Ok guys. Hold onto your cocktail shakers cause it’s happening.
I am finally going to start sharing my years of cocktailing knowledge and recipes with you all. Starting with this classic cosmopolitan cocktail.

So far all that I have posted on the blog is THIS cocktail, which basically just happened because I had loads and loads of fresh organic peaches falling off my trees. But then my mind went into a whirlwind and started buzzing with all the information that I wanted to share, which lead to months and months, umming and arghing over how I wanted to begin sharing it with you.
Should I start with a classic? Or maybe an original?
What alcohol should I start with? Tequila? Vodka? Rum? Whiskey? Bourbon?
Should I do a post on equipment first? Or maybe one on methods and techniques?
Talk about an information overload!!!
But I pulled my head together and basically just start sifting through my ideas until I figured it out. And here we are.

So the way that I have decided to do this is by helping you guys grow your own little groovy bar at home. I know that when I started my home bar I just kinda went out and bought a whole lot of different spirits and liqueurs that I liked to drink, only to realize later that I could only make a couple of different cocktails with them cause they just didn’t really “mix” together. So I want to help you guys buy a collection of spirits and liqueurs that can be mixed together to make some amazingly impressive cocktails, right in the comfort on your own home. My plan is to gradually build your bar up by introducing a different spirit or liqueur every month or two, one that can be used with a previously bought bottle. And I hope to be able to teach you a whole lot of different techniques and methods along the way. Oh and of course a collection of out of this world cocktails.

YOUR FIRST ADDITION:

To start your little home bar off you are going to need one spirit and one liqueur, I have chosen to start you guys off with Vodka and Cointreau.
Vodka has always been my go to spirit; it is a great spirit to start with as it is so versatile and can be made into sooooo many different types of cocktails. Plus it is the only spirit that I will drink straight with just a squeeze of lime. Now you don’t have to go crazy and buy the most expensive vodka, although Grey Goose and Belvedere are definitely on the top of my most preferred list, but I would recommend buying a good quality mid range bottle like Absolut, Smirnoff or 42Below. Anything cheaper will effect the quality and taste of your cocktails.

Cointreau is one of the most common fruit liqueurs and is based on the flavor of the orange peel. It is used in a variety of classic cocktails and is a must in any home bar, large or small. Curacao and triple sec are similar products to Cointreau and can be used as an alternative, but personally I like the balanced flavor of bitter and sweet peel in Cointreau better.

COCKTAIL OF THE WEEK: COSMOPOLITAN

Now that we have got our first two bottles on our bar shelf lets make a Cosmopolitan with them. This cocktail, although called a classic, was actually only invented at the start of the 1990’s at Julie’s Supper Club in San Francisco. It is a very dry, tarter styled cocktail and has kinda become the woman’s version of a dry martini. Simply shake Vodka, Cointreau, cranberry juice and a splash of lime together in a shaker. I recommend using a Boston shaker like this one (which is great buy because it includes a Hawthorn strainer) rather than using a three-piece stainless steel cocktail shaker. Most people seem to gravitate to using these types of cocktail shaker cause they look easier and think that the will last longer. But the problem with these shakers is actually that they are made 100% of stainless steel. When ice is shaken inside these types of shakers the steel contracts and the lid gets stuck to the bottom, which is not ideal. This will NEVER happen with a Boston shaker.

I also like adding an extra splash of cranberry juice in my Cosmo’s than most recipes, but you can alter this depending on your taste. Then strain the cocktail into a martini glass with a hawthorn strainer and garnish with an orange twist. By twisting the peel over the cocktail you will release the natural oils in the peel adding freshness and sweetness to the cocktail. And if you want to make it extra flash, garnish it with a flamed orange peel, Ill tell you how in the notes. Simple, sexy and glamorous, that is what this cocktail is all about. So grab your besties, put on some Sex and the City reruns and shake yourselves a few of these.

Enjoy.