Simple drinks

I was wondering if anyone would care to share their favorite simple drinks. By that I mean their favorite drinks that are easy to prepare with just a couple or three ingredients. Something easy to throw together after work.

My favorite quickies are on the rocks, but a good martini is my favorite. Followed by the gin and tonic which is easy.

Also, the Kentucky Colonel, which is a 2:1 whiskey/benedictine mix shaken on the rocks.

I'm getting kind of bored with these though, and need some more easy, low-maintenance drinks.

Cheers!

Hmmmmm . . . . Despite my occasional flirtation with more complicated cocktails, ice is generally considered the only necessary mixer in my house. So let me think a moment . . . . .

Let's see, we are pretty fond of Rickeys, especially in warm weather. A Rickey, according to my 1948 edition of Trader Vic's Bartender's Guide, traditionally is any liquor, seltzer water, and the juice from half a lime. So you can have a rum Rickey, a bourbon Rickey, a gin Rickey, etc. Any hard alcohol can become a Rickey. Rickeys are my fallback easy drink because I don't like drinks with sugar.

Collinses are similar, again according to Trader Vic. For a Collins, you use liquor, seltzer water, the juice of half a lime or a quarter of a lemon, and a teaspoon of sugar. Again, you can use any type of hard liquor, although the most common is a Tom Collins (gin) or a John Collins (bourbon).

Daisies are another variation. A Daisy is liquor, lime or lemon juice, and a little grenadine. You either shake with ice and serve up, or serve them on the rocks with the addition of seltzer water.

Do any of these appeal to you? They are the most versatile, I think, because they can be made with any liquor.

Cheers!

Here's one for a hot summer evening. Vodka and pink lemonade. Over ice in a tall highball glass. No garnish needed.

I love to mix coconut Malibu and pineapple juice. Just pour over ice and enjoy. Don't be fooled by its yummy, fruity flavor.... it will sneak up on you.

Salud!

This one is of my own invention.

Phyllis' Backache Remedy

1 jigger Tanqueray on the rocks
2 jiggers Wink (the mixer)
1 slice of lime

After two or three your back doesn't hurt any more.

ice is generally considered the only necessary mixer in my house.

How true -- in mine too!

#3 - OldSarge - have you tried vodka with frozen pink lemonade concentrate in the blender? It's all frothy and fluffy and pink and delicous!

One of my faves is Kir Royale - champers and cassis. Couldn't be easier. Or tastier! :)

I love a nice Harvey Wallbanger. Basically a screwdriver (orange juice and vodka, obviously) topped up with plenty of Galliano. With freshly squeezed oranges it's quite a treat. For Sunday brunch, remove the vodka, and you're all set.

Why would you want to remove the vodka at Sunday brunch? That would be my key ingredient...

Ditto! vodka and Sunday kinda go hand in hand... specially if for some reason, I'm awake in time for brunch! *shudders*

Hehe, I knew someone would comment on it either way. I'd never remove the vodka, myself.

Here's one I learned just last night.

1.5 oz. absinthe (I buy Lucid, be careful. This is not Pernod, be sure it is real absinthe)
1 sugar cube on a flat spoon with holes in it (I used a small strainer for this step)
1/2 cup ice cold water

Hold the spoon with sugar cube over the absinthe and pour the water slowly over the sugar cube to dissolve it into the absinthe.

I don't know if this has a name or not.

1) Pour Laphroaig into glass
2) add splash of water

simple! or if you want something a little less whisky:

Put ice in glass. Add 1 part Campari to 2 parts club soda. Stir. mmmm, but only if you like Campari. The drink is a beautiful pinky-orange color, but bitter.

My easy standard is to throw some frozen fruit (usually strawberries but sometimes blackberries or black cherries) into the blender with a teaspoon or two of sugar and a few shots of liquor. Again, that is left to what I have on hand- tequila, vodka, white rum or gin have all worked well. I set it on puree until smooth and pour it into champagne flutes.

I will add to #7 kir royal
- kir : white wine and cassis
- kir fermier : cider and cassis