I’m writing this from Homer, Alaska while traveling on the WBCCI Alaskan Caravan. Cocktail hour is an enjoyable part of every caravan.
These cocktails are served all over Alaska, some I’ve only seen here.
The Glacier Margarita is an Alaskan standard, made blue to look like glacier ice.
The Polar Bear we had during a very icy boat cruise to view glaciers in Prince William Sound.
The Duck Fart is a shot, and a truly authentic Alaskan shot created by the Peanut Farm Bar in Anchorage in the 1980s.
The Alaska cocktail traditionally uses Old Tom Gin, which I’d never heard of. It’s a little bit sweet and made with juniper. Tanqueray makes an Old Tom Gin, as does Ransom Spirits in Oregon. Catoctin Creek makes a Pearousia Barrel Old Tom that is aged in old pear brandy barrels.
The Old-Fashioned is a special Jim Courtney (one of our caravan leaders) recipe.
However you choose to make it, these all have the Alaskan seal of approval, and in some cases, the Alaskan caravanners seal of approval.
Alaskan Cocktails
Polar Bear
Peppermint Schnapps and cocoa
Proportions to your liking
Glacier Margarita
1 oz. triple sec
1/2 of a lime, squeezed
2 oz. tequila
1 oz. Blue Curacao
1/2 oz. agave (or simple syrup)
Ice
The Duck Fart Shot
This is a layered shot, so pour in order:
1/2 oz. Kahlua
1/2 oz. Bailey’s or Irish cream
1/2 oz. Amaretto or Crown Royal
If you want to make this into a drink, add a scoop of vanilla ice cream and blend.
The Alaska Cocktail
1 oz. Old Tom Gin (or similar)
1/2 oz. yellow Chartreuse
1 dash of orange bitters
A squeeze of lemon
Pour over ice and stir
Klondike Coffee
Irish whiskey
Irish cream
Coffee
The Courtney Old Fashioned
1/2 slice of orange in the bottom of a glass
Add 2 cherries and 3 dashes of bitters (orange bitters are nice if you have them)
Muddle together
1 oz. simple syrup
3 oz. Bourbon
Add ice
Check out more of Gina’s recipes including this one for creamy African stew.
