Not at all. Gin gimlets are lovely. :)

Some people put in too much of the sweetened lime juice, though, don't you think? You only need a little bit. What proportions do you use, or do you just eyeball it?

I like Brambles, also.

The "Original" Bramble Recipe.

Created by Dick Bradsell

1 ½ shots Plymouth Gin
¾ shot fresh lemon juice
½ shot sugar syrup
¾ Crème de Mûre (blackberry liqueur)


Build over crushed ice, in a whisky glass. Stir, then slowly pour in the crème de mûre ; garnish with a lemon slice and two raspberries.

I've seen variations that use sweetened lime juice in place of the lemon juice and sugar syrup, or just sub lime for lemon juice. Some people use a blackberry for garnish, and you could sub Crème de Cassis (black currant) for the Crème de Mûre.

I eyeball it... I couldn't say how much of each ingredient I put in offhand. Perhaps I should go watch myself make one now and get back to you! :D

Try Marie Brizard Apry. In fact, check mariebrizard.com for some classics.

Wow....I hope this thread stays open. It has given me lots of new ideas for cocktails to try. ^

Maker's Mark Presbyterian.

I highball filled with crushed ice.
A large amount of Maker's Mark bourbon.
Equal measure of soda and ginger ale.
Stir and drink.

Repeat until comatose.
It always works for me !

Hahahaha!!!! You're probably already an Ambassador with your name on a barrel or two, but just in case:

http://www.ambassador.makersmark.com/AmbInfo.aspx

Brain Hemmorage
 

I saw a bartender make this one once for a friend of mine,

1 peach schnapps
1 tsp Bailey's® Irish cream
2 drops grenadine syrup

Pour the peach schnapps into a shot glass. Slowly add the Bailey's, top with the grenadine, and serve

Well, I'm kicking myself because apparently June 12th is International Cachaça Day and I missed it. (Cachaça is the Brazilian style of rum, used in Brazil's national drink, the Caipirinha.)

But it's probably better to have 'boozy' celebrations on a Friday, anyway, so ... Salud!

Caipirinha

INGREDIENTS:

1 lime, quartered
2 tsp fine sugar
2 oz Cachaça

PREPARATION:
Place the lime wedges and sugar into an old-fashioned glass.
Muddle well to create a paste.
Fill the glass with ice cubes.
Pour in the Cachaça.
Stir well.

You can sub vodka for the Cachaça and it becomes a Caipiroska or use rum and it's then a Caipirissima.

**********

This cocktail also sounds appealing.

Brazilian Rose

INGREDIENTS:

2 oz Cachaça
3 oz guava juice
splash of triple sec

PREPARATION:

Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
Shake well.
Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
Garnish with a rose petal, if desired.

(Guava juice is sometimes just a bunch of sugar and food colouring with a touch of guava, I'd try to find a quality guava juice or maybe guava nectar.)

I've decided gin is under-represented in my drinks file, so I'm trying to add a few more gin-based cocktails.... this one is so simple and elegant.

White Lady (also called Delilah)

INGREDIENTS:

1 1/2 oz gin
3/4 oz Cointreau (or other orange liqueur)
3/4 oz lemon juice

(sometimes, a bit of egg white is also added)

PREPARATION:

Pour the ingredients into a shaker with ice cubes.
Shake well.
Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

I LOVE Caipis! I lived in Munich for a couple of years and they were all the rage there... I developed quite a taste for them! Oddly enough, it is harder to find a good one in Houston.

Here's one I recently made that was very tasty!

I had a bit of Absolut Kurant (black currant) vodka and some frozen raspberries I wanted to use up.

I threw a cup or so of the raspberries into a blender with 1/4 to 1/2 cup of sparkling water (Mandarin flavoured, in this case), 3-4 oz of the Absolut Kurant and a ounce or so of Grand Marnier. I blended it and then strained it (to remove the seeds) into two chilled cocktail glasses.

The black currant and raspberry flavours complement each other and the Grand Marnier gives a touch of orange and sweetness, so no sugar is required. The colour is an intense raspberry red, very pretty.

It's like a Razzy Kurant or something..... :confused: ;)

Ordinarily I prefer Campari with grapefruit juice and/or soda, but context counts:

Negroni

1 oz gin
1 oz Campari
1 oz sweet vermouth
splash of soda (optional)

Serve over ice in a lowball glass garnished with an orange slice and a twist of lemon. Preferably enjoyed in the lounge of a grand hotel in Nice, accompanied by hors d'oeuvres and the reminiscences of a venerable lady with an interesting past...

I'm a simple man, but I just love fresh squeezed orange juice and amaretto. A bit sweet for most people, but it is my absolute favorite drink.

I fancy a margarita with Mexican food, but that is a distant second.

I don't think I've heard of that before, but I wonder about the proportions - how much amaretto and how much OJ do you use?

I was looking for an idea for a Friday evening cocktail yesterday and still have lots of the Absolut Kurant. I puréed some fresh watermelon ("seedless") and strained it. (It doesn't have to be strained, but I like it clearer in colour.) I poured about 2 oz of the Absolut Kurant and about 3 oz of the watermelon juice into a shaker along with a few drops of lemon juice and some ice, shook it and poured it into a big martini glass and added a small splash of sparkling water. Garnish with a small watermelon slice.

Not a bad drink........ :)

I didn't know it got any better than Jack with a splash of Coke.
A true Southern Gentlemans drink. :)