Easy Breezy New England Highballs

New England rounds out a family of drinks that build one upon another in a never ending circle of cocktail recipes limited only by juice availability and one’s imagination.  The New England Highball recipes are the perfect way to settle in for game day since the drink recipes are quick build and deliciously easy to soothe even the most temperamental of football fans.

Designating drinks within families is ingenious as it cleverly breaks down an entire way of learning mixology and how cocktails are designed.  The book, Joy of Mixology, breaks down the classification of many families.  Learn the families and building cocktails will fall into place a little easier.  In the case of the New England Highballs, mastering one, the Cape Cod or Cape Codder, will make the rest a breeze, walk in the park or day at the beach – something like that anyway.  You’ll get the picture in a minute.

The Cape Codder is most often ordered simply as a vodka cranberry, so we’ll keep it nice and simple.  Use measurements specific to your own taste.

Cape Codder or Cape Cod

2 parts Vodka

3 parts Cranberry Juice

Squeeze Fresh Lime – optional

Place ice in highball glass.  Add vodka and cranberry juice.  Squeeze fresh lime over top and drop in.  Stir.

Master the Cape Codder and the rest is a breeze…

Sea Breeze

2 parts Vodka

3 parts Cranberry Juice

1-1/2 parts Grapefruit Juice

Squeeze Fresh Lime – optional

Place ice in highball glass.  Add vodka, cranberry juice and grapefruit juice.  Squeeze fresh lime over top and drop in.  Stir.

Bartenders often make the mistake of substituting vodka for rum with the Bay Breeze, but this is the trickster of the bunch.

Bay Breeze

2 parts Light Rum

1-1/2 parts Cranberry Juice

1-1/2 parts Pineapple Juice

Place ice in highball glass.  Add vodka, cranberry juice and pineapple juice.  Stir.

It is unbelievable the difference it will make in your drink if you take the time to squeeze a fresh orange for the juice.

Madras

2 parts Vodka

3 parts Cranberry Juice

2 parts Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice

Place ice in highball glass.  Add vodka, cranberry juice and fresh squeezed orange juice.  Stir.

Ah, who hasn’t longed for Sex on the Beach? While this one is within the family of New England Highballers it is a bit different in that it is built in a cocktail shaker and strained back into an iced highball glass. The basic Sex on the Beach recipe is listed below.

Sex on the Beach

2 parts Vodka

1/2 Part Peachtree Schnapps

1-1/2 part Cranberry Juice

1-1/2 part Orange Juice

Place all liquids in a cocktail shaker with ice.  Shake to blend and chill until frothy.  Strain into highball glass over fresh ice.

Lastly is the Woo Woo, otherwise known as a Pierced Navel. This would be due to its close relation to the Fuzzy Navel. There is also a Tequila Woo Woo that is more popular than the regular version. It is made in the same proportions only swapping out the vodka for tequila. Try them both to find a personal favorite.

Woo Woo

2 parts Vodka

1/2 part Peach Schnapps

2-1/2 parts Cranberry Juice

Place ice in highball glass.  Add vodka, peach schnapps and cranberry juice.  Stir.

It was a breeze, a walk on the beach…Woo Woo! We’re done.

Find The Intoxicologist on Twitter, Facebook, StumbleUpon or Email: str8upcocktails@gmail.com

www.discus.org – Distilled Spirits Council of the United States

Copyright 2010 Cheri Loughlin – The Intoxicologist – All Rights Reserved

All opinions, reviews and spirits’ coverage contained within are the personal opinion and decision of Cheri Loughlin, The Intoxicologist.