Over the past few months I’ve tasted some blow-your-socks-off, fabulous cocktails. These recipes may not taste as good made at home as they do made by a professional bartender, but I suggest you try!
The Four Aces (from the Roger Room in LA)
Ingredients:
3 basil leaves (ideally use BIG, FRESH leaves)
6 seedless white grapes
1½ ounces vodka
½ ounce Domaine de Canton ginger liqueur
½ ounce fresh lime juice
¼ ounce simple syrup
1 ounce club soda
Directions:
In a mixing glass, lightly muddle 2 basil leaves and grapes. Add the vodka, ginger liqueur, lime juice, syrup, and ice. Shake and strain into a double old fashioned glass filled with ice. Top with the club soda and garnish with the remaining basil leaf.
Jalapeno Lemonade (from the rooftop bar at the Catalina Hotel in Miami)
Ingredients:
5 medium-sized jalapenos
1L bottle of vodka
sugar in the raw
lemons
ice
Directions:
Slice the jalapenos length-wise and drop into the vodka bottle, let marinate for 24 hours (or longer if you desire a stronger flavor). Slice and juice lemons. In a blender mix equal parts vodka and fresh lemon juice with ice. Add a few teaspoons of sugar and blend (add more sugar if you would like a sweeter cocktail).
This jalapeno vodka is also fabulous for Bloody Mary’s!
