The Rooftop Lemonade

The Rooftop Lemonade

The Rooftop Lemonade is an old classic of Empire Mixology, modernized and revisited. This is an absolutely refreshing creation, that is simple and quick to make and is best enjoyed in the warm weather and sunshine. Just in time to herald the arriving summer, we strongly suggest giving this lemonade a chance to make your summer essentials list.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Vodka

• 2 oz. Lemonade

• Cucumber Slices

• Lemon Wheels

• Soda Water

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.0 Stars

• Served:      on the Rocks

• Strength:   Mild

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Sweet

Method:

In a shaker add ice, vodka, lemonade, and cucumber slices. Shake until well chilled and pour into highball glass and top with soda water. garnish with cucumber slices and lemon wheels.

The Floradora

The Floradora

Meet your new favorite springtime cocktail. This highball is sure to make your list of delectable delights and was previously featured here at Empire Mixology for the 2019 Oscar’s as a nominee cocktail. This light and crisp cocktail also has a delightful sweetness to it. The combination of raspberrys and ginger ale helps to mask the bite of the vodka, creating a finish that will be sure to please your palate and those of your guests as well. Trust us, try this one.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Vodka

• 4 oz. Ginger Ale

• 1/2 oz. Simple Syrup

• 3-5 Fresh Raspberries

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.5 Stars

• Served:      on the Rocks

• Strength:   Mild

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Sweet

Method:

In a shaker add raspberrys and vodka and muddle thoroughly. Add vodka and ice and shake until chilled. Strain into highball glass with fresh ice and raspberries. Top with ginger ale.

The Rob Roy

The Rob Roy

Hailing from the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City, the Rob Roy is an 1894 cocktail that is very spirit forward with a flavorful finish due to the Angostura Bitters. The drink is named after an opera of the time period based on the Scottish folk hero Rob Roy McGregor. Although not an IBA Official Cocktail, the Rob Roy is a solid Scotch Whisky cocktail option that is meany for sipping and casual enjoyment.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Scotch Whisky

• 1 oz. Sweet Vermouth

• 3 dashes Angostura Bitters

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       3.5 Stars

• Served:      Neat

• Strength:   Strong

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Spiced

Method:

Stirred over ice, strained into a chilled glass, garnished, and served straight up, or mixed in rocks glass, filled with ice.

The Frosé

The Frosé

Meet the pinnacle of our Valentine’s Day cocktail series. The Frosé is a fun and flavorful cocktail that includes perennial favorite rosé wine and the fruity flavors of fresh watermelon and strawberries. This cocktail is perfect for date night or just keeping cool in the summer heat as well. There’s nothing quite like the combination of sweet watermelon and tart strawberry. We originally used Castello del Poggio’s Sweet Rosé line for this recipe. We highly recommend using fresh fruit and freezing it yourself to guarantee ingredient quality, however the store-bought frozen fruit works just as well. Try our luxurious libation recipe and keep cool in the heat and have fun that can’t be beat.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups Rosé Wine to (preference)

• 1 cup frozen watermelon

• 1 cup frozen strawberries

• 2 tablespoons sugar

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.0 Stars

• Served:      Frozen

• Strength:   Light

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Fruity

Method:

Place all ingredients in a blender and process until smooth. Add more ice for a thicker consistency. Serve immediately garnished with fresh fruit.

The Rosé Lemonade

The Rosé Lemonade

A perfect Valentine’s Day or springtime afternoon cocktail, the Rosé Lemonade is simple, light, and refreshing. The rosé creates a unique twist on the homemade lemonade without adding the punch of a harder spirit. We originally created this cocktail during the Valentine’s Day season with Castello del Poggio and their Sweet Rosé line and it quickly became a major hit. If you don’t feel like going through the motions of making homemade lemonade, store-bought will substitute fine. Try out our relaxing afternoon cocktail creation and let us know what you think!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Rosé Wine

• 1/4 cup sugar

• 1/4 cup water

• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

• 1 cup cold water

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.0 Stars

• Served:      On the Rocks

• Strength:   Light

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Sweet

Method:

To make the lemonade, combine the water and sugar in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, and stir to dissolve the sugar. Let cool. Add the fresh lemon juice and water to the sugar mixture and stir to dissolve. Refrigerate until cold. Before serving, mix the lemonade with the rosé wine. Divide between two glasses and serve.

The Funny Valentine

The Funny Valentine

This light and crisp cocktail is perfect for a Valentine’s Day dinner date, or just a romantic evening with your loved one. This past Valentine’s Day we had a love affair with Rosé; specifically Castello Del Poggio Sweet Rosé, so when they provided us with this recipe we couldn’t help but share it to you. This cocktail has a light flavor to it that also maintain a certain sweetness with a crisp finish. It’s a perfect sipping cocktail and is sure to bring a smile to your personal Valentine.

Ingredients:

• 0.5 oz. Gin

• 2 oz. Rosé Wine

• 2 dashes simple syrup

• 0.4 oz. lemon juice

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.0 Stars

• Served:      Neat

• Strength:   Mild

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Sweet

Method:

Combine simple syrup, lemon juice, and gin in a shaker with ice. Strain into a glass, then top with rosé.

The Lemon Drop

About The Lemon Drop

The simple and classic Lemon Drop Shot. Note, this is not the IBA Official Lemon Drop Cocktail which is made with Triple Sec and Sour Mix as well. This simple one ingredient shot is light and crisp in flavor. We recommend using Lemon Vodka as the primary ingredient, or a perfectly acceptable variation is to use standard vodka and a few drops of lemon juice. Traditionally a sugar coated lemon is sucked afterwards to kill the harsh bite of vodka!

Ingredients:

• 1½ oz. Lemon Vodka

• Lemon Wedge

• Sugar (optional)

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.0 Stars

• Served:      Straight

• Strength:    Medium

• Difficulty:    Simple

• Flavor:        Citrus

Method:

Rub the inside of the shot glass with the lemon wedge. Pour in lemon vodka and shoot back.

Empire Tip: Rim the edge of the glass with granulated sugar to give the shot a lemonade-like feel!

The Cape Codder

About The Cape Codder

The granddaddy of so many famous cocktails like the Seabreeze, Woo Woo, Sex on the Beach, Cosmopolitan, and more; the Cape Codder is a true classic. And before you say it; YES, the Cape Codder is a simple Vodka-Cranberry. Developed in the 1940s by the Ocean Spray company as The Red Devil, the cocktail took on the name Cape Codder in the 1960s. Although it is simple and its name is commonly forgotten in the bar scene today, the Cape Codder is still a fan favorite and a huge base cocktail for many variations. Remember to respect your elder cocktails.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Vodka

• Fill Cranberry Juice

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.0 Stars

• Served:      On the Rocks

• Strength:   Mild

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Cranberry

Method:

Build all ingredients in an ice filled highball glass and stir. garnish with a lime wedge.

The Gimlet

About The Gimlet

The Gimlet was developed around the time of the Roaring Twenties and is of disputable origin. A simple and light cocktail, the Gimlet is an easy creation that can be altered in a myriad of ways to suit the customer’s taste. The classical recipe calls for a cocktail made with equal parts gin and lime juice, garnished with the such, served neat. We at Empire Mixology enjoy and respect the classic recipe, but we preferred a less intense lime juice addition (around 1 oz. or less), and added lemon-lime soda to create a more highball-esque version.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Gin

• Lime Juice to taste

• Lemon-Lime Soda/Club Soda (optional)

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       3.5 Stars

• Served:      Preference

• Strength:   Strong

• Difficulty:  Simple

• Flavor:       Strong

Method:

Pour gin into desired glass; typically a martini glass or wine glass. Ice optional. Add desired lime juice quantity (classically a 1:1 ratio). If desired, add soda to make the cocktail more of a highball.

The Rum Runner

About The Rum Runner

Ah the Rum Runner. A quintessential tropical cocktail, this concoction hails from Islamorada, Florida circa 1950. Created by a bartender using whatever extra ingredients he had lying around, the Rum Runner became a supremely sweet staple of warm-time weather cocktails. The Rum Runner has dozens of variations and recipes, but always features the combination of two types of rums; in our version we prefer silver and dark rum, however coconut, flavored, or spiced rum can also be used.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. Light Rum

• 1 oz. Dark Rum

• 1 oz. Blackberry Liqueur

• 1 oz. Banana Liqueur

• 2 oz. Orange Juice

• 2 oz. Pineapple Juice

• Splash Grenadine

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:        5 Stars

• Served:      On the Rocks/Frozen

• Strength:    Medium

• Difficulty:    Simple

• Flavor:        Sweet

Method:

Place all ingredients except grenadine in a shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a hurricane glass or fishbowl. Add a splash of grenadine. Garnish with cherry and a pineapple wedge.

The Kir

About The Kir

 The Kir is a French cocktail that hails from the 19th century. Formerly known as the Blanc-Cassis, the drink was renamed after Mayor Kir of Dijon, Burgundy who would serve this cocktail at his receptions for visiting delegations after World War II. Part of the reason why this cocktail become so popular was that during World War II, the German military removed a large amount of red wine from the country, leaving large reserves of white wine behind. This cocktail was used as a way to use what was available and in excess.  

Ingredients:

• 5 oz. White Wine

• 1 oz. Crème de Cassis

Cocktail Profile

• Rating: 3.5 Stars

• Served: Neat

• Strength: Medium

• Difficulty: Simple

• Flavor: Spirit Forward

Method:

Add the crème de cassis to the bottom of the glass and add the white wine above it.

The International

About The International

Meet your new favorite cocktail. Classy yet fun, the International is a personal recipe of our resident Lead Mixologist. This cognac and vodka based cocktail is absolutely packed with flavor and delivers a smooth finish. The triple sec and elderflower liqueur mask the “bite” of the primary spirits, creating a delectable and flavor packed finish to your sip. This is one our signature recipes at Empire Mixology and we hope you enjoy it just as much as we do.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Cognac

• 1 oz. Triple Sec

• 1 oz. Elderflower Liqueur

• ½ oz. Vodka

• Lime Wedge for Garnish

• Lemon Wedge for Garnish

Cocktail Profile

• Rating: 5.0 Stars

• Served: Neat

• Strength: Medium

• Difficulty: Simple

• Flavor: Sweet

Method:

Add all ingredients into a mixing glass with ice. Unlike James Bond, stir this one until well chilled and strain into a martini glass.

Empire Tip: Garnish with a lemon twist or olives to your preference.

The Frozen Margarita

About The Frozen Margarita

 The Frozen Margarita is fairly identical to the Official IBA version, with the obvious exception of it now being blended. The frozen version is often more palatable due to its extremely cold temperature and method of creation. The slowly melting ice actually brings out the innate flavors of the tequila, offering a more flavorable finish. Perfect for summer weather and social gatherings, give our recipe a chance and see what you think.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Tequila

• 1.5 oz. Triple Sec

• 1 oz. Lime Juice

• Dash of Simple Syrup

• Salt (for rim of glass)

• Lime for garnish

Cocktail Profile

• Rating: 4.5 Stars

• Served: Margarita

• Strength: Medium

• Difficulty: Simple

• Flavor: Spirit

Method:

Add tequila, triple sec, lime juice, and simple syrup to blender with ice. Blend until smooth and pour into salt-rimmed margarita glass. Garnish with lime.

The Cadillac Margarita

About The Cadillac Margarita

 The Cadillac Margarita is the top shelf version of the Margarita. Typically this cocktail recipe employs the use of top-shelf liqueurs such as Grand Marnier and Cointreau. The presence of these liqueurs definitely kicks the quality of the cocktail up, but both ingredients can be substituted if desired; using an orange infused brandy and triple sec respectively. Try the upscale version of the Margarita and see what you think.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Tequila

• 1 oz. Triple Sec (or Cointreau)

• 1 oz. Fresh Lime Juice

• Float of Grand Marnier

Cocktail Profile

• Rating: 4.5 Stars

• Served: Margarita

• Strength: Strong

• Difficulty: Simple

• Flavor: Spirit

Method:

Rim margarita glass with salt and lime. Add tequila, triple sec (or Cointreau), and lime juice to shaker with ice and shake well until chilled. Fill rimmed glass with cracked ice and strain shaker contents into glass. Float Grand Marnier or equivalent.

The Irish Coffee

About The Irish Coffee

The Irish Coffee has a bit of a muddled history. Since the mid-1800s the French would serve a cocktail known as a Gloria, which was any mixture of coffee and spirits. So it’s not off-base to say the Irish Coffee is just a Whiskey Gloria, however when’s the last time you’ve heard of a Gloria cocktail? The modern Irish Coffee is mostly agreed to have originated in County Limerick, Ireland. In the mid 1950s, the cocktail began appearing in the United States on the West Coast and its popularity took off from there. A staple of after-dinner cocktail menus everywhere, the Irish Coffee and its iterations have survived and continue to thrive.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. Irish Whiskey

• 1 oz. Cream

• 4 oz. Hot Coffee

• 1 tsp Brown Sugar

Cocktail Profile

• Rating: 4.0 Stars

• Served: Hot

• Strength: Mild

• Difficulty: Simple

• Flavor: Coffee

Method:

Heat the coffee, whiskey, and sugar but do not bring to a boil. Pour into glass and top with cream.

The Cuba Libre

About The Cuba Libre

 Is it technically just a rum and coke? Well sort of. The cocktail is very simple and inexpensive, but it does remain as one the world’s most popular cocktails. The cocktail comes from post Spanish-American War Cuba and its name is from the motto of the Cuban Independence movement of the time. Typically at Empire Mixology we don’t like to push specific brands in our cocktails, but this classic recipe technically calls for Bacardi Superior Silver Rum and Coca Cola. Note a Cuba Libre is not made with Spiced Rum, more commonly known as a Captain and Coke.

Ingredients:

• 1½ oz. Silver Rum (Bacardi Superior)

• Fill Coca Cola

Cocktail Profile

• Rating: 5.0 Stars

• Served: On the Rocks

• Strength: Light

• Difficulty: Simple

• Flavor: Sweet

Method:

Build ingredients with ice in a highball glass. Stir gently and garnish with a lime wedge.

The Long Island Iced Tea

About The Long Island Iced Tea

 Disclaimer: The following recipe is not the IBA Official Long Island Iced Tea. The following recipe is a custom Empire Mixology Long Island Iced Tea that has been a family hand-down recipe from our multi-generational team of bartenders and mixologists. In contrast to the “official” recipe, the Empire recipe tones down the tequila and gin, while adding more rum. Also, a splash of rye is introduced to cut the harsh flavor of the tequila and gin and create a much smoother finish. This recipe is an Empire Mixology recipe that has never left an upset customer.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. Vodka

• 1¼ oz. Rum

• ¾ oz. Gin

• ¾ oz. Tequila

• 1 oz. Triple Sec

• Splash of Rye Whiskey

• 4½ oz. Sour Mix

• Splash of Coca Cola

Cocktail Profile

• Rating: 5 Stars

• Served: On the Rocks

• Strength: Strong

• Difficulty: Medium

• Flavor: Sweet

Method:

Build ingredients in cocktail shaker with ice, except for the coca cola. Gently shake a few times to chill ingredients. Pour with ice into highball or pint glass. Add splash of coke and stir gently. Add lemon wedge and cherry as garnish. The color should be pale brown, similar to iced tea. If the drink is too dark then too much coke has been added.

The Shirley Temple

About The Shirley Temple

This Hollywood original cocktail was probably your favorite when you were younger. Named after the famous actress (who ironically hated this drink), the cocktail is prevalent at childrens’ and family parties in order to mimic more adult alcoholic drinks. Light and sweet, the Shirley Temple is a hallmark example of a non-alcoholic mocktail.

Ingredients:

• Splash of Grenadine

• Fill Ginger Ale (or Lemon-Lime Soda)

• Maraschino Cherries for Garnish

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4.5 Stars

• Served:      On the Rocks

• Strength:    Non-Alcoholic

• Difficulty:    Simple

• Flavor:        Sweet

Method:

Pour soda into ice filled highball glass. Float grenadine over top, garnish with cherries.

The Moscow Mule

About The Moscow Mule

Meet one of our favorites; the IBA Classic: Moscow Mule. Despite the name, the Moscow Mule did not originate from Moscow or Russia. The recipe was actually created in New York City in the early 1940s. The original recipe calls for Smirnoff Vodka as the crucial ingredient; the Russian styled vodka giving the namesake to this recipe. This drink enjoyed great popularity on the West Coast throughout the mid 1900s and helped propel Smirnoff into the limelight as a brand.

The copper mug has always been the primary serving vessel for the beverage and continues to this day. There is controversy about the copper mug from a recent FDA article stating the copper in the mug slowly poisons the drinker; however this is both true and untrue. A solid copper mug will release toxins into the drink at a very small level. Most modern copper mugs have a stainless steel lining on the interior of the mug rendering the cocktail completely safe.

This is one of our favorite cocktails, hands down. This refreshing recipe is perfect at any time during the day or as a perfect complement to any meal. Try out our recipe for yourself and see what you think.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Vodka

• 1 oz. Lime Juice

• Fill Ginger Beer

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       5 Stars

• Served:      On the Rocks – Copper Mug

• Strength:    Medium

• Difficulty:    Simple

• Flavor:        Refreshing

Method:

Add the vodka and lime juice to a mule mug or Collins glass filled with fresh ice and a lime wedge. Top with Ginger Beer and mound crushed ice over the top of the drink. Garnish with a lime wedge or wheel.

The Greyhound

About The Greyhound

The Greyhound is a prohibition era cocktail and is the same cocktail as a Salty Dog, except without the salt. Although a Greyhound is more commonly served with vodka presently, we prefer to stick to the classic recipe and use gin. The natural flavor of gin and grapefruit comes to life with this simple recipe and makes for a tasty and deceiving drink.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. Gin

• Fill Grapefruit Juice

Cocktail Profile

• Rating:       4 Stars

• Served:      On the Rocks

• Strength:    Medium

• Difficulty:    Simple

• Flavor:        Fruity

Method:

Shake Gin and Grapefruit Juice in a cocktail shaker. Pour into glass with fresh ice.