liqueurs. [...]
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Kirschwasser
Kirsch, short for the German Kirschwasser (cherry water), is an eau de vie (French for water of life, enough languages for you yet?) – a clear brandy made from fermented fruit, in this case cherries. Kirsch is a strong alcohol (typically over 80 proof), and unlike the sweet, strongly flavoured cherry liqueurs has a very [...]
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MxMO – Tequila
This months Mixology Monday theme is tequila. Up until a month or so back my only experience of tequila was shots of it, with a lick of salt and a bite of lemon, from when I was at university and doing shots was cool. It’s probably these experiences that put me off trying any Tequila [...]
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Sidecar
The sour family of drinks contains many of the true classics like the Margarita, Daiquiri and of course the Sidecar. Allegedly invented during World War I, the drink has a simple recipe that belies its amazing flavour and complexity. If you like sours but want something a little more warming, the Sidecar may be for you.
Oh Gosh!
I thought I had better explain exactly why I named this site “Oh Gosh!”, and at the same time give myself an excuse to make one of my favourite summer cocktails…
The “Oh Gosh!” is a little-known cocktail created by Tony Conigliaro at the now defunt Isola bar in Knightsbridge, London. According to Difford’s Guide to [...]
