Join us for a virtual cocktail hour (or two) on Zoom and learn how to make a couple of aperitifs from our resident Board bartender. After learning how to make your studio juice, take a sip and open your favorite art supplies to capture its essence in AIGA Cincinnati’s virtual studio! Participants are welcome to create artwork of their cocktail, or their cocktail ingredients, while sipping and sharing the studio vibes. Creative Elixir not included, but directions are provided!

Featured cocktails, their ingredients, and recommended tools/ glassware are listed below! We do plan to create every featured drink, step-by-step, so there’s no need to make your drink ahead of time. However, we have provided DIY directions for a few cocktail ingredients if you’d like to prepare them ahead of time, instead of purchasing their ready-made counterparts. We’ve also listed some alternative ingredients to prevent unnecessary cost to participate. Part of the fun of bartending is skewing the recipe to your taste buds, and your pantry.

While we have included garnishes in the ingredient lists, they are optional and not a requirement for a delicious cocktail. However, garnishes do enhance the experience of consuming a cocktail, and are therefore recommended for a good time.

This event will be held virtually through Zoom! We are requesting that all attendees download the Zoom desktop application prior to the event date to ensure the best quality experience.

Bartending Tools

Each cocktail lists the tools it requires, but here you’ll find a master list of the tools and alternative kitchen goodies you can use instead if you don’t own them. **Disclaimer: Links are provided for reference only, we are not affiliated nor do we endorse any specific retailer or product.**

Jigger: A jigger is a common bar essential that acts as a cocktail measuring cup. Jiggers are dual sided and have different capacities on each end and range from 0.5 to 2.5 ounces. The most common size is 1.5 oz and .75 oz. If you’re thinking about investing in a jigger for your bar, I recommend looking for one that has labeled measuring lines inside. https://bit.ly/3bh9LCL-jigger

Alternative Kitchen Utensil: Tablespoon for measurements. 1 Tablespoon = 0.5 Fluid Ounce. Both measurements are provided for the cocktail recipes below.

Muddler: A muddler is a bartender's best friend, used like a pestle to mash—or muddle—fruits, herbs and spices in the bottom of a glass to release their flavor. https://bit.ly/35FEyrFmuddler

Alternative Kitchen Utensil: Backside of a wooden spoon, or a pestle.

Cocktail Shaker: Cocktail shakers are used to quickly and efficiently blend cocktails. They are sealed cylinders to which ice and ingredients are added for the purpose of shaking (without spilling). Often they come in 3 pieces, the “cup” portion, a lid, and a built in strainer. https://bit.ly/3fyhAas-shaker

Alternative Kitchen Utensil: A large glass and a vigorously stirred spoon.

Cocktail Strainer: A cocktail strainer is a metal bar accessory used to remove ice from a mixed drink as it is poured into the serving glass. Personally, I prefer using a cocktail strainer to the built in strainer provided in most shakers. https://bit.ly/2WDLqSb-strainer

Alternative Kitchen Utensil: Simple pasta strainer or other hand held strainer.

Cutting Board & Knife: To slice garnishes without hurting your countertops.

Blender: To make shaved/crushed ice.

Alternative Kitchen Utensil: A cloth napkin so fresh and so clean you could eat off of it, or equally clean kitchen towel. Ideally with minimal fuzz.

Smaller Plate or Low Rimmed Bowl: A dish to place salt or sugar on in order to rim your glass. Flat or wide enough to fit the rim of your glass at an angle, or vertically.

Cocktail Skewer: A small reusable stick (plastic, metal, wood) to skewer fruit and other garnishes for drinks.

Alternative Kitchen Utensil: A toothpick.

Straw: Ideally a reusable straw to sip your cocktail in style. Not required by any means!

Cocktails

Virgin Mojito Cézanne

10-15 mint leaves (2-3 sprigs)

1 oz lime juice (2 tbsp)

1 oz honey simple syrup (2 tbsp)

1 can sparkling water (flavor optional, lemon or lime recommend) Alternatively, Club Soda.

1 lime wedge for garnish

• For a non-virgin option: 2 oz white rum (4 tbsp)

Tools: jigger, muddler, cutting board & knife for garnish.

Glass: collins glass. (Or any glass you prefer.)

Muybridge Mint Julep

4-5 mint leaves (1 sprig)

½ oz- 2 oz simple syrup (½ tbsp- 4 tbsp) (Alternatively, 1-4 sugar cubes or granulated sugar.)

2 oz bourbon

Shaved ice to fill your glass (alternatively DIY crushed ice, directions below)

Splash of water (optional)

Tools: jigger, muddler, blender or kitchen towel for crushed ice, straw.

Glass: mint julep cup, mule mug, double old fashioned glass, or collins glass. (Or any glass you prefer.)

Semply French 75

6-10 blueberries (Alternatively, blackberries.)

¾ oz simple syrup (1.5 tbsp)

¾ oz lemon juice (1.5 tbsp)

2 oz gin (4 tbsp)

2 oz Prosecco (Alternatively, champagne.)

1 lemon twist for garnish

Tools: jigger, muddler, cocktail shaker, cocktail strainer, cutting board & knife for garnish, cocktail skewer for garnish.

Glass: flute, coupe, or white wine glass. (Or any glass you prefer.)

Spicy Tequila Rothko

2 oz white tequila (4 tbsp)

½ cup orange juice (Alternatively, mango juice)

3-4 slices of jalapeno pepper

½ oz grenadine (1 tbsp) (Alternatively, maraschino cherry juice)

1 orange slice for garnish

1 maraschino cherry for garnish

Spicy Salt Rim (optional)

2 tbsp fine sea salt

¼ tsp ancho chile powder

⅛ tsp chipotle chile powder

¼ tsp lime zest (optional)

Tools: jigger, shaker, muddler, strainer, cutting board & knife, plate or bowl for salt rim.

Glass: highball or collins glass. (Or any glass you prefer.)

Klein Blue Lemonade

¾ oz vodka (1.5 tbsp)

¾ oz blue curaçao (1.5 tbsp) (Alternatively, triple sec or cointreau + blue food coloring)

1 oz sweet & sour mix (2 tbsp)

2 oz lemonade (4 tbsp)

2 oz club soda (4 tbsp)

3 Lemon slices for garnish

• Extra boozy option: add ½ oz coconut rum (1 tbsp)

Sugar Rim (optional)

2 tbsp granulated sugar

Tools: jigger, shaker, cutting board & knife for garnish, plate or bowl for sugar rim.

Glass: collins or pint glass. (Or any glass you prefer.)

DIY Ingredients (100% optional)

Simple Syrup

1:1 ratio of sugar and water. You can make as much or as little as you’d like, a staple for cocktails!

1) In a small or medium saucepan combine sugar and water.

2) Bring to a boil, stirring, until sugar has dissolved.

3) Allow to cool.

4) Store in a sealed container. Can be kept in the fridge for up to 1 month.

Sweet and Sour Mix

1:1:1:1 ratio water, sugar, lemon juice, lime juice or 2:1:1 ratio simple syrup, lemon juice, lime juice. For best flavor use freshly squeezed juice. A staple for margaritas and other cocktails.

1) In a small or medium saucepan combine sugar and water.

2) Bring to a boil, stirring, until sugar has dissolved.

3) Allow to cool.

4) Mix in lemon & lime juice.

5) Store in a sealed container. Can be kept in the fridge for 2-3 weeks.

Honey Simple Syrup

1:1 ratio of honey and water. You can make as much or as little as you like. Can be used as an alternative to simple syrup, but keep in mind the flavor of honey used will impact cocktail flavor.

1) In a small or medium saucepan combine honey and water.

2) Bring to a boil, stirring, until honey has dissolved.

3) Allow to cool.

4) Store in a sealed container. Can be kept in the fridge for up to 1 month.

Note: If you use raw honey and want to preserve the good bacteria, heat the water first, and ensure it is not over 110℉ when you add the honey.

Crushed Ice

This isn’t a recipe so much as directions on how to make crushed ice without a blender. You’ll need ice and a clean cloth napkin or a clean kitchen towel. Warning: this will be loud and annoying.

1) Place 3-6 ice cubes in the center of your chosen cloth napkin or towel.

2) Gather corners together and twist to secure the ice from the base.

3) Grasp the twist at the base and beat the ball of ice against a hard surface several times, twist and ensure you cover all sides.

4) Empty into a container or plastic bag and place in the freezer for future use.

Don’t forget to purchase the necessary ingredients for your selected libations before May 20th!