Cocktail Shaker-Drink Recipes

LESSONS LEARNT FROM THE PAST

Twenty years ago I compiled my first cocktail database with over 1000 cocktails. It also had a bar function making it easy to find drinks that matched the spirits I had in my bar. There was only one problem – the majority of drinks didn’t taste any good.

Here’s why:

● THE WRONG RECIPES

Most sources list recipes that are imitations of original recipes. Unfortunately, the imitation recipes either miss important ingredients or substitute ingredients with something completely different (Amaretto in the Mai Tai is a famous example). The essence of what made the original cocktail work well is lost – you get a drink that tastes underwhelming and boring;

● THE WRONG SPIRITS

Most recipes don’t give any background on what brands work well, and, as I found out the hard way, throwing random spirits from a house bar into a shaker doesn’t work. A London dry gin will produce a different Martini than Plymouth gin will. You need to know what brands of spirits are good choices and what works together to create a satisfying drink;

● INCOMPLETE INSTRUCTIONS

Most instructions don’t go beyond “pour, shake, strain”. There’s a lot more when it comes to mixing a cocktail. Shake a Brandy Alexander long enough and the result is a pleasingly crisp and creamy drink.

MAKING COCKTAILS THAT TASTE GREAT

This app doesn’t throw thousands of recipes of ordinary drinks at you. Instead you get a handful of well researched cocktail classics, each of which stood the test of time. This guide explains how you can make these drinks taste outstanding.

★ ORIGINAL RECIPES WITH HISTORY

All cocktails have been researched thoroughly and traced back to the original recipes that made the originals famous. This guide includes the classic recipe for the Trader Vic’s Mai Tai and explains how you can recreate the tiki magic from the 1940s right in your own home. Our Mai Tai recipe does not include Amaretto!

★ DETAILED GUIDE TO SPIRITS

All recipes feature a detailed section on ingredients, including what types of spirits to use and which brands to watch. Have you ever made a Martini with two year old Italian vermouth and tipped it down the sink, because it tasted undrinkable? Open a fresh bottle of dry vermouth and rediscover the Martini.

★ TIPS FOR MAKING THE DRINKS TASTE GREAT

Cocktails are all about finding the right balance. A good example is the Cosmopolitan – most recipes make it too sweet. This guide explains why not all cranberry juices are equal and how to create a well-balanced Cosmopolitan that tastes just as good as the original.

★ COMPREHENSIVE INSTRUCTIONS

This guide takes the mystery out of mixing a good cocktail, whether you shake it, stir it or blend it. Just how long do you blend a Pina Colada to get the fine, smooth consistency that makes it so delicious?