Friday 5 o’Clock Cocktail – Combustible Edison

Combustible Edison

If you like bitter drinks, then you’ll really like today’s drink. The drink was developed by a lounge band of the same name back in the early 90’s. I can’t vouch for group’s music, but the drink is pretty good.The Combustible Edison combines extreme bitterness with – you guessed it – fire. And while bitterness and fire might seem like an unbeatable combination, there is one downside.

This drink calls for an ingredient that isn’t exactly common: Campari Bitters.

In fact, at the liquor stores around my house, Campari is about as easy to find as a hot girl playing Dungeons and Dragons.

Given the fact that Campari is so uncommon, you may have to substitute Angustura bitters. The drink isn’t bad that way. The difference is that Angustura is much more powerful, and has more of a “clove” taste, whereas the Campari is more of a fruit taste (which is why Campari goes better with the Brandy).

Here are the ingredients:

• 2 oz Brandy
• 1/2 to 1 oz Campari Bitters (use 1/4 oz if you are substituting Angustura)
• 1 oz Lemon Juice

Ok, now let’s make the drink.

Room temperature Brandy doesn’t usually catch on fire. So, take the 2 oz of Brandy and pop it in the microwave for about 20 seconds. Depending on your microwave, this will bring it to just below the boiling point – which is perfect.

While that’s warming up in the microwave, shake the lemon juice and the bitters in a shaker with ice and strain into a cocktail glass.

Now, take the shot of brandy out of the microwave and light it on fire just as you pour it into your cocktail glass. Depending on how you pour it, the fire will probably go out almost immediately when you pour it in the glass. But if you are careful about it, you can “float” the brandy on top and it will burn with a really nice blue flame (you may have to turn the lights out if you can’t see it).

The safest way to do this is to float the brandy on top of the drink first, wait a few seconds for the warm brandy to float up to the top of the drink; THEN light it on fire.

However, I have to be honest here and tell you that I prefer not to light mine on fire. There are essentially three problems with the fire thing:

• Fire can burn you and your house
• The fire warms up the drink (I usually prefer my cocktails cold)
• The fire burns off some of the alcohol

If you don’t feel comfortable lighting your drinks on fire, or you are religiously opposed to burning the alcohol out of your drink, then you can just skip the fire part. In that case it’s a Flame-retarded Edison.

Either way, pucker up buttercup.

Friday 5 o’Clock Cocktail – The Matador

If you are going to be serving friends Margaritas outside this hot weekend, then you might consider offering the Matador as an option. It is similar to a Margarita, but is a little more fruity and sweet tasting – which actually makes it a bit better for those Late July deck and pool parties!

Now, there are a number of ways of making a Matador. Some recipes call for the use of RedBull in place of the Pineapple Juice that is used in the classic version. If you are looking for an extra jolt of caffeine then you might try that. You can also make them frozen (blended) or on the rocks.

One thing all the versions share is that they are tangy, sweet, and perfect for a hot day.

So for your viewing pleasure, we are including three versions of the Matador today. Try one, try ‘em all!

Classic Matador

• 1 1/2 oz Tequila (mid-grade “Gold” is fine)
• 1 1/2 oz Pineapple Juice
• 1/2 oz Lime Juice
• 1 tsp Simple Syrup

Directions:
Shake it in a Cocktail Shaker with ice, Strain into a salt-rimmed cocktail glass.

Modern Matador

• 1 oz Tequila (mid-grade, again)
• 1/2 oz Triple Sec
• 1 oz RedBull
• 1/2 oz Lime Juice

Directions:
Shake it in a Cocktail Shaker with ice, Strain into a salt-rimmed cocktail glass.

Frozen Matador

• 2 oz Tequila
• 1/4 oz Triple Sec
• 1/4 cup Pineapple Chunks
• 1/2 oz Lime Juice
• 1/2 cup ice

Directions
Combine these ingredients in a blender until smooth. Serve this one in a highball or Collins glass

Friday 5 o’Clock Cocktail – Pina Colada

Who doesn’t enjoy a nice cold Pina Colada on a hot day? The drink was developed in Puerto Rico in the 1950’s and became popular in the States during the ’70s.

Today it has a bit of a “Retro” flavor – or maybe that’s just the Rum I taste.

Traditionally the drink is shaken, not blended. And while I usually try and do things the “traditional” way – I gotta say that when it comes to Pina Colada, mine are blended.

Pina Coladas are also easy to make, since they only require 3 ingredients plus ice.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 oz light rum
• 2 oz of Coconut Cream Liqueur (Coco Lopez is the traditional brand, but use what you have)
• 2 – 6 oz Pineapple Juice
• 1 cup of ice

Directions

Put everything in a blender and blend till smooth. Serve in an old-fashioned glass, rocks glass, or collins glass.

Friday 5 o’Clock Cocktail – Mint Daiquiri

Minty and sweet – that’s what we’re looking forward to this evening. The perfect drink to sip as you gaze out at your yard and think about all that mowing you are going to be doing tomorrow morning. Yeah, it’s spring alright. The yard work, the pollen, the Rum drinks!

Here’s how to make a Mint Daiquiri:

• 2 oz of Light Rum
• 1/4 oz of Triple Sec (or another kind of Orange Liquour)
• 4 Mint Leaves
• 1/2 oz Lime Juice
• 1 tsp Powdered Sugar
• 1 cup of ice

Add all ingredients into a blender and blend it until it’s smooth. Keep in mind a couple of tips:

1. Try and get as much of the stems off the mint leaves as possible. They can make the drink a little bitter. It doesn’t hurt to use a knife to cut the spines out of the leaves.
2. Make sure you blend it enough to really pulverize those mint leaves down so that they are just specks of green in the drink. If you don’t blend them enough they will get little green flakes caught in your teeth, and that isn’t cute.

More Mixed Drinks and Cocktail Recipes at the Drunk Man’s Guide

Friday 5 o’clock Cocktail – The Tequini

Our friend the Cigar Smoking Man suggested a drink this week that deserves a Friday in the spotlight: The Tequini.

As the name suggests, this is a Martini that is made with Tequila. With Martinis, the supporting ingredients are there to bring out the taste of the primary liquor more than they are to make an impression of themselves.

The Cigar Smoking Man points out on his blog the importance of using bitters (sparingly) in this drink. He also makes a good point about bitters – that bitters are to cocktails as salt is to food.

True enough. Bitters do bring out an extra element in many drinks. Like salt, a little goes a long way. If you’ve put enough in your drink to be able to taste it, then you’ve probably used too much.

Here’s how to make a Tequini:

• 1 ½ oz of Tequila
• ½ oz of Dry Vermouth
• 1 Dash of Bitters (I used Angostura)

Directions: As with all martinis, the method of mixing is to STIR the ingredients gently with ice so you don’t bruise the liquor. Then strain the clear drink into a cocktail glass and garnish with lemon peel.

Also, when you get a chance, you should visit the Cigar Smoking Man’s blog. It’s a great read, even for non-smokers like me.

Friday 5 o’clock Cocktail – Tequila Sunrise

Maybe it’s because Spring is in the air. Maybe I’m just low on Vitamin C, but I have to admit I’ve been drinking these all week
The Orange Juice and Pommegranet flavor in the Grenadine goes well with the silky smoothness of the Tequila. A little squirt of lime juice really finishes the drink off nicely.

Here’s how I make mine:

• 1 1/2 oz Tequila
• 3 oz Orange Juice
• Splash of Grenadine
• 1 slice of lime

Directions:
Combine first three ingredients in a rocks or highball glass with ice. Squeeze the lime slice over the drink and then drop it in. Stir gently. Enjoy.

More Mixed Drink Recipes

Friday 5 o’clock Cocktail – Apple Martini

There are about a ton of ways to make an Apple Martini. The method below works well for me, although sometimes I just leave out the Vodka and double-up on the Gin.

This is a very strong drink, so don’t even consider operating heavy machinery like a car or a speedboat, or a catapult after you’ve had one of these.

You’ll also have to have a large martini glass. This thing ain’t suitable for the little dainty kind. You need one of those super-sized martini glasses!

Ingredients:

• 2 Ounces Good Quality Gin
• 2 Ounces Vodka
• 2 Ounces Apple Pucker
• 1 Ounce Triple Sec
• 1 Splash of Sweet ‘n Sour Mix
• Garnish with Apple Slice (optional)

Directions:
Combine ingredients into a shaker and shake. Serve in a BIG Martini Glass.

More Mixed Drink Recipes

Friday 5 o’clock Cocktail – Black Dragon

How to make a Black Dragon

Ingredients:
1 Shot of Scotch Whisky
1 Shot of Coffee Liqueur (Kahlua works well)
1 Shot of Mint Schnapps

Directions:
This is a layered drink. You can use the back of a spoon to carefully layer the alcohols on top of each other. First you put the Schnapps, then the Kahlua, then finally the Scotch.

Friday 5 o’clock Cocktail – Siberian Dutchman

I noticed that today it snowed in Baghdad for the first time since the Mesopotamians discovered incense. So, for the troops over there in Iraq, have a Siberian Dutchman to keep you warm. If you aren’t in Iraq, you can still have one, but just make sure you are facing Baghdad.

If you are Al Gore, drink two. It’ll help “warm” you up.

How to make a Siberian Dutchman

Ingredients:
1 Glass of Coffee
1 Shot of Coffee Liqueur (Kahlua is good)
1 Shot of Chocolate Liqueur
1 Shot Vodka
1 Splash Heavy Cream

Directions:
Mix ingredients, and pour over ice into highball glass.

There are thousands more mixed drinks and cocktails at the DrunkMansGuide.com!

The Drunk Man’s Guide Presidential Race Drinking Game

 

For those of you who have been binging it and are out of the loop, it’s time to pick another President. Normally the thought of a year’s worth of political bickering and negative campaign ads would be enough to drive a man to drinking.

But we’re drunks, and we know how to have fun! That’s why we cooked up the Drunk Man’s Guide Presidential Race Drinking Game.

With this game if your candidate wins, you’re already in the celebratory mood. If someone else wins, then you’re too drunk to feel your teeth anyway, so fuck it.

Play the Drunk Man’s Guide Presidential Race Drinking Game today!

Drink Choices for Today:

• Southern Comfort Manhattan
• Blackberry Martini
• Crawdaddy
• Frozen Key Lime
• September Morning