Enjoy July 4th like a true American
What could be more patriotic than a cocktail? After all, the blending of ingredients in a tasty drink is a mini metaphor for the melting pot of our great nation. From sea to shining sea, American cocktails pay homage to our nation’s great states and cities. Celebrate Independence Day with a cocktail or two. Consider it your patriotic duty.
ALASKA COCKTAIL
This boozy treat warms bellies during cold Alaskan winters. Add 2 ounces gin, ¾ ounce Yellow Chartreuse, 2 dashes orange bitters and ice to a cocktail shaker. Stir, then strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.
CHICAGO FIZZ
This lush, full-bodied concoction will brace you for whatever the Windy City might send your way. Add 1 ounce aged rum, 1 ounce port, ¾ ounce lemon juice, ½ ounce simple syrup, 1 egg white and ice to a cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously, then strain into a Collins glass filled with fresh ice. Top with club soda.
COLORADO BULLDOG
The creamy topper in this drink echoes the beauty of Colorado’s snow-capped Rocky Mountains. Add 1 ounce vodka and 1 ounce coffee liqueur to a highball filled with ice. Top with equal parts cream and cola. Stir gently.
KENTUCKY COLONEL
A reference to the title bestowed upon someone for his devotion to faith, family, fellowman and country, this lightly herbal drink has most assuredly earned its name. Fill a large glass with ice. Twist a strip of lemon peel over the pitcher to express the oils, then drop the peel into the glass. Add 2 ounces bourbon and ¾ ounce Benedictine. Stir until the drink is chilled, then strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with an additional lemon twist.
MANHATTAN
NYC’s iconic borough inspired a drink as intoxicating as the city itself. Add 2 ounces rye whiskey or bourbon, 1 ounce sweet vermouth, 2 dashes Angostura bitters and ice to a large glass. Stir, then strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a cherry or a lemon twist.
MISSISSIPPI PUNCH
The quantity of booze specified in the earliest written version of this recipe (1862) would leave you drowning in the Mississippi River. Here, the punch, with origins somewhere “along the Mississippi,” is pared down to a manageable single portion. Add 1 ounce cognac, ½ ounce bourbon, ½ ounce dark rum, ¼ ounce lemon juice, 1 teaspoon superfine sugar and ice to a cocktail shaker. Shake, then strain into a Collins glass filled with fresh ice. Garnish with an orange slice and raspberries.
MISSOURI MULE
This drink was created for Missouri native President Harry S. Truman. The Mule here refers not to ginger beer, but to both Missouri’s official state animal and the Democratic political party. Add 1 ounce bourbon, 1 ounce applejack, ¾ ounce lemon juice, ½ ounce Campari, ½ ounce Cointreau and ice to a cocktail shaker. Shake, then strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
PALM BEACH SPECIAL
Palm Beach’s official town motto is The Best of Everything, just the way this easy-to-make, citrus-kissed drink tastes. Add 2½ ounces gin, ¾ ounce grapefruit juice, ½ ounce sweet vermouth and ice to a cocktail shaker. Shake, then strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
SAN FRANCISCO COCKTAIL
This aperitif-style cocktail is as rich as a ’49er who just struck gold. Add 1 ounce sloe gin, 1 ounce dry vermouth, 1 ounce sweet vermouth, 1 dash Angostura bitters, 1 dash orange bitters and ice to a large glass. Stir, then strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a cherry.
