cocktail Archives - Taste With The Eyes

Cocktails in the Las Vegas Subway?

Try a Smoky Dirty Martini!

It fits the mood…

A little while back I wrote about a fantastic dinner and the chef’s very clever Dirty Martini Salad at Diner Ross at The LINQ Hotel Las Vegas. What I neglected to share was how to get there… curiously, you must enter the diner only through a secret subway station entrance.

Sip delightful cocktails to the music and trippy sounds of an occasional train passing through the “tunnel” while awaiting your dinner reservation.

Inspired by the fabulous Dirty ol’ Martini served in the subway, here is my version:

A Smoky Dirty Martini

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Ginger Basil Martini

🍸 🌿 Ginger Basil Martini 🌿 🍸

I’ve got more of that beautiful Italian Basil from my local urban indoor Frontier Farms. So I’m putting it to good use in a Ginger Basil Martini, a flavorful and refreshing cocktail that combines the zesty and spicy notes of ginger with the aromatic and herbaceous qualities of basil.

Domaine de Canton ginger liqueur is made with a combination of ginger, honey, herbs, and vanilla, which contributes to its sweet and spicy flavor profile. The sweetness from the honey, along with the natural sugars in the ginger, gives the liqueur its distinctively sweet character so there is no need to add any additional sugar or simple syrup to this cocktail.

1 1/2 oz. French Ginger Liqueur (Domaine de Canton)

1/2 oz. Fresh Lemon Juice

5 Italian Basil Leaves (Frontier Farms)

2 oz. Vodka (Tito’s Handmade Vodka)

Basil Sprig and Lemon Wedge for Garnish

Ginger Basil Martini

Place ginger liqueur, lemon juice, and basil leaves in a cocktail shaker. Muddle well. Let sit to infuse for 5 minutes. Add vodka and plenty of ice. Shake vigorously to well-chill.

Strain into a martini glass. (OK to have flecks of basil). Garnish with basil sprig and lemon wedge.

Nibble on the fragrant basil while sipping on your martini! À votre santé!

More Interesting Cocktails

Evolving Manhattan Cocktail (Impress your friends with this cocktail!)

Julia Child’s Upside-Down Martini

A Negroni Inspired by Stanley Tuchi

Elderflower Soju Martini

Soju Kimbap Bloody Mary

Yuzu Bohemian Cocktail

Madre Mescal Sunset

Cactus Wren Cooler

Natural Rosemary Sangria

Le Blanc Noel

Cocktail Nibbles Inspired by James Beard

Vegas-Style Cactus Ginger Margarita

Cactus Ginger Margarita

Vegas-Style Cactus Ginger Margarita

Kick back and relax poolside under the bright Vegas skies while sipping on a Fabulous Vegas-Style Margarita. Groove to the smooth sounds of crooners Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra. Enjoy dinner crafted by one of the dozens of celebrity chefs, take in a show. Later in the evening, cruise the casinos and let Luck Be A Lady Tonight!

Cactus Ginger Margarita

My original Poolside Signature Cocktail is the marriage of a Ginger Margarita and a Prickly Pear Margarita.

Cactus Ginger Margarita

Tequila, orange liqueur, lime, and salt are all it takes to make the perfect classic margarita… but substitute Domaine de Canton ginger liqueur for the usual Triple Sec or Cointreau and add an ounce of the fabulous desert-born, magenta-hued prickly pear cactus syrup…and Viva Las Vegas My Friends!

Cactus Ginger Margarita Recipe

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Compelled by Stanley Tucci To Make a Negroni

To Make a Negroni

A Negroni by the Pool

After watching Stanley Tucci prepare the ubiquitous Milanese cocktail on Instagram, I felt compelled to make a Negroni.

His definitive pronouncement of “that’s good” after a sip of his aperitivo drove me to make the legendary Italian drink right then and there. Well, that, and his suave debonaire manner…you just have to see the video for yourself.

It was neat to see Mr. Tucci concoct a cocktail especially because we just re-watched the movie Julie & Julia as a diversion from these pandemic days, where the actor excels as Julia Child’s husband Paul.

As luck and a well-stocked bar would have it, I had all the ingredients necessary, including my favorite vermouth in the refrigerator, one fresh orange on hand, and frozen ice orbs. And today just happened to be opening day at the pool, Le Résort Ataloré!

So we enjoyed a Negroni by the Pool, basked in the exceptionally warm weather and simply uttered, “that’s good.”

Just like Stanley Tucci.

What Does a Negroni Taste Like?

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Fresh Yuzu Bohemian Cocktail

Fresh Yuzu Bohemian Cocktail, Yuzu Foam

It’s cocktail hour! And time to use the yuzu. The fruits on my Southern California yuzu tree are at their ripest. On a trip back to LA last week, we picked the yuzu and flew home to Las Vegas with a big bag of fresh citrus fruit. It’s OK to carry on the plane per the TSA. Good to know!

An extremely aromatic fruit, a basket of yuzu perfumes the whole room. No wonder that it makes an equally aromatic cocktail; a heady complex floral elixir with notes of mandarin orange, grapefruit, lemon, and lime.

The traditional Bohemian Cocktail is made with grapefruit juice. Substituting fresh squeezed yuzu takes this cocktail to a whole new exotic level. The foamy head adds a layer of luxurious richness and creamy texture to balance the tart invigorating citrus. A dash of bitters always finishes a classic cocktail with more aromatic notes and cool understated stylish flair.

Fresh Yuzu Bohemian Cocktail Recipe

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