Last weekend Shaken Not Stirred was quiet for the first time in a long time. I wasn’t happy about it, but it gave me time to refocus my efforts and do some house cleaning. On Sunday, I was feeling a little down because I had no jobs for the weekend, and one of my former clients called me and booked two parties in the Spring. Things will get busy soon enough, and starting this weekend, I have two weddings to bartend in the Palm Springs area. I have a new Palm Springs Yelp page which I have no reviews on, so hopefully I can get some reviews on there after this weekend.
People are always asking me for cocktail ideas for their parties. I have compiled a list of drinks that I often do at parties. I can do many other drinks, but I think this is good start. Most of these are fairly simple drinks that can be quickly made for large crowds. I hate the term “mixologist,” – I think it is pretentious. Although I can do craft cocktails, this isn’t brain surgery. My secret to making good drinks is making them strong. I am from the dive bar school of bartenders. The other thing I have learned is that most drinks have one part citrus, and one part sweetening agent, with two parts alcohol. The good thing about Southern California is that we have an abundance of fresh citrus, that makes for excellent cocktails. I try to use fresh ingredients whenever I can and it make s a big difference. Here are a list of cocktails categorized by their base liquor.
Vodka
Dirty Martini – vodka or gin, dry vermouth, olive juice, olive garnish
Pom Cosmo – vodka, Pom juice, fresh lime juice, lime garnish
Black Opal Martini – vodka, Black Sambuca
Bay Breeze – vodka, cranberry juice, pineapple juice, lime garnish
Sea Breeze – vodka, cranberry juice, grapefruit juice, lime garnish
Salty Dog – vodka, fresh grapefruit juice, salt rim, lime garnish
Moscow Mule – vodka, ginger beer, lime juice, lime garnish
Appletini – vodka, apple pucker, cherry garnish
Long Island Ice Tea – vodka, tequila, rum, gin, triple sec, sweet and sour, Coke, lemon wedge
Boccacio – vodka, coconut water, splash of orange juice, orange slice (my creation)
White Russian – vodka, Kahlua, milk
Tequila
Paloma – tequila, fresh grapefruit juice, lime garnish
Mexican Mule – tequila, ginger beer, lime juice, lime garnish
Cadillac Margarita – tequila, margarita mix, Gran Marnier, salt rim, lime garnish
Cucumber Margarita – tequila, cucumber syrup, lime juice, cucumber garnish
Jalapeno Margarita – tequila, blended jalapenos and margarita mix, lime garnish
Tequila Sunrise – tequila, orange juice, grenadine, lime garnish
Rum
Mojito – white rum, simple syrup, muddled mint, lime juice, club soda, lime garnish
Mai Tai – white rum, orange juice, pineapple juice, grenadine, Myer’s rum, lime garnish
Pina Collada – white rum, pina mix, pineapple juice, pineapple garnish
Caipirinha – rum, brown sugar, lime juice, lime garnish
Cuba Libre – rum, Coke, lime garnish
Bourbon
Manhattan – bourbon, sweet vermouth, bitters, cherry garnish
Old Fashioned – bourbon, bitters, muddled cherry and orange slice, sugar cube, soda
Kentucky Mule – bourbon, ginger beer, lime juice, lime garnish
Mint Julep – bourbon, mint leaves, water, simple syrup
Gin
Vesper Martini – gin, vodka, Lillet Blanc, lemon twist garnish
Classic Martini – gin, dry vermouth, olive garnish (can substitute vodka)
Tom Collins – gin, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, soda
Fleur Di Paradis – gin, St. Germaine, simple syrup, champagne
Of course, there are hundreds, if not thousands of combinations and cocktails, and many different liqueurs that I haven’t mentioned here. I tried to stick to the basics. Let me know what cocktail ideas you have and I will try to accommodate you. I have not yet booked the Fourth of July, so if you are planning a party on that day, call me and book it today at (310) 280-6103.
Shaken Not Stirred in LA 