Cobblers

So many cobblers!  It's a wonderful summer drink FO SHO.  Drawing from Mr. Jerry Thomas I have worked out my basic cobbler recipe, which can be applied to ANY SPIRIT YOU'D LIKE!  √ it dawgs....

2 ounces Spirit (rum, tequila, whiskey, gin, vodka, brandy, eau de vies, etc...)
1 tsp sugar (or 1/4 ounce 1:1 simple syrup) (any flavor of your choosing!  Have some fun with this)
A couple slices of orange (this is a to taste sort of thing.  I usually take two fairly thin wheels)
1/8 tsp of Maraschino Liqueur

Now take all of this, and shake real good with ice.  You can muddle the orange first, but I feel the hard shake with ice does this just fine.  As we will be garnishing with A TON of fruit and berries in season, it IS optional to also shake with these fruits first if you want a more berriful flavor!

Now some people will tell you to not strain and just pour straight into your glass, ice, fruit and all.  I find this a bit ugly for my taste, especially if you're shaking with your berries.  I double strain into a glass with ice.  However you like it, usually a small punch glass, or brandy snifter, or wine glass or something of that nature.  Even a double old-fashioned will do.  You can do crushed ice, or one big cube, or whatever you like.  Then it's time to garnish with seriously, all of the fruit and fresh berries you can find.  Get good in-season stuff from your local farmers market.  Tuck in an orange wheel on the side.  Cover with strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, everything!  Maybe you'll make a fall cobbler with cranberry and apples!  YUM!  Rum or brandy as your spirit, 1/4 ounce cinnamon syrup.  Maybe swap out the maraschino for a good apricot brandy (liqueur not the eau-de-vie).

Your options with the cobbler are really limitless, which is why this recipe really should be a general outline, not the gospel.  Now go on, and preach the word!

Five to One

Here's a drink that's sort of ridiculous, but also awesome and delicious.

2 ounces scotch
1/4 ounce cynar
1/2 ounce honey syrup (1/2 honey, 1/2 water - dissolved over heat)
1/2 ounce lemon juice
6 dashes vanilla extract

Shake and strain. I like to mist the vanilla in an atomizer over the cocktail.

The Newfangled Cocktail

Sometimes an old-fashioned just needs to be ridiculously complicated....

1/2 Ounce Japanese Whiskey
1/2 Ounce Rye
1/2 Ounce Scotch
1/2 Ounce Elderflower Liqueur
1 Dash Orange Bitters
1 Dash Yuzu Bitters
1 Dash Chocolate Mole Bitters

Stir with ice 'till chilled. Strain and serve in pre-chilled double old-fashioned glass with one large lump of ice. Garnish with orange twist, cocktail cherry, and an orchid.

Mamie Taylor (Scotch Mule)

This one I basically got from 7th Grand here in Los Angeles, though my ratios may be a bit different. It's a Scotch Mule.

2 ounces scotch (I like JW Black)
3/4 ounce lime juice
3/4 ounce ginger syrup
2-3 ounces soda

Fill with ice and top with soda.

See my post about ginger syrup to see how that is made. If you click on the ginger syrup tag that should show you that post (along with other delicious cocktails involving ginger syrup.)