Blue Hawaiin

To make a Blue Hawaiin:

Pour 1 oz Rum, 1/2 Blue Curacao, and 1 1/2 oz Pineapple Juice in a mixing tin with ice. Shake. Strain into an iced collins glass and top with Sprite/7-UP. Garnish with an orange slice and a cherry.

Mai Tai

To make a Mai Tai:

In an iced pint glass (16 oz glass), pour 1 oz Rum, 1/2 oz Triple Sec and 1/2 oz Grenadine. Fill the remainder of the glass with equal parts Sour Mix, Pineapple Juice and Orange Juice, leaving approximately a 1/2 inch of space at top of the glass. Pour contents of glass into mixing tin and shake. Pour contents of mixing tin back into collins glass. Float 1/2 oz of Myers' Dark Rum on the top. Garnish with an orange and a cherry.

See previous blog post on tips for building and rolling drinks.

Hollywood Shooter

To make a Hollywood Shooter:

Pour 1/2 oz Vodka, 1/2 oz Chambord, 1/2 oz Peach Schnapps, and 1/2 oz Pineapple Juice into a mixing tin with ice. Shake. Strain into a rocks glass.

Hairy Navel

To make a Hairy Navel:

Fill a highball glass with ice. Pour 1 oz Vodka and 1/2 oz Peach Schnapps into glass. Fill the remainder of the glass with Orange Juice. Garnish with an orange slice.

Bartending Basics: Buliding and Rolling Techniques

"Building" a drink means the drink is built in the glass (instead of mixing tin) as follows: glass, then ice, then liquor(s), then mix (or mixes), then garnish and a straw or stir stick.

When a drink is built, all of the alcohol will be at the bottom of the glass and will need to be stirred by the drink recipient. While this may be advisable for drinks like a rum and coke (where carbonated soda is involved), my own bartending practice is to shake drinks that have more than one type of alcohol plus juices and/or sour mix in a mixing tin so that my customers are served a well-mixed drink. To do this, I build the drink in the glass first. Then, I pour the entire contents of the glass (including the ice) into my mixing tin, shake, and pour the contents of the mixing tin back into the glass. Then, I garnish the glass/drink.

You can also "roll" the drink instead of shaking it. Rolling simply means pouring the drink from the glass into the mixing tin (or another glass), then from the mixing tin back into the glass, and repeating this several times. I would recommend this method for drinks that contain soda as a mix ingredient.

Orange Crush Cocktail

To make an Orange Crush Cocktail:

In an iced collins glass, pour 1 oz Vodka and 1/2 oz Triple Sec. Fill remainder of glass with equal parts Orange Juice and Sprite/7-UP. Garnish with an ornage slice and a cherry.

Note: Since this drink contains corbonated beverage, I do not advise shaking the drink in a mixing tin prior to serving. If you do want to pre-mix the drink prior to serving, then using a gentle rolling process instead (see previous blog post on tips for building and rolling drinks).

Bahama Mama

To make a Bahama Mama:

In an iced collins glass, pour 1 oz Light Rum, 1 oz Dark Rum, 1 oz Coconut Rum, and 1/2 oz Grenadine. Fill the remainder of the glass with equal parts Pineapple Juice and Orange Juice. Pour contents of glass into mixing tin and shake. Pour contents of mixing tin back into collins glass. Garnish with orange slice and a cherry.

See previous blog post on tips for building and rolling drinks.

Baltimore Zoo

To make a Baltimore Zoo:

In an iced pint glass (16 oz glass), pour 1/2 oz Vodka, 1/2 oz Gin, 1/2 oz Rum, 1/2 oz Tequila, and 1/2 oz Triple Sec. Fill the remainder of the glass with equal parts Sour Mix and Cranberry juice, leaving approximately 1 to 1 1/2 inches of space at top of the glass. Pour contents of glass into mixing tin and shake. Pour contents of mixing tin back into pint glass. Separately, pour a 1 to 1 1/2 oz shot of beer into a shot glass. Garnish the pint glass with an orange and a cherry. Serve pint glass with shot of beer. The customer/recipient will then pour the shot of beer into the pint glass and stir with a straw.

See previous blog post on tips for building and rolling drinks.

Long Beach Iced Tea

To make a Long Beach Iced Tea:

In an iced collins glass, pour 1/2 oz Vodka, 1/2 oz Gin, 1/2 oz Rum, 1/2 oz Tequila, and 1/2 oz Triple Sec. Fill the remainder of the glass with equal parts Sour Mix and Cranberry Juice. Pour contents of glass into mixing tin and shake. Pour contents of mixing tin back into collins glass. Garnish with lemon wedge.

See previous blog post on tips for building and rolling drinks.

Blue Motorcycle

To make a Blue Motorcycle:

Pour 1/2 oz Vodka, 1/2 oz Gin, 1/2 oz Rum, 1/2 oz Tequila, 1/2 oz Blue Curacau, and 1 1/2 oz Sour Mix into a mixing tin with ice. Shake. Strain into an iced collins glass and top with splash of Sprite/7-UP. Garnish with lemon wedge.

Long Island Iced Tea

To make a Long Island Iced Tea:

Pour 1/2 oz Vodka, 1/2 oz Gin, 1/2 oz Rum, 1/2 oz Tequila, 1/2 oz Triple Sec, and 1 1/2 oz Sour Mix into mixing tin with ice. Shake. Strain into an iced collins glass and top with splash of Coke/Cola. Garnish with lemon wedge.

Lynchburg Lemonade

To make a Lynchburg Lemonade:

Pour 1 oz Jack Daniels, 1/2 oz Triple Sec, and 1 1/2 oz Sour Mix into mixing tin with ice. Shake. Strain into an iced collins glass and top with Sprite/7-UP. Garnish with lemon wedge.

Raging Bull

To make a Raging Bull:

In a highball glass with ice, pour 1 1/2 oz Vodka and approx. 7 oz Red Bull. Serve.

Jagger Bomb

To make a Jagger Bomb:

Simultaneously pour 2 oz of Jagger and 6-7 oz Red Bull into a highball glass. Serve.

Cherry Bomb

To make a Cherry Bomb:

Simultaneously pour 2 oz Cherry Vodka and 6-7 oz Red Bull into a highball glass. Serve.

Washington Apple Shooter

To make a Washington Apple:

Pour 3/4 oz Crown Royal (bourbon), 3/4 oz Apple Pucker (apple sour liqeuer), and 3/4 oz Cranberry Juice into mixing tin with ice. Shake. Strain into rocks glass.

Tight Snatch Cocktail

To make a Tight Snatch Cocktail:

In an iced colling glass, pour 1 oz Coconut Rum and 1 oz Peach Schnapps. Fill the remainder of the glass with equal parts Pineapple Juice and Cranberry Juice. Pour contents of glass into mixing tin and shake. Pour contents of mixing tin back into collins glass. Garnish with orange slice and a cherry.

See Bartending Basics blog for tips on "building" and "rolling" drinks.

Blonde Slut Shooter

In response to a post on Facebook, below is the recipe to make a Blonde Slut Shooter:

Pour 1/2 oz Grand Marnier, 1/2 oz Peach Schnapps, & 1/2 Pineapple Juice into mixing tin with ice. Shake. Strain into a shot glass (or rocks glass).

SoCo & Lime Shooter

To make a SoCo & Lime Shooter:

Pout 3/4 oz Southern Comfort and 3/4 oz Lime Juice into mixing tin with ice. Shake. Strain into shot glass (or rocks glass).

Royal Flush Shooter

To make a Royal Flush Shooter:

Pour 1/2 oz Crown Royal, 1/2 oz Peach Schnapps, and 1/2 oz Cranberry Juice into a mixing tin with ice. Shake. Strain into a shot glass (or rocks glass).

Alabama Slammer Shooter

To make an Alabama Slammer Shooter:

Pour 1/2 oz Sloe Gin, 1/2 oz Amaretto, 1/2 oz Southern Comfort, and 1/2 oz Orange Juice into a mixing tin with ice. Shake. Strain into rocks glass.

Alternate recipe:

Pour 3/4 oz sloe Gin, 3/4 oz Southern Comfort, and 1/2 oz Orange Juice into a mixing tin with ice. Shake. Strain into rocks glass.

Red-Headed Slut Shooter

To make a Red-Headed Slut Shooter:

Pour 1/2 oz Jagger, 1/2 oz Peach Schnapps, and 1/2 oz Cranberry Juice into a mixing tin with ice. Shake. Strain into shot glass (or rocks glass).

Sex On The Beach Shooter

To make a Sex On The Beach Shooter:

Pour 1/2 oz Vodka, 1/2 oz Midori (mellon liqueur), 1/2 oz Chambord (rasberry liqueur), and 1/2 Pineapple Juice into a mixing tin with ice. Shake. Strain into rocks glass.

Melon Ball Shooter

To make a Mellon Ball Shooter:

Pour 1/2 oz Vodka, 1/2 oz Midori (melon liqueur), and 1/2 oz Pineapple Juice into a mixing tin with ice. Shake. Strain into shot glass (or rocks glass).

Kamikazi Shooter

To make a Kamikazi Shooter:

Pour 1/2 oz Vodka, 1/2 oz Triple Sec, and 1/2 oz Lime Juice into a mixing tin with ice. Shake. Strain into shot glass (or rocks glass).

After Five Shooter

To make an After Five Shooter:

Pour 1/2 oz Kahlua, 1/2 oz Bailey's Irish Creme, and 1/2 oz Peppermint Schnapps into a mixing tin with ice. Shake. Strain into shot glass (or rocks glass).

Absolute Heaven Shooter

To make an Absolute Heaven Shooter:

Pour 1/2 oz of Absolute Vodka, 1/2 oz Chambord, 1/2 oz Sour Mix, and 1/2 oz Sprite/7-UP into mixing tin with ice. Shake. Strain into rocks glass.

Bartending Basics: Specialty Glassware

In addition to basic glassware (i.e., shot glass, rocks glass, highball glass, and collins glass), there are also specialty glasses recommended for certain types of drinks. Some examples of specialty glasses include the martini glass, a margarita glass, and a brandy snifter.

Martini glasses are most often used for martinis served "up" (meaning no ice), cream drinks served up (like a Brandy Alexander or a Grasshopper), gimlets, cosmos, manhattans, rob roys, appletinis, and the like. In the absence of a margarita glass, a martini glass may be used to serve frozen drinks, such as margaritas, pina colada, and diaquiris.

Margarita glasses can be used for serving certain frozen drinks, such as margaritas, pina coladas, and diaquiris. However, neither margarita glasses nor martini glasses should be used for drinks being served "on the rocks" (meaning with ice). For example, a Margarita On The Rocks would be served in a collins glass.

Brandy snifters are generally used for brandies and cognacs. Some people also prefer a brandy snifter for certain cordials and/or liqueurs.

Tips for Chilling or Heating Specialty Glasses:

Martini and Margarita glasses should be chilled before use in most drinks. A quick way to chill your glasses is to fill them with ice and cold water and let sit while you are mixing the drink in your tin or blender. Then, empty the ice-water from the glass and pour in your drink.

Brandies and cognacs are meant to give a sensation of warmth, so I cannot think of a reason in the world to chill a brandy snifter before use. Due to the shape of the brandy snifter and the slow sipping technique usually employed, the brandy or cognac are generally warmed by the palm of the drinker's hand. However, if you prefer to use a pre-warmed snifter, then you can fill it with hot water and let it set for a few minutes. Then, empty the warm water from the glass and pour your drink.

Bartending Basics: Basic Glassware

Different drinks require different glassware.

The four basic types of glassware are:

• Shot Glass (approx. 2 oz.)
• Rocks Glass (approx. 6 oz.)
• Highball Glass (approx. 8-10 oz.)
• Collins Glass (approx. 10-12 oz.)

Often in a bar or restaurant, most shots and shooters are actually served in a rocks glass. When making and serving shooters at home, a shot glass can be used provided that the shot glass will hold at least 2 ounces and that the particular shooter is less than 2 ounces. If a particular shooter recipe calls for a total of 2 ounces or more of liquor and/or mix ingredients, then you will want to serve it in a rocks glass instead. When serving a layered shooter with multiple ingredients, some bartenders will substitute a martini glass for a shot glass or rocks glass.

A rocks glass is generally used for drinks that do not have a mix (such as soda, juice, or sour mix) and often for shooters (as mentioned above). Some of examples of drinks that are served in a rocks glass are a Black Russian, an Old Fashion, and a Kamikaze Cocktail. Rocks glasses are also used for drinks like a whiskey on the rocks.

As a general rule of thumb, a highball glass is used for drinks that have one liquor and one or more mixes. Examples of highball drinks include a Screwdriver, a Cap Code, and a Fuzzy Navel. Highball glasses are also used for drinks like a Rum & Coke or a Gin & Tonic.

Collins glasses are used for drinks that have two or more liquors, plus one or more mixes. Examples of drinks served in a collins glass are a Long Island Iced Tea, a Blue Motorcycle, a Lynchburg Lemonade, a Harvey Navel, and a White Russian.

Bartending Basics: Tools

In order to make many of the drink recipes posted on Virtual Bartender, there are some basic bartending tools you may want to have on hand. If you do not already have the tools listed below, a good place to find them online is http://www.barproducts.com/.

Basic Bartending Tools:

• Large Mixing Tin
• Small Mixing Tin (also handy as an ice scoop)
• Strainer
• Jigger
• Pour Spouts
• Wine Service (a combination cork screw and bottle opener is recommended)
• Bar Towel
• Stir Spoon
• Bar Knife (for cutting items like fruit)