QUARANTINIS The best cocktails to

Quarantinis TIME FOR

Whether you’re looking to learn something new and expand your skills and knowledge during quarantine, or you’re just in need of a tipple or two, we present a guide to making cocktails at home. Locktail hour doesn’t have quite the same ring to it but we promise it’ll taste just as sweet...

COMPLETEDYOUR 1000-PIECEPUZZLEfor the ninth time? Knitted yourself nuts? Watched everything there is to watch on TV? Maybe it’s time to do something a little different in quarantine.

With bars, hotels and restaurants shut, we’ve had to make do with odd concoctions of whatever is in the drinks cabinet. But it doesn’t have to be this way. How great would it be if you could shake up your favourite cocktail not just now, but after lockdown when you can impress your friends at a dinner party with your new found skills? Well, before you get shaking, do read the side column to this piece to ensure you have all the necessary gear to get going. Once you’re kitted out, you need to have an idea of what

to make. Our cover stars come with quite interesting stories so take your pick on your favourite! The Tuxedo, more than any has had a lot of changes since it was created in the 1880s. The cocktail was named after the Tuxedo Club in New York where it was first made. An English and French bar compete over who invented the Sidecar for a customer who arrived at the bar in the sidecar of a motorcycle. However, Bar veteran Dale DeGroff said that the name comes from the mixture that is left in the shaker, served in a shot glass on the side. The Mint Julep is the drink Jug of of the Kentucky Derby. On the first Saturday of Pimm’s No.1 May, 80,000 Juleps are Add 200ml of Pimm’s, 600ml of lemonade, sliced fruits and mint sprigs to a jug filled with ice and voila! No need to miss this summer staple.

Above: We all love a glass of Pimm’s in summer. The name of the spirit - Pimm’s No.1 - is not shameless self promotion - they tested all sorts of different concoctions but found their very first gin liqueur hit it out of the park!

Left: Fresh fruit and herbs are vital to upgrade your drink from just a drink to a fancy summer cocktail.

served at Churchill Downs in Louisville, and countless more are enjoyed by the fans watching the race throughout the country. The Whiskey Sour was first published in a newspaper in Wisconsin in 1870. However, Elliott Stubb created the drink in Inquique in 1872. The history of the Screwdriver is somewhat debateable. Some claim it was made popular by American aviators. Others claim that it was made popular by American oil workers; they mixed it first with a screwdriver. It’s simply vodka and orange juice! The Rusty Nail was invented in 1937 for the British Industries Fair trade show. It’s simply 50ml Scotch whisky and 25ml of Drambuie. This is derived from Gaelic, meaning “the drink satisfies.’ The same has been said about the Rusty Nail despite its unflattering name.

All the Gear: TOOLS YOU WILL NEED

You’ll need a cocktail kit to get you started. This isn’t vital, but a cocktail shaker ensures your drink is ice cold and mixed well so we would definitely recommend it.

Set yourself up for success with a cocktail shaker, a strainer (some shakers come with this already attached), a spirit measure, a muddler or long spoon and a zester.

You should be able to find all of this online along with lots of other fancy cocktail equipment.

Now it’s time to decide on ingredients. Obviously, there are different spirits and mixers in each, but there are a few staples to add to your cabinet to suit a wide array of requests. We recommend a dry and sweet Vermouth and bitters, preferably Angostura bitters to start with.

We also have to be clear on cocktail lingo. Most people can master cocktails but they see words they don’t know and close the recipe book.

If martinis have always confused you, ‘dirty’ simply means adding olive juice and ‘dry’ simply means no vermouth so it’s just straight gin or vodka.

A jigger is basically a measure, the hourglass shaped tool used to pour accurately. When a reciple tells you to ‘muddle’ something it’s basically asking you to mash the ingredients up a bit using the ‘muddler’ or a long spoon.

The Mojito is a classic Cuban cocktail. Its combination of sweetness, citrus and mint flavours is intended to compliment the rum. It’s one of the most popular summer drinks. Believe it or not, the Moscow Mule did not originate in Russia. It was first created in Los Angeles in 1941 by a bar manager and a Smirnoff executive, hoping to sell Vodka to the Americans. This cocktail is very popular among the Hollywood elite. The Porto Flip was originally named the Coffee Cocktail on account of its appearance. It first appeared in Jerry Thomas’s Bartender’s Guide in 1962. The name Pina Colada literally means ‘strained pineapple’ in Spanish. This is a reference to the freshly strained and pressed pineapple juice used to prepare the drink. It originates from Puerto Rico. The Stinger is traced back to the 1890s in the US. It remained extremely popular until the 70s. It was seen as a drink for the upper class. It’s just brandy and white creme de menthe. There are of course many other cocktails that we haven’t included in this feature -

“Get creative with your cocktails - garnishes can make all the difference from a sugared rim to fresh fruit, herbs and flowers...”

that’s why there are books on the subject - but these drinks are a good starting point and hopefully inspire you to get a little creative at home! The last thing to consider is the glass. It may seem unimportant but it can have quite a profound effect on the enjoyment of the drink. Martini glasses are a trumpet shape, best for, well, martinis and some of the drinks we’ve presented like the Paradise cocktail. A highball glass is a long tall glass ideal for drinks like Mojitos and Planter’s Punch. An Old Fashioned glass is designed for - you guessed it - Old Fashioned’s and other whisky or brandy-based cocktails, or neat alcohol. A Champagne saucer is similar to a Martini glass although it’s round like a bowl rather than like the letter V. A Margarita glass is like a combination of the two - it starts off as a Martini glass and then curves like a Champagne saucer. Most of the other glasses you will be familiar with - glasses for wine, pints for beer, flutes for sparkling wines etc. Never overlook the power of a glass! Holding a Martini glass comes with an aura of elegance and sophistication that your plastic drinks cup simply can’t match. They’re not too pricy either, although we would recommend LSA if you are looking for a good set. Enjoy making your favourite cocktails at home and feel free to experiment especially with decoration! Rub a slice of lemon around the rim of a glass and dunk it in sugar for even more of a cocktail feel! Finally, please drink responsibly. One or two delightful cocktails is more than enough. When the bars open again, we can enjoy a delightful cocktail made by a professional with more than just a concoction from the kitchen cabinet!

Sidecar

Coat the rim of a Martini glass with sugar. Shake 50ml Cognac, 20ml Cointreau and 20ml lemon juice. Strain into the prepared glass.

Mint Julep

Muddle five mint sprigs and two sugar cubes in a julep cup or Collins glass. Add 75ml Bourbon and fill the glass with crushed ice.

Piña Colada

Blend half a diced frozen pineapple, 175ml coconut cream, 75ml coconut milk, 225ml white rum and tbsp lime juice. Freeze before serving.

COVER COCKTAILS

Get creative with your cocktails! Here are our cover stars, from tropical mixes to stronger flavours. When shaking, always add lots of ice to the cocktail shaker, shake until the bottom of the shaker is too cold to hold and then strain...

Feel free to garnish your drinks with whatever you feel is appropriate. We have some visual ideas for you on this page.

Tuxedo

Stir (don’t shake) 75ml gin, 25ml Fino sherry and two dashes of orange bitters with ice. Strain into a chilled Champagne saucer or Martini glass.

Moscow Mule

Squeeze 20ml lime juice into a mug (optional: add the lime shell too). Add 75ml vodka, and 175ml ginger beer with ice. Stir.

Whiskey Sour

Shake 75ml Bourbon, 30ml fresh lemon juice and 30ml simple syrup vigorously. Strain into a Martini glass and garnish with a cherry.

Mojito

Muddle the juice of one lime, one tsp sugar and a handful of mint leaves in a Collins glass. Add 60ml white rum and top with soda water.

Porto Flip

Shake one large egg, 50ml ruby port, 25ml brandy and 10ml simple syrup vigorously. Fill with ice and shake again. Strain and serve with nutmeg.

THE BLACK HORSE

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