5 Classic Cocktail Recipes From Evan Hosaka

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Located inside the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas, The Dorsey brings a chic romanticism to Sin City. The lounge’s lead bartender, Evan Hosaka, is a Hawaii native who brings a playful sophistication to cocktails both old and new. Here, Hosaka brings a tropical essence to the Old Fashioned, Margarita […]

Click here to view original web page at vinepair.com


Located inside the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas, The Dorsey brings a chic romanticism to Sin City. The lounge’s lead bartender, Evan Hosaka, is a Hawaii native who brings a playful sophistication to cocktails both old and new. Here, Hosaka brings a tropical essence to the Old Fashioned, Margarita, and French 75, while leaning into the savory profile of the Martini and giving the Daiquiri a bitter twist.

1. Dorsey Gibson, a Take on the Martini

The Dorsey Gibson is a Take on the Martini

This Martini variation is made with Belvedere’s Single Estate Rye: Smogóry Forest. This vodka is very robust and savory, so it pairs well with the saline profile of fino sherry. A pinch of salt and a cocktail onion further enhance the cocktail’s saltiness. It’s a great variation for anyone interested in branching out from Dirty Martinis.

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Ingredients

  • 2.25 ounces Belvedere Smogóry Forest
  • .75 ounce fino sherry
  • Small pinch salt
  • Garnish: cocktail onion

Method

  • Combine all ingredients into a mixing glass with ice, stir, and strain into a chilled coupe.
  • Garnish with a cocktail onion.

2. Coal Train, a Take on the Old Fashioned

The Coal Train is a Take on the Old Fashioned

This tropical spin on the classic Old Fashioned is made with a mixture of rye and a rhum agricole in place of bourbon, and in place of simple syrup, a delicious banana liqueur. Amargo Vallet, a Mexican bitter, extracts some of the spicy and peppery notes found in the Michter’s Rye.

Ingredients

  • 1.25 ounces Michter’s Rye
  • .75 ounce Clement 10 Year Rhum Agricole
  • .5 ounce Tempus Fugit crème de banana
  • .25 ounce Amargo Vallet
  • Garnish: lemon twist

Method

  • Build in a double Old Fashioned glass.
  • Add a 2×2 ice cube and stir.
  • Garnish with a lemon twist.

3. Northern 75, a Take on the French 75

The Northern 75 is a Take on the French 75

The Northern 75 is a take on the classic French 75 that adds fresh, in-season cantaloupe juice to the mixture. The result is a tropical riff on the European classic.

Ingredients

  • 1 ounce Ford’s Gin
  • .5 ounce fresh lemon juice
  • 1 ounce fresh cantaloupe juice
  • .5 ounce simple syrup
  • Garnish: lemon twist

Method

  • Combine all ingredients into a mixing tin with ice, shake, and strain into a chilled flute.
  • Top off with Champagne.
  • Garnish with a lemon twist.

4. Daiquiri Especial, a Take on the Daiquiri

The Daiquiri Especial is a Take on the Daiquiri

The Daiquiri Especial employs a blend of three rums: Rhum Agricole, Jamaican rum, and blended white rum. Together, these rums offer a strong hogo funk, grassiness, and a slight touch of sweetness. Hosaka uses a honey syrup instead of simple syrup and just a bit of Oloroso sherry to give the cocktail a slight nutty flavor.

Ingredients

  • 1.5 ounces Electra Rum blend #1
  • 0.75 ounce fresh lime juice
  • 0.75 ounce honey
  • 0.5 ounce oloroso sherry
  • 2 dashes of Angostura bitters
  • Garnish: fresh nutmeg

Method

  • Combine all ingredients into a mixing tin with ice.
  • Shake and strain into a Winchester coupe.
  • Garnish with freshly grated nutmeg.

5. Spicy Flamingo, a Take on the Margarita

The Spicy Flamingo is a Take on the Margarita

This cocktail is a riff on the Spicy Margarita, adding fresh watermelon juice to complement the sourness of lime and replace the sweetness of triple sec. A little chili salt sprinkled over the watermelon wedge adds a hot foil to the cocktail’s fruity flavors.

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces Altos Blanco Tequila
  • 1 ounce fresh lime
  • 1 ounce fresh watermelon juice
  • 0.5 ounce agave
  • Garnish: chili salt topped watermelon wedge

Method

  • Combine all ingredients into a mixing tin with ice.
  • Shake and strain into a double Old-Fashioned glass over a 2×2-inch ice cube.
  • Garnish with watermelon wedge and chili salt.
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