Award show season is upon us and we’re getting prepped and ready to celebrate. What’s an awards show without a few drinks? I’m not sure what the answer is to that question but let’s not find out. Cocktails anyone?
If you’re preparing to celebrate the Emmy Awards this weekend, we’ve got just the right recipes to significantly raise your spirits starting with one that sounds like it could be the title of the newest sitcom, “Cousin Scotty Fails His Driving Test.” Sounds like it could be a spin off of How I Met Your Mother. No? Well, either way let’s just hope Cousin Scotty wasn’t taking a swig or two before the test.
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This cocktail served in New York’s West Village at Chez Sardine, has little to do with an actual driving test, thankfully.
Although it’s always a cool, bar conversation starter for drinks to have a story behind the name, the Bartender there says, “We just love naming cocktails,” so we guess it’s really as simple as that or you’ll have to check out the bar for yourself and get the real back story.
Cousin Scotty Fails His Driving Test
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. Johnny Drum Bourbon
- .5 oz. Carpano Antica
- 1/4 oz. homemade sake agave syrup (1:.5 agave)
- 2 dashes Angostura Aromatic Bitters
Preparation: Combine ingredients in a rocks glass. Stir for 5 seconds.
Add ice and stir for 10-15 seconds. Add 2 drops Angostura Bitters, and garnish with an orange peel.
One of the season’s hottest shows is Mad Men on AMC and you simply can’t find a better option to check out some of the best costume designs we’ve ever seen on TV. This year, Mad Men has been nominated for eight Emmy awards from Outstanding Drama Series to Best Actor in a Drama Series (Jon Hamm).
This has been the 7th and final series of Mad Men so we thought it only proper to raise a glass to the show’s portrayal of timeless style and sophistication marking the end of a TV cocktail culture era. Let’s drink to Draper with “The Creative”.
The Creative
Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz FACUNDO NEO
- .5 oz Aperol
- .5 oz Martini & Rossi Sweet Vermouth
- 1 oz Martini & Rossi Prosecco
Preparation: Stir all ingredients except the Prosecco with plenty of ice. Strain into a coupe glass and top with Prosecco. Garnish with a lemon peel.
Making a very smooth transition from Movies to TV and back again, the very dapper, southern boy, Matthew McConaughey starred as Rust Cohle in True Detective and has also been nominated for “Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series”.
He’s red hot right now as we’ve heard he’s also signed on a multi-year collaboration deal with Lincoln Motor Company. He will be appearing in a series of TV and digital spots starting with the first ever 2015 Lincoln MKC campaign. There’s nothing wrong with a little friendly competition and both McConaughey and Hamm have a great shot at the Emmy so why not calm the awards day jitters with a shot of your own? Add this recipe for “Southern Crown Lemonade” to your Emmy party lineup and throw one back for one of the coolest Southern boys we know.
Southern Crown Lemonade
Ingredients:
- .5 oz. Southern Comfort
- .5 oz. Crown Royal
- .5 oz. Peach Schnapps
- .5 oz. Sweet and Sour Mix
Preparation: Mix and strain into a shot glass.
One of the things that always makes for great TV is when the actors suck you into their world with quick responses and exciting story lines. A little murder mystery doesn’t hurt either. Scandal is a show that has undoubtedly mastered the fast talking witty responses that have us all on the edge of our seats as the jaw dropping events of the faux White House drama unfolds.
If you’re a fan on the show, you know exactly what we mean. When Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington), who’s up for “Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama” says, “It’s Handled…”, you better believe it is. So we salute the writers of this show with a cocktail created by Dan Saltzstein, “The Witty Comeback”.
The Witty Comeback
Ingredients:
- 2 oz Whiskey
- .5 oz Averna Amaro
- .5 oz fresh lemon juice
- .5 oz Ginger Simple Syrup
- Orange twist (for serving)
Preparation: Combine rye, Averna, lemon juice and ginger simple syrup in a cocktail shaker.
Fill shaker with ice. Shake until outside of shaker is frosty — about 30 seconds.
Strain into a coupe glass or a rocks glass filled with ice and garnish with orange twist.
When it’s all said and done, the Emmy’s will be great, the winners will all be happy and everyone will join in to toast their success. Although many of us may not receive a swanky Emmy party invite, you can still have a little toast of your own.
Champagne should fit the bill so go ahead and add a twist to your favorite brand by making a “Marasca Fizz”.
Marasca Fizz
Ingredients:
- 3 maraschino cherries, plus 3/4 ounce syrup from the jar
- Superfine sugar
- 3 dashes of Angostura Bitters
- 2 brown sugar cubes
- .5 oz Cherry Heering or cherry liqueur
- .4 oz chilled Champagne
Preparation: Moisten the outer rim of a flute with .5 oz maraschino cherry syrup and coat with superfine sugar. Sprinkle the bitters over the sugar cubes. Add the Cherry Heering maraschino cherries and the remaining .4 oz of maraschino cherry syrup to the flute. Top with the Champagne and add the sugar cubes.
