Around America Series

When Stiff sent us an electronically-pilfered drink menu from one of his classy joints in Vegas, an idea for the next new series popped into my mind. Why not recreate specialty cocktails from bars across America so that we can enjoy them at home? All you need is to send me a cocktail menu with ingredients and I'll put my skills to the test in order to get a decent pour from them. Ready? OK, here's one get us started...

Drink: The Venetian Canal
Establishment: Salute Lounge at The Palazzo
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
First Connoisseur: Stiff

1 1/2 ounces Captain Morgan
1 ounce Disaronno
1 ounce Midori
1 ounce Blue Curaçao
2 ounces of sour
Splash 7up

Shake all ingredients except the 7up on ice. Splash with 7up.

Essential Liquor #30

#30) Cognac - The Royalty of classic brown liquors includes champagne, scotch, and cognac, each of which can be incredibly expensive in their own right. Joe should not despair, however, decent cognac for mixing can be had in the $30 range at certain times of the year, like Hennessy at a liquor warehouse. Otherwise, good cognac is like good scotch; a premium bottle might cost $50, but will last a long time even among Wisconsinites. My favorite mid-range is Martell VSOP Médaillon.

Essential Liquor #29

29) Jägermeister - While not on the original idea list for the 30 Essentials that I drew up last spring, I had to add it given the strength of demand for Jägerbombs in today's bars. A real bar simply cannot have a party with energy drink mixers and not have Jäger on hand to complement. Besides, Jägermeister is a flexible ingredient, adding a light spicy touch to three liquor blends and pleasant anise backing to iced-down shots. Those interested in developing a taste for the anise-dominant liqueurs of Europe but do not yet enjoy black licorice would do best to start their herbal taste immersions with Jäger.