Posts Categorized: Cocktails- Page 3

Can Intravenous Vitamins work as a hangover cure? 

A Myers cocktail is an intravenous (IV) vitamin therapy designed to provide your body with vitamins and nutrients. Developed by Dr. John Myers, MD., this “cocktail” includes magnesium, calcium, vitamin B complex, and Vitamin C to improve quality of life and treat the symptoms of chronic conditions such as acute asthma attacks, migraines, fatigue, chronic pain, seasonal allergies, and other medical conditions.

In recent history, Myers Cocktail IV infusions have been touted as THE cure for hangovers – despite evidence to the contrary. In fact, the Myers cocktail is listed in Quackwatch’s index of questionable treatments. While it can give you a little energy boost and will help with the chronic issues listed above with few side effects – there is little indication that this is an effective treatment for a hangover.

Not all IV drips are made the same and the Myers cocktail IV is not the only option available to consumers. Other hydration IV therapies have shown to have a certain amount of efficacy.

Where can you get an IV drip for hangovers?

Drip IV therapies for hangovers are available to purchase online. However, it is vital that you thoroughly research your options and the manufacturers before making a purchase. Alternately, there are more and more hydration IV therapy lounges opening up all across the United States. Search in your area to see what options are available to you locally.

Potential Benefits of an IV Drip

• Rehydrate your body
• Replenish vitamins and electrolytes
• Reduce nausea
• Energy boost

Is an IV drip the hangover cure for you?

Hangover IV drips are most commonly a mixture of saline solution, electrolytes, vitamins, anti-nausea, anti-inflammatory, and antacid medications. This combination can bring significant relief to those suffering from hardcore hangover symptoms. As always – speak to your doctor with any questions you may have about medical procedures.

A classic cocktail if there ever was one, the Manhattan is a signature staple in bars and lounges throughout America, and across the globe. Made with whiskey, sweet vermouth, and aromatic bitters, the classic Manhattan cocktail is a favorite of the TalkTales team.

The History Behind The Classic Manhattan Cocktail

There is a lot of good-natured controversy surrounding the creation of the first Manhattan cocktail, although we know for sure that it originated within New York City. The most widely accepted version states that the drink was first made at the Manhattan Club in the mid-1870s. 

The story goes that the drink was invented by Lain Marshall for a banquet hosted by Lady Randolph Churchill, mother of Winston Churchill, in honor of presidential candidate Samuel Tilden. This elegant debut made the cocktail quite popular among fashionable society.

A note on apocryphal history – Lady Randolph was in France at the time and pregnant, so this story is likely untrue.

How To Make A Manhattan Cocktail

Learning to make the perfect Manhattan isn’t incredibly difficult – but it does take a certain amount of practice. As always, choosing high-quality ingredients is the first step to making an excellent drink.

Below we will review the basic steps to making a Manhattan including the materials and ingredients you will need as well as instructions. Then we will go over some possible variations you could try. 

Ingredients

• 2-ounces bourbon or rye
• 1-ounce sweet vermouth
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters
• 1 dash orange bitters
• Garnish: brandied cherry

Preparation

Gather your ingredients and add them in the proper proportions to a chilled mixing glass. Stir the mixture thoroughly to ensure it is evenly mixed. Strain the drink into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish it with a maraschino cherry. Alternately this drink can be served on the rocks in a lowball glass.

Other Ways To Enjoy This Classic Cocktail

Other than simple switches, like using an orange peel twist instead of a cherry garnish, there are a vast number of variations on the classic Manhattan cocktail. We’ve listed a few of our favorite adaptations to give you some inspiration.

The following are other variations on the classic Manhattan:

• Black Manhattan – replaces vermouth with Averna
• Blonde Manhattan – made with 2 oz moonshine, 1 oz sweet vermouth, 0.5 oz orange liqueur, and 3 dashes of orange bitters.
• Brandy Manhattan – made with brandy instead of whiskey, and is very popular in Wisconsin and Minnesota.
• Cuban Manhattan – a perfect Manhattan (see below) with dark rum as its principal ingredient.
• Dean Lyder – a twist on the perfect Manhattan, made with orange bitters and zest, giving it a ‘big, bold character’. It is named for Courtney Lyder, dean of UCLA School of Nursing.
• Dry Manhattan – made with dry vermouth instead of sweet vermouth, usually also replacing the maraschino cherry with a twist in keeping with the overall principle of reducing the cocktail’s sweetness. 
• Fanciulli – adds the bitter flavors of Fernet-Branca.
• The Fourth Regiment – a classic (ca. 1889) cocktail that uses a 1:1 ratio of whiskey and vermouth, and uses three dashes of three different bitters – orange bitters, celery bitters, and Peychaud’s Bitters.
• Metropolitan – similar to a brandy Manhattan, but with a 3-to-1 ratio of brandy to vermouth and a dash of simple syrup.
• Perfect Manhattan – made with equal parts sweet and dry vermouth.

Rob Roy – made with Scotch whisky.

Bourbon Or Canadian Whiskey?

While rye whiskey is the traditional liquor of choice, other commonly used options include Canadian whisky, bourbon, blended whiskey, and Tennessee whiskey. It is usually stirred and served in a cocktail glass with a cocktail cherry garnish.

Manhattan cocktails made with Bourbon often have notes of vanilla, honey, and toffee that create a rich round taste, while rye whiskey has more of a spicy feel. Because rye whiskey is lean and bright, many people believe that it makes a better cocktail base. 

Do You Love Manhattan Cocktails?

Classic, and variant, Manhattan cocktails are a favorite of liquor enthusiasts around in America and abroad. Are you one of the people who just can’t get enough of this full-bodied barroom staple? We totally understand that feeling, because we are right there with you! Try our recipe to make the best Manhattan you’ve ever tried – right from the comfort of your own home.

This drink doesn’t take any special tools to create, and the ingredients can be found at any liquor and grocery store. This makes the Manhattan one of the easiest cocktails to learn at home. This is particularly true if you’re just beginning to set up your home bar and haven’t filled it out with the various accouterments you would usually see.

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The stylish light pink Cosmopolitan, served in a martini glass with a twist of lemon, was a staple of the 90s. The perfect cocktail for “drinks with the girls” – Cosmos are often constructed using Cointreau, fresh lime juice, citrus-flavored vodka, and cranberry juice.

The History Behind The Cosmo

Most people associate Cosmos with Carrie Bradshaw, a character from the show “Sex And The City”, who was known to sip the pink-tinged cocktail with her girlfriends in nearly every episode. However, the Cosmopolitan as we know it has been around since the 80s and is a variation of a cocktail by a similar name. 

In fact, in the 1960s Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice Cocktail used to feature cocktail recipes on their bottles, and a shockingly similar drink called the Harpoon was often featured. Even before that, there were variations stemming as far back as the 1920s with drinks such as the Daisy Cosmopolitan.

How To Make A Cosmopolitan Cocktail

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz. Vodka
• 1 oz. Cointreau
• 1/2 oz. Fresh Lime Juice
• 1/4 oz. Cranberry Juice

Preparation:

Gather ingredients and add to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and then strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Finally, garnish with an orange peel twist or lemon twist to really accentuate the citrus flavors of the drink.

Did The Modern Cosmo Come From Miami?

Many bartenders and cocktail historians credit the original Cosmopolitan to Cheryl Cook, a bartender located in Miami in the 80s. She was known throughout the town as The Martini Queen Of South Beach and the popularity of the Cosmo is thought to be her doing. She wanted to create a martini that was both palatable and appealing to her female patrons. The Martini Queen used the newly available Absolut Citron with its fresh citrusy flavor, along with Rose’s lime, triple sec, and cranberry juice.

But Then Again Maybe Not…

Many versions of the creation of the Cosmopolitan exist and you’ll find a variety of apocryphal stories from different historians across the nation. In one account, Dale “King Cocktail” DeGroff first tried the drink at a bar in San Francisco before adding his own twist to it in New York City using Cointreau, fresh lime juice, and a flamed orange peel.

Wait – There’s A Whiskey Cosmo?

Defying all belief – there is a whiskey Cosmo variation that has made the rounds with varying degrees of popularity over the years. Made with Scotch whisky, Irish whiskey, Swedish punch, vodka, Italian vermouth, French vermouth, and a lemon twist this version is known to knock drinkers to the ground. In fact, the original recipe included the instruction to “send the corpse to the League of Nations.”

The 1930s Cosmo

If you keep reaching back into the annals of cocktail history you will find perhaps the earliest incantation of the Cosmopolitan Cocktail. Appearing by the name of the Cosmopolitan Daisy in the Pioneers Of Mixing At Elite Bars 1903-1933 edition, this drink consisted of Gin, Cointreau, lemon juice, and raspberry syrup.

The deliciously fresh and botanical taste of the 1934 Cosmo is an absolute treat. Very similar to its more modern counterpart, this cocktail is known for being the first iteration of the drink we have all known and loved for decades.

How To Make A 1934 Cosmo

• Jigger of Gordon’s Gin (1 1⁄2 US fl oz [4.4 cl] Beefeater)
• 2 dash Cointreau (1⁄2 US fl oz [1.5 cl] Cointreau)
• Juice of 1 Lemon (1 US fl oz [3.0 cl] Lemon Juice)
• 1 tsp [.5 cl] Raspberry Syrup (homemade)

Preparation:

Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Strain the tasty mixture into a chilled cocktail glass. Finally, garnish the beverage with a fragrant orange peel for the perfect look. This light pink concoction is both simple to make, and beautiful.

What Vodka Is Right For Your Cosmopolitan?

The International Bar Association (IBA) approved cocktail recipe appears to have been inspired by Dale Degroff’s popular mid-1990’s version using citrus-flavored vodka as the base for the cocktail. Despite this fact, many bartenders choose to use a standard unflavored vodka and add additional citrus juice, whether lemon or lime, to the drink.

Interestingly enough, this alternative recipe is likely far more historically accurate than the approved version. This recipe would more closely resemble those found in Ohio, Provincetown, or Minneapolis during the 1970s, or in San Francisco during the 1980s. In this alternative recipe, bartenders will also add a lemon twist to the cocktail to add an additional citrus kick.

Which Juice is Better – Fresh Lime Or Fresh Lemon?

The answer to this question is as simple as it is to make the drink itself. Whichever of these two juices you prefer will make the best drink for you to enjoy. This kind of cocktail has been added to, remade, twisted, and reinvented so many times that variation is just part of the fun. We support experimenting at your home bar and finding the perfect ratio of ingredients that make your taste buds happy.

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