Cocktail Hour: Lynchburg Lemonade

Now I've decided that I do indeed like bourbon, I'm going to have to try more cocktails with it in. Just to make sure. Like this Lynchburg Lemonade, named after the area of Tennessee where Jack Daniels is made.

You'll need:

• 50ml Jack Daniels
• 25ml Triple Sec
• 25ml lemon juice
• Lemonade
• Slice of lemon

Make it!

Shake the bourbon, triple sec and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain into a highball glass and top up with lemonade. Garnish with a slice of lemon. Simple.

Flickr image from Caitlinator's photostream.

Cocktail Hour: Gentleman's Julep

I can't take credit for this cocktail recipe. In fact, all credit goes to the wonderful Dollar Martini Bar on Exmouth Market in Clerkenwell. I'm not a huge fan of bourbon (in fact I might have even mentioned the word 'hate' in the past), but now I'm going to have to rethink this. Because the Gentleman's Julep cocktail I tried this weekend was so yummy. The peach and mint is refreshing, and takes the edge of the bourbon, but the drink still has a bit of a kick.

Now, being worse for wear, I didn't really pay attention to how the cocktail was being made. I paid more attention to drinking it. So, this recipe is a very rough guide. Obviously to get it perfect, you might have to have more than one.

You'll need:

• 50ml bourbon
• mint leaves
• champagne
• mint leaves
• crushed ice
• fresh peach

Make it!

Muddle some of the fresh peach with the mint in the bottom of an old fashioned glass. Add the crushed ice. Pour in the bourbon. Top up with champagne and add more crushed ice if needed. Garnish with a sprig of mint and some sliced peach. Enjoy!

Cocktail Hour: Eggnog

I'll be honest, I'm not convinced that drinking whipped up eggs is a real cocktail. But, for some of you it's the only way to kick off the festive season (we'll start using the C word soon, I promise). And well, there aren't many festive drinks I don't like so I'm willing to give it a bash. There are so many variations on this recipe that you might know a different one that's been handed down to you. It's such a traditional recipe, but this one is simple enough to play about with - you can substitute the rum for whisky or bourbon if you prefer it.

Serves 8.

You'll need these things:

• 4 eggs, separated
  
• 120ml white rum or bourbon
  
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 60 grams caster sugar
• 300ml full fat milk
• 150ml whipping cream
• Grated nutmeg

Make it!

• Whisk the egg yolks and caster sugar together until light and fluffy, and then whisk in your booze of choice a little at a time and then whisk in the milk. It it starts to separate whilst you're helping yourself to a tipple, just whisk it up again.
• In another bowl, whisk your eggs whites into soft peaks and fold in the boozy mix.
• Then whisk the whipped cream and fold that in as well. Make sure everything is all mixed together.
• Pour into glasses and grate with nutmeg. Get drunk and sing songs.

Know a variation on this recipe? Do you have an eggnog tradition? Tell us in the comments!

Flickr image from Robert S. Donovan's photostream.

Cocktail Hour: Old Fashioned

I'm not a huge whiskey fan, but in a cocktail, it's very different indeed. As long as that cocktail is decent. And there's nothing better than an Old Fashioned. It's one of those drinks that will make you feel warm and fuzzy when the sun goes down. In fact, there's no better drink to watch the sunset with.

You'll need these things:

• 50ml bourbon - JD will do just fine.
• 3 drops bitters
• Tablespoon warm water
• Lemon rind
• Orange rind
• Ice
• Sugar cube

You'll need to do these things:

Soak the sugar cube with the bitters, and place into an Old Fashioned glass. Stir with the teaspoon of warm water until dissolved. Add the bourbon and the ice, then finish off with the lemon rind and orange rind. Enjoy!

Flickr image from Dan4th's photostream.