Tasty, Festive Blue Cocktails

Victory for Democrats in U.S. Blue States? Celebratory Blue Drinks

© Laura Harrison McBride

Oct 20, 2008

Bartenders across the U.S. will be whipping up some kind of libation for someone on the night of November 4, 2008. If it's for a Democratic party win, it's likely someone will call for a blue drink, to match the color of the party's electoral map votes. A few creative bartenders around the U.S. and abroad have contributed to this selection.

A "Bleu" Drink

This is a fairly simple drink, made popular in England, where people are not as afraid of raw egg whites as in the U.S., or of using French terminology. (In the U.S., simply leave out the egg whites, or see your liquor store for a bottled substitute that will make froth. You can also call it a Blue Drink if you must.)

Ingredients:

• Gin
• Vodka
• Tequila
• Blue Curacao
• Lemon juice
• Egg white (or substitute)
• Crushed ice
• Soda water

Directions:

For each drink:

1. Place 1/2 jigger of gin, 1 of vodka, 1 of tequila and one of Blue Curacao in a shaker over ice.
2. Add 1/2 jigger lemon juice.
3. Add two dashes of egg white or substitute.
4. Shake.
5. Pour into chilled tall glass and top up with soda water.

Blue Heaven

A Blue Heaven is a much simpler drink even than Bleu, Bleu, Bleu. It has only three ingredients, and can be put together in a jiffy.

Ingredients:

• Vodka
• Lemon juice
• Blue Curacao

Directions:

For each drink:

1. Pour 1 jigger vodka, 1/2 jigger lemon juice and 1/4 jigger Blue Curacao into shaker with ice.
2. Shake.
3. Strain into cocktail glass and serve.

Note: You can also make it with gin rather than vodka. If you do, you might have to adjust the amount of curacao to make up for the herbal flavor in the gin. And you can garnish this one with either a few blueberries or a curl of lemon rind.

Blue Dove

This is a variation on the Blue Heaven theme, and might appeal to pacifists because of its name, or to those who would really prefer a sort of "ice cream parlor treat" that delivers a buzz.

Ingredients:

• Blue Curacao
• Lemonade
• Vodka
• Whipped cream
• Maraschino cherry (optional)

Directions:

For each drink:

1. Fill a highball glass with ice.
2. Pour over the ice 1 jigger Blue Curacao and 1/2 to 3/4 jigger vodka.
3. Fill almost to top with lemonade, and top off with whipped cream.
4. You can even add a maraschino cherry and, if you are a canny shopper ahead of time, you might even find some blue maraschino cherries, although they are very rare.

Blueberry Martini

This might be the simplest of all, providing you can find Stirling's Blueberry flavoring in your local bar supplier's inventory, or a substitute.

Ingredients:

• Gin or vodka
• Stirling's blueberry flavoring or substitute
• Blueberries

Directions:

1. Fill shaker with ice.
2. Add 2 jiggers vodka or gin.
3. Add up to 1 jigger blueberry flavoring. Those who like sweet drinks will like at least a jigger; those who like martinis dry might prefer only enough flavoring to turn the drink a pale blue.
4. Shake well. Note: This drink lends itself to the currently favored bartender practice of supershaking the mixture so hard that little ice crystals flow into the glass in the liquid.
5. Plunk in 3 or 4 fresh or frozen blueberries to garnish.

Hangover Helpers

Be careful not to overdo, even if you support Democrats and they win. Take a cab home from the party, and then take care of your hangover, the traditional way, or with whatever you have on hand.

Gin is a Popular Base for Blue Cocktails

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