Sour Cherry Farm

We used to like bourbon Manhattans. We have seen the err of our ways. Now we only drink them with rye. Yes, for one thing, our tastes have matured. Bourbon is sweet. I mean, it has its place, certainly. Mint juleps wouldn’t be the same without them. But consider this:… Read More →

I am a bigger fan of the Negroni than Greg. But that said, we enjoyed a nice version on the porch, made according to David Wondrich, of course. I tried to thank him via Twitter, but alas, did not get a response. Negronis according to @davidwondrich Ratio: 2-1-1. thx! #cocktails… Read More →

Hemingway is associated with lots of drinks, including the regular ol’ daiquiri, which is made, as you know, with rum, lime juice and simple syrup. This version adds complexity with maraschino liqueur and grapefruit juice. It’s a nice drink to have in spring, when you can still get great grapefruit… Read More →

This photo got a lot of comments over on Facebook, so I thought we’d better share the recipe here, too! Yummy refreshing minty rummy drinks, after the jump. Related posts: Cocktail Recipe: Mint Juleps Watermelon-Basil Mojitos Cocktail Recipe: Carjack Cocktail Recipe: Lemon-Thyme Gimlets

Liz originally found a similar recipe in Gourmet while lying on the beach on Long Beach Island. Greg immediately rose from his chair on the sand and proceeded to buy a melon, slice it up and throw it in the freezer to be ready by 5 p.m. The secret of… Read More →

Another look at the cocktail, which we posted the recipes for earlier this month. Greg had this one. I had the Aviation.   Related posts: Cocktail Recipe: Maple Old Fashioned Cocktail Recipe: Applejack Old Fashioned Cocktail Recipe: Aviaton Cocktail Recipe: Criterium

After making our Applejack Old Fashioned this fall, we decided to see how maple would play with bourbon. Of course it plays well. What did you think? Greg is working on an article for The Valley Table magazine about maple syrup, so it was especially cool to be able to… Read More →

I want to start off this post by saying that these “Shit that” whoever “says” videos flying around YouTube are hilarious. “Shit New Yorkers Say” is especially funny (“Where’s the train?” “All I had to eat today was a bagel.” “Queens?”). “Shit Bartenders Say”  is so good, I’ll embed it… Read More →

As a toast to Christmas, we present the Perfect Parallel. The cocktail is a play on the Perfect Manhattan, which uses equal amounts of sweet and dry vermouth along with bourbon or rye. In this case, we substitute Laird’s Applejack. Delishy. And so festive, isn’t it? The recipe is on a… Read More →

Shannon and Tasha came over for drinks to toast the season. Even Srimp had her milk cocktail. Clockwise from the eggnog (with bourbon), champagne and milk. Merry Christmas, girls! Related posts: No related posts.

Out of the many, many cocktail recipes that Ed and I tried for our story on New York State spirits, our favorite was the Applejack Old Fashioned. Photo by  Xavier Mascareñas/The Journal News. The recipe, after the jump. Related posts: Cocktail Recipe: Carjack Cocktail Recipe: Satan’s Whiskers Cocktail Recipe: Mint… Read More →

Come Derby Day each year, we’re muddling, shaking and stirring. The mint in the garden has grown enough that it’s ripe for the picking, and there’s nothing no recipe we like better for showing it off. The recipe, after the jump. Related posts: Cocktail Recipe: Perfect Parallels Cocktail Recipe: The… Read More →

Irene first served this cocktail at the book club’s discussion of “On the Road.” We’ve since requested it at bars and made at home. Several times. It’s adapted from David Wondrich, cocktail historian and writer extraordinaire. According to Esquire, for which Wondrich is a cocktail correspondent (how do you like… Read More →

Each year for Wild Card Saturday, we bring the punch. This year we found a recipe for Jolly Fruity Cider in the lovely little book “Holiday Cocktails” by Jessica Strand. We ran with it. If you’ll excuse the expression. Related posts: Cocktail Recipe: Perfect Parallels Cocktail Recipe: Carjack Recipe: Prime… Read More →

Hibiscus Margaritas are our holiday drink of choice for three reasons: 1. They remind us of our trip to Mexico. 2. They’re absolutely delicious. 3. They’re so darn festive. Related posts: Cocktail Recipe: Lemon-Thyme Gimlets Recipe: Strawberry Daiquiri Recipe: Caipirinhas Cocktail Recipe: Carjack

We have revised our old recipe for the Aviation cocktail. We now include both creme de violette and maraschino liqueur in our ingredients. UPDATE 9/29/12: We are now revising the recipe again. We find the brand of creme de violette pictured here (and the most available in the US) is… Read More →

We like to call this cocktail the Carjack. It’s little twist on a Sidecar, but it’s made with applejack brandy rather than cognac. Clever, huh? Related posts: Cocktail Recipe: Perfect Parallels Cocktail Recipe: Lemon-Thyme Gimlets Cocktail Recipe: Jack Rose Recipe: Shrimp Cocktail

Greg likes to call this drink “my old friend Jack Rose.” This night, however, he wasn’t as friendly as usual. (Jack Rose, not Greg.) We used an organic, natural grenadine, and my theory is that some of the syrupy sweetness associated with the old-style chemical types was missing. The lime… Read More →

I discovered this forgotten classic cocktail in one of my favorite bar books, “Cocktail: The Drinks Bible for the 21st Century.” The authors say there are two ways to make Satan’s Whiskers, straight or curled. The “straight” Whiskers uses Grand Marnier; the “curled” Whiskers uses Cointreau. I did mine straight…. Read More →

With a touch of fall in the air, we settled in by the fire with a warming apple brandy drink called the Perfect Parallel. It’s like a perfect Manhattan — which uses half sweet and half dry Vermouth — except you substitute apple jack brandy for bourbon or rye. We first… Read More →

Inspired by Pomodoro in Boston. Great for winter or summer. Related posts: Recipe: Lemonade Recipe: Strawberry Daiquiri Recipe: Creme Fraiche Ice Cream Recipe: Blueberry Cobbler

As my mother would say, I do love a cocktail. And not only that, I do love a caipirinha. It’s a Brazilian drink made with cachaca — a sugar cane liquor a little like rum, but not. For caiparinhas, you just nned sugar, lime, ice and cachaca. That’s it. It’s… Read More →

It couldn’t be easier to make delicious homemade fresh lemonade — and it’s oh-so-much better tasting than anything you mix up from a powder. Related posts: Recipe: Shrimp Cocktail Recipe: Strawberry Daiquiri Quick Barbecue Sauce Recipe: Creme Fraiche Ice Cream

All you need is a pint of fresh strawberries, rum, lime juice, sugar and ice and you’ve got yourself the makings for a fabulous cocktail. The fact that you’re using local, seasonal ingredients is just a bonus when it comes to this delicious drink. The recipe, after the jump. Related… Read More →