The Quarantini: Because We Can All Use A Good Drink About Now

We are not suggesting anyone stuck quarantining should be imbibing copious amounts of alcoholic beverages out of boredom. We are responsible, especially in the face of danger, or tragedy, or pandemics. Oh, who are we kidding, pass the vodka!  We know all of you want to get out, visit friends, see a band, maybe even dance a little.  You’re ready to pop and we get it. We can’t tell you to go out and, ahem, spread yourself around, if you know what we mean. We can say it’s time to relax and take the edge off a bit. With that in mind, here are some awesome cocktails to enjoy in your at-home prison cell, and in no particular order:

Zombie (Classic recipe)

1/2 oz. dark rum

1/2 oz. gold rum

1/2 oz. white rum

3/4 oz. apricot brandy

1/3 oz. lime juice

2 oz. pimeapple juice

1 tsp. sugar syrup

Crushed Ice

Lime twist

Put all ingredients (except Ice and lime twist) into cocktail shaker and shake vigorously.  Pour over ice (half filled) tumbler.  Decorate with lime twist.

Bloody Mary (Ketel One)

1 oz. Ketel One Vodka or Ketel One Citroen Flavored Vodka

3 oz. Ketel One Bloody Mary Base

1L Tomato juice
4 oz. Lemon juice
4 tsp. Salt
1 tsp. Black pepper
1 tsp. Smoked paprika
5 tbsp. Horseradish
3 Dashes Worcestershire sauce
7-10 Dashes hot sauce

Combine ingredients in a mixing glass. Shake with ice and strain into a collins glass filled with ice. Garnish with a celery stalk, olive, or lemon wedge.

Classic Patron Margarita (Patron)

1 oz. Patron Silver

1 oz. Patron Citronge Orange

3/4 oz. fresh lime juice

1/4 oz. simple syrup

Lime wedge for garnish

Kosher salt

Salt half the rim of the glass with kosher salt.

Combine liquid ingredients in a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously with ice to chill. Strain onto fresh ice in a rocks glass and garnish with lime wedge.

Peanut Butter Old Fashioned (Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey)

1 oz. Skrewball Whiskey

3/4 oz. Rye Whiskey

4 Dashes of Angostura Bitters

1 Luxardo Cherry

Build together in Old Fashioned glass. Stir until properly chilled. Garnish with orange peel and Luxardo cherry.

Quarantini (Derek Brown @ideasimprove Author, Spirits, Sugar, Water, Bitters: How the Cocktail Conquered the World).

1½to 2 ounces of a not-necessarily-sweet base spirit, like vodka or gin — or another of your choice

3/4 ounce of citrus (such as lemon or lime juice), whose vitamin C is great for immunity

1/2 to 3/4 ounce of simple syrup to sweeten things up.

(Simple syrup, as its name suggests, is simple to make. Just boil equal parts sugar and water until they liquefy together.)

“I’ll drink to that.” - Me, to just about anything…

Try one…or try them all! We won’t judge. Comment below with your favorite quarantine drink recipe.

In these crazy times, thank a nurse.  Thank an essential worker.  Wash your hands!

As always…play more games.