Binny's Blog

The temperatures are plummeting after a relatively warm start to the winter season. There’s no better time to whip up some hot cocktails to get you through the grey winter days and long, dark winter nights.

Toddies are a broad class of cocktails that generally combine a spirit with water and sugar. Usually but not necessarily served hot, toddies also often include citrus, spice and/or herbs to create a soothing elixir, believed by many to ease the symptoms of the common cold and flu. Toddies are easy to make, provide a potent kick of booze, and happen to be quite appealing on a cold winter’s eve in the Midwest.

We aren’t talking about “the” perfect Manhattan, some might argue that the incredibly popular sweet Manhattan already holds that title, but “a” Perfect Manhattan. A variation on the theme that has the maker replace half of the Sweet Vermouth with Dry Vermouth. This perfect 1:1 ratio of Vermouths is the origin of the name.

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 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 is enjoying the new wave of ready to drink cocktails.

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.

This cocktail is an old timey classic, but it required a side trip to the 1980s to land on this prohibition era gem. Try this fruity but refreshing silent film era classic. It will leave you speechless.

The 1980s were a time of excess, and that included the cocktails. Every thing was overly sweet and overly proofed.

Thirsty for a New Orleans classic? How about one that’s named in honor of the French Quarter – the Vieux Carré. You can think of it as an “improved Manhattan”.

This Mardi Gras favorite is one of America's first cocktail gems. Many party goers have enjoyed the Sazerac since the early 1800's. Whether you pour rye whiskey or cognac, you can't go wrong.