Is there anything more satisfying than a freshly made cocktail, preferably sipped on a deck overlooking the water? Here are two easy-to-make drinks that are created without pre-made mixes and which rely on natural ingredients for their sweetening element.
Both are classic cocktails that have been around for decades - the margarita and the whisky sour.
In our take on the classic margarita we've spiced up its sweet and sour flavors with muddled jalapenos. Add a bit less for a subtle bit of heat, more if you like it extra spicy!
The whisky sour recipe is a version of the drink created in the early 1900s and which the New York Times calls a Gold Rush. It is essentially a whisky sour made with honey syrup instead of sugar. If you've ever had a whiskey sour from one of those store-bought sour mixes, this version is going to be an eye-opener.
Jalapeno Margarita:
One ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
One ounce agave syrup
Two ounce tequila
One small jalapeno, sliced into rounds
Salt (optional)
Place four to five of the jalapeno rounds in the bottom of a glass or a muddling stone. Crush the pepper pieces, using a splash of lime juice to break down the skin and seeds. Put the muddled jalapeno into a shaker with ice and add the lime juice, agave syrup, and tequila. Shake well and pour into a glass with a salted rim. Garnish with a lime wedge.
Whisky Sour
One ounce warm water
Three ounces honey
Two ounces whiskey or bourbon
3/4 ounce honey syrup
3/4 ounce fresh squeezed lemon juice
For the syrup, place the honey and warm water in a sealed container and shake well until smooth. Then, pour whisky, syrup and lemon juice into a shaker of ice and shake well. Pour into a rocks glass or strain the cocktail into a glass with one large ice cube. You can also switch this sour recipe up in winter by substituting the honey mixture for maple syrup and sprinkling a bit of cardamom on top before serving, straight-up.
