Recipes from Almanac

Whiskey Sour

There are several options when making a Whiskey Sour. First, you have to choose what kind of whiskey to use. The classic, generally preferred choice is Bourbon. That said, if you feel like using Rye or Tennessee whiskey there's nothing at all wrong with that. In general we'd avoid using Scotch whisky as those flavors often clash with the lemon juice.After that, it's a matter of yes or no for an egg white. Either choice is entirely acceptable. And finally, of course, there's the balance of sweet vs. sour. Those who tend toward sweet will prefer an amount of simple syrup matching that of lemon juice. Those going toward sour will cut the sugar down to smaller amounts. The recipe we show here is simply how we like them.

Chicken Satay

Skewered chicken flavored with peanuts and spices, this Chicken Satay is exotic enough to thrill the grownups, but mild enough for kids. It’s perfect for a family cookout or a small outdoor party. Serve these with skewers of grilled Vidalia onions, mushrooms, zucchini, and red bell peppers. Delicious!

Algonquin Cocktail

A classic from the 1930s attributed to the Algonquin Hotel near Times Square in Manhattan. Originally formulated with dry vermouth, some current bartenders like to replace that with Bianco Vermouth or add a small bit of simple syrup. You're good to go either way, so have at it.

Thumbprint Cookies

Classic thumbprint cookies are buttery soft with a colorful jam center. With only 6 pantry ingredients, they’re easy and fun to make! A red jam (preferably homemade!) is perfect for the holidays. Or, create a jewel-hued plate of cookies using strawberry, apricot, and blackberry jam.

Luau Cocktail

A variation on Jeff Berry's Luau Grog, the Luau cocktail comes to us from Gerry Corcoran at PDT (Please Don't Tell) in New York.

The Best Fruit Muffins

They really are — the best, that is. Be sure to use regular sour cream, not low-fat or nonfat — it makes all the difference in the taste. For fruit, try apples, peaches, blueberries, strawberries, raisins (and nuts), or even candied ginger.

Trinidad Sour

If you like a bittersweet cocktail you will be pleasantly surprised by this one.  The seemingly ridiculous amount of Angostura bitters are tempered by the Orgeat syrup, brightened by the lemon juice and given another layer of flavor by the rye whiskey. 

Sesame-Seed Chicken

These tasty cutlets are especially popular with children, who love the crunchy coating made with sesame seeds. A dipping sauce made quickly with preserves, soy sauce, and garlic is a very pleasing accompaniment. Serve with rice and a green salad.

French Toast Cordon Bleu

Yum! This hot sandwich, a great combination of breakfast and lunch, tastes as good as it looks! Top it with real maple syrup for the perfect complement.Try the “Ten Great Sandwiches” recipes page for more lunchtime ideas!

Bee’s Knees

As a Prohibition era cocktail the Bee’s Knees is long on ingredients that help to mask the taste of lousy bathtub gin.  But it’s delicious even if you use a modern, thoroughly palatable gin.  As you can see it contains the base spirit, a sour element (lemon juice) and a sweetener (honey syrup) and is really a variation on a Gin Sour.

Stone Fence

The Stone Fence is about as simple as it gets:  pour a couple of ounces into a glass, add cider, drink. But before you get carried away with ice and mixing do recall that use of ice in something like this was not a common procedure back in the day.  The Drunkard’s Almanac suggests eschewing the use of ice and simply keeping the cider chilled in the fridge.  That would be a reasonable facsimile ofBoston in March.

Widow's Kiss

The recipe shown is the original version as first published in the 1895 work Modern American Cocktails. As such, it leans toward the sweet side of after dinner drinks. Some bars change the proportions a bit to cut the sweetness, reducing the Benedictine and Yellow Chartreuse relative to the apple brandy, most notably in the recipe published in The PDT Cocktail Book. That version uses two ounces of apple brandy and only 1/4 oz each of Benedictine and Yellow Chartreuse.

Feats of Strength

A delicious, warming bauble that also offers a solid kick in the pants for anyone enjoying their favorite secular celebration, the Feats of Strength cocktail is a variation on your basic Hot Buttered Rum, with a bit more spice and an extra kick from overproof rum.Whether it brings out inner strength or makes it easier to air your grievances, the Feats of Strength is a perfect tipple for Festivus.