I quit drinking at the end of 2021 because I no longer enjoyed the feeling of being intoxicated, and the fact that due to being hypoglycemic, the hangover would start before I even finished my first drink. But that’s not to say that I don’t enjoy coming up with interesting flavor combinations. These days its in the form of cooking or making e-liquid. But taking a walk down memory lane; Here are some of my favorite cocktails in no particular order.

If you ever wanted to experience what the color purple tastes like... this is it! And no, its not grape.

1 ounce Blue Curaco

dash of Grenadine

1 ounce Vodka

Mix Vodka, Blue Curaco and Grenadine in a glass, top with 7-up or Sprite.

Think Tequilla Sunrise… but coconut

4 ounces Pineapple Juice

2 ounces Orange Juice

1 ounce Grenadine

1/2 ounce Apricot Brandy

1/2 ounce 1800 Coconut Tequila

1/2 ounce Malibu Coconut Rum

Into a clear glass, measure the rum and tequila, followed by a slow pour of the Pineapple juice and Orange juice. Then over the back of a spoon, slowly drizzle in the Apricot Brandy, followed by the Grenadine (also poured over the back of a spoon).

Pouring ingredients over the back of a spoon assists with the layering of a drink, helping to prevent them from mixing and creating and eye-catching display.

I’m a “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” nerd so when I stumbled across this years ago I HAD to try it!

2 ounces Rum

2 ounces Tequila

2 ounces Apricot Brandy

1 ounce Grenadine

Shaked with ice, strain into glass, fill with Orange Juice.

Its not just for breakfast anymore!

1 ounce Fireball Whiskey

Top with Rumchata over ice

Its like a trip back in time!

1 bottle of Hard Root Beer (Sprecher’s, Coney Island, or Not Your Father’s are all good brands for this… assuming they all still exist) chilled and poured into a large glass

Top with Rumchata

Perfectly refreshing for a summer cookout.

3 or 4 mint leaves muddled in the bottom of a glass

a small handful of clean halved strawberries and raspberries

Blueberry Pomegranate juice, just enough to barely cover the fruit

1 ounce of Coconut Rum

Add a few ice cubes

Fill the rest of the glass with Sprite

As a bonus, you get to eat boozy fruit when you are done with your drink 😁

*for an alcohol-free version, just omit the rum. My daughter used to love them this way*

For a while I enjoyed mixing Vernors with Jose Cuervo Cinge. For those of you who don’t know, Vernors is a ginger ale that is used in equal measure as a refreshing beverage AND a remedy for all sorts of ailments. Jose Cuervo Cinge is a Cinnamon Tequila.

Unfortunately Jose Cuervo discontinued production of Cinge more than 5 years ago.

CHEERS!

What’s your favorite cocktail, and is there a story behind how you discovered it?