cocktails

Negroni

Negroni is traditionally made with gin and Campari.  Japanese Roku with its herbal/bitter notes seems particularly well suited, but for a lighter taste you could use vodka.  I prefer Martini bitter to Campari.  

It is essential to serve this very cold.  Serve in tall, well chilled glasses and include a few ice cubes.

for 2: 

Third fill a 2 serving shaker with ice.  Add:

• 1.5 jiggers Roku gin
  
• 1.5 jiggers Martini rosso (or similar sweet vermouth)
  
• 1.5 jiggers Martini bitter (or similar bitter vermouth)

Shake vigorously until chilled

Orange slice for garnish  

Lights out

Imagine a classic cosmopolitan cocktail bar in a power cut: this is the idea behind this midnight blue cocktail. I've suggested Icelandic Reyka vodka, with its hint of glaciers and slight floral notes that complement the cordial, but other smooth, clean vodkas will be fine.  Curaçao with the lime juice and cranberry cuts through the sweetness of the cordial.  It is derived from bitter oranges that evolved on the Caribbean island of that name - and therefore appropriate for this evolution of the classic cosmo.

Serve very cold in chilled martini glasses, with a twist of orange peel

for 2:

Third fill a 2 serving shaker with ice. Add:

• 1 jigger Reyka vodka
  
• 1 jigger blue curaçao
• 1/2 jigger elderberry cordial
  
• 1/4 jigger lime juice (or squeezed juice of a whole lime)
• Cranberry juice: fill up the shaker (about 3 jiggers)
  

Shake vigorously until chilled 

Orange peel twist for garnish