Mixology

Red Devil

I invented this drink by mistake one evening when intending to make cosmopolitans (see below), I grabbed a bottle of cinnamon schnapps instead of triple sec. I had already poured when I realized my mistake. It turned out to be quite good! This is essentially a cosmopolitan with cinnamon schnapps in place of triple sec and garnished with a maraschino cherry instead of a lemon slice. It's really red and suitable for perhaps Halloween or Valentine's Day, as well as general occasions when feeling devilish.

For two:

2.5 ounces vodka
0.5 ounce cinnamon schnapps
2 ounces cranberry juice
maraschino cherry

In a shaker with ice add the liquid ingredients, shake and strain into martini glasses. Garnish with cherry.

For more than two, the ratio is five parts vodka, four parts cranberry juice, and one part triple sec.

Peppermint Martini

Recipe sent by Andrea December 16, 2012:

'tis the season!

Peppermint Martini
by rcoen

from Tipperary, Ireland

5 fluid ounces vanilla-flavored vodka (such as Stoli®)
2 fluid ounces white creme de menthe
1/2 fluid ounce peppermint schnapps

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Pour vodka, creme de menthe, and peppermint schnapps over the ice. Cover cocktail shaker and shake; strain into a martini glass.

Cosmopolitan

For two:

2.5 ounces vodka
0.5 ounce triple sec
2 ounces cranberry juice
lemon twist

In a shaker with ice add the liquid ingredients, shake and strain into martini glasses. Garnish with lemon twist.

For more than two, the ratio is five parts vodka, four parts cranberry juice, and one part triple sec.

Joy to the World

Created December 25, 2011 for friends on Christmas.

Fill two martini glasses with ice and add the following to a shaker:

One shot of orange juice.
One shot of Grand Marnier
Four shots of vodka

Pour the ice from the martini glasses (they will now be nicely chilled) into the shaker and shake well. Pour the mixture into the martini glasses and garnish with marischino cherry.

Menehune Delight

Created March 29, 2007 for the occasion of Elizabeth Shadish's birthday.

One part lime juice
One part maraschino syrup (pour off from cherry jar)
Two parts Curacao
Five parts Irish whiskey

Shake 49 times with lots of ice and strain into chilled stemmed cocktail glasses, garnish with cherry.

Richard dot J dot Wagner at gmail dot com