A Taste for Spring

Drink categories to consider for your next libation get-together with friends


From the 1890’s, Bell Ringers was a strained drink made from a stirred combination of various liquors, bitters, and gum syrup (known today as simple syrup). Before straining, coat the inside of the glass with apricot brandy (known back then as abricotine), giving it a special signature taste.

A Crusta is usually served either chilled or straight-up or over crushed/shaved ice, either in a wine, sour, or short glass with the option of sugar coated rim. The inside of the glass is lined with a long strip of citrus rind. The drink consists of a liquor of choice, juice of lemon or lime, a dash of bitters, and a dash of maraschino liqueur. Garnish with a ¼ chunk of orange – peeled. Crusta is meant to have a sugar-rimmed glass.

The Daisy is an oversized cocktail, usually with more alcohol than a normal drink. Served in a water goblet or a highball glass, the drink is composed of a base spirit of choice, lemon juice, raspberry or grenadine syrup, and club soda. Served over crushed ice and garnished with a twist of lemon peel. Known classics are the Brandy Daisy, Southern Comfort Daisy, as well as the use of vodka, gin, rum, or whiskey as the base spirit.

Fancy is a cocktail consisting of a base spirit – usually bourbon, brandy, scotch or gin, triple sec, sugar or powdered sugar, bitters, and lemon peel as the garnish. Shake & strain in a chilled martini or cocktail glass.

The Julep is made of bourbon, sugar, and mint leaves. With its origins in Kentucky, it is usually made with Kentucky bourbon. Make the drink in a tall, frosted collins glass or a footed stem of choice. Place all at the bottom of the glass to be muddled together. Then add crushed ice and top off with a dash of club soda. Garnish with a mint sprig.

The Shrub is a large batch drink comprised of a base liquor (usually rum or brandy), fruit juice, sugar, and a top of club soda. The old books have it to be prepped and stored for days and weeks. Poured over ice, the club soda is not to be stored, but as a top after the prep has been poured.

Smashes are really short juleps served in an old fashioned glass. Served over crushed ice, and made with a base spirit of choice, sugar or simple syrup, crushed mint leaves, and a top of club soda. Garnish with an orange slice and a cherry. Depending on the liquor used, a twist of lemon peel can also be used. Classics are the Brandy Smash and Southern Comfort Smash.

A Swizzle is a drink made with a base spirit, citrus juice, sugar or simple syrup or a sweet liqueur such as curacao (orange). Shake and Strain over crushed ice in a collins glass, and stir with a swizzle rod until the glass forms a frosty exterior. A 40’s recipe even included a dash of bitters. Garnish with fresh fruit of choice.