Cointreau Fizz p.2

COINTREAU FIZZ p.2

Version 1 made roughly four years ago

Hey everyone! Exciting things and let us go "back to basics" with another classy high ball - cocktail, the Cointreau Fizz! As you might have noticed, I made this one in 2013 (!) May (as per link above), this time I took a more "professional" way to it, if you may. Pretty much everything has stayed the same, except now with a tad less alcohol (due to national regulations). Let's take a look:

• 4 cl Cointreau
• ½ lime, the juice
• 5-10cl+ soda water
• seasonal garnishes, berries, fruit, whatever you prefer

In a large-ish wine goblet, build this cocktail; add the ice, then the lime juice, cointreau and finally top the cocktail with soda water. Garnish and serve.

Just like four years ago, this cocktail is refreshing! The lime juice cuts the edge of the sweet liqueur and with the fruits/berries you get so much freshness. Albeit being a totally summer drink, the Cointreau Fizz works magic even during winter.

I also made this using a colleague's Cointreau Blood Orange, adding more tartness to the drink. I still preferred the original concoction better.

Electric Relaxation

ELECTRIC RELAXATION

Two versions as per the interwubs

Evening! Here's a drink suggested by a fellow cocktail-lover, the Electric Relaxation. It's a tight drink altogether and depending on one's source (I had to look it up from the internet), you might have a slight variation available:

• 3 cl cognac (1 fl oz)
• 4.5 cl triple sec (1.5 fl oz)
• pineapple or apple juice (13 cl / 4 - 4.5 fl oz)

Easily made, just build the drink into a high ball glass with ice. I had to use a bit larger glass to fit all in :D Also remember to use premium juices (as well as the alcohols) so you'll have premium results. This means at least for the apple version to use a cloudy non-concentrate juice.

Most recipes call for pineapple juice exclusively. A few internet results might yield the use of apple juice and to be honest, I liked the version better! It was more refreshing if compared to its "original" counterpart. Still heavily triple sec-y with steady cognac - flavors in the aftertaste, the Electric Relaxation takes you to places :D

Minttukaakao p.2

MINTTUKAAKAO

(part 2)

(The first one made ~3 years ago, here)

Back with a winter classic, the Minttukaakao, now looking extra pretty! :3 One of the great peppermint drinks available, using proper ingredients yields proper results:

• 4 cl Minttu schnapps
• self-made hot chocolate (with full-fat milk!)
• lightly whipped cream on top

In a pre-heated glass/mug, add the peppermint schnapps, the cocoa and finally layer some cream on top. In addition, feel free to garnish with grated nutmeg, chocolate or anything you feel like.

This is truly a magnificent hot chocolate cocktail! 

Winter Aperitif / Rudolph the Reindeer

WINTER APERITIF / 

RUDOLPH THE REINDEER

Recipe given by a guest

Winter is still here to embrace yourselves! This cocktail's recipe was introduced to me by a guest, who made it during the Christmas season. Even with Xmas gone (and no "name" for it), I liked the recipe and decided to make it as well! Mainly available in Finland (?) due to one of its main ingredients:

• 2 cl gin
• 2 cl cointreau
• 2 cl mulled wine extract
• tonic water (quality)
• wintery spices/herbs to garnish

Stir the first three ingredients with ice, strain into an OF - glass, top it off with tonic water and garnish. Add a straw and you're ready to go!

This cocktail is sweet. Using a longer stir with ice is highly recommendable before pouring it into the glass. Spiciness, orang-y flavors and with a good bitter-ish aftertaste I really enjoyed this cocktail. The best part being, for the winter season it fits like a glove.

Beton

BETON

Some Czech national pride in a glass, I present you with the Beton! Using a rather rare ingredient called Becherovka from the Czech Republic, this is a feisty one! Especially if you prepare some of the garnishes in advance:

• 5 cl Becherovka
• 10 cl tonic water (quality)

Build in a large-ish goblet ~70% filled with ice. As for the garnish, the "official" mentions a squeeze of a lemon wedge and lemon altogether, but I wanted to take this one a bit further. A clove-studded orange peel and two thin slices of fresh ginger.

I liked this one. The foremost sweetness combined with the spicy/fresh aftertaste, nice, very nice indeed! Since Becherovka is not the most common alcohol found in stores/bars...keep an eye for it. You'd be surprised (+ it works magic in e.g. a hot chocolate)