Gin Temptation Recipes for Any Occasion at The Intoxicologist

Gin Temptation Recipes for Any Occasion

Lately it has been all about bourbon and whiskey. It’s high time to shake things up a bit with a little classic gin in fun tempting libations for any occasion. There are cocktails for every holiday and whimsical recipes for small moments set in time. The following cocktails are gin recipes found in Good Spirits by A.J. Rathbun. The book has a witty blurb for every cocktail recipe. I’m not sure which is more entertaining, his quips or putting together the drinks to see how they taste. As one reader aptly pointed out today, cocktails certainly are all about fun. So, enjoy!

Slight aroma of orange juice is there in the beginning, but the sweetness of the orange Curacao overpowers the cocktail a bit. Sweet vermouth does add nice balance, but not enough to allow the gin enough play time. Damn the Weather might not be the perfect cocktail, but it’s a fair weather friend to someone who might not be all that crazy about the sturdy juniper flavor in some gins. This drink downplays the beast.

Damn the Weather

2 ounces Gin

1/2 ounce Orange Juice

1/4 ounce Sweet Vermouth

1/4 ounce Orange Curacao

Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into a cocktail glass.

Distinct notes of anise in aroma. Beautiful layering effect with the cherry garnish placed at the bottom of the glass. The flavor of this cocktail leaves nothing to the imagination. It is all about the Pernod. It is for the ‘must love’ Pernod fan as it covers the whiskey and gin notes almost completely. Perhaps if the Pernod were dialed back a notch for fine tuning there would be room for defining the other spirits. Then again Earthquake dares to rock your world in name and spirit. This one is not too sweet and is most definitely a slow sipper with its pure alcohol content.

Earthquake

1 ounce Plymouth Gin

1 ounce Jack Daniel’s Whiskey

1 ounce Pernod

Maraschino Garnish

Combine all liquid ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously for fifteen to twenty seconds until a thin layer of ice forms on the outside of cocktail shaker. Place cherry garnish in bottom of martini glass. Strain contents of shaker over maraschino cherry. Sip cautiously.

This impetuous sounding cocktail caught me off guard. Flaming Youth brings back memories of spontaneity and reckless abandon. That was last week of course, but that is what summer is for after all isn’t it?! This three ingredient cocktail is easily whipped up for two. It is surprisingly light in sweetness and flavor, which will allow one to taste firsthand what all the buzz and hype are with the return of honey in cocktail recipes. Flaming Youth comes across as innocent white froth with barely there notes of cinnamon spice in the background. Very nice.

Flaming Youth

2 ounces Gin

1 ounce Heavy Cream

1/2 ounce Honey

Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously for fifteen to twenty seconds to blend completely. Strain into a martini glass. Serve immediately. A lightly flavored gin would work best for this cocktail.

The name, George’s Special, kind of makes one wonder how many bartenders have that one really great drink out there that they just call their ‘special’ drink. Naming a cocktail is sometimes more difficult than thinking up a recipe. Then other times truly great names come to mind with no drink that will fit the cause. Vicious circle!

George’s Special tastes immediately of cherry vanilla without all the sweet. This is one instance where a little dab of sweet would do this cocktail justice. Maybe just a hint anyway… It is quite pleasant, but a little on the tart side and usually tart suits my fancy quite well. George’s Special is a keeper all right. Tweak it to your liking, tart or with a hint of sweet.

George’s Special

2 ounces Plymouth Gin

1 ounce Apricot Brandy

1 ounce Lemon Juice

Maraschino Cherry Garnish

Combine liquid ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to blend and chill. Strain into a martini glass over maraschino cherry garnish.

Swinger; with a name like this and champagne topper, gin has met its winning combination! Swinger is a surprisingly delightful cocktail. The gin comes through spectacularly. Sweetness is light with bubbly perfectly playing over the tongue. Vermouth flows softly in the background. I like this one very much. The name isn’t bad either! This champagne cocktail is built for two, so no misbehaving…share.

Swinger

2 ounce Plymouth Gin

1 ounce Dry Vermouth

1 ounce Grand Marnier

Brut Champagne

Combine gin, vermouth and Grand Marnier in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to chill. Strain into two champagne flutes so that the mixture is divided evenly. Top off with Brut Champagne.

I’m not sure of the origins of this cocktail, but Leave It To Me hits the nail on the head where The Intoxicologist is concerned. If you have a question, request or want to see a particular spirit on the site, let me know. Leave It To Me to hit the books or get help from friends to find some answers. Gin based cocktails are full of flavor and huge on the cocktail scene. No matter where you reside – East Coast, West Coast, Middle America or across the ocean – we all love a great cocktail with the spirit of our choice that we know and love.

Who knew gin based cocktails could taste like candy blow pops?! Apricot Brandy and vermouth combine for a great vanilla rounding flavor. The color is definitely ‘color me candy’. The flavor just screams fun and frivolity clear down to its sweet center.

Leave It To Me