Black Russian
It doesn’t get much more simple than this: two shots of Vodka, one shot of Kahlua, topped up with Coke and Ice. It may sound boring, but it is one of the easiest cocktails to drink – and tastes perfect if you are a coffee addict like myself.
Bloody Mary
The ultimate hangover cure (for an alcoholic). The beauty of the Bloody Mary is the way you can tailor the spice to suit you – generally, go for two shots of Vodka, six dashes of Lea & Perrins, three dashes of Tabasco, about 150ml of tomato juice and a pinch of black pepper, finished with half a lemon. Not for the faint hearted.
Long Island Iced Tea
This drink has become notorious, but it’s still a favourite of mine – as long as you don’t drink too many in one night. Get shots of Vodka, White Rum, Triple Sec, Gin and Tequila in a glass topped up with Coke and Ice. Add dashes of lemon and lime juice, and one tsp of sugar syrup. Add orange juice if you want to weaken it a bit, and pray.
Old Fashioned
This is one for the old men amongst you. Get a slice of orange peel, and rub it around the rim of the tumbler if you’re feeling pretentious. Put it in the glass with a cocktail cherry, a tsp of sugar syrup, three drops of whisky bitters and ice. Top up with two shots of Whiskey (Bourbon – Maker’s Mark if you can) and stir. Add a slice of lemon peel and serve with a cuban cigar. You are now middle aged.
Martini
The classic. If you’re going to drink a Martini, do it properly. Get a decent Gin (I recommend Hendricks or Sipsmith, don’t even think about Gordon’s) and put it in a mixing glass with ice and Dry Vermouth, stir (you are not James Bond) and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with an olive or (my preference) a twist of lemon peel. Don’t ruin it by putting ice in the glass, it should be cold enough already.
