Keet's Cocktails Blog
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New York Minute
The NEW YORK MINUTE has several cocktail renditions, my favorite being the recipe published by Difford’s Guide. The drink may have earned its name because it tastes like a tequila version of a Manhattan. It’s quick to prepare since it...
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Hemingway Daiquiri
The HEMINGWAY DAIQUIRI is known for its reduced sweetness, achieved by adding the bitter-tart qualities of grapefruit juice, omitting all sugar or simple syrup, incorporating maraschino liqueur and doubling the rum. Bartenders have since balanced Hemingway’s original recipe, often reducing...
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Bensonhurst
If you’re in the mood for a Manhattan, but would like a tasty variation, the BENSONHURST is a must-try. This cocktail replaces the sweet vermouth of a classic Manhattan with dry vermouth. Splashes of maraschino liqueur and the Italian aperitif,...
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Salty Bird
The SALTY BIRD is a great transition drink into warmer weather. It’s a tropical-style drink that uses black rum, preferably black-strap rum, which has more of a smoky overtone than white rum. A pinch of salt is added to the...
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Brave Bull
The tequila version of a Black Russian is the BRAVE BULL. Silver blanco tequila and coffee liqueur (Kahlua preferred) complement each other as if they were always meant to be. With only two ingredients and no bar tools necessary, this...
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Casino
TheCASINO is an elegant gin-based cocktail featuring Maraschino liqueur, lemon juice and orange bitters. It is one of the few gin cocktails that suggests using a sweeter gin like Old Tom versus a London dry gin. Requirements:gin (Old Tom preferred),...
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Rosita
The ROSITA is a delicious tequila-based alternative to the ever-popular margarita, featuring Campari. The Rosita re-balances the Italian bitter Campari by using equal parts sweet and dry vermouth and adds Angostura bitters as an anchor. The bitter-sweetness of Campari, which...
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Kentucky Mule
The KENTUCKY MULE is a cousin to the Moscow Mule. While it maintains the same refreshing ginger-beer base, this cocktail features bourbon instead of vodka and adds mint along with lime. Whether celebrating the Kentucky Derby or any festive occasion,...
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Mint Julep
The MINT JULEP is best known as the featured beverage at the Kentucky Derby, which runs this Saturday, May 2nd. There are strong opinions about the correct way to mix a Mint Julep, especially in the U.S. South. The Keet’s...
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Manhattan Sweet w/ Bitter Chocolate
The MANHATTAN SWEET W/ BITTER CHOCOLATE adds a teaspoon of crème de cacao and maraschino liqueur, along with a dash of chocolate bitters, to the classic Manhattan. This addition perfectly complements the bourbon and vermouth with nuanced hints of chocolate...
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Dirty Martini
DIRTY MARTINI (vodka) – Olive lovers enjoy adding olive juice or brine into the martini mix, making the vodka “dirty.” If you’re on calorie watch, it adds only about 25 calories more to a dry vodka martini’s 125 calories. The...
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Sakura Martini
Pick a few cherry blossoms from a cherry blossom tree this spring to garnish a SAKURA MARTINI. The Sakura Martini combines Japanese sake with dry gin, creating a softer martini than the standard gin and vermouth. It was created by...
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Churchill
The scotch-based CHURCHILL was created as a dedication to the man, but not a cocktail he personally drank. With the added flavor of lime juice and orange liqueur, this drink is shaken rather than stirred. The citrus flavors enhance the...
Blinker
The BLINKER is one of a few cocktails that uses grapefruit juice. It’s a medium-strength alternative to a Boulevardier — similar, but without the Campari used in a Boulevardier. It’s simple to make, easy to remember, and a delightful way...
Upper Cut
The UPPER CUT mixes Cointreau, grapefruit and lemon juice with the Brazilian spirit, cachaca. In this rare cocktail occurrence, Cointreau takes the lead instead of just a supporting role, measuring twice that of cachaca. The cachaca gives a sharp upper-cut...
Gibson
The GIBSON is a classic martini, typically made with gin and garnished with a pickled cocktail onion instead of an olive or lemon twist. It’s an unusual gin martini because it doesn’t use bitters like others do. The cocktail onion...
Easter Cocktails
Recommending cocktails for Easter isn’t as easy as recommending drinks for Christmas. But here are suggestions that could make a good brunch cocktail, dessert-type cocktail, or spring-celebration cocktail. Bloody Mary — https://keetscocktails.com/bloody-mary-2/ (vodka, tomato juice, lime juice); Brandy Alexander —...
Income Tax
The INCOME TAX cocktail and its twin, the Bronx cocktail, are both in Harry Craddock’s 1930 The Savoy Cocktail Book. The only difference between the two cocktails is the Angostura Bitters added to the Income Tax. Otherwise, both concoctions require...
Stanley
The STANLEY is a cocktail from Harry Craddock’s The Savoy Cocktail Book, published in 1930. It pairs dry gin with light rum, adds lemon juice and achieves sweet balance from grenadine and simple syrup. Since the quantities are easier to...
Tulip
The TULIP is a semi-sweet cocktail, but not excessively sweet, perfect for spring. It is complex and somewhat floral from applejack (or calvados), apricot liqueur and lemon juice. The mix is traced back to Harry Craddock’s The Savoy Cocktail Book,...
Saint Patrick’s Day Cocktails
Here are a few Irish Whiskey cocktails to help celebrate SAINT PATRICK’S DAY. Though a pint of Guinness is almost a requirement, it can be replaced by the following cocktail mixes … then of course chased by a pint of...
Irish Margarita
The IRISH MARGARITA uses the same template as a standard tequila margarita but substitutes Irish whiskey for the more common tequila. Most recipes recommend Grand Marnier as the preferred orange liqueur, though Cointreau and Triple Sec are occasionally used. A...
Blarney Stone
If you like the idea of a Manhattan-style Irish whiskey cocktail with a hint of licorice, the BLARNEY STONE will hit the spot. It features a delicious whiskey base that keeps you interested with each sip. The Pernod makes its...
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