Four drinks every man should know how to make

Many of us turn up our noses at mixed drinks, after all, the idea of ​​a pink cocktail with a pineapple and a paper umbrella in a man's hand doesn't exactly embody the perfect image of a gentleman. But every man reaches a point in his life when he has to mix someone a mixed drink. This moment separates the men from the boys. Navigate the world of drinks in style and don't be intimidated. Here's a quick and easy guide to making four basic drinks that every gentleman should master. We've also added a little twist to each one that will make you a professional bartender in the eyes of the audience.

Bloody Mary

Considered by many to be the queen of Sunday mornings, the Bloody Mary is the perfect drink for evening sipping, any time of year. Prepared correctly, it will transport you to a new world of previously unknown flavors, prepared poorly, the Bloody Lady will lose your trust forever. Quality ingredients are key, and since tomato juice is the foundation on which you build the flavors of the entire drink, use the best juice you can find. Also, don't skimp on the vodka. Even though it's in a mixed drink, you'll still smell and hate low-quality vodka in a Bloody Mary. Pour the tomato juice, vodka, and lemon juice into a shaker with ice, add a few drops of Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco, lemon salt, and pepper, and stir with a long spoon. The proportions are up to you, and you should taste until you find the flavor that suits you. Garnish with a lime, celery stalk, coarse salt flakes, and freshly ground pepper.

Gin & Tonic

Wait, what?! Gin & Tonic? Everyone knows how to make a Gin & Tonic, so why is it here? It's true that you can find a G&T with a wedge of lemon in every beach bar in the world, but we spent many hours perfecting this timeless classic for you. We kept tasting and tasting until we found the right equation. Once you taste it, you'll never have it any other way. Make a “tower” of lemon, lime, bay leaf and dried juniper berries. Place in a glass over ice cubes and then pour in the gin and tonic. Stir gently with a spoon.

Whiskey Sour

The Whiskey Sour may be the trickiest drink on our list to make, but a little extra effort will earn you maximum points for showing off your barista skills. Plus, the perfect combination of lemon tartness and syrup sweetness is addictive. Add a smoky whiskey like Bowmore to transform it into a magical potion. This drink requires a lot of shaking, but if you don’t have a cocktail shaker, don’t worry. You can use any glass that can be tightly closed. Add plenty of ice, as the low temperature is essential when preparing egg whites. If you don’t have maple syrup on hand, simply mix 1:1 sugar and water in a saucepan over low heat and let it dissolve. You can make it in advance and it will keep in the fridge for up to a month. Put a lot of ice in a shaker, add whiskey, syrup and lemon juice. Then add about half of the white of one egg. If any of you are bothered by raw eggs, we have bad news. This drink really needs them, trust us. Close the shaker and start shaking it vigorously until your hands start to freeze. The egg white will magically foam up and float on the surface when you tip it into a glass. Serve without ice in a chilled glass, and garnish with a few drops of Angostura bitters.

Vesper Martini

"A dry martini," he said. "In a tall champagne glass." "Yes, sir." “One moment. Three parts Gin, one part Vodka, half part Nina Lillet. Shake it well until it’s icy, then add a big thick slice of lemon. Got it?” “Sure, monsieur.” The bartender looked pleased. Lines from Ian Fleming's very first James Bond novel give you a direct guide to the original, real Bond drink. If you want to impress, make your company the Vesper, a drink named after the first Bond girl. Just make sure they only have one, as it's practically a pint and a half of hard liquor. Add ice to a shaker, pour in vodka, gin and Lillet. Shake until the shaker is ice cold. Even though experts turn a blind eye to shaking gin and vodka, James Bond can't be wrong! Finally, don't forget to add a piece of lemon peel to the drink. Photo: Pavol Zachar www.zacharphoto.com