Every week, we feature a new drink for the Friends of Swing Shift to try. Some drinks come because your email requests, some are chosen by guest mixologists who visit us here at The Meridian Nightclub and Lounge. By whatever route they come to the table, we offer these selections to you as part of the "lost" culture of the cocktail.
This is where we will publish all of the bar information, mixologist bio's and drink recipes as heard on the "It's Martini Time!" segment on The Swing Shift Radio Show.
Disclaimer: The Swing Shift Radio Show, its parent station, affiliates, advertisers and sponsors want to remind you that alcoholic beverages should only be consumed by adults above the legal drinking age. If you are not above the legal drinking age, please do not consume alcohol. If you are above the legal drinking age, please drink responsibly.
Drinks so far this season -
Old Fashioned
- 1 Sugar cube
- 2-3 dashes of Angostura® bitters
- 1 orange peel (no rind)
- 1 maraschino cherry
- 2 oz bourbon whiskey
Drop the sugar cube and cherry into a "rocks" glass, splash in 2-3 dashes of Angostura® bitters and then lay in the orange peel. Add a small splash of club soda or "branch"/plain water - just enough to begin to melt the sugar. Muddle the contents in the bottom of the glass, enough to release the essential oils from the peel and not turn it into a paste. Add 2-4 large square ice cubes, pour in the bourbon whiskey and stir. Garnish with orange slice and cherry flag.
Manhattan- 3/4 oz sweet vermouth
- 2 1/2 oz bourbon whiskey
- 1 dash Angostura® bitters
- 1 maraschino cherry
- 1 twist orange peel
Combine the vermouth, bourbon whiskey, and bitters with 2 - 3 ice cubes in a mixing glass. Stir gently, don't bruise the spirits and cloud the drink. Place the cherry in a chilled cocktail glass and strain the whiskey mixture over the cherry. Rub the cut edge of the orange peel over the rim of the glass and twist it over the drink to release the oils but don't drop it in.
VARIATION: No bitters. Substitute a twist of lime for the cherry and orange. Hold the lime twist in a lighted match over the drink and then drop it in. The heat really zips up the lime flavor.
Pink Lady
The Pink Lady is a classic cocktail that has a light blush color contributed by the dashes of grenadine. It was one of the first "girly drinks" and a favorite of the high society ladies of the 30's. The key to this drink (and any shaken with egg) is to shake it longer than you would with most cocktails to ensure that everything is mixed well. The egg also makes a great foamy top of the pink liquid, creating an intimate looking finished cocktail.- 1 1/2 oz gin
- 3/4 oz applejack
- 1/4 oz lemon juice
- 1-2 dashes grenadine
- 1 egg white
- maraschino cherry for garnish
Perfect Martini- 4 ounces of vodka
- splash of sweet vermouth
- splash of dry vermouth
Start with a chilled martini glass full of ice. Have a shaker full of ice, and pour a full 4 ounces of premium vodka, or quality vodka of your choice into it. Empty the now chilled martini glass of it's ice and water, and dress the glass with just a splash of both the dry and sweet vermouth. Twirl it around until it's evenly coated and dump. This will line this chilled glass with the aromatics of the vermouth. Strain the vodka from the shaker into the chilled, lined glass and add two-three skewered olives.
Disclaimer: The Swing Shift Radio Show, its parent station, affiliates, advertisers and sponsors want to remind you that alcoholic beverages should only be consumed by adults above the legal drinking age. If you are not above the legal drinking age, please do not consume alcohol. If you are above the legal drinking age, please drink responsibly.
