Rum and Dr. Pepper

I love simple. Gin or vodka soda is always a winner with me. I don’t drink flavored sodas, but when I do, it’s a rum and Dr. Pepper. I’m willing to do Pepsi if I have to… Coke?… (barf). But, to honor the OG drink, that’s the recipe I’ve included below. I also prefer a dark, spiced, or black rum. Yum.

About: Rum and Coke, or the Cuba libre, is a highball cocktail consisting of cola, rum, and in many recipes lime juice on ice. Traditionally, the cola ingredient is Coca-Cola and the alcohol is a light rum such as Bacardi. Wikipedia

Main alcohol: Rum

Ingredients: 1 2/3 oz White rum, 1/3 oz Fresh lime juice, 4 oz Cola

Negroni

Below is the description of a very standard Negroni cocktail. I’m a big fan of variations and not following the rules. At home, I shake mine over ice, which is a huge no-no, so take this as a guide and get creative.

NOTE: I never use Aviation. Sorry, Ryan Reynolds, but it’s the only gin I can’t stand.

About: The Negroni is a popular Italian cocktail, made of one part gin, one part vermouth rosso, and one part Campari, garnished with orange peel. It is considered an apéritif. A traditionally made Negroni is stirred, not shaken, and built over ice in an old-fashioned or rocks glass and garnished with a slice of orange. Wikipedia

Main alcohol: Campari, Vermouth, Gin

Ingredients: 1 oz (1 part) Campari, 1 oz (1 part) Gin, 1 oz (1 part) Sweet red Vermouth

Moscow Mule

Refreshing in the summer with a warm spiciness that’s perfect in the winter. Variations with grapefruit, cranberry, mint, and other flavors. Plus, if you don’t enjoy vodka you can substitute it with almost any other liquor category. It’s practically impossible to mess up, especially if made with Q Light Ginger Beer, one of my favorites.

About: A Moscow mule is a cocktail made with vodka, spicy ginger beer, and lime juice, garnished with a slice or wedge of lime. The Moscow mule is popularly served in a copper mug, which takes on the cold temperature of the liquid. Wikipedia

Main alcohol: Vodka

Ingredients: 1 1/2 oz Vodka, 1/6 oz Lime juice, 4 oz Ginger beer