Gin Sidecar

This is the gin version of the brandy drink that's all the rage right now. And it is being served up, as it should be. The Gin Sidecar is more relaxed, shaken but served on the rocks. A good gin and triple sec will really improve your experience with this cocktail since there's no added sugar. Triplum or Cointreau will keep things strong on alcohol and preserve a fresh citrus flavor that the drink should properly give off all around.

2 oz. gin

1 oz. triple sec (Luxardo Triplum used)

1 oz. lemon juice

Claridge Cocktail

The best I can guess, Claridge refers to a hotel brand in London and around the world. That satisfies me, as many drinks like the Manhattan are named after hotels. There's something wonderfully international about this cocktail. It's flavor is at once iconic and very familiar. It feels very luxurious to drink. The combination of gin and apricot brandy is so oft repeated in cocktails, it appears to be many bartender's secret crutch cocktail. And for many drinkers, having a Claridge or one of its family is memorable.

Wedding Belle Cocktail

I really appreciated how aromatic this drink is. Yes it is a dry gin cocktail, but the other spirits also shine. Kirschwasser has this dry brandy scent and Dubonnet Rouge does a lot to ground the drink with bitterness and sweet wine. Taken together, it is a perfect marriage.

2 oz. gin (Caorunn used)

1 1/2 oz. Dubonnet Rouge

1/2 oz. kirschwasser

1/2 oz. orange juice

Golden Dawn

This is another juicy gateway gin cocktail that's sweet and pretty tropical tasting. You really notice the apricot liqueur (brandy in this case) and the grenadine that is used to give the drink this rosy color. There's so much juice in this drink that it it's only half as strong per ounce as a Martini, which is why beginning drinkers will gravitate to it. That doesn't mean that if you drink the whole thing you won't get as tipsy, though. A sweet drink will affect you as much as a dry one, if not worse for all that sugar.