When Wisconsin lawmakers adopted the brandy old fashioned as the state’s official cocktail last year, we asked “Make Me Smart” listeners to suggest unofficial cocktails for the other states, and you delivered!
You’ll find our favorites in this zine, including some N/A options, or out below if that’s more your style. Either way, you’ll be all ready for our weekly Economics on Tap stream. Thanks to everyone who wrote in with cocktail ideas — we couldn’t do it without you. Cheers!
Several listeners shared their love for the Badger State’s official cocktail: the brandy old fashioned. Here’s a recipe from Ron, who said he thought all old fashioneds were made with brandy until he left the state. He recommends enjoying it by a fire.
1 orange slice
2 maraschino cherries
1/4 teaspoon packed brown sugar
2-3 dashes of angostura bitters
1-2 ounces brandy
club soda
Muddle the fruit, sugar and bitters together. Add ice, brandy, a splash of club soda, stir and serve.
Listeners Kathryn and Bob nominated this Boston classic. As the story goes, the drink was created in the 19th century to celebrate the victory of a local politician. There are several versions out there, but you can’t go wrong with this traditional preparation.
2 ounces rye whiskey
1/2 ounce lemon juice
1/2 ounce orange juice
2 teaspoons grenadine
cherries (for garnish)
Shake the ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a few cherries on a skewer.
Listener Melinda in Anchorage nominated this one, which is more of a layered shot. If you know why it’s called a Duck Fart, you know where to find us.
1/2 ounce Kahlúa
1/2 ounce Baileys Irish Cream
1/2 ounce Canadian whisky
Pour the Kahlúa into a shot glass. Slowly pour the Baileys over the back of a spoon to layer it in. Then top it off with your favorite Canadian whisky and shoot!
Though the mai tai was not invented in Hawaii, listener Carol says she prefers it over the Blue Hawaiian. Her favorite recipe comes from Halekulani Hotel in Waikiki.
1/3 ounce orgeat syrup
1/3 ounce orange Curacao
1/3 ounce rock candy syrup
1 1/4 ounces fresh lime juice
3/4 ounce Bacardí Gold rum
3/4 ounce Bacardí Select rum
1/2 ounce Lemon Hart & Son 151 rum
Lime, sugar cane stick, mint or vanda orchid (for garnish)
Pour orgeat syrup, orange Curacao, rock candy syrup, lime juice, Bacardí Gold and Bacardí Select into glass. Stir with crushed ice.
Float with Lemon Hart 151 rum. Garnish with lime wheel, sugar cane stick, mint leaf and/or vanda orchid.
Do you believe “gin is the devil” like Kimberly? Paul nominated the gin Rickey — and, yes, he says D.C. deserves statehood. We think it’s just as good with an herbal nonalcoholic spirit like Pentire or Seedlip. The drink was named after Joe Rickey, a Democratic lobbyist living in Washington in the late 19th century.
2 ounces herby nonalcoholic spirit or gin
1/2 ounce lime juice, freshly squeezed
club soda for topping
lime wheels for garnish
Fill a highball glass with ice, add the spirit and squeeze lime juice over. Top with club soda and garnish with lime wheels.
Listener Brad submitted this one, which our listeners picked as their favorite for this zine. It uses aquavit, a Scandinavian spirit, but the herby nonalcoholic alternative you used in the Rickey would work too.
1 ounce aquavit
1/2 ounce aperol
1/2 ounce lime juice
cherry for garnish
Stir ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a cherry.
