How to Make a Popular Cocktails

Wow! your guests at your next party by creating and serving one or two special cocktails for the evening.

For purposes of this article, assume 1 shot is equal to 1 ounce and ½ shot is equal to ½ ounce.

Cosmopolitan (or Cosmo)
½ Shot Cointreau
½ Shot Triple Sec
1 Shot Vodka
½ Oz. Lime Juice
½ Oz. Cranberry Juice

Fill a martini mixer (or mixing glass) half with ice cubes. Pour in all ingredients and shake well. Strain into a chilled Martini glass. You might garnish it with a Lime wedge.
This is a very popular drink right now.

Margarita
1 Shot Tequila
1 Shot Triple Sec
1 Oz. Lime Juice
Salt, preferably coarse, in a small plate
Rub the rim of the glass with a slice of lemon or lime and spin the rim of the glass in the salt. Mix all ingredients in a short glass filled with ice. Garnish with a slice of lime.
Blended version
Place all ingredients in a blender. Pour into a cocktail glass, garnish and serve.

Martini
Shaken? Or stirred? There are aficionados of both.
2 Shots Gin
Splash Extra Dry Vermouth
Pimento Stuffed Olives
Shake or stir the ingredients into a martini mixer filled with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. (Don't shake for long because the ice will melt and dilute the drink. Garnish with an olive. This recipe will yield a very dry martini; the less Vermouth you add, the drier the martini will be.
This drink can also be made with vodka - hence, a Vodka Martini
Mix a batch in a martini mixer and serve several all at once.
This is a very popular drink and has many, many variations.

Long Island Iced Tea
½ Shot Vodka
½ Shot Rum
½ Shot Gin
½ Shot Tequila
½ Shot Triple Sec
Cola
Add the liquor into a tall glass filled with ice. Fill the glass with Cola, and a straw and serve. This can catch up with you - they're pretty lethal.

Bellini
1 Shot Peach Schnapps
3 Oz. Champagne
Pour the Peach Schnapps into a champagne glass or a cocktail glass and add champagne and stir.
This is a terrific drink to serve for a Sunday brunch.

Black Russian
1 1/2 Shot Vodka
½ Shot Kahlua (any coffee liqueur may be substituted)
Pour the vodka into a short glass filled with ice. Add the Kahlua and stir.
This makes an excellent after dinner drink.
Have fun serving these cocktails to your guests. Experiment and buy a cocktail book to discover more fun drinks to serve to your guests. You can even make mocktails to serve as well.
Salut!