BOY the cupboards were bare when we came up with this one. I think it’s the simplest cocktail we’ve ever done – three ingredients!

Well, besides “Interlude”. That recipe called for a bottle of Screech and a healthy portion of laughing lettuce.

Hullaballoo

2 ounces Brandy
2 ounces Scotch
6 ounces fresh lemonade

For the first time in a while, I’m staying home on a Saturday and enjoying a movie. What a refreshing change! Now, just because I’m not going out, it doesn’t mean I’m going to sit here like a miserable bump on a log drinking ginger tea or anything floofly. I mean, I’m not a god damned Priest, am I? So let’s get to drinkin’.

Now, I want somethng… muggable. Something I can take wee sips of while I watch my movie, something hot – so I can just lay back on the couch (well, technically, it’s a futon, but whatever) and relax.

How about a Hot Toddy? OOOooooh, that’ll work Nicely.

The Hot Toddy

2 ounces of whisky (some people like brandy, I prefer using whisky)
1 ounce of fresh lemon juice
2 barspoons (about a teaspoon) of simple syrup or honey
3 ounces of hot water
1 cinnamon stick
4 or 5 whole cloves
couple slices of lemon

Mush a couple cloves into each lemon slide (stick em’ in the rind) and toss those into your mug. Add in all the ingredients with the hot water coming in last and stir it up with the cinnamon stick. This is great for taking the edge off a sore throat, relaxing after an abusive workout at the gym (or so i’m told, anyhow) or just plan chillin’ out.

Now that I have my Hot Toddy, I’m good to go. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have an appointment with my DVD player and my friends Brock Sampson & Hank and Dean Venture.

Ok, it’s late Sunday night (technically Monday morning) and BOY am I feeling rough. I need something to take the edge off, you know, like a late night snack for my hangover. I’d deal myself up a Bloody Mary but we drank all the mixer last night, plus I feel like having something kind of sweet that I can sip at rather than some big monster. Hmm… How’s about this?

The Brandy Alexander

2 ounces of Brandy
1/2 ounce of creme de cacao (light or dark, whatever you have)
1/2 ounce of cream

Nutmeg sprinkled on top for garnish.

Shake these over ice and decant into a chilled martini glass. Wait, my martini glasses are still in the dishwasher. It’s clean, but certainly not chilled. No worries! To quickly chill it I’m going to put it in the sink, load it with ice, and fill it with water and let it sit for a minute or two; that’ll cool off while I’m shaking up this little yummy midnight libation here.

Aaah…. that’s MUCH better. Hair of the chocolate dog.

Cheers!

JJ.

Here’s a single-serving classic created by none other than the Trader himself – it’s a “mini” version of his famous Scorpion Bowl, which you can enjoy at home, alone, while polishing your Tiki Mug collection.

This one is taken from the Trader Vic’s Tiki Party book, which is an great collection of Tiki classics. It’s even got the original Mai-Tai recipe, so as far as I’m concerned, that’s worth the price of admission alone.

The Scorpion

2 ounces of silver (light) Rum
1 ounce Brandy
2 ounces of orange juice
1 1/2 ounces of lemon juice (one one ounce if you like it a little less tart)
1/2 ounce orgeat syrup (raise it to 3/4 an ounce if you want it a hint sweeter)
1 cup of crushed ice (plus extra cubes)

A gardenia for garnish if you like – but hell, it’s a single serving, so you’re probably drinking it alone anyhow, so who cares? And seriously, after three of these you won’t care if it’s got a flower on it or not.

Combine the rum, brandy, orange juice, lemon juice, orgeat syrup and crushed ice in a blender and pulse for a few seconds. Pour THAT over the ice cubes (in a double old-fashioned glass) and get ready to be stung.

Cheers!

***UPDATE!!*** I just prepared a load of these drink and I must say, I think Vic has got some o the measurements wrong. 1.5 ounces of fresh lemon is, like, SERIOUS pucker time. I lowered it to an ounce, and jacked up the Oregat to 3/4’s of an ounce, and it seems to work much better. Try it for yourself and tell me what you think!

JJ.