The Nets Edge

So, a few weeks ago Lynn came up with a wonderful idea after reading a book, unfortunately the name escapes me at the moment. Essentially, we picked a book full of cocktails and every weekend we get together with a small set of friends, family or some combination thereof, and we make a drink or two from the book. We start with the A's and work our way slowly to the Z's. The book we chose was Olaf Nordstrom's The Essential Book of Boat Drinks & Assorted Concoctions. We purchased this book in New Orleans at Jimmy Buffets' Margarativille some years ago. We've been doing it for a number of weekends but I haven't mentioned it until now. I decided I would include, online, a list of the drinks we have tried and our own personal little rating. This rating is derived between 1 and 10 and taken as an average amongst those that have chosen to try the drink. In this manner, we get to try out some things we'd never have considered trying before. In some cases, we're delightfully suprised when we discover a good drink such as “Adios, Boys” or “The Admiral Halsey” and in other cases equally disgusted. Regardless, it has us trying something new and creating interesting discussion in the process. Check out the list of drinks so far, here.

1/2 jigger Sloe Gin

1/2 jigger Southern Comfort

1/2 jigger Triple Sec

1/2 jigger Galliano

2 jiggers Orange Juice

Cherry, garnish

Orange Slice, garnish

Fill shaker with ice. Add first 4 ingredients. Shake and strain over ice into glass. Garnish.

1 1/2 jiggers Jamaican Rum

Cola

Dash Orange Bitters

Orange peel, garnish

Fill highball glass with ice. Add the rum. Fill with cola, then add the twist of orange. Splash with orange bitters.

2 jiggers Gin

1 jigger Dry Vermouth

2 dashes Angostura Bitters

Olive, garnish

Fill shaker with shaved ice. Add ingredients. Shake and strain into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish.

1 jigger Blackberry Brandy

1/2 jigger Port

1/2 jigger Brandy

Fill shaker with cracked ice. Add ingredients. Shake and strain into chilled cocktail glass.

2 jiggers Light Rum

1 jigger English Gin

Juice of 1/2 Lime

1 t. Grenadine

Coca Cola

Lime Wedge, garnish

Fill shaker with ice. Add ingredients. Shake and strain over ice into glass. Fill with Coca Cola. Garnish.

1/2 jigger Bourbon

1 jigger Dry Vermouth

1/4 jigger Lemon Juice

Lemon Peel, garnish

Fill shaker with ice. Add ingredients. Shake and strain over ice into glass. Garnish.

1 jigger Tequila

4 jiggers Tomato Juice

1/2 Lime, squeezed and dropped into the glass

Dash Tabasco

Fill shaker with cracked ice. Add first 2 ingredients. Shake and strain into glass. Add the Lime and Tabasco.

1 jigger Rum

1/4 jigger Triple Sec

1/4 jigger Lime Juice

1 Egg White

1/4 t. Sugar

2 Mint Sprigs, garnish

Fill shaker with ice. Add ingredients. Shake and strain over ice into glass. Garnish.

2 jigger Gin

1 jigger Galliano

1 Creme de Banana

1 jigger Grapefruit Juice

Fill shaker with ice. Add ingredients. Shake and strain into chilled cocktail glass.

1 jigger Rum

1/2 jigger Grapefruit Juice

1/3 jigger Cream of Coconut

Juice of 1/2 Lime

3 Dashes 151 Proof Rum

Fill shaker with ice. Add ingredients. Shake and strain over ice into glass.