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Forbes
5 hours ago
- General
- Forbes
8 Classic Gin Drinks That Go Beyond Gin & Tonics
Gin gimlets are an ideal cocktail for citrus-forward gins to shine. getty The nuances of a premium gin comes from the quality of its botanicals. Juniper may be gin's star ingredient, however, modern gins comprise a number of unique herbs, aromatics and seeds that contribute to the final flavor and texture of the spirit. The combinations can range from citrus-forward expressions, full of lemon, grapefruit or orange peel, to herbal-centric recipes, with rosemary, anise and coriander. There's also floral expressions, using the likes of lavender, rose and violet flowers. Gin's botanicals can most often be appreciated in the spirit's simplest drinks like a gin and tonic or a martini but sometimes the complexity of a gin isn't realized until you layer it in a cocktail with other spirits – for example a gin with more floral than herbal qualities can completely change the taste of a negroni. For this reason, it can be fun to explore mixing one of your preferred gins for a gin and tonic in one of gin's other tried and true cocktails, from a French 75 to a White Lady. With World Gin Day approaching on June 14, there's no better time to start experimenting with one of the eight classic gin drink recipes below. Tart yet refreshing, freshly squeezed lime juice perfectly mingles with gin in this simple, three ingredient cocktail. This cocktail is an ideal example of how gin's complexities can affect the final flavor; opt for a London dry gin with citrus notes over an herbal gin. Ingredients: 2 oz gin, ½ oz fresh lime juice, ¼ oz simple syrup Method: Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice; shake until well-chilled. Strain into a coupe glass and garnish with a lime wheel. For another citrus-forward, potent gin drink, a Bee's Knees is a prohibition-era cocktail that's still beloved by modern gin drinkers. The lemon and honey combine with the gin for a sweet, bright sip that can be made to taste more earthy with a juniper-forward gin or refreshing with a citrus-inspired gin. Make the honey syrup ahead of time and keep it in your fridge for up to a month. Ingredients: 2 oz gin, 0.75 oz fresh lemon juice, 0.5 oz honey syrup (boil equal parts honey to water until it dissolves, let cool). Method: Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice; shake until well-chilled. Strain into a chilled coupe or martini glass and garnish with a lemon twist. 50/50 martini. getty As its name suggests, this is an equal-parts cocktail that can make for a really entertaining, and simultaneously upskilling, recipe to sample different gins with. Bartenders also have fun adding their unique twist on this recipe by adding a dash or two of flavored bitters which can complement the chosen gin. Ingredients: 1.5 oz gin, 1.5 oz dry vermouth Method: Add the gin and vermouth to a cocktail shaker with ice; shake until well-chilled. Strain into a pre-chilled martini glass and garnish with a lemon twist. Raw egg cocktails aren't for everyone (especially in an egg-flation economy) but if you can stomach it, the White Lady is an underrated, iconic gin cocktail that's more likely to be found on a British menu than it is stateside. The texture of the egg white topping the gin sour-like base makes for a rich mouthfeel. Ingredients: 1.5 oz gin, 0.75 oz orange liqueur (like Triple Sec), 0.75 oz fresh lemon juice, one egg white Method: Add all ingredients into a shaker with ice and shake well. Strain out the ice then add the ingredients back to the shaker for a vigorous dry shake to help build a rich foam. Strain again, this time into a coupe glass and garnish with a lemon twist. Sparkling, sweet and tart, this gin and Champagne cocktail is equally perfect as an aperitivo as it is with brunch. If you're in the mood for a more evident gin profile, try playing with the ratio of the spirit to the bubbles. Ingredients: 1 oz gin, 3 oz, Champagne 0.5 oz fresh lemon juice, 0.5 oz simple syrup; lemon twist for garnish Method: Combine the gin, simple syrup and lemon juice into a cocktail shaker with ice; shake until chilled then strain into a Champagne flute. Float in the Champagne to the top of the glass and garnish with a lemon twist. Ramos gin fizz. getty This drink may require a little extra preparation, but it's worth it for the velvety, flavorful result. It's a New Orleans favorite and some bartenders have even been quoted to say that it outsells the Sazerac. Give it a try for yourself, but be warned, it may take some time to perfect. Ingredients: 1.5 oz gin, 0.75 oz simple syrup, 0.5 oz heavy cream, 0.5 oz fresh lime juice, 0.5 oz fresh lemon juice, 3 dashes orange flower water, 1 egg white, club soda Method: Combine all ingredients, except the club soda, to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously for at least 15 seconds. Strain out the ice and add ingredients back to the shaker for a dry round of shaking for 15 seconds. Strain into a highball glass, while simultaneously adding the club soda together in one slow stream to achieve the fluffy, towering fizz. As previously mentioned, a more complex gin can really change the profile of a negroni. Personally, I love more of an herbal quality in my negronis, so I tend to reach for a gin that showcases this on its own, but is even more prominent when mixed with an herb-forward sweet vermouth. Ingredients: 1.5 oz gin, 1.5 oz Campari, 1.5 oz sweet vermouth Method: Combine all ingredients in a cocktail glass with ice; stir until well-chilled. Strain into a low ball glass with one large cube. Garnish with a rosemary sprig or olive. A name as fun as it sounds, this gin-based cocktail combines the brambly notes of crème de mûre (a blackberry liqueur) for an elegant take on summer fruit. If you don't have pebbled or crushed ice on hand, add some cubes to a ziplock bag and use a heavy object to break up the larger pieces as crushed ice definitely adds to the draw of this drink. Ingredients: 2 oz gin, 0.6 oz lemon juice, 1/4 oz simple syrup, 0.6 oz crème de mûre Method: Add the first four ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake until chilled. Strain into a rocks glass filled with crushed ice. Pour in the crème de mûre over the ice; garnish with a cocktail pick of fresh blackberries.
News18
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Mixing Tradition with Flavor: Iconic Cocktails of Louisiana
Last Updated: Sip your way through Louisiana with iconic cocktails that tell the story of the state's rich culture, history, and flavor in every glass. News18 Cocktails in Louisiana are a unique blend of tradition, innovation, and celebration with every sip. Known for its deep-rooted history in mixology, some of the most iconic drinks in the world originate here. New Orleans is the birthplace of America's first cocktail, the Sazerac, filled with a bold flavor. The Hurricane instantly recognizable for its fruity flavours was also concocted in Louisiana. The cocktail scene in Louisiana is as vibrant and diverse as its rich cultural heritage and indulgence is the only way to appreciate its distinctive unique flavors. Looking to try the iconic cocktails while in Louisiana? Here is a curated list of drinks you should try and unravel the true story behind its origin. Brandy Milk Punch: Don't be fooled by the name of this drink because it packs a punch through the rich and creamy flavor it emanates. Sip this cocktail at Brennan's, the restaurant that is credited for perfecting it and handing a true classic drink to the world. Sazerac: America's first cocktail and officially the drink that New Orleans swears by, it is a perfect representation of Louisiana. The cocktail is made with delicious Sazerac rye whiskey that also lends its name to the drink. Blended with Herbsaint, Peychaud's Bitters, sugar and lemon peel, Sazerac is a classic cocktail loved by all. While in Louisiana we recommend you to try the Sazerac at The Sazerac Bar, or The Sazerac House and enjoy an immersive experience with exhibits and tastings. Vieux Carre Cocktail: An original invention from Louisiana, this cocktail is a unique mix of Bénédictine, Cognac, Rye whiskey and sweet vermouth. Bold in flavors and aroma, the drink is spiced to lend it a slow sip flavor. Vieux Carre was developed in 1937 at Hotel Monteleone in New Orleans by head bartender Water Bargeron. French 75: A strong drink, this is perfect to celebrate a grand victory. The ingredients in this cocktail are simple, lemon and cognac, however the bubbly drink gives the right kick to patrons. Try French 75 at Arnaud's restaurant to enjoy the ambience and grandeur of Louisiana's past. Grasshopper: Trust us it's just a name and has no grasshoppers in it! The sweet taste of chocolate and mint lends the drink its unique name. Philip Guichet Sr. is credited with the invention of the cocktail. He traveled to New York City to participate in a cocktail competition in 1918 and entered this libation and won second place. He then brought the recipe back home to New Orleans. La Louisane Cocktail: The La Louisiane Cocktail is not for the faint of heart. Made with rye whiskey, vermouth, Bénédictine, D.O.M liqueur, absinthe, bitters and a cherry garnish, this one is a true original from New Orleans going back to the 1800s. top videos View all So, next time you are in Louisiana, don't forget to raise your glass and enjoy the timeless flavors from the state. Partnered Post Location : Noida, India, India First Published: May 21, 2025, 15:55 IST News studio18 Mixing Tradition with Flavor: Iconic Cocktails of Louisiana
New York Times
28-04-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
Brad Lander's 2 Goals in N.Y.C. Mayor's Race: Beat Cuomo and Win
Brad Lander, the New York City comptroller and self-described 'tough nerd,' knows that for him to win the race for mayor of New York City, Andrew M. Cuomo must fall. To make that more likely, Mr. Lander decided that his campaign strategy needed an overhaul. He would no longer focus his ire on the increasingly inconsequential mayor of New York City, Eric Adams, and his apparent alliance with the Trump administration. Instead, Mr. Lander, the Park Slope father with the University of Chicago degree, would use his distinctive voice — a singsong lilt that his critics find grating — to try to take down Mr. Cuomo, the former governor leading in the polls. During a Passover week meal of latkes and matzo ball soup at a restaurant on Montague Street in Brooklyn, Mr. Lander unspooled his indictment of Mr. Cuomo, allegation by allegation. 'I know he looks like a good leader, but actually, you know, he's just a corrupt chaos agent with an abusive personality that has shown through in every position he's been in, and that's dangerous for New York City,' Mr. Lander said, stopping only to spread sour cream and apple sauce on his potato pancake, or to sip from his French 75, a cocktail he likes because it is fizzy. New Yorkers, he said, deserved a stark alternative: 'I am a decent person. Let's just start there.' In eight weeks, Democratic primary voters will choose a candidate for mayor, with the victor promptly becoming the favorite to win the November general election in a city where Democrats outnumber Republicans six to one. What kind of person New Yorkers want as their mayor is the elemental question of this and any mayor's race. Do they want someone who projects a muscle-car style of masculinity, like the former governor, who resigned in disgrace in 2021 after an investigation found he had sexually harassed 11 women? (Mr. Cuomo has denied wrongdoing.) Would they rather a female politician adept at projecting an even-tempered self-confidence, like the City Council speaker, Adrienne Adams? Would they prefer a charismatic democratic socialist and son of a movie director from Queens with an age-appropriate aptitude for social media, like Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, who is now polling in second place? Or would they like Mr. Lander, an earnest-seeming policy wonk who read Antigone in the original Greek; a former member of the Democratic Socialists of America who in 2020 said he still considered himself a member, but whose spokeswoman now says hasn't attended a D.S.A. meeting in decades; a critic of the city-backed financing of the Hudson Yards development on Manhattan's West Side who has since come around; a reform Jew who considered becoming a rabbi, and who is also an anti-occupation Netanyahu critic who cursed Mr. Cuomo in Yiddish as he accused him of wielding antisemitism as a political weapon? At the moment, it appears that New York City voters are looking elsewhere. Mr. Lander is polling at 6 percent among registered Democratic voters, well behind Mr. Mamdani, a liberal upstart who has energized much of Mr. Lander's presumptive base. Twenty percent of voters remain undecided. Mayor Adams has opted out of the Democratic primary and will run as an independent in November instead. Lander partisans note that it is early. At this point in 2021, Andrew Yang was still leading the polls, Mr. Adams was in second place, and Maya Wiley, a civil rights lawyer, and Kathryn Garcia, the former sanitation commissioner, were polling at 7 and 4 percent, according to a Spectrum News NY1/Ipsos poll from the time. That June, Ms. Garcia lost to Mr. Adams by just 7,000 votes, Ms. Wiley finished third, and Mr. Yang finished fourth. And Mr. Lander won the Democratic primary for comptroller. 'What I did last time to win was build a coalition that had the Maya Wiley voters, like people that have a more progressive vision of a city that can deliver on affordability, and Kathryn Garcia voters, who just want a good manager who loves New York City,' Mr. Lander said. 'And I believe that coalition still exists and can be a majority of the Democratic primary electorate.' But first, Mr. Lander said, Mr. Cuomo has to be 'knocked down.' To that end, Mr. Lander has bombarded the press with anti-Cuomo messaging, hoping that something, anything, will stick. 'Lander Demands Cuomo Release His Tax Returns After History of Shady Business and Lies About His Income,' read one news release. 'In Addition to Shady Crypto Client, Who Else Has Cuomo Been Paid to Advise Since Resigning as Governor?' read another. Mr. Lander's first real political encounter with Mr. Cuomo happened in 2017, when Mr. Lander was the city councilman representing Park Slope, Brooklyn, and Mr. Cuomo was still governor. Mr. Cuomo effectively killed a New York City law imposing a 5-cent fee on plastic bags that Mr. Lander had sponsored, acting right before it was set to begin. 'Plastic bags won,' Mr. Lander said at the time. Four years after Mr. Lander's bill passed the City Council, a plastic bag ban signed by Mr. Cuomo went into effect. 'We call that 40 billion plastic bags later,' Mr. Lander said. More damning, Mr. Lander argues, were the Cuomo administration's choices during the height of the Covid pandemic, when it directed nursing homes to accept infected patients, and then failed to publicly account for the deaths of more than 4,000 nursing home residents, according to an audit by the state comptroller, Thomas P. DiNapoli. Mr. Lander has also tried to highlight the estimated $61 million New York has spent on legal representation related to issues surrounding Mr. Cuomo's tenure. 'In every relationship, he views it as like, how could I manipulate this other party to my benefit?' Mr. Lander said. 'And I really think that's how he thinks about New York City.' And so, inevitably, more than an hour into a pro-migrant, pro-trans-rights, pro-Mr. Lander event at a Unitarian church in Brooklyn Heights, Mr. Lander turned to Mr. Cuomo. He pinned Mr. Cuomo's polling status on 'name recognition in a time of Trumpian distraction' and 'pandemic memory repression.' He invoked a former Syracuse mayor, Stephanie Miner, who recently described Mr. Cuomo's kissing her against her will as a power play. He brought up Covid and the $5 million book deal on which Mr. Cuomo used government resources. He noted that Mr. Cuomo's lawyer had sought the gynecological records of a woman who had accused him of harassment. 'This is an abusive, corrupt person who is running for his own revenge tour,' Mr. Lander said. 'He is not looking to solve the problems of New York City, where he hasn't lived in 25 years.' Then Mr. Lander asked the room to sing 'Happy Birthday' to his 81-year-old mother, whose celebration he was missing while on the campaign trail. The audience happily complied. In a statement, Esther Jensen, a spokeswoman for Mr. Cuomo, described Mr. Lander's strategy as 'bizarre.' 'New Yorkers aren't naïve,' she said. 'They know Governor Cuomo is the only person in this race with the proven record of accomplishment, and leadership necessary to effectively confront the very serious challenges we face, and take on President Trump, which is why these repeated gutter attacks from Brad Lander, a career politician, with no meaningful record or vision of his own, are not only not working, but backfiring.' Mr. Lander, the 55-year-old son of a St. Louis lawyer and guidance counselor, met his wife at the University of Chicago and moved to New York City in 1992, so she could attend N.Y.U. law school. He found work running a community development corporation and then the Pratt Center for Community Development, both in Brooklyn. After Mr. Lander announced he would run for mayor, he began tacking toward the center, renouncing the defund the police movement he had once supported and giving a pro-growth speech at a prominent civic association. The speech won the respect of Dan Doctoroff, a former deputy mayor under Michael R. Bloomberg and a driving force behind New York City's economic development. 'The most important thing is he's adopted my vision of the pro-growth cycle,' Mr. Doctoroff said of Mr. Lander. It was a strategy seemingly predicated on the idea that moderates seeking competent governance would coalesce with left-leaning voters behind Mr. Lander. He has cast himself as a liberal with managerial chops, and a housing expert who promises to end the mental health crisis on city streets and to build apartments on public golf courses. But the left seems more enamored of Mr. Mamdani these days. In this city of shifting political loyalties, the pendulum may still swing in unexpected ways. At this point in 2021, Ms. Garcia, who was running on her managerial competence, was a political afterthought. Then she surged forward, winning the endorsements of The New York Times and The Daily News. Many voters still 'want someone who is going to be a good manager,' said Basil Smikle, a Democratic strategist who formerly led the state party. He added that voters were also looking for someone who could stand up to Mr. Trump. 'Brad Lander has a chance if he can make the case that he can do all of those things,' Mr. Smikle said.
The Guardian
20-04-2025
- The Guardian
Le Touquet: old-world glamour on the French coast
I was sold on Le Touquet even before we reached the beach, a vast sweep of golden sand and grey green sea. There's something about the way the town was created that appeals, an eccentric idea that was based on nothing more than a desire for pleasure. (A bit like Las Vegas, but classier and French.) It was in 1837 when a wealthy Parisian lawyer decided to plant about 2,000 pines in the area for his hunting parties. Around 50 years later, a linoleum magnate from Leeds bought the town, attracting the British gentry with a horse track, casinos and golf course. At the centre of its hedonistic history is Hotel Barrière Le Westminster, a grand redbrick, art deco building 10 minutes from the beach. The photo gallery just outside the dining room says everything about its iconic status; Edith Piaf, Charles de Gaulle, Marlene Dietrich all stayed, along with Ian Fleming, who wrote Casino Royale here. In 1962, Sean Connery signed his first James Bond film contract – the most luxurious suite is numbered 007 in tribute. The old-world glamour hasn't dimmed; plush bedrooms twinkle with art deco touches, in the pale wood panelling and modernist paintings on the walls. If you don't stay, enjoy a drink at the elegant bar where their French 75 is a favourite. For budget chic nearby, there's Hotel Castel Victoria, five minutes from the beach, with a cosy library, pool room and sun terrace. Every Thursday there's the market at Le Marche Couvert du Touquet in the town centre, where you can find anything from vintage gold jewellery, pretty espadrille wedges for a tenner and an old-fashioned kitchen hardware store that you'll never want to leave. There are seafood brasseries to while away a lunchtime over a moule marinière and a glass of Cremant – Pérard on Rue de Metz is a seafood institution. After lunch, amble through the pine forest, a 15-minute walk from the seafront, to the horseriding centre ( and go for a pony ride along the sand. If you still have energy, climb 274 steps to the top of La Canche Lighthouse for spectacular views or stop off at Le Sand, a pretty bar on the beach where you can kick off your shoes and gaze out at the ocean. Hotel Barrière Le Westminster has double rooms from £220 per night; Hotel Castel Victoria has double rooms from £91;
