The Classic Cocktail

This Classic Cocktail is an elegant and refreshing summer sip. As the sun begins to set, and the air begins to cool, mix up one of these cocktails and sit out on the patio to enjoy the end of the day.

The Classic Cocktail (that really is its name) is essentially a Side Car Cocktail (cognac, orange liqueur, and lemon juice), but with with the addition of maraschino liqueur.

The Hemingway Daiquiri Martini

The Hemingway Daiquiri is a classic rum cocktail that is also known as the Papa Doble (when doubled) or the Hemingway Classic. 

Evidently, Ernest Hemingway spent a lot of time drinking in Cuba (as well as in bars in Paris and across the world). One of the legends of the Hemingway Daiquiri is that Ernest Hemingway used to drink several of these at a time. He'd often order doubles, which became known as the aforementioned Papa Doble. 

The Last Word Cocktail

The Last Word Cocktail is reputed to be an old-timey cocktail, originating in Detroit, and dating back to pre-Prohibition. All I know is, it's pretty tasty. 

Evidently, The Last Word Cocktail, after languishing in obscurity for about 80 years or so, enjoyed a sudden resurgence when a Seattle bartender recreated it and began serving it around 2006. According to folklore, he discovered the cocktail in a book that was written in 1951.

Italian Margarita

My new favorite cocktail is this Italian Margarita. 

It is a combination of tequila and lime, with a combination of Italian liqueurs (Aperol and Luxardo) to substitute for the triple sec. 

Aperol is an Italian light herbal aperitif with a light alcohol content. 

Luxardo cherry liqueur has been produced in Italy since the early nineteenth century. 

The resulting cocktail is fruity fresh, with a little bit of bitterness, but not too much. It's very easy to drink, yet herbal and not overly sweet. 

For another Italian twist on a margarita, try the limoncello margarita too! 

Italian Margarita

Ingredients

1 1/2 ounces tequila blanco
1 ounce Aperol
!/2 ounce cherry liqueur, such as Luxardo
The juice of a lime
Lemon twist to garnish

Instructions

1. Add the tequila, Aperol, cherry liqueur, and lime juice to an ice filled shaker. 
2. Shake the ingredients for about 30 to 60 seconds, until fully chilled. 
3. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. 
4. Garnish with a lemon twist. 

Enjoy!

The Tuxedo Martini

Supposedly, this cocktail was created at the Tuxedo Club in New York in the 19th century. In another version of its origin, the cocktail was part of a slew of drinks created during prohibition. These cocktails contained liqueur to conceal the atrociousness of the bathtub gin that was available at the time.