Binny's Blog

Light, refreshing and relatively low in alcohol is all the rage in certain circles these days, so this summer we have tried to bring you cocktail recipes that fit the bill. Today we have a lower alcohol riff on one of the all-time Tiki classics, the Mai Tai.

The Tuxedo cocktail is a highfalutin riff on the Martini with Fino Sherry in place of the Vermouth. It’s potent, crisp, and tangy from the Sherry and makes for a fun Martini alternative whether at a black-tie event or a backyard BBQ.

Calhoun County peaches are so good, in fact, it almost seems a pity to do anything but eat them out of hand, but we took a cue from a recent episode of our Barrel to Bottle podcast that featured a few riffs on the Smash and muddled our way through our own version. A sort of Bourbon Peach Smash mania ensued. We kept things Illinois centric by using the most excellent Whiskey Acres Bourbon and hyper-local mint (backyard terroir!) and the results were stunning.

The magnificent Italian Aperitivo, Cocchi Americano, is a delight on the rocks with an orange wheel and serves as the cornerstone of a perfect Corpse Reviver No 2 cocktail. Just like Vermouth, it must be fresh to be at its best alone or in a cocktail. Luckily, 375 ml bottles are now available.

It is officially peach season in the Midwest; time to learn how to make a real Bellini. It’s a simple drink but a sublime one when made from scratch.

It’s high time that we acknowledge Hemingway as the Papa of today’s trend toward low-cal, low-carb, (but certainly not low alcohol) drinks. Hemingway liked a stiff drink, so pace yourself as you enjoy this pink cocktail, lest you start seeing pink elephants or counting six blurry toes on your five-toed cat.

Sailors take warning, this old Navy tipple is dangerously drinkable, truly a sailor’s delight! One too many and you may find yourself lost in a turbid Bermuda Triangle of your own making but judiciously taken, it’s 100 percent smooth sailing.

The Pimm’s Cup is a quintessentially British summer cocktail. The key ingredient is, of course, Pimm’s No. 1 Cup; the original premixed gin sling, which should impress anyone who enjoys ready to drink cocktails. Fortified with gin and loaded with fruit, this fizzy cocktail is a patio favorite.

The Highball is a timeless whiskey cocktail celebrated for its crisp, refreshing simplicity. The traditional Highball highlights the essence of whiskey while delivering a light, bubbly finish. A drink that remains one of the most versatile and approachable whiskey cocktails for both beginners and seasoned enthusiasts.

This boozy but ice-cold and indescribably refreshing cocktail was the signature drink at Trinidad’s luxurious Queen’s Park Hotel from the 1920s until its eventual demise a few decades later. Thankfully, the cocktail lives on as the epitome of the Caribbean cocktail aesthetic.