Cleaning Out the Liquor Cabinet

This weekend, my partner and I were wandering around Eataly Chicago, discussing Aperol spritzes, when we decided to work on clearing out the liquor cabinet. This naturally required purchasing additional libations to make the cocktails required to expunge the base spirits, so we grabbed some Pallini Limoncello and Cocchi Americano to bring back home with us. The following cocktails ensued.

Vesper Martini

"…large and very strong and very cold and very well-made," just how James Bond would order it
Course: Drinks

Ingredients

  • 3 oz Gin 47% (94 proof)
  • 1 oz Vodka 50% (100 proof)
  • 0.5 oz Cocchi Americano Originally Kina Lillet, the recipe has changed since Ian Fleming wrote Casino Royale

Instructions

  • Add all ingredients and ice to a bar glass and stir vigorously to chill the drink down and give it some dilution. Alternatively, to prepare it "shaken, not stirred", shake in a Boston shaker with ice and double-strain.
  • Strain into a chilled champagne goblet and add a long thin slice of lemon peel for garnish, making sure to slice over the glass.

Limoncello Spritz

Sweet, lemony, bubbly, and refreshing
Course: Drinks

Ingredients

  • 3 oz Prosecco
  • 2 oz Limoncello
  • 1 oz Sparkling water
  • 1 dash Aromatic bitters

Instructions

  • Build this one in the glass, making sure to pour the Prosecco and sparkling water gently to retain carbonation.
  • Garnish with an orange slice, and add an ice cube if ingredients aren't already chilled.

Florida 75

The classic French 75 uses simple syrup to add sweetness. This version uses Cointreau and Prosecco and really leans in on that citrus flavor
Course: Drinks

Ingredients

  • 1.5 oz Gin
  • 0.75 oz Fresh orange juice
  • 0.5 oz Cointreau
  • Prosecco

Instructions

  • In a Boston shaker, shake the gin, orange juice, and Cointreau with ice until chilled.
  • Strain into a champagne flute.
  • Top with Prosecco.
  • Cut an orange twist over the glass, run along the rim of the glass, and add as garnish.

Limoncello Collins

Another refreshing bubbly drink, this one highlights the lemon flavor of the limoncello without relying on Proseccor for any sweetness
Course: Drinks

Ingredients

  • 1 oz Gin
  • 0.75 oz Limoncello
  • 0.25 oz Fresh lemon juice
  • Club soda

Instructions

  • In a Boston shaker, shake the gin, limoncello, and lemon juice with ice until chilled.
  • Strain into a collins glass with fresh ice.
  • Top with sparkling water.
  • Add lemon twist for garnish.

Corpse Reviver #2

A classic cocktail, this one comes with the warning that "Four of these taken in swift succession will unrevive the corpse again."
Course: Drinks

Ingredients

  • 1 oz Gin
  • 1 oz Lemon juice
  • 1 oz Cointreau
  • 1 oz Cocchi Americano
  • 1 dash Absinthe

Instructions

  • In a Boston shaker, shake the gin, lemon juice, Cointreau, and Cocchi Americano until chilled.
  • Rinse a cocktail glass with the absinthe.
  • Strain the contents of the shaker into the cocktail glass.
  • Garnish with an orange twist.

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