Love may be mysterious and elusive, but if anybody can be called an expert on the topic it’s bartenders. From love at first sight and first dates to not-so-happy-endings, bartenders have seen it all.
Then they take all that joy and sorrow and magic it into great cocktails for us to enjoy. We meet a nice person as we sip our drink, maybe give out our number, and the cycle begins again.
Or perhaps the process is a bit less dark. More training and research and less harvesting the tears of the unsuspecting. Maybe we could even be taught such a process, given a recipe and some instructions. And maybe, just maybe, we could impress that special someone in our lives with our cocktail prowess. Stranger things have happened.
If you didn’t take Mixology at Hogwarts, then you’re going to want to take a peek at these how-to videos courtesy of Janel Alderman of Kelly’s at Southbridge and Jeremy Nichols of Lookout Tavern, both in Phoenix, AZ.
How to Make it: The Lady
Recipe: The Lady
- 3 Strawberries
- Dash of Lemon juice
- Muddle Lemon juice and strawberries by breaking up strawberries into small pieces to release flavor.
- 1 ½ oz. of Bosford Strawberry Gin
- 1 oz of PampleMousse Gin
- Shake mixture and strain into martini glass.
- Top with ½ oz. of Mum Brut Champagne.
- Garnish with an edible orchid.
*Caution: Do not use any other flower. Edible Orchids are the only safe and suitable garnish for this masterpiece. Can’t get your hands on one? Garnish with a ripe strawberry.
Next up, a delectable balance of sweet and sour, courtesy of Jeremy:
How to Make it: Gold Rush
Recipe: Gold Rush
- 2 oz. Bulleit Bourbon
- 1 oz. Fresh Lemon Juice
- 1 oz. Agave Nectar
- 1 dash of Aromatic Bitters
- Top with Club Soda
Janel the cocktail alchemist returns, transforming bourbon and bitters into a very cherry Manhattan:
How to Make it: Cherries in Manhattan
Recipe: Cherries in Manhattan
- 3 dashes of regular Angostura Bitters
- 1 ¼ oz. Angel’s Envy Bourbon
- 1 ¼ oz. Stillhouse Spiced Cherry Bourbon
- Stir and Strain do not shake.
- Add Luxardo Cherries (not maraschino cherries)
For our last offering, Jeremy combines strength and delicacy to create a potable love spell.
How to Make it: Love at First Sight Martini
Recipe: Love at First Sight Martini
- 1 oz. Patron Silver
- 1 oz. Bols Strawberry Liqueur
- Top with Sparkling Rosé
- Serve in Martini glass, rimmed in sugar and garnished with ripe Strawberry.
Now that you have the know-how, go forth and win at date night.
Missing some of the equipment? Check out our pro tips for making great drinks using things you already have in the house.
Still feeling tentative? It’s okay – we’re not all called to be beverage magicians. Get your drinks from the experts at Lookout Tavern or Kelly’s at Southbridge if you’re in Phoenix. Or call on the powers of a bartender near you.
For more Love is in the Air content, visit https://www.yurview.com/LoveisintheAir/
