Gin Cocktails

When we received these bright Icy-Cools Reusable Ice Cubes ($9) and red-and-white Kikkerland Biodegradable Paper Straws ($6), we sought out a clear cocktail with plenty of flavor that would highlight the festive red, white, and blue colors.

We were looking for something refreshing and light and came across the 1930s Pegu Club Cocktail from The Savoy Cocktail Book. The original cocktail contains orange curacao and lime juice, but we substituted those ingredients with Dry Soda drinks, since they offer the essence of orange and lime flavors without using the juices, which would cloud the cocktail. "Fourth" plays off the Fourth of July holiday but also the four ingredients that make up the cocktail.

Wish you had a sparkler in hand this holiday? Twinkle with this cocktail instead.

After what's seemed like five straight months of unrelenting chill and fog, a few Summer days have finally descended on the city, and it's hot. I'm talking feel-the-sidewalks-baking, pool-dipping hot — a rare sight in June in San Francisco.

It's climes like these that call for a refreshing spritzer of a cocktail. It's hard to beat a classic gin and tonic, but this variation — which includes elderflower liqueur, mint, cucumber, and celery bitters — is far better. Don't skimp on the celery bitters; they add grassy notes that add another level of complexity.

For the recipe, keep reading.

One of my best nights in Hawaii was spent at the lobby bar at the Waikiki Edition, Oahu's posh new urban resort. There, I was in the hands of the hotel's talented barkeep, Sam Treadway, who crafted, among other things, a deconstructed mai tai (topped with foam and a shiso leaf) — as well as the best Sazerac I've ever had.

I asked the young bartender, who hails from the famous Boston bar Drink, to put together a memorable libation to end the evening on a high note. He came back with this; it's a bit sweet, a tad savory, and incredibly complex, with herbaceous, vegetal notes. To see the unique recipe, keep reading.