I asked, “Dad, why is whiskey so expensive?” As I poured Makers Mark into my favorite drink; the Old Fashioned. He responded, “Because we’ll pay that much for it.” I chuckled and replied, “That’s true!”
Hm, because we’ll pay that much for it. And we pay that much for it because it is the alpha of all alcohol. It’s the main ingredient for the classics: the highball, Irish Coffee, Mint Julep, Old-Fashioned, the Manhattan, John Collins, and Whiskey Sour. I can just see Frank Sinatra, Rosemary Clooney, and Bing Crosby sitting back with one of these. Do you think C.S. Lewis and G.K. Chesterton enjoyed these classics too? I like to think so.
I am one to believe there is much art and class involved in making a drink. Am I the only one to think it can even make a man more handsome or a woman more sophisticated when she can make a mixed drink or two? Maybe that’s why the art of crafting a cocktail has been become a favorite hobby of mine.
Happy Hour Brings Us Together
I think at the heart of this is that drinks, like food, bodies of water, fire pits, cookouts, piazzas, bring people together for conversation and fellowship. In moderation it is God’s gift to us. Good drinks, like all things good, true and beautiful, show God’s creativity, abundance, generosity and goodness.
As the days are getting warmer, much longer, and we get a tad bit more comfortable being around others (still social distancing as we are able), here’s my current favorite list of after-work summer mixed drinks to enjoy together with colleagues, friends and family during these glorious days of summer!
Irish Lemonade
Ingredients
- 2 oz Irish whiskey
- 1 lemon – juice only
- 1 oz simple syrup
- 3 oz ginger beer
- 1 3-inch sprig of rosemary
Instructions
Combine lemon juice, simple syrup, and whiskey in a cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously for a couple of seconds and pour it into a glass with ice. Pour about 3 ounces of ginger beer into the glass, gently stir, and add a sprig of rosemary that is about 3 inches long.
Author: Will Cook for Smiles
Whiskey Rosé
Ingredients
- 1 bottle of Rosé Wine
- 3/4 cup Glen Grant® 12-Year-Old
- 1/2 cup Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice
- 1/3 cup Crushed Ice
- 3 tbs. Honey
- Splash of Campari
Instructions
Pour the rosé into ice cube trays and let them freeze for at least 6 hours. Add the frozen rosé ice cubes to a blender, along with Glen Grant®, lemon juice, crushed ice, and honey. Blend until smooth. Pour into glass. Top with a splash of Campari and garnish with a lemon twist.
Author: Women & Whiskies
Pineapple Whiskey Sour
Ingredients
- 1-1/2 oz whiskey
- ¾ oz simple syrup
- ¾ oz lemon juice
- 1 tsp pineapple jam
- Lemon wheels (optional, for garnish)
- Pineapple wedges (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
Add whiskey, simple syrup, lemon juice, and pineapple jam to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously, then pour contents into a glass filled with ice. Garnish with a lemon wheel and/or pineapple wedge.
Author: Just Putzing Around the Kitchen
Mint Strawberry Whiskey Smash
Ingredients
- 1 strawberry, chopped or mashed
- Pinch mint leaves
- 1 1/2 oz lemon juice
- 1 1/2 oz simple syrup
- 3 oz Jameson
- Ice, for serving
Instructions
Place all ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously. Pour into a glass filled with ice and garnish with mint and a strawberry.
Author: Sugar Spice and Glitter
Bourbon Spritz
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 parts Maker’s Mark® Bourbon
- 1-part Aperol®
- 3/4 parts freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Splash of simple syrup
- Prosecco
- Orange peel
Instructions
Fill a wine glass with ice and layer in Maker’s Mark®, Aperol and syrup. Top with Prosecco and garnish with an orange peel.
