Cocktail Night Menu - Bar Kiley 4/26/14

Occasionally, over the course of the year, Bar Kiley goes on the road and I bartend cocktail nights for my friends. Usually these evenings feature a limited menu - this keeps my costs down and helps keep people who are used to beer/wine from getting overwhelmed by too many options. My classmates asked me to post my limited menus, and so below I offer you the cocktail night menu I constructed for my little sister's college graduation party this weekend.

Katie asked that I feature rum and gin in her menu, as these are her favorite. In addition to these two ingredients, I would also always recommend including a sparking beverage of some sort - this is a must for non-cocktail drinkers, and these beverages have a much lower alcohol content, so those with lower tolerances can still enjoy a drink during the party. I decided to feature dark rum and heavy fruit content for Katie's rum drinks and offer lighter beverages featuring gin. Originally, I was going to offer an Aviation as one of our gin drinks, but Katie nixed this - she was not a big Maraschino fan. With those quick notes in play, here is the cocktail menu from Bar Kiley on Saturday, April 26th:

RUM 

Planter’s Punch * Meyers Dark Rum * Pineapple Juice * Orange Juice * Lime Juice * Grenadine * Angostura Bitters * Splash of Club Soda * served on the rocks 

New Orleans Style Hurricane * Meyers Dark Rum * Bacardi Silver Rum * Passion Fruit Juice * Orange Juice * Lime Juice * Simple Syrup * Grenadine * served on the rocks 

GIN 

Bog Punch * New Amsterdam Gin * Cranberry Juice * Ginger Ale * served on the rocks 

Aruba * New Amsterdam Gin * Curacao * Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice * Orgeat Syrup * Egg White * served shaken and chilled 

SPARKLING 

Saint Germain Cocktail * Saint Germain Elderflower Liqueur * Club Soda * Champagne * served chilled

Recipes for the Aruba and the Hurricane are available on the blog. Below are the recipes for the other three beverages:

Planter's Punch: In a cocktail shaker, combine 2 oz dark rum, 1 oz orange juice, 1 oz lime juice, 1/2 oz pineapple juice, 1/2 oz grenadine, 2 dashes bitters. Shake over ice, strain into a highball glass with ice, top with 1-2 oz club soda. Garnish with a pineapple wedge.

Bog Punch: Build the following ingredients in a highball glass over ice and stir before serving: 2 oz gin, 3 oz cranberry juice, 3 oz ginger ale. Garnish with a skewered cranberry.

Saint Germain Cocktail: This drink is best made by the pitcher, but for a single drink, combine 1.5 oz Saint Germain, 2 oz champagne, and 2 oz club soda (in that order). Serve in a highball glass over ice.

I'll try to post other menus as I bartend, but I hope you enjoy these drinks!