The Grateful Dead

About The Grateful Dead

As Empire Mixology’s resident Master Mixologist and a self-claimed “Long Island-style Cocktail Expert,” I’d love to tell you that Grateful Deads are a fun recipe that’s packed with flavor, but its not. Unlike the Long Island Iced Tea that attempts to hide alcohol content, the Grateful Dead does very little to mask its intense alcohol profile. The Raspberry Liqueur does little to nothing in the vein of dulling the bite of the spirits.

Popular in most college bars and dives throughout the country, the Grateful Dead is a great night starter cocktail since they are typically cheaply made and can be thrown together quickly. Add Lemon Lime Soda to make the cocktail more palatable if desired. The fun part of this recipe is that the Grateful Dead is typically garnished with fun concepts such as gummy bears, candy, sprinkles, fruit.

Ingredients:

• ½ oz. Tequila

• ½ oz. Rum

• ½ oz. Gin

• ½ oz. Vodka

• ½ oz. Triple Sec

• Splash of Lemon Juice

• Splash of Simple Syrup

• Splash. Raspberry Liqueur

• Splash Blue Curacao

• FIll Lemon Lime Soda

Cocktail Profile

• Rating: 4 Stars

• Served: On the Rocks

• Strength: Strong

• Difficulty: Simple

• Flavor: Spirit Forward

Method:

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice cubes to chill the ingredients. Measure and pour 1/2 ounce each of vodka, gin, rum, tequila, and triple sec into the shaker. This combination of spirits forms the base of the Grateful Dead. Pour 3/4 ounce of simple syrup into the shaker for sweetness. Pour 3/4 ounce of fresh lemon juice into the shaker for a citrusy kick. Shake the ingredients vigorously for about 10-15 seconds to ensure proper mixing and chilling. Pour raspberry liqueur and gummy bears into bottom of a highball glass. Strain the mixture from the shaker into the highball glass and fill with ice. Top up the glass with a splash of lemon lime soda for effervescence. Gently add a splash to give it the signature effect. Optionally, give the ingredients a gentle stir to combine the flavors.

The Salty Dog

About The Salty Dog

The Salty Dog is thought to have originated during or just after the Prohibition Era. Without the salt, a Salty Dog is known as a Greyhound Cocktail. Like many drinks from this era, the Salty Dog is traditionally made with gin, however more modern recipes have replaced gin with vodka. Fruity yet bitter, the Salty Dog is a decent brunch or late afternoon cocktail.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. Gin

• Fill Grapefruit Juice

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       3.5 Stars

• Served:       Straight

• Strength:    Medium

• Difficulty:    Simple

• Flavor:        Fruity/Salty

Method:

Shake Gin and Grapefruit Juice in a cocktail shaker. Pour into salt-rimmed highball glass.

The Whiskey Smash

About The Whiskey Smash

The Whiskey Smash is a variation on the classic Whiskey Sour; in a sense, it retains a similar flavor profile to the original, with the slight addition of a few accouterments. This recipe is both visually pleasing and palate-pleasing; and makes an excellent addition to any cocktail menu.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Bourbon

• 1 oz. Simple Syrup

• ½ Lemon, cut into quarters

• Dash of granulated sugar

• Few fresh mint leaves

• Lemon wheel and mint sprig for Garnish

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.5 Stars

• Served:      On the Rocks

• Strength:   Mild

• Difficulty:  Medium

• Flavor:       Spirit Forward

Method:

Muddle the lemon, mint leaves, sugar, and simple syrup in the bottom of the glass. Add fresh ice and bourbon and stir well. Garnish appropriately.

The Army & Navy

About The Army & Navy

First published in 1948 by David Embury’s The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks, the Army & Navy is a classically styled cocktail that presents a floral and fragrant taste. This cocktail is reputed to be named after the rivalry between West Point and the Naval Academy in college sports.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. London Dry Gin

• ½ oz. Orgeat Syrup

• ½ oz. Lemon Juice

• Dash of Angostura Bitters

• Garnish with a Lemon Twist

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.0 Stars

• Served:     Up

• Strength:   Strong

• Difficulty:  Medium

• Flavor:       Spirit Forward

Method:

Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice and shake until well chilled. Strain into a coupe glass and garnish with a lemon twist.

The Death in the Afternoon

About The Death in the Afternoon

Also known as the Hemingway Champagne, the Death in the Afternoon is a powerful and decadent cocktail that crosses Champagne with Absinthe. Said to be invented in Left Bank, Paris by Hemingway himself along with a few sailors; this recipe first appeared in the 1930s in Hemingway’s books. The goal of the cocktail is to mix the spirits enough that the mixture becomes opalescent and milky.

"Pour one jigger absinthe into a Champagne glass. Add iced Champagne until it attains the proper opalescent milkiness. Drink three to five of these slowly." -Ernest Hemingway

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. Absinthe

• Fill Champagne

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       3.5 Stars

• Served:      Neat

• Strength:   Strong

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Spirit Forward

Method:

Pour 1 oz. Absinthe into a Champagne glass. Add chilled Champagne until it attains the proper opalescent milkiness.

The Incredible Hulk

About The Incredible Hulk

To be fair, there’s a few different versions of the Incredible Hulk depending on which region of the country you’re from. The most widely accepted version is used combining Hennessey© and Hypnotiq© to create a very strong and flavorful cocktail that is green in color. Named after the famous green brutish superhero, this cocktail lives up the strong aspect of the name and is a sipping drink served cold.

Ingredients:

• 1 part Cognac

• 1 part Hypnotiq ©

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.0 Stars

• Served:     On the Rocks

• Strength:   Strong

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Spirit Forward

Method:

Stir together and pour over ice.

The Vampiro

About The Vampiro

The Mexican National Drink, the Vampiro is a Tequila based variant of the world famous Bloody Mary. The Vampiro is a former IBA Official Cocktail but has since fallen off the list. Although somewhat less preparation than its counterpart, the Vampiro essentially keeps a similar palate for flavor. Experiment with garnishes and slight additives to find the perfect recipe!

Ingredients:

• 1½ oz. Tequila

• 2½ oz. Tomato Juice

• 1 oz. Orange Juice

• 1 tsp. Clear Honey

• ½ oz. Lime Juice

• Few Drops Worcestershire Sauce

• Half Slice of Onion, finely chopped

• Few Slices of Red Chili Pepper

• Salt for Garnish

• Orange Slice, Chili Pepper for Garnish

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       3.5 Stars

• Served:      On the Rocks

• Strength:   Mild

• Difficulty:  Medium

• Flavor:       Ouch

Method:

Pour ingredients into glass rimmed with salt. Stir.

The American Beauty

About The American Beauty

Another Washington D.C. original cocktail, the American Beauty is an eclectic cocktail creation named after the District’s Official Flower; the American Beauty Rose. This cocktail combines Cognac and Port Wine along with Creme de Menthe. The resulting flavor profile is strong willed, yet smooth as well. Certainly, a sipping drink, the American Beauty is best served in good company.

Ingredients:

• 1½ oz. Cognac

• ¼ oz. Creme de Menthe

• ¼ oz. Port Wine

• ¼ oz. Simple Syrup

• 1 oz. Orange Juice

• ½ oz. Grenadine

• Mint Sprig for garnish

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.0 Stars

• Served:      Neat

• Strength:   Strong

• Difficulty:  Medium

• Flavor:       Spirit Forward

Method:

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add all of the remaining ingredients except the port and mint. Shake well; strain into a chilled martini glass. Stir in the port. Garnish with the mint.

The Southside

About The Southside

The origins of the Southside are up to debate, some credit the origins to the South Shore of Long Island, NY to a club bearing the same name; whereas others attribute the cocktail to the South Side of Chicago and the gang of Al Capone.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. London Dry Gin

• 1 oz. Lemon Juice

• ½ oz. Simple Syrup

• 1 Drop of Egg White (optional)

• 5-6 Mint Leaves

• Orange Zest and Maraschino Cherry for Garnish

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       3.5 Stars

• Served:      Neat

• Strength:   Strong

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Spirit Forward

Method:

Shake well with ice and double-strain into a chilled cocktail glass

The Hurricane

About The Hurricane

Another creation from the Big Easy, this cousin of the Daiquiri was crafted in a New Orleans Speakeasy in the 1940s. The owner of the speakeasy Pat O’Brien needed to find a way to sell all of the less-popular rum that his distributors forced him to buy before he could buy the popular spirits. He concocted a mixture of rums with passion fruit syrup and lemon juice; and then poured it into a hurricane shaped glass. The drink caught on and has been a mainstay of tropical drink menus across the world. The Bahamanian version of the cocktail uses different ingredients such as coffee liqueur, Irish cream, and Grand Marnier.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Silver Rum

• 2 oz. Dark Rum

• 1 oz. Freshly Squeezed Lime Juice

• 1 oz. Orange Juice

• ½ oz. Passion Fruit Syrup

• ½ oz. Simple Syrup

• Dash of Grenadine

• Orange Wheel & Cherry for Garnish

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.5 Stars

• Served:      On the Rocks

• Strength:   Mild

• Difficulty:  Medium

• Flavor:       Tropical

Method:

Shake ingredients with ice, then pour into the glass and serve over ice. Garnish with orange wheel and cherry.

The Orange Crush

About The Orange Crush

Hailing from Ocean City, MD; the Orange Crush is a signature Maryland cocktail. Quite similar to a Screwdriver Cocktail, the Orange Crush mixes vodka and orange juice but also adds in triple sec. What makes a crush a “crush” is that it adds lemon-lime soda or sparkling wine to the mix to top off. The Orange Crush is a perfect addition to any brunch menu.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Vodka

• 1 oz. Triple Sec

• 3 oz. Orange Juice

• 3-4 oz. Lemon-Lime Soda

• Orange Wedge and Mint for Garnish

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.5 Stars

• Served:      On the Rocks

• Strength:   Light

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Orange

Method:

Pour all ingredients directly into highball glass filled with ice cubes. Stir gently.

The Godmother

About The Godmother

The spousal cocktail to the former IBA Official Cocktail, the Godfather; the Godmother simply switches out Scotch Whisky for Vodka. The original iteration is reputed to be named after actor Marlon Brando’s favorite cocktail, which was enjoyed on the set of the movie The Godfather. The Godmother by comparison eliminates the strong flavor profile of Scotch Whisky and instead focuses on maintaining the alcohol level using Vodka, but keeping the flavor profile of Amaretto.

Ingredients:

• 1 part Vodka

• 1 part Amaretto

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.0 Stars

• Served:      On the Rocks

• Strength:   Strong

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Spirit Forward

Method:

Pour all ingredients directly into old fashioned glass filled with ice cubes. Stir gently.

The Blue Hawaiian

About The Blue Hawaiian

A knockoff of the Blue Hawaii, the Blue Hawaiian is more of a Pina Colada with Blue Curacao added. The cocktail was created in the 1960s although the exact origin is unknown. It has also been suggested that Don the Beachcomber, the inventor of Tiki Culture created the Blue Hawaiian. It can be enjoyed blended or on the rocks, although we prefer it to be frozen since it is close in composition to the Pina Colada.

Ingredients:

• 1½ oz. Silver Rum

• 1 oz. Blue Curacao

• 1 oz. Cream of Coconut

• 2 oz. Pineapple Juice

• Pineapple Wedge & Maraschino Cherry for garnish

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.5 Stars

• Served:      Frozen/On the Rocks

• Strength:   Medium

• Difficulty:  Medium

• Flavor:       Tropical

Method:

For the On the Rocks version mix all ingredients in a mixing glass until well integrated. Pour into ice filled cocktail glass.

For the Frozen version add all ingredients in a blender with fresh ice. Blend until well smooth.

The Bahama Mama

About The Bahama Mama

The Bahama Mama hails from the 1920s/1930s depending on which origin you choose to believe. Some say it was invented during the Prohibition Era as the Caribbean was a rum smuggling base, while others believe it was named after a famous Caribbean dancer who went by the name Bahama Mama in the 1930s. Regardless, the Bahama Mama is a world reknown favorite tropical cocktail. It is simple to make and involves flavorful juices and a full cadre of rum options.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. Silver Rum

• 1 oz. Coconut Rum

• ½ oz. Dark Rum

• ½ oz. Lime Juice

• 2 oz. Pineapple Juice

• 2 oz. Orange Juice

• Splash of Grenadine

• Pineapple Wedge and Maraschino Cherry for Garnish

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       5.0 Stars

• Served:      On the Rocks

• Strength:   Mild

• Difficulty:  Medium

• Flavor:       Tropical

Method:

Build rums and juices in a mixing glass and stir well, then pour into ice filled served glass. Drop the splash of Grenadine into the cocktail and garnish with a cherry and pineapple wedge.

The Caribou Lou

About The Caribou Lou

The Caribou Lou is a hip-hop inspired cocktail that features the infamous 151-Proof Rums. This cocktails is sweet but strong. The citrus of the pineapple juice does wonders to mask the harsh bite of the overproof rum and the coconut rum is also able to smooth out the finish a tad bit. Buyer beware however, this drink sneaks up on you in the worst way.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. 151-Proof Rum

• 1.5 oz. Coconut Rum

• 6 oz. Pineapple Juice

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.0 Stars

• Served:      On the Rocks

• Strength:   Strong

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Sweetly Strong

Method:

Shake ingredients with ice and strain into highball glass with fresh ice.

The Paralyzer

About The Paralyzer

The Paralyzer is a cocktail that’s meant to make you stop in your tracks and think about the ingredients. A rare category of drinks combine milk and soda, and this is one of those cocktails. The flavor profile is quite diverse, combining coffee, cola, milk, and vodka flavors. The cocktail goes down fairly smooth and is certainly an eye opener at the bar.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. Vodka

• 1 oz. Coffee Liqueur

• 2½ oz. Cola

• Splash of Milk

• Lemon Wedge & Maraschino Cherry for garnish

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.0 Stars

• Served:      On the Rocks

• Strength:   Mild

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Coffee

Method:

Stir Cola, Coffee Liqueur, and Vodka together. Add splash of milk and garnish.

The Sloe Comfortable Screw

About The Sloe Comfortable Screw

A fun and awkward cocktail to order at a crowded bar, the Sloe Comfortable Screw is an offshoot of the former IBA Classic, The Screwdriver. The addition of Southern Comfort© and Sloe Gin create a sweeter finish with a bit of extra kick. This cocktail is a perfect brunch or early afternoon drink.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. Vodka

• 1 oz. Southern Comfort©

• ½ oz. Sloe Gin

• Fill Fresh Orange Juice

• Orange Wedge for Garnish

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.5 Stars

• Served:      On the Rocks

• Strength:   Light

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Fruity

Method:

Build ingredients in serving glass with ice. Stir until well mixed.

The Bay Breeze

About The Bay Breeze

The sister cocktail of the Sea Breeze; the Bay Breeze substitutes Pineapple Juice into its recipe, replacing the Grapefruit Juice of the Sea Breeze. As with the former, the Bay Breeze became a staple cocktail of the 1960s and into the 1970s. Arguably the Bay Breeze has spawned many more varaints than its older sister cocktail. The Bay Breeze is a sweeter version using the highly flavorful pineapple juice to increase taste and hide alcohol content.

Ingredients:

• 1½ oz. Vodka

• 1 oz. Pineapple Juice

• 4 oz. Cranberry Juice

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.0 Stars

• Served:      On the Rocks

• Strength:   Light

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Fruity

Method:

Build all ingredients in a highball glass filled with ice. Garnish with lime wedge.

The Alabama Slammer

About The Alabama Slammer

The Alabama Slammer is a famous cocktail hailing from the 1980s era of mixology. This cocktail features Southern Comfort© which is a type of whiskey in its own class. The combination of the peach pit made SoCo, orange juice, amaretto, and sloe gin creates a powerful and flavorful cocktail that is sure to keep you and your guests coming back for more. The drink was said to be popularized by Hall of Fame Quarterback Brett Farve, but the drink was already a roaring success in the decade prior.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. Southern Comfort©

• 1 oz. Amaretto

• ½ oz. Sloe Gin

• 2 oz. Orange Juice

• Orange Slice for Garnish

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.5 Stars

• Served:      On the Rocks

• Strength:   Mild

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Fruity

Method:

Build ingredients in serving glass with ice. Stir until well mixed.

The Fuzzy Navel

About The Fuzzy Navel

The Fuzzy Navel is yet another hallmark cocktail of the 1980s and was created by notable mixologist Ray Foley. The cocktail is light in alcohol content and easy on the taste due to its flavor profile of peach and orange. This drink can be made into a “Hairy Navel” by adding a shot of vodka into it.

Ingredients:

• 2 parts Peach Schnapps

• 4 parts Orange Juice

• Orange Slice for garnish

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.0 Stars

• Served:      On the Rocks

• Strength:   Light

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Fruity

Method:

Build ingredients in serving glass with ice. Stir until well mixed.