Recipes

Band-e-Amir

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Band-e-Amir. Photo courtesy of Afghan Kitchen

The blue hue of this cocktail from Afghan Kitchen comes from Victoria Distillers Empress 1908 gin and is inspired by the six deep blue lakes in Afghanistan.

• 2 oz Empress 1908 Gin

• 1 oz fresh lemon juice

• 1 oz Giffard passionfruit syrup

• 1 egg white or 1 dropper of vegan foamer

• Optional garnish: Dried butterfly pea flower

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Recipes

Geraniol Gin Cosmo

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Geraniol Gin Cosmo. Nick Halim photo

Recipe from Stillhead Distillery, created by Mitch Poirier and reprinted with permission from The BC Spirits Cocktail Book by Shawn Soole.

• 3 snap peas

• 1.75 oz Stillhead London Dry Gin

• 0.25 oz Arbutus Limoncello

• 0.5 oz cranberry cordial

• 0.5 oz lemon juice

• 1 dash of Ms. Better’s Black Pepper Cardamom Bitters

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Classics, Recipes

Poet’s Dream

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Poet’s Dream. Getty Images photo

When this cocktail appeared in the 1935 Old Waldorf Astoria Bar Book, it was an equal-parts cocktail and, like La Louisiane, has been made stronger and less sweet over time. Some versions are almost Martini dry; this one retains enough liqueur to highlight its sweet spice.

• 1 oz gin

• 1 oz dry vermouth

• 0.5 oz. Bénédictine

• 2 dashes orange bitters

• Garnish: lemon twist

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Recipes, Sponsored

Modern Martini

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Modern Martini. Photo courtesy of Donnelly Group

Available at Brass Fish. I typically have three cocktails that I’ll order when time calls for a cocktail. A Negroni is likely what I am most known for ordering. Number 2 would be a Margarita (rocks, half-salt rim). For the past few years I have led our team in overall Martinis consumed. I can’t get enough of them. The Modern Martini is our flagship Martini on the Brass Fish menu. It’s the type of Martini that will gateway you into drinking more Martinis. You’re welcome. It’s a rare occasion when I don’t have a bottle of this in my home freezer for an after-work libation.

• 1.5 oz gin (preferably Beefeater for the citrus punch)

• 0.25 oz dry vermouth (Dolin if you have it; Martini Dry also works)

• 0.25 oz Tio Pepe fino sherry

• 0.25 oz St-Germain elderflower liqueur

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Recipes, Sponsored

Good Vibes Only

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Good Vibes Only. Photo courtesy of Donnelly Group

Available at Granville Room. I basically grew up as a bartender at Granville Room so it will always hold a special place for me. Good Vibes Only is a drink that came along mid-2020. It started as a Collins-style drink and found its way into the frozen drink machine and is currently being poured in slush format.

• 2 oz gin (preferably Beefeater London Dry, which has lots of citrus and juniper)

• 0.5 oz St-Germain elderflower liqueur

• 0.5 oz crème de cassis (blackcurrant liqueur)

• 0.5 oz lemon juice

• Soda

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Recipes

Negroni Gelée Shot

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Negroni Gelée Shots. Joanne Sasvari photo

These look like those after-dinner gelées you get in fancy restaurants, but come with a boozy and bittersweet kick.

• 1 cup London Dry gin

• 1 cup Campari

• 1 cup sweet vermouth

• 1 cup water

• 4 packets (0.25-ounce each) powdered gelatin

• Garnish: sanding sugar, candied orange zest (optional; recipe below)

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Recipes

Strawberry Youth

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Strawberry Youth cocktail by Grant Sceney. Photo courtesy of the Fairmont Pacific Rim

This fresh, floral and delightfully fizzy patio sipper was created by Grant Sceney, creative beverage director at the Fairmont Pacific Rim. Its name refers to a line in the Jeffree Star song Beauty Killer: “I got a sweet tooth and strawberry youth.”

• 3 strawberries, divided

• 1 oz Botanist Gin

• 0.75 oz Youth Cordial (see recipe below)

• 0.75 oz lemon juice

• 2.5 oz  Champagne or other sparkling wine

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Classics, Recipes

Gibson

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A classic Gibson. Getty Images photo

This savoury take on the Martini dates back to late 1800s San Francisco. This recipe is part of The Alchemist‘s series of cocktails you should know. 

• 2.5 oz gin or vodka
• 0.5 oz dry vermouth
• Garnish: 2 cocktail onions, skewered

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Recipes

Playin’ Cello

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Playin’ Cello. Alison Kuhl photo

This bright, elegant cocktail is by Nico Tognon at Tutto Restaurant and Bar.

• 1.5 oz Tanqueray gin
• 0.5 oz Luxardo Limoncello
• 0.5 oz Aperol
• 0.5 oz lemon juice
• 1 oz homemade raspberry syrup (see below)
• Garnish: lemon twist

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Recipes

Violetta

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Violetta cocktail. Photo courtesy of UVA Wine & Cocktail Bar

A floral variation on the classic Negroni, this pretty “up” drink comes from UVA Wine & Cocktail Bar.

• 1 oz Bombay Sapphire Gin
• 0.75 oz Bitter Bianco
• 1 oz Cocchi Americano
• 3 sprays crème de violette (violet liqueur)
• Garnish: Dehydrated lemon wheel

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