The Cat’s Whiskers
Finsel says to substitute gin and it becomes The Bee’s Knees. “Both are Roaring ’20s slang for “the height of excellence.”
Ingredients
1 3/4 ounces favorite bourbon or rye whisky
1 ounce honey syrup (1:1 ratio of hot water to honey)
3 to 4 fresh mint leaves, plus more for garnish
1/2 ounce fresh lemon
2 dashes Angostura Bitters (optional)
Splash sparkling water
Directions Chill cocktail coupe and set aside. Combine all of the ingredients over ice and shake for 12 seconds. Discard ice from prechilled coupe. Double strain into coupe (make sure no green flecks of mint end up in anyone’s teeth). Garnish with fresh mint.
Lavender 75
The classic French 75 cocktail was named after a cannon — this places a flower in the barrel instead.
Ingredients
1 1/2 ounces Botany Gin
1/2 ounce fresh lemon
1 ounce lavender syrup (steep dried lavender flowers in hot water, then add sugar, 1:1 ratio)
3 dashes West Indian Orange Bitters
Splash dry Champagne
Splash sparkling mineral water
Dried lavender buds, for garnish
Directions Chill a cocktail coupe and set aside. Combine all of the ingredients over ice and shake for at least 12 seconds. Discard ice from prechilled coupe. Strain the chilled mixture into the coupe. Garnish with 3 to 4 dried lavender buds.
True Blue
Designed after ancient Greek formulas for the “nectar of the gods.”
Ingredients
1 ounce Grey Goose La Poire vodka
1 ounce St. Elder elderflower liqueur
1/2 ounce fresh lemon
Splash dry Champagne
Splash sparkling mineral water
Blueberries or pear, for garnish
Directions Chill cocktail coupe and set aside. Mix vodka, elderflower liqueur and lemon over ice in a mixing glass. Shake hard for at least 12 seconds. Discard ice from prechilled coupe. Strain mixture into coupe. Float Champagne and soda. Garnish by dropping in three blueberries or thin slice of pear.
This article originally appeared in the November 2022 issue of WALTER magazine.
