La Floridita Daiquiri

This is a Hemingway-style daiquiri, which includes a bit of grapefruit juice and maraschino liqueur. Anyone who enjoys blended fruit daiquiris really owes it to themselves to try a one of these just once.

Nevada

We had some friends over for dinner over the weekend and I wanted to be able to serve some drinks as soon as they arrived. Serving wine is an easy way to do this but I wanted something a little more interesting. The weather was nice and I felt like something citrusy, and so decided on the Nevada, which uses rum with fresh lime and grapefruit juices.

Cuba Libre

What better use for Cuban rum than Cubas Libres? Here we use Mexican Coke as well, as a better tasting alternative to domestic.

Havana Club Cuban rum

Thatchery's roommate spent a little time in Havana recently and brought back some rum and cigars for those of us deprived of such things due to the stupid US embargo on Cuba. Not being a smoker, I didn't try any of the cigars or cigarillos but Thatchery was kind enough to bring over a bottle of rum one afternoon.

Presidente

Presidente 1 1/2 ounces white rum 3/4 ounce orange curacao 3/4 ounce dry vermouth Dash of grenadine Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a small cocktail glass. This drink was created in Havana in the 1920s and named for General Carmen Menocal, the president of Cuba before Batista. I discovered in the course of making this that high-fructose corn syrup [...]

Havana

Havana 1 1/2 ounces Gosling’s rum 3/4 ounce Cointreau 1/2 ounce fresh lime juice 1/4 ounce simple syrup Splash of orange juice Dash of orange bitters Combine all ingredients in an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Shake until cold, and then strain into a sugar-rimmed cocktail glass. Garnish with edible flowers. Drinks like this help me pretend it’s summertime on a cold San Francisco August [...]

Holiday eggnog

Holiday eggnog recipe 6 eggs, separated 1/2 cup sugar 1 cup whole milk 1/2 cup bourbon 1/2 cup cognac 1 pint heavy whipping cream Vanilla extract Nutmeg Beat egg yolks with sugar until thick. Slowly add milk, bourbon, and cognac, while beating lightly. Chill this mixture while completing below steps. Beat egg whites until stiff. Whip cream. Mix whipped cream into yolk mixture. Add [...]