Red Rover

There's something cosmopolitan (small "c" cosmopolitan) about then name Red Rover. As with all kids games and playground rhymes, we can all identify with the sensory details of those early life moments where we had fun with friends. 

As an adult, I appreciate this cocktail with its fun, juvenile flavor of sloe gin (which tastes like an Icee) and the color of the drink, which looks exactly like Clifford's red coat. Interestingly, the Red Rover game is called Ali Baba in Russia, where you'd think the word "red" would make an appearance. 

Anyway, if you like a Bourbon Sidecar with a peach slice and a brilliant red hue, this one is for you.

• 1 1/2 oz. bourbon
• 1/2 oz. sloe gin
• 1/2 oz. lemon juice
• 1 tsp. sugar syrup
• lemon slice
• peach slice

Combine liquid ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with fruit slices. 

 

 

 

(El) Presidente

There's a couple of recipes with the "President" name. In the New York Bartender's Guide the Presidente is light rum, in other books it is El Presidente with dark or "dark or light" rum with the rest of the recipe remaining the same. I've even seen orange juice substituted for the triple sec and light rum used in one President recipe.

Anyway, I'm coming down on the side of the New York Bartender's Guide for the best recipe. Light rum keeps the drink dry and similar to a rum Cosmopolitan. Grenadine, present in every recipe, makes for a ridiculous light pink colors that doesn't seem presidential at all.

• 2 oz. light rum
• 1/2 oz. dry vermouth
• 1/2 oz. triple sec
• several dashes grenadine
• lemon twist

Combine all ingredients except twist in a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with lemon twist.

Cosmopolitan

• 2 oz. vodka
• 1 oz. triple sec
• 1/2 oz. lime juice
• 1 oz. cranberry juice

Combine ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a lime wedge.

The trick to getting this drink right is in the balance of vodka and cranberry juice to lime and triple sec. If you change the proportions of lime juice, the triple sec must be altered in kind. The same is the case with the vodka and cranberry. Ideally, a cosmopolitan should be a fruity drink, not a vodka Martini with juice. It should be faintly pink with a lot of lime and orange flavors--more interesting than strong. For a guide to the appropriate color, see the nebula image on the opening scene of Cosmos.