Click, download, and enjoy! And, by the way, I think there are going to be more than a few surprises and upsets in the winner column this year. More on that next week.
And while the awards may be unpredictable this year, there are three classic cocktails reliable and perfect for any Tony Awards watching party. The vodka gimlet is one, a gin martini another, and sidecars for those who like something a little sweeter—but just as potent. All can be made by the pitcher and kept in the freezer between refills. Here’s my favorite recipe for each of them.
VODKA GIMLET
My go to theatre cocktail, the gimlet is a classic that simply doesn’t work with fresh lime juice so don’t try to dress it up. Rose’s gives the drink the perfect balance of sweet and sour. Pour over ice in a chilled old fashioned glass.
- 2 ounces Stoly vodka
- Ice
- 2 tablespoons Rose’s lime juice
- Lime wedge, for garnish
GIN MARTINI
Hendrick’s is a swell gin and it makes an extraordinary martini, but for the Tony’s you need a classic recipe to make a martini that you’d expect to be served at Joe Allen, or Sardi’s, or the lobby bar in the Schubert Theatre. Simple, on the rocks, and 5:1—make a batch. Up or on the rocks.
- 1 part vermouth
- 5 part Bombay Sapphire gin
- Ice (for mixing)
- To garnish: Green olive or lemon rind
SIDECAR
This prohibition-era cocktail takes slightly more work to prepare, but it’s a straightforward recipe that doesn’t suffer from multiplying the ingredients and making a pitcher—or pitchers. Note that, unlike the Gimlet, a sidecar requires fresh squeezed citrus juice.
- 3/4 oz. Cointreau
- 3/4 oz. lemon juice
- 1 1/2 oz. cognac
- cocktail glass