FRIDAY COCKTAIL - FRENCH 75!

Many believe this drink was created by American WW1 soldiers looking for a taste similar to a Tom Collins.  They had gin and lemns, but no soda, so they used what they had:  Champagne!  The resulting cocktail was named after the French-made 75mm guns used in the war.

Ingredients:

1 oz gin
1/2 oz fresh lemon juice
1/2 oz simple syrup*
4 oz chilled brut Champagne

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.  Add gin, lemon juice and simple syrup and shake well.  Strain into a champagne flute and stir in champagne.  You can add a cherry for garnish.

* Simple syrup is easy to make: in a sauce pan combine 8 ounces of water with a cup of sugar.  Bring to a boil over medium heat and stir until the sugar dissolves.  Let cool and transfer into a tightly covered glass jar and refrigerate for up to a month.

BUBBLY BUBBLY BUBBLY!
ENJOY!

FRIDAY COCKTAIL - MAINE WATERMELON CHILLER PUNCH!!!!

In less than 24 hours the first of many Maine "vacationland" fun weeks begins.  Family and friends will be together for beach time, food time and of course COCKTAIL time.  Having lived all across America at some point, I can atest that the BEST watermelon EVA is in the state of Maine.

So, fitting that the Hartstone Inn in Camden, Maine has this beauty as their signature cocktail.  It can be made as a punch or single servings.

Ingredients:

One Maine Watermelon (6 lbs)
12 oz Vodka
12 oz Lemon Lime Soda
1/4 cup fresh Lime Juice
garnish with watermelon slice, lime wedge or green apple slice

Scoop out watermelon, puree it and strain into a punch bowl with ice.  Stir in vodka, soda and juice.  Then garnish as you will.

For single servings, prepare the mix the same but don't add the soda until you are ready to drink.  The ratio should be 2/3 watermelon, vodka-juice mix to 1/3 soda mix.

THE WAY LIFE SHOULD BE!
ENJOY!

FRIDAY COCKTAIL - NEW YORK SOUR!

As once again the Red Sox take on the Yankees...we all need to remember how SOUR we hope the NY team will be this series....

This cocktail is from way way way back....(no pun intended)

Ingredients:

2 oz cognac
3/4 oz orange juice
3/4 oz lemon juice
2 tsp sugar
1/2 oz dry red wine

In a shaker with ice combine cognac, juices and sugar...shake for 15 seconds...strain into a glass with or without ice (your preference) and gently pour wine into the glass over the back of a spoon so the wine floats on top.

SWEET AND REFRESHING!
ENJOY!