Bonus recipe for the MyCG holiday menu

MyCG wishes the Coast Guard workforce and community a happy and safe new year and all the best for 2023. We hope you enjoyed our holiday menu! As a bonus, we’re recommending four fun cocktails for your New Year’s celebrations, including one alcohol-free cocktail. 

The French 75 A classic, reliable, and simple cocktail, the French 75 is the perfect choice for New Year’s festivities. And it’s a fitting choice for the Coast Guard workforce since the French 75’s roots trace back to World War I. Reportedly first invented at an American-owned bar in Paris, the drink is named for the French Army’s powerful 75mm Howitzer guns. The drink even cameoed in “Casablanca,” one of the greatest movies of all time. 

The French 75 may be famous, but it is very easy to make and only requires basic ingredients.

What you’ll need:

• 2 oz. champagne (you can also use prosecco, which usually costs less than champagne)
• 1.5 oz. gin 
• ¾ oz. simple syrup, or 1 sugar cube
• ¾ oz. fresh lemon juice (this is essential; packaged lemon juice does not work nearly as well)
• Lemon twist/peel (for garnish)

Add gin, simple syrup or a sugar cube, and fresh lemon juice in a cocktail shaker with ice. Cover and shake until the shaker is cold, then strain the mixture into a glass. If using a sugar cube, be sure to shake for a few more seconds so the cube dissolves. If you have a champagne flute, that’s the best glass to use. Top with champagne and garnish with a lemon twist. To make each sip extra refreshing, trace the lemon twist around the rim of the glass before garnishing and serving.

The AdmiralLooking for something a little off the beaten path? Look no further than the Admiral. Though it is a delicious drink in its own right, its name also makes it a fitting choice for the Coast Guard. The Admiral is bourbon-based, but not too spirit-forward. 

The beauty of the drink is it only requires three ingredients:

• 1 oz bourbon
• 1.5 oz dry vermouth
• ½ lemon (for fresh lemon juice)

Fill a shaker with ice. Add bourbon, vermouth, and lemon juice. Shake until chilled, then strain into a glass over ice. Garnish with a lemon peel.The Last WordIf you’re no fan of bourbon, scotch, or whiskey, then try the Last Word, a classic cocktail reportedly invented in Detroit before Prohibition. It’s the easiest recipe to remember because it uses equal portions of all ingredients.

What you’ll need:

• .75 oz gin
• .75 oz green Chartreuse (a French liqueur like absinthe)
• .75 oz maraschino liqueur 
• .75 oz fresh lime juice
• Cocktail or brandied cherry (for garnish)

Combine gin, Chartreuse, maraschino liqueur and lime juice into a shaker with ice. Shake until the shaker is cold to the touch, then strain into a coupe glass, if you have one. If you want to take the drink to the next level, chill the glass beforehand; it’s an old bartender’s trick. Add the cherry to garnish, if you’re so inclined.

The Cucumber Thyme FizzSpirit-free cocktails are growing more popular in leading bars and restaurants across the country. Now, we all have more to choose from than a Shirley Temple or a Roy Rogers. For something light and refreshing this New Year’s Eve, try a Cucumber Thyme Fizz.

Here is what you’ll need:

• 2 oz cucumber juice
• 1.5 oz fresh lemon juice
• 1.5 oz simple syrup (or sugar/sugar cubes, if that is easier)
• Sparkling water, seltzer, or club soda
• Sprig of thyme, for garnish

Combine ice, cucumber juice, and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker. Add simple syrup, sugar or sugar cubes. Shake the mixture, then strain and pour over fresh ice in a cocktail or highball glass. Top with seltzer —and be sure to pour slowly to avoid diluting the cocktail too much. Finally, garnish with a sprig of thyme. If you’re feeling extra fancy, cut any leftover lemon into a thin wheel to use as additional garnish.

As always, please drink in moderation and drink responsibly.

Cheers to 2023! MyCG wishes the workforce a happy, healthy and meaningful new year.

Original source can be found here