Publishing - The A-Z of Cocktails

Copyright 2013 Two Magpies Publishing
An imprint of Read Publishing Ltd
Home Farm, 44 Evesham Road, Cookhill, Alcester, Warwickshire, B49 5LJ
Commissioning Editor Rose Hewlett
Words by Sophie Berry
Design and Illustrations by Zo Horn Haywood
This book is copyright and may not be reproduced or copied in any way without the express permission of the publisher in writing.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

Commissioning Editor Rose Hewlett

Words by Sophie Berry

Design and Illustrations by Zo Horn Haywood

Contents

A is for... Alcohol

Alcohol is an obvious place to start. All cocktails will have a base spirit, and often more than one will be used. To this base spirit, such as vodka, a modifier is added, which works with the base spirit to create a new flavour. Other additions and garnishes can be added which will really bring your base spirit to life.

Cocktails are delicious, and rather enjoyable to consume. However, as the taste of the base spirit is often masked by sweet, strong, or fruity flavours, the true alcohol content of the drink is often deceptive. Remember to pace yourself, sip slowly, and consume water in between cocktails to stay hydrated.

B is for... Bloody Mary

A Bloody Mary is a classic recipe cocktail, enjoyed by many for decades. Made with tomato juice, vodka, and array of tangy, spicy additions, a Bloody Mary is the perfect way to start a meal.

The Bloody Marys origin is unclear. Fernand Petiot claimed to have invented the drink in 1921 while working at the New York Bar in Paris, which later became Harrys New York Bar, a frequent Paris hangout for Ernest Hemingway and other American expatriates

Bloody Mary

Ingredients

1 part vodka

4 parts tomato juice

1 dash lemon juice

2 dashes Worcestershire sauce

1 pinch celery salt

Tabasco sauce, to taste

Pepper, to taste

Method

• In a cocktail shaker, mix all of the ingredients except the Tabasco sauce and pepper.
• Pour over ice in a goblet.
• Add Tabasco sauce and pepper to taste, and serve.

C is for... Cocktail

The origin of the word cocktail is often disputed, although many believe the first recorded use of the word cocktail to be from The Morning Post and Gazetteer in London, England in 1798.

Cocktails are often served before dinner, as an aperitif. Other cocktails, such as coffee-based beverages, have been designed to be enjoyed after a meal, or as a nightcap. A nightcap is the colloquial name for a late-night drink, usually the last of the night. A short, strong cocktail is a traditional nightcap,

D is for... Dark and Stormy

Dark and Stormy is a delicious, spicy rum-based cocktail made with dark rum and ginger beer. The Dark and Stormy is the official national drink of Bermuda, where Goslings Black Seal Rum is made. This classic drink is popular worldwide, especially in many British Commonwealth countries, such as Australia.

Dark and Stormy

Ingredients

2 parts dark rum

4 parts ginger beer

2 lime wedges

Method

• In a cocktail shaker, mix the rum and ginger beer over ice.
• Squeeze in one of the lime wedges, and shake again.
• Pour through a strainer into a highball glass filled with crushed ice, and garnish with lime.

E is for... Eggnog

Eggnog is a popular egg-based cocktail, traditionally enjoyed at Christmas. Using eggs in your cocktail recipes will give your drinks a distinctive taste and texture. There are a number of recipes which call for either eggs, or egg whites, but this is one of the most well known.

Eggnog

Ingredients

1 part brandy

1 part dark rum

1 egg

2 dashes gomme syrup

3 parts milk

Nutmeg, to garnish

Method

• In a cocktail shaker, mix the brandy, rum, egg and syrup together.
• Strain into a large tumbler or goblet.
• Add the milk to the mixture in the glass, and grate a little nutmeg over to garnish.

F is for... French Connection

A French Connection is a delicious cocktail made with Cognac and amaretto. Served in a short tumbler (also called an Old Fashioned glass) a French Connection is a short, strong drink which is perfect as an aperitif.

French Connection

Ingredients

1 part brandy

1 part amaretto

Method

• In a cocktail shaker, mix the brandy and amaretto.
• Pour into an ice-filled tumbler.

G is for... Glassware

Having a wide range of glassware to serve your carefully prepared cocktails in is important, and the right glass for the right cocktail is as important as any of the ingredients used. There are numerous different types of glasses that you can serve cocktails in, but there are four specific types of glasses that you should try to source first.

The traditional Martini glass is a triangle shaped glass, with a delicate, long stem. A Flute is the type of glass you serve Champagne in. It has a slim glass and a delicate, long stem. A tumbler, also called an Old Fashioned glass, a tumbler is short and sturdy. The highball, also called a long or tall glass, a Highball glass is tall and often slimmer at the bottom than at the top.

H is for... Harvey Wallbanger

During the 1970s a new wave of cocktails began appearing, and the Harvey Wallbanger was one of them. Simply comprising vodka, Galliano, and orange juice, Harvey Wallbangers are a household favourite, and still enjoyed widely today.

Harvey Wallbanger

Ingredients

1 part vodka

3 parts orange juice

3 dashes Galliano

Method

• In a cocktail shaker, mix the vodka and the orange juice.
• Pour into an ice-filled highball glass.
• Add the dashes of Galliano before serving.

I is for... Ice