ThinkingBartender

All Brazilians make their Caipirinhas differently, so it is impossible to be a Caipirinha purist. 1. Crushed ice or Cubed Ice is fine, though shaving ice from big blocks of ice is more original. 2. Any type of sugar you like (white granulated sugar, white sugar cubes, demerara, brown cubes, gomme sirop, demerara syrup etc etc) 3. Cachaca (unaged, aged) 4. Muddle a fresh lime for drink, don't pre-cut lime chunks the day before. 5. Straws or no straws. Maybe even a spoon, so you can continue squashing the lime pieces while drinking. 6. Make sure the lime itself is fresh, and was not frozen during transit. Cheers! George

Hi Steve, There is another drink called El Draque, but this is named after Sir Francis Drake. The precursor of the Mojito, the Draque or Draquecito and was prepared at that time with Brandy, water, lime juice, sugar and yerbabuena. Yerbabuena is not indigenous of Cuba, but was brought in the island by African slaves from Haiti. It should also be noted that Yerbabuena is a name that refers to many different types of mint. I saw the proper name for the Cuban mint somewhere. The Draque, named after Sir Francis Drake (called in Spanish, El Draque). Apparently it was his favourite drink before doing battle in the Caribbean sea. The Draque developed in the mid-nineteenth century, into a rum based drink with the arrival of Senor Don Facundo Bacardi in Cuba. Cheers! George p.s. I see you guys lost out to "Inn the Park" for Best Design. Guess who did their huge cocktail list of 6 drinks? (moi). JUG OF MOJITO!!!! arrrrgh!!!! Reference: http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?showto...952&mode=linear

Orchard Breeze 1 shot Morgan's Spiced Rum 1 shot Xante (swedish pear cognac liqueur) 1 shot pear puree 1 1/2 shot apple juice Shake with ice, and then strain into ice-filled tall glass. Garnish with slices of pear, arranged into a fan shape. I think this is the exact recipe, to the best of my memory. Cheers! George

a Rum Sling perhaps?

That looks like some nasty Daiquiri!!! There are some people who shake their daiquiris with crushed ice, and others who shake with ice cubes and a splash of water (to compensate for dilution). Cheers! George

Don't forget the visual aspect! The liqueur runs down through the cocktail, cascading through the crushed ice. For a while it can look good. Higher proof spirits etc will just sit, and that is where caution should be exercised, as I have seen too many inch thick layers of Wood's 100 in my life. Yuck. Cheers! George

Would the bitters in question have to be Angostura-type bitters or would such things as orange/ peach/ cherry bitters be allowed? A float of some liqueur would be good. George

Queen's Park Rangers football (soccer) club must have been named after a park, they are in West London. Is there a Mile End Park Swizzle, or a Victoria Park Swizzle? Both parks are in the East End so they are served with a warm can of Stella Artois as an accompaniment. Nice. George

Swizzle Rules: 1) No dairy products (milk, cream, ricotta) 2) Must be constructed, mixed etc in final serving glass. 3) Must be filled with crushed ice. 4) Must be Swizzled. 5) Must include base spirit. Anymore? Also: Would the ever popular Bramble be classed as a Swizzle? Cheers! George

Gingerbread Swizzle 1 1/2 shots Morgan Spiced Rum 1/2 shot Fresh Lime Juice 1/2 shot Gingerbread Syrup (Monin) 1 shot Grapefruit Juice 2 shots Apple Juice Pour over crushed ice, and then SWIZZLE thoroughly, finally top with crushed ice. Garnish with a lemon slice, and an edible flower. Easy peasey. Cheers! George

surely most drinks can be swizzlised? serve them over crushed ice then swizzle 'em. Is there a standard size for a Swizzle drink? standard glass? Is the muddling of ingredients allowed pre-swizzle? Is there a rule as to what a Swizzle can be lengthened with? juices? mixer? etc. Cheers! George

Richelieu 5 cl vanilla-infused vodka 5 cl cranberry juice 1-1/4 cl fresh lime juice 1-1/4 cl pomegranate molasses 5/8 cl sugar syrup 8 mint leaves pomegranate seeds Gently muddle mint leaves and pomegrante seeds in the bottom of a hi-ball glass. Fill glass with crushed ice, and then add all other ingredients. Churn the ice thoroughly. Garnish with a big sprig of mint. my exact measurements: 2 shots vanilla-infused vodka 2 shots cranberry juice ½ shot fresh lime juice ½ shot pomegranate molasses ¼ shot sugar syrup 8 mint leaves some pomegranate seeds Keywords: Cocktail, Intermediate, Healthy Choices ( RG1420 )

We all know (perhaps) that most people seem to like drinks which are overly sweet and do not taste of the base spirit, but what about those of us who do not? A cocktail with moonshine, or corn whiskey perhaps? Moonlight Waltz 2 shots Georgia Moon corn whiskey 8 mint leaves 3/4 shot fresh lime juice 3/4 shot Orgeat Syrup 1 shot Grapefruit Juice Shake hard with ice, then strain through a sieve into a hi-ball which is filled with ice. Garnish with a mint sprig. Southern Smile 2 shots Georgia Moon corn whiskey 3/4 shot Passionfruit Syrup 1 1/2 shots Pineapple Juice 1 shot Raspberry Puree 3/4 shot Fresh lime juice 1 passionfruit (squeezed into the shaker) Shake hard with ice, then strain through a sieve into a hi-ball which is filled with ice. Garnish with half a passionfruit. The flavours of these drinks should be so that the corn whiskey is not totally submerged. Rough but smooth geddit? Cheers! George

Here are two swizzlised versions of two cocktails I made at some bars in London: Big Mak Swizzle 2 shots Makers Mark 1 shot cranberry juice ½ shot fresh lime juice ½ shot Chambord ½ shot Raspberry Puree ¼ shot Sugar syrup Pour all ingredients over crushed ice, then SWIZZLE the ice thoroughly. Garnish with two raspberries, and a lime wedge. Amber Swizzle 2 shots Zubrowka 2 shot Apple Juice ½ shot Apple Schnapps ½ shot Ginger Syrup Pour all ingredients over crushed ice, then SWIZZLE the ice thoroughly. Garnish with several apple slices, and a dusting of ground nutmeg. Enjoy! George

Norsk Mulata 50ml Norwegian Akevitt 25ml creme de cacao (dark) 25ml fresh lemon juice Shake hard with broken ice, then strain through a sieve into a chilled cocktail glass. garnish with a lemon twist. Cheers! George

Here is my personal Pimms improvement cocktail. Hoxton Pimms 25 ml Pimms No1 25 ml Millers Gin 2 dashes of Orange Bitters 125 ml Apple juice Build over ice, in a tall glass. Garnish with two strips of cucumber. Cheers! George

Raspberry Flamingo ml Havana Club 3 yo Rum ml Pineapple Juice ml Fresh Lime Juice ml Raspberry Puree Shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass, garnish with a raspberry (it should float in the centre). Keywords: Cocktail, Intermediate, eGCI ( RG1258 )

Raspberry Flamingo ml Havana Club 3 yo Rum ml Pineapple Juice ml Fresh Lime Juice ml Raspberry Puree Shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass, garnish with a raspberry (it should float in the centre). Keywords: Cocktail, Intermediate, eGCI ( RG1258 )

Dark & Fruity ml Dark Rum (Myers) ml fresh lime juice ml strawberry puree ml frais de bois (wild strawberry liqueur) Ginger Beer Build over ice in a hi-ball, topping with the Ginger Beer, then stir thoroughly. Garnish with a lime wedge, and half a strawberry. Add two long straws. Keywords: Cocktail, Intermediate, eGCI ( RG1256 )

Dark & Fruity ml Dark Rum (Myers) ml fresh lime juice ml strawberry puree ml frais de bois (wild strawberry liqueur) Ginger Beer Build over ice in a hi-ball, topping with the Ginger Beer, then stir thoroughly. Garnish with a lime wedge, and half a strawberry. Add two long straws. Keywords: Cocktail, Intermediate, eGCI ( RG1256 )

The Gingerbread Man This is not to everyone's taste, but I like it. ml Morgan Spiced Rum ml Fresh Lime Juice ml Gingerbread Syrup (Monin) ml Grapefruit Juice ml Apple Juice Shake with ice, and then strain into an ice-filled hi-ball glass. Garnish with a wedge of lime. Add two straws. Keywords: Cocktail, Intermediate, eGCI ( RG1255 )

The Gingerbread Man This is not to everyone's taste, but I like it. ml Morgan Spiced Rum ml Fresh Lime Juice ml Gingerbread Syrup (Monin) ml Grapefruit Juice ml Apple Juice Shake with ice, and then strain into an ice-filled hi-ball glass. Garnish with a wedge of lime. Add two straws. Keywords: Cocktail, Intermediate, eGCI ( RG1255 )

Salt Yard Dog ml Grappa ml Limoncello ml Fresh Lemon Juice ml Sugar Syrup Shake with ice, and then strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a Lemon Twist. Keywords: Cocktail, Intermediate, eGCI ( RG1254 )

Salt Yard Dog ml Grappa ml Limoncello ml Fresh Lemon Juice ml Sugar Syrup Shake with ice, and then strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a Lemon Twist. Keywords: Cocktail, Intermediate, eGCI ( RG1254 )

'54 Yard Line ml Galliano ml Frangelico ml Fresh Lemon Juice Prosecco Shake with ice, and then strain into an ice-filled Hi-Ball. Top with Prosecco. Garnish with an Orange Spiral. Keywords: Cocktail, Intermediate, eGCI ( RG1253 )