Orange Oasis (Tiki Version)

There's something about the name and ingredients of the Orange Oasis that calls for a tiki mug. It doesn't require any changes in how the drink is prepared except for the form of the ice, which is obviously better when crushed.

Adding Cherry Heering to orange juice makes a brown swill. You don't really want to see that through the glass, and it doesn't fit with the Orange theme of the drink. It isn't orange, its brown!

So the Tiki Mug saves the day!

Use crushed ice to shake and a strainer with an open finish to pour the ice and liquid into the tiki mug. Top it with more crushed ice and you have a tropical escape in a glass.

• 2 oz. gin
• 1 oz. cherry brandy (Cherry Heering used)
• 4 oz. orange juice
• ginger ale

Combine juice, cherry brandy and gin in a cocktail shaker full of crushed ice. Shake and open pour into a tiki mug. Top with more ice and ginger ale. Garnish at will with orange slice or whatever is on hand. 

Orange Blossom

So I've done about every variation of this drink but the original one (The Kentucky Orange Blossom and the Hawaiian Orange Blossom) . The Orange Blossom is so simple, it is even more basic than the Bronx Cocktail by having no vermouth. It is just orange juice and gin shaken and served up. And sometimes simple is very nice.

• 2 oz. gin (Sunset Hills used)
• 2 oz. orange juice
• orange slice

Combine liquid ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with the orange slice. 

Southern Gin Cocktail

There's something to the idea that a gin cocktail in the South may be too dry for the warm weather. One should try the burst of orange flavor that you get from adding triple sec and orange bitters. I used Sunset Hills Virginia Small Batch gin to get a very soft American style gin that's more citrus and less bite. It plays right with the strong Triplum from Luxardo and allows orange bitters to stand out.

• 3 oz. gin (Sunset Hills Virginia Small Batch)
• 1/2 oz. triple sec (Luxardo used)
• 3 dashes orange bitters (Hella used)
• lemon twist

Combine liquid ingredients in a mixing glass with ice. Stir and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Twist lemon peel over the drink and drop it in. 

Mint Collins

I didn't realize that this cross between a Collins and a Mojito existed. My first inkling came when I made the Cool Collins, non alcoholic cocktail a week ago. The idea of muddling mint in lemon and sugar for a gin and soda drink was sound. Then I came across this recipe and had to do it. I also had to include the cherry--green--as a staple of most Collins everywhere.

• 3 oz. gin (Sunset Hills used)
• 1 oz. lemon juice
• 1 tsp. sugar
• 7 mint leaves 
• lemon slice
• sparkling water
• mint sprig

Add mint leaves, sugar and lemon juice to a Collinst glass and muddle gently to release mint essence. Add gin and ice and top with soda. Stir gently and garnish with the lemon slice and mint sprig. 

Key Club

What is it with all those clubs and their gin drinks. This one differs from the Jockey Club and the Racquet Club by having falernum and being very tropical. Give it a go! You need a fun dark rum and a fresh pineapple spear to do it proper.

• 2 oz. gin (Sunset Hills gin used)
• 1/2 oz. dark rum (Pusser's Navy rum used)
• 1/2 oz. falernum
• 1/2 oz. oz. lime juice
• pineapple spear

Combine all liquid ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with the pineapple spear.

Jamaica Glow

This is not a Caribbean cocktail. It comes across more as a colonial style cocktail that makes use of liquors on hand in order to create a tropical experience. You don't taste the gin much in this drink, which I think is the point. Rather you get a grape-like full-bodied wine flavor backed up by molasses from the rum.

I had an open bottle of Wild horse pinot noir on hand, and it is dry enough to qualify for the recipe. This cocktail feels as if it is trying to fortify wine and juice for those for whom wine itself isn't strong enough.

• 2 oz. gin (Sunset Hills used)
• 1/2 oz. dry red wine (pinot noir used)
• 1/2 oz. orange juice
• 1 tbsp. dark rum (Lyon used)

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

Kyoto Cocktail

Midori is the Japanese word for green. The melon liqueur was launched by Suntory in the late 70s. This cocktail was one of the first to appear using Midori.

While Midori is becoming less popular in the U.S. with all the natural ingredients getting attention at bars, a bright green drink is still popular in Japan where you might say people drink more with their eyes. An attractive color in Japanese society is very important. And just look at how that cocktail glows!

Sunset Hills gin has a great citrus balance to it, which does much to keep this cocktail tasting more natural, as does fresh honeydew melon.

• 2 oz. gin (Sunset Hills used)
• 1 oz. Midori
• 1/2 oz. dry vermouth
• 1/2 tsp. lemon juice
• green melon pieces (optional)

Combine liquid ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a chilled cocktial glass. Garnish with melon pieces. 

Royal Gin Fizz

More special than the Gin Fizz and thicker and less floral than the Ramos Gin Fizz, the Royal Gin Fizz has a whole raw egg in it to make it thick and silky. Its a perfect drink for the Easter season. A light and floral gin like Sunset Hills from Fredericksburg, VA, just tastes like spring.

I use organic, cage-free eggs to get the rich yellow color. These eggs have a harder shell and a flavor and texture that holds up better to the changes that take place in drink form.

• 2 oz. gin (Sunset Hills used)
• 1 oz. lemon juice
• 1 whole egg
• 1 tsp. sugar
• club soda

To get this great foam top I shake all ingredients except the soda very hard with no ice. Then I add ice and shake hard again. Pour into a Collins glass and top with soda. Stir gently so as not to disturb the foam.

Golden Rooster

This is a great, potent gin cocktail with lots of character. The name just suggests a farm, though apricot brandy and dry vermouth still seem a little too sophisticated for a farm. That's why I chose Sunset Hills Farm gin from Fredricksburg, VA. This is a citrus and floral gin that is similar to a London dry gin, except that there is a strong lime zest presence.

Strangely I keep thinking that orange juice or something else would help balance this drink and give it more color, but as it stands, there's a lot of herbal and spring flavors to keep you interested.

• 2 oz. gin (Sunset Hills used)
• 1/2 oz. dry vermouth
• 1/2 oz. Cointreau
• 1/2 oz. apricot brandy
• maraschino cherry

Shake all ingredients except cherry with ice in a cocktail shaker. Pour into an Old Fashioned glass. Garnish with cherry.