Pina Coladas

One of my 101 Things challenges was to learn to make a Pina Colada. I have become quite the connoiseur during my round-the-world trip, but discovered that there is no one way to make a Pina Colada. So, I took a recipe from a cookbook and then fiddled with it until it seemed right. And here's what I came up with - it will fill 6-8 martini glasses, but is really only four standard drinks for the whole batch. Not a bad option for a summer cocktail party, or a pre-Christmas drink (or three!).

1 regular tin of Golden Circle pineapple pieces in juice, chilled (I imagine freezing it would make a nicer cocktail)

3 shots of white rum, chilled

1 shot of coconut liquer (e.g. Malibu), chilled

1 tray of ice cubes

Pineapple juice, chilled, to taste

Sugar to coat the rim of the glass

Pineapple wedges with skin on for garnishing

Frost the rim of the glass with sugar by moistening it and dipping it in sugar.

Blend all ingredients as far as the juice together in a blender (how much pineapple juice you add is up to you, but I added about half a cup initially).

Pour into frosted martini glasses and garnish with pineapple wedge.

Refrigerate the blender jug until you need seconds (won't be long!).

Happy summer days, everyone!

 

101 Things #21: Learn to Make a Cosmopolitan

I acknowledge that I'm probably about ten to fifteen years behind the 8-ball on learning to make the cocktail made famous by the girls on Sex and the City, but I figure that it's better late than never!

Also, technically, I think I may have been underage at the time. Which would have stopped me from drinking. Of course.

*runs away giggling*

(More to the point, I probably couldn't afford to have more than one bottle of sprits on the go back then!)

Anyway, there seem to be a few variations on the theme but I went with the simplest:

1 shot Cointreau

1 shot vodka

1 shot cranberry juice

Ice

1/2 slice of lime

Shake the liquids with the ice. Strain into a martini glass, such as the below ones that my awesome brother bought a set of for me for my birthday. Sort of squeeze/twist/rip the piece of lime so that juice ends up in the glass, but so that the lime can still function as a garnish.

Note that I recommend using a proper cocktail shaker with an inbuilt seive, and not an old Cottees Topping milkshake shaker (you know the sort that used to come free with the topping every few summers?) and a seive, because it just goes everywhere and makes everything horrifically sticky. I also recommend keeping the spirits in the freezer for a colder drink.

Finally, I have one last, somewhat crude, observation/general health warning - perhaps quite fittingly for a drink made famous by Sex and the City, this cocktail can best be described as a leg-opener. I was drunk twice last night, and both times were about ten minutes into one of these puppies. They were the only drinks I had all night. If you're a single gal (or guy) out on the town I would recommend alternating these with a glass of water, presuming, of course, that you wish to remain in control of your faculties!!!