With the popularity of beer and wine these days, many people have gotten away from drinking cocktails and mixed drinks. Remember that variety is the spice of life. While beer and wine are good, mixed drinks can provide an interesting and refreshing change of pace. Below, listed in alphabetical order, are recipes for 30 drinks that you have to try before you die. Try making them yourself at home, or share the recipes with your favorite bartender. Life is too short to ignore these simple pleasures.
1. Amaretto Sour
In a shaker filled with ice, combine 1 ounce amaretto and 2 ounces sweet & sour mix. Shake well and strain into a 3-ounce cocktail glass, or serve on ice in a rocks glass. Garnish with an orange slice and a cherry.
2. Banshee (or White Monkey)
In a shaker filled with ice, combine 1/2 ounce white creme de banana, 1/2 ounce creme de almond, and 2 ounces cream. Shake well and strain into a 3-ounce cocktail glass or champagne glass.
3. Bay Breeze
Fill a 3-ounce highball glass with ice. Add 1 ounce vodka, 1 ounce cranberry juice, and 1 ounce pineapple juice. Do not stir.
4. Black Russian
Fill a 2-ounce rocks glass with ice. Add 1-1/2 ounces vodka and 1/2 ounce Kahlua. Do not stir.
5. Brandy Alexander
In a shaker filled with ice, combine 1/2 ounce brown crème de cacao, 1/2 ounce brandy, and 2 ounces cream. Shake well and strain into a 3-ounce cocktail glass or champagne glass. Top with a sprinkle of nutmeg.
6. California Sour (or Stone Sour)
In a shaker filled with ice, combine 1 ounce whiskey, 1 ounce orange juice, and 1 ounce sweet & sour mix. Shake well and strain into a 3-ounce cocktail glass, or serve on ice in a rocks glass. Garnish with an orange slice and a cherry.
7. Chocolate Martini
In a shaker filled with ice, combine 1 ounce vodka and 1 ounce brown crème de cacao. Shake well and strain into a martini glass.
8. Cosmopolitan
In a shaker filled with ice, combine 1-1/2 ounces vodka, 1/2 ounce Cointreau, a splash of Rose's lime juice, and a splash of cranberry juice. Shake well and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a lime wedge.
9. Electric Lemonade
In a shaker filled with ice, combine 1/2 ounce gin, 1/2 ounce vodka, 1/2 ounce rum, 1/2 ounce tequila, 1/2 ounce triple sec, and 2 ounces sweet & sour mix. Shake well and strain into a tall, ice-filled glass. Top with 1/2 ounce club soda or Seven Up. Garnish with a lemon wedge.
10. Fuzzy Navel
Fill a 3-ounce highball glass with ice. Add 1 ounce peach schnapps and 2 ounces orange juice. Do not stir.
11. Golden Margarita
In a shaker filled with ice, combine 1 ounce Cuervo Gold tequila, 1/2 ounce Grand Marnier, 1/2 ounce Rose's lime juice, and 1 ounce sweet & sour mix. Shake well and strain into a margarita glass (ice and/or salt rim optional). Garnish with a lime wedge.
12. Hairy Navel
Fill a 3-ounce highball glass with ice. Add 1/2 ounce vodka, 1/2 ounce peach schnapps, and 2 ounces orange juice. Do not stir.
13. Kahlua & Cream (or Sombrero)
Fill a 2-ounce rocks glass with ice. Add 2 ounces Kahlua. Top with a splash of cream. Stir if desired.
14. Kamikaze
In a shaker filled with ice, combine 1-1/2 ounces vodka, 1/2 ounce triple sec, and a splash of Rose's lime juice. Swirl or stir, and then strain into a shooter glass, or serve on ice in a 2-ounce rocks glass.
15. Long Island Iced Tea
In a shaker filled with ice, combine 1/2 ounce gin, 1/2 ounce vodka, 1/2 ounce rum, 1/2 ounce tequila, 1/2 ounce triple sec, and 2 ounces sweet & sour mix. Shake well and strain into a tall, ice-filled glass. Top with 1/2 ounce Coke. Garnish with a lemon wedge.
16. Lynchburg Lemonade
In a shaker filled with ice, combine 1 ounce Jack Daniel's, 1/2 ounce triple sec, and 3 ounces sweet & sour mix. Shake well and strain into a tall, ice-filled glass. Top with 1/2 ounce club soda or Seven Up. Garnish with a lemon wedge.
17. Madras
Fill a 3-ounce highball glass with ice. Add 1 ounce vodka, 1 ounce cranberry juice, and 1 ounce orange juice. Do not stir.
18. Mai Tai
In a shaker filled with ice, combine 1/2 ounce light rum, 1/2 ounce triple sec, 1/2 ounce creme de almond, 1/2 ounce grenadine, and 3 ounces sweet & sour mix. Shake well and strain into a tall, ice-filled glass. Garnish with an orange slice and a cherry.
19. Milk & Honey
Fill a 2-ounce rocks glass with ice. Add 1-1/2 ounces Irish Mist and 1/2 ounce Bailey's Irish Cream. Do not stir.
20. Pink Squirrel
In a shaker filled with ice, combine 1/2 ounce white crème de cacao, 1/2 ounce crème de almond, and 2 ounces cream. Shake well and strain into a 3-ounce cocktail glass or champagne glass.
21. Rum Runner
In a shaker filled with ice, combine 1/2 ounce light rum, 1/2 ounce blackberry brandy, 1/2 ounce crème de banana, 1/2 ounce grenadine, 1-1/2 ounces orange juice, and 1-1/2 ounces pineapple juice. Shake well and strain into a tall, ice-filled glass. Top with 1/4 ounce 151 rum. Garnish with a pineapple wedge.
22. Rusty Nail
Fill a 2-ounce rocks glass with ice. Add 1-1/2 ounces scotch and 1/2 ounce Drambuie. Do not stir.
23. Sea Breeze
Fill a 3-ounce highball glass with ice. Add 1 ounce vodka, 1 ounce cranberry juice, and 1 ounce grapefruit juice. Do not stir.
24. Sex on the Beach
In a shaker filled with ice, combine 1/2 ounce vodka, 1/2 ounce peach schnapps, 1/2 ounce melon liqueur, 1/2 ounce raspberry liqueur, 1-1/2 ounces orange juice, and 1-1/2 ounces cranberry juice. Shake well and strain into a tall, ice-filled glass. Garnish with an orange slice and a cherry.
25. Sloe Gin Fizz
In a shaker filled with ice, combine 1-1/2 ounces sloe gin, 3 ounces sweet & sour mix, and 1/2 ounce club soda. Shake well and strain into a tall, ice-filled glass. Garnish with a cherry.
26. Tequila Sunrise
Fill a 3-ounce highball glass with ice. Add 1 ounce tequila and 2 ounces orange juice. Top with 1/2 ounce grenadine, poured slowly around the edge of the drink. (The grenadine will slowly settle, giving a "sunrise" effect.) Do not stir.
27. Toasted Almond
Fill a 2-ounce rocks glass with ice. Add 1-1/2 ounces amaretto, 1/2 ounce Kahlua, and a splash of cream. Do not stir.
28. Velvet Hammer
In a shaker filled with ice, combine 1/2 ounce white crème de cacao, 1/2 ounce triple sec, and 2 ounces cream. Shake well and strain into a 3-ounce cocktail glass or champagne glass.
29. White Russian
Fill a 2-ounce rocks glass with ice. Add 1-1/2 ounces vodka, 1/2 ounce Kahlua, and a splash of cream. Do not stir.
30. Zombie
In a shaker filled with ice, combine 1/2 ounce dark rum, 1/2 ounce light rum, 1/2 ounce triple sec, 1/2 ounce crème de almond, 1-1/4 ounces sweet & sour mix, and 1-1/2 ounces orange juice. Shake well and strain into a tall, ice-filled glass. Top with 1/2 ounce club soda and 1/4 ounce 151 rum. Garnish with an orange slice and a cherry.
