Cocktail Recipes
You can find countless recipes on the net, in books, and in magazines; so we won't try to duplicate that effort. Instead, we'll just share a few of our favorites here.

If you would like help with any other recipe, just stop by the store and ask at the counter. We have access to excellent cocktail recipe resources, and usually we can recommend specific products to bring out the best features of any recipe.

Hot Buttered Rum
Warm up with this simple, cozy recipe. Serve at small gatherings, or just sip whenever you need some warm cheer.

Ingredients
1.5 oz. dark rum (light is okay too; or try spiced rum)
1 tsp. brown sugar (white is okay too)
1/2 tsp. melted butter
4 cloves

Mix sugar, butter, cloves and rum into a coffe mug and stir. Fill mug with hot water and stir again. For added flair, top with whipped cream and sprinkle with nutmeg. Vary the amount of rum or water to taste.

Margarita Martini
A fun twist on the classic margarita, this drink combines the refreshing flavor of the margarita with the cachet of a martini. There are many possible variations in this simple recipe, so experiment to find your unique flavor.

Ingredients
1 1/2 oz blanco or reposado tequila (strongly recommend 100% agave)
1/2 oz Cointreau or Grand Marnier
1/2 oz freshly squeezed lime juice
Simple syrup (sugar dissolved into water) to taste

Fill a cocktail shaker or a large glass with ice. Add all ingredients and shake. Strain into chilled martini glass. Garnish with a lime slice or candied lime.

You may wish to lightly salt the rim of your glass. To do so: before chilling the glass, dip the rim into a saucer filled with lime juice, then into another filled with salt. Some people suggest adding sugar to the salt, for a zesty twist.

Classic Brandy Sidecar
The Sidecar was invented at a bar in Paris during World War I. It was made in honor of an American soldier who was fond of arriving at the bar driven in a motorcycle sidecar. Any brandy and tripel sec will make a good sidecar, but the traditional version is made with cognac and Contreau.

Ingredients
1/2 oz Lemon Juice
1 oz Cointreau or other Tripel Sec, or Grand Marnier
1 oz Cognac, Armagnac, or other Brandy

Shake with ice and strain into a sugar-rimmed cocktail glass. Garnish with a strip or twist of lemon rind.

To sugar-rim the glass, dip the rim into a saucer filled with lemon juice, then into another saucer filled with sugar.

The Valentine
Not just any old valentine; this is the valentine. This four-liquor drink might take some shopping to prepare for, but you'll find it to be the bartender's equivalent of a box of truffels.

Ingredients
1/2 oz vodka
1/3 oz Chambord or other raspberry liqueur
1/3 oz Godiva or other chocolate liqueur
1/3 oz Kahlua or other coffee liqueur

Combine ingredients in a highball or cocktail galss, stir, and serve.

Caipirinha
The national cocktail of Brazil, there are many variations on the Caipirinha. This recipie will get you started with the basic formulation. See the Leblon website for other ideas.

Ingredients
1 2/3 oz Cachaça
1⁄2 fresh lime cut into 4 wedges
2 teaspoons sugar

Place lime and sugar into old fashioned glass and muddle (mash the two ingredients together using a muddler or a wooden spoon). Fill the glass with ice and add the Cachaça.

Irish Flag
A great conversation piece for St. Patrick's Day, and a classy alternative to green beer, the Irish Flag combines two of Ireland's favorite drinks with the greenest of liqueurs to make a unique layered drink resembling the flag of Ireland.

Ingredients
Green creme de menthe
Irish cream (such as Bailey's)
Irish whiskey (such as Jameson)

In a shot glass or cordial glass, carefully pour ingredients in the order given, so that each floats on the preceding one. You may wish to use the back of a tablespoon to break the fall of the liquids as you pour, so they won't intermingle. Some people prefer Grand Marnier for a redder top layer, but whiskey is more in the spirit (and more compatible with the mint).

April Rain
The classic Martini engenders visions of smoky parlors and dark jazz clubs. But this citrus twist on the original is a refreshing celebration of Spring.

Ingredients
2 oz premium vodka
1/2 oz lime juice
1/2 oz vermouth
lime peel or slice for garnish

Pour the vodka, vermouth and lime juice over ice in cocktail shaker and shake well. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with the lime peel or slice.

Gin Buck
A classic drink that is too often overlooked, the Gin Buck is marvelously refreshing. Not too sweet, not too strong, and easy to make... a great cocktail for May.

Ingredients
1.5 oz gin
1 Tbsp lemon juice
~6 oz ginger ale

Pour gin and lemon juice into an old-fashioned glass over ice cubes. Fill with ginger ale and stir. Garnish with a lemon slice, if desired.

Limoncello Cooldown
Limoncello is an Italian lemon liqueur which some people find to be a bit overpowering. However, simply adding some ice and soda turns it into a brilliantly refreshing drink that brings a lemon chill to the hottest summer day.

Ingredients
2 oz Limoncello (or to taste)
Club soda

Fill a highball glass with ice. Pour Limoncello over the ice. Fill the rest of the galss with club soda, stir, and serve.

The Cooldown is an invitation to experiment! Other liqueurs make great refreshers, such as Chambord, Campari, or almost any other sweet, strong liqueur. You'll find that the soda brings out flavors which are not easily appreciated against the sweetness of the full-strength liqueur.

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