What will they think of next? (April edition)

This month's collection of cocktail recipes I've gathered from all over is headed by the delightful Seelbach Cocktail I recently sampled at the Seelbach Hilton Hotel in Louisville, KY.

The Seelbach is one of the South's "golden age" luxury hotels, opened in 1905 and since then host to nine American presidents and innumerable dignitaries. The stunning ambiance of the place, awash with oak and marble and gilded surfaces, inspired F. Scott Fitzgerald to use the hotel as the backdrop for Tom and Daisy Buchanan's wedding in "The Great Gatsby."

• The Seelbach Cocktail

4 ounces quality champagne
1 1/2 ounces bourbon
1/2 ounce triple sec
7 dashes Peychaud bitters
7 dashes Angostura bitters

Add bourbon, bitters, and triple sec first. Fill rest of glass with champagne. Garnish with orange twist, serve in a champagne flute.

• Cocktail Times.com

The Balsamic Pear Cocktail is well off the beaten path. It was created by Gwen Kaiser, master mixologist for this Web site.

2 oz. freshly juiced pear nectar
2 oz. sake
1/2 oz. balsamic syrup
2 drops bitters
Pear slice for garnish

To make balsamic syrup: Simmer 2 cups sugar, 1 cup water, 1 cup balsamic vinegar for 20 minutes. Pour into final storage container, adding approximately 1 oz. vodka to aid in preservation.

Stir all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with pear slice.

• Houstonist.com

The Mint Julep Martini packs quite a punch. This Web site's bartender feature admits "We have a little penchant for brown drinks (ie. bourbon) and we are sharing this addictive version with you."

3/4 cup Maker's Mark or other bourbon
1/4 cup vanilla vodka
1 teaspoon Triple Sec or Cointreau
1 teaspoon peppermint schnapps

Combine all ingredients in a shaker and, well, shake. Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with fresh mint or an orange twist. Sip carefully, rinse, re-chill or re-glass, repeat.

Note: Emergency glass chilling can be done by filling the glass with crushed ice while you make your luscious, bourbony concoction. Throw out ice, fill glass.

To Dowd's Spirits Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Wine Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Brews Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's No-Alcohol Drinks Notebook latest entry.
Back to Dowd On Drinks home page.