The Barbotage Cocktail

Made with sparkling wine, this drink is sort of like a Mimosa – but with more style

June has arrived! Which means there are plenty of celebrations afoot – weddings, anniversaries, graduations. Time to break out the bubbly.

And we have a cocktail for that! The Barbotage contains sparkling wine, but it’s also fortified with cognac (or brandy) and Grand Marnier. The result is festive flavor with a hint of orange.

Perfect for toasting. 

The Knickerbocker Cocktail

This 19th century drink is kinda, sorta like a raspberry daiquiri

Amber rum, lime juice, and sweetener (in the form of raspberry syrup)? Sounds a lot like a raspberry daiquiri to us. Add a dash of orange curaçao, and you’ve got the Knickerbocker.

It’s one of the older cocktails on record, dating back at least to the 1860s.

And still good after all these years. 

The Mother-in-Law Cocktail

This New Orleans charmer features complex, spicy flavor

Looking for a new twist on Mother’s Day? Try this tasty tipple.

It features bourbon at play with some spicy, jazzy companions (because New Orleans, you know).

Serve it and toast all the maternal spirits in your life. It’s the right thing to do.

The Satan's Whiskers Cocktail

A classic drink that’s perfect for Halloween

Watch out for those scary little ghosts and goblins! We hear they’re out in force this time of year. Fortunately, they can be deflected with small candy bars.

But you may need something stronger when they haunt your house. So how about
the Satan’s Whiskers Cocktail? It has spooky good flavor and a name that fits right in with Halloween. Plus it’s not too boozy, so you can drink it on a school night.

No trick, just treat.

The East India Cocktail

A 19th century classic with smooth (but complex) flavor

As summer fades into fall, we’re looking for weightier cocktails – but ones that still remind us of sunny summer days.

Enter the East India Cocktail. Its name reflects the glory days of the British Empire, when India was the jewel in the crown.

And the drink’s flavor? Well, that’s the real jewel.

The Improved Holland Gin Cocktail

Orange curaçao enlivens this 19th century classic

We love summer! Here at Kitchen Riffs, it signals the start of our annual Summer Sippin’ and Snarfin’ Series (more about that in the Notes).

We’re kicking off this season with the Improved Holland Gin Cocktail (sometimes called the Improved Gin Cocktail). What’s improved about it? The inclusion of orange curaçao, which adds just a hint of sweetness.

So kick back and get ready to sip your way through summer. Proost!

The Netherland Cocktail

A brandy-based classic with orange liqueur

December is here, so winter holidays are nigh. Send in the oranges! Better yet, pour the orange liqueur.

The Netherland Cocktail overflows with seasonal cheer. And its base spirit is brandy, which excels at warding off winter’s chill.

It’s a nice cocktail, indeed. But you may want to be naughty and have more than one.

The Derby Cocktail

Celebrate the Kentucky Derby with a classic

Thoroughbreds are chomping to run for the roses. And you’ll need bourbon to watch them.

Enter The Derby Cocktail, a bourbon-based charmer that will quench your thirst while you lounge in the bluegrass.

We know you’ll like this one. We’ll even bet on it ($2.00 limit, of course)

The Gin Daisy Cocktail

This classic tastes, well, fresh as a daisy

Summer is winding down here, but the heat still lingers. So we need to sip something cool and refreshing. Like The Gin Daisy.

Its crisp taste is ideal for an afternoon by the pool, or as a predinner drink.

And here in the US, the long Labor Day weekend is approaching. Daisy would love to be invited to your annual cookout.

The Journalist Cocktail

Stop the presses! You’ll need one of these to survive election season

The political news lately has been . . . interesting. So let’s raise a glass to the journalists who insist on bringing it to us.

Journalists are reputed to be hard-living, hard-drinking folks – with a particular fondness for gin. So this drink is a fitting honor for them. And it has enough clout to soothe our nerves during the closing days of this presidential campaign.

So mix up a batch and remind yourself that the election will soon be over. Then no news will be good news.

El Presidente Cocktail

An aromatic Prohibition-era favorite

El Presidente was named in honor of an early 20th-century president of Cuba. Or maybe two different presidents (more about that in the Notes).

No need to worry about the name, though. What’s important to know is that this cocktail has a wonderful “nose,” with a slightly sweet flavor. It’s crisp and refreshing, a wonderful accompaniment to the savory appetizers you’ll be serving at warm-weather festivities.

And speaking of festivities, this Sunday is Father’s Day here in the US. Families will be gathering to toast the leader of the clan. So what could be more appropriate than a round of El Presidente Cocktails? Hail to the chief.

The Hula Hula Cocktail

A brunch-friendly Tiki drink  

Tiki drinks live large.  They tend to be high-volume cocktails perfect for slow sippin’ by the pool, or as party fuel on a summer evening.  But their outsize presence means they don’t work well as brunch beverages or pre-dinner aperitifs. 

Except for the Hula Hula.  This drink is modestly sized (tiny, in fact, by Tiki standards).  It also doesn’t have the high booze quotient of the Zombie or even the Mai Tai, so it’s morning-appropriate, with a juicy flavor that complements brunch fare. If you elect to have it as a pre-dinner drink, the Hula Hula will leave your palate in shape to appreciate the meal. And unlike many Tiki drinks, it doesn’t call for multiple liquors or exotic, hard-to-source ingredients.

Almost everyone likes the Hula Hula. Its citrus component makes it perfect for brunch, but it satisfies those who want something stronger than orange juice. Just think of it as OJ’s evil twin.