Spritz

I know most people don't need to follow a recipe to make a spritz, but I like to know I have one, so here it is.

Spritz

3 oz dry prosecco
2 oz Aperol (or Primo or any other bitter amaro or aperitif)
1 oz sparkling water
Orange or grapefruit slice for serving

Build the ingredients in a large wine glass over ice. Stir, garnish, serve.

Gimlet (gin)

I've recently become obsessed with a Salted Lime Leaf Gimlet made at a bar down the road in Austin. They use gin and a perfectly clear "salted lime leaf cordial", served in a nick and nora glass with a salted rim. It pairs amazingly with their $1 happy hour oysters. This version of a gimlet is simpler, and almost as delicious.

Gimlet

2 oz gin
0.75 oz lime juice
0.75 oz simple syrup
Pinch of salt

Shake ingredients in a shaker with ice. Double strain into a nick and nora glass.

I recently discovered there is a class of spirit called "coastal gins", which lean into marine-adjacent ingredients and saline notes. Mermaid Gin from the Isle of Wight, with its "hint of sea air" tasting note, works great in the recipe above. The bottle looks pretty cool too.

Whiskey Sour

Sometimes I want a whiskey cocktail but I don't want an Old Fashioned or a Manhattan. What to do? Probably make one of these...

Whiskey Sour

2 oz bourbon

1 oz lemon juice

2/3 oz simple syrup

3 dashes Angostura bitters

Pinch of salt

0.5 oz egg white (or 3 dashes Fee Brothers Fee Foam)

Shake all ingredients with ice in a shaker. Strain. Get rid of the ice. Shake again (dry shake). Strain into an Old Fashioned glass filled with ice.

I like the foamy head and the hint of salinity here.