Classic Cocktail Recipes

When you’re looking for marvelous classic cocktail recipes, make sure you visit the Drinky Drink Project. From the smoky allure of mezcal-based creations to the refreshing zest of obscure herbal liqueurs, this space is dedicated to those who love to explore the paths less traveled in the world of mixology. Get in touch with me to learn more.

Ingredients
Equal Parts:

• Mezcal
• Yellow Chartreuse
• Aperol
• Lime Juice

A riff on a riff. The original cocktail is Last Word (gin, Green Chartreuse, maraschino liqueur, and lime juice). Then the riff is Paper Plane (bourbon, Aperol, Amaro Nonino, lemon juice). Then we have Naked and Famous.

In these cocktails, the main spirit, herbal liqueur, and citrus changes — I think the riff is that they are all “equal part” cocktails.

And I added mezcal to my bar! It’s been a minute since I’ve added a new bottle. Mezcal is weird. I’m not sure how to describe it. Tequila, but not? I know the definitions from bartending and mixology schools, but I don’t know that I have a good explanation of the taste for myself yet. Smoky, yes.

That said, this cocktail is lovely. Beautifully balanced. The recipe for the Naked and Famous called for no garnish, but I’m giving you one of my Purslane flowers. It’s an edible plant known for all kinds of medicinal uses, including as an anti-inflammatory and muscle relaxant. I grow it for its pretty flowers and non-toxicity for the dogs.

Ingredients:

• Southern Comfort
• Amaretto
• Orange Juice
• Cranberry Juice

The book I mentioned above is focused on cocktails from New Orleans. In the book, I learned that the things that most of us call “inspection stickers” on our vehicles are called “brake tags” in Louisiana. Ha, I’m sure there is a story there, but it doesn’t make a lot of sense to me right now.

I went into this one expecting it to be too sweet…something that is supposed to be a summer cooler but too sweet to actually be refreshing in any way. I was so confident that I would need to cut the sweetness that I made sure that I had cold club soda in the fridge. No need. It’s not too sweet! Really, this is delicious and refreshing.

And the fact that it is an equal-part cocktail makes it an easy pour. Just one ounce of each ingredient, shaken and poured over fresh ice.

I think this is the first cocktail that uses Southern Comfort that I’ve actually liked!

Ingredients:

• Pimm’s No. 1
• 7 Up
• Cucumber
• Strawberries
• Orange
• Lemon
• Mint

It must be summertime! Do I even need to make dinner anymore after I finish eating all of this fruit?

This is a go-to cocktail for me. It is yummy and refreshing, has low ABV, and is pretty in the glass.

Recipes for Pimm’s Cup vary. You can swap out the 7 Up for Pellegrino, lemonade, ginger ale, or ginger beer (maybe even more options). When you use anything except lemon/lime soda or lemonade, it’s a good idea to add a little fresh lemon juice. I’ve tried everything except lemonade, and I think 7 Up is the best.