Well, as you can tell from the title and the picture, this is another recipe from Mr. C. The resident mixologist extraordinaire. (He would hate me referring to him as such, but it is what it is!) Anyway, this is a drink that I was surprised to find delicious. Because I am not usually a fan of drinks containing bourbon. Cooking with bourbon – absolutely. But with just one sip of this concoction, I was hooked.

Not only did this drink taste great, but it was also very pretty to look at. And isn’t that half the battle in the enjoyment of food or spirits. We first judge a dish or drink by how it looks. (Presentation really is important.) And part of the eye appeal of any drink is the glass or appropriate container in which it is offered. And a garnish never hurt the total effect either. So, just for grins and giggles, I decided to share a description of the 7 main types of mixed drink glassware we use in our home. Accompanied by the picture below so you can see an example of the glasses we use in each category.

Top left – Cocktail or Martini glass. Top right – Margarita glass. Far left – Champagne Coupe glass. Middle – Collins glass. Far right – Sour glass. Bottom – Highball glass. Bottom right – Old Fashioned glass.

The main types of glassware for mixed drinks we use.

Champagne Coupe – a shallow, broad-bowled, saucer shaped stemmed glass. Often used for cocktails served “up” (like martinis) in lieu of a cocktail glass. (Less spillage from a coupe glass than a traditional cocktail or martini glass.)

Cocktail glass – a stemmed glass with an inverted cone bowl, mainly used to serve straight up cocktails. The term “cocktail glass” is often used interchangeably with “martini” glass.

Collins glass – a straight sided, rather narrow glass used for mixed drinks.

Highball glass – a glass tumbler taller than an Old-Fashioned glass and shorter and wider than a Collins glass.

Margarita glass – a variant of the classic champagne coupe glass. It looks like the bowl of a coupe glass resting on a smaller wine glass.   

Old Fashioned glass – traditionally for a simple cocktail or liquor “on the rocks” or “neat”

Sour glass – a stemmed glass equipped with an outward flared lip essential to the delivery of the silky smoothness associated with a Whiskey or Pisco Sour. As with all stemmed glasses, the stem helps keep a cold drink cold by keeping it away from the warmth of your hand.

So, with all that information for you to digest, I will leave you for today. But always remember, the final touches, be it salad served in a lovely serving bowl, or a dish sprinkled with even the lowliest of garnishes (fresh parsley or paprika for example) is a sign to everyone at your table that you have made a special effort on their behalf. It’s the little things people remember. You can talk until you are blue in the face, but your actions are what really count. So, make that last little bit of effort just for the sake of giving your family or friends the best you have to offer.

I have also included a likeness of the cover to Mr. C’s list of cocktails that are available to our guests as before or after dinner beverages. It’s just a fun way to give our guests a way to try something new or stick with a drink they love. Because for the appetizers, entrée, side dishes, and dessert, there are no choices to be made. Our guests are going to get only what I have chosen to serve. End of story!     

THE LIGHTNING LOUNGE – COCKTAIL MENU

Andy Carr – creator, keeper, and mixology enthusiast  

This beverage menu includes dozens of cocktail options, both classic and esoteric; and is organized according to the following base spirits:

Gin, Bourbon, Scotch, Rye Whiskey, Vodka, Tequila, Mescal, Brandy, and Pisco

You will find that this menu also includes Summer Coolers and Winter Warmers

CHOOSE YOUR POISON

As always, peace and love to all.

2 oz. bourbon whiskey

¾ oz. fresh lemon juice

½ oz. simple syrup

1 egg white

Ice

Angostura bitters

Combine the whiskey, lemon juice, simple syrup, and egg white in a cocktail shaker. Shake well to combine. (This is called a “dry shake”.) Then add ice and shake vigorously again. Strain into a chilled sour glass.  Add a few drops of Angostura bitters. 

Optionally, garnish with a half an orange slice and a maraschino cherry.  Serve on the rocks or straight up.

Please Note:

The standard IBA (International Bartenders Association) recipe does not include egg white (or as an optional ingredient, a “dash of egg white’).  With egg white included, it is sometimes called a “Boston Sour”.

If shaken properly, the egg white will form a natural froth on top of the drink.  A variant of the whiskey sour is referred to as Ward 8.  Which is often based on bourbon or rye whiskey, and includes both lemon and orange juice, and grenadine syrup as the sweetener.