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It’s true that bread baking has become a favorite quarantine pastime—but so has drink making. Nielsen data from the end of March revealed U.S. sales of alcoholic beverages rose 55 percent compared to a year ago, with online purchases spiking 243 percent. We’re partially indebted to celebrities for the rise of “couch cocktail culture”: First, Ina Garten showed us how to make large-batch cosmos. Then this week Stanley Tucci gave the Internet a Negroni-making lesson, with smooth jazz playing in the background. How could we not put these recipes to the test ourselves? Here are five star-mixed concoctions we’ll be making this weekend.
Stanley Tucci’s Not-on-the-Rocks Negroni
The Oscar-nominated actor and cookbook author starts by filling a large shaker with ice, followed by a double shot of gin (though he notes you can also use vodka). Then he adds 1 shot of high-quality sweet vermouth and 1 shot of Campari. After shaking the mixture thoroughly, Tucci serves it straight up in a coup and garnishes it with an orange slice and a drizzle of juice.
Kate Hudson’s Dirty Martini
The King St. founder likes her martinis fresh. According to the brand’s recipe breakdown, Hudson combines 3 ounces vodka, 1 ounce olive brine, and a dash of dry vermouth in a glass and tops it off with (what else) olives.
Martha Stewart’s Rhubarb Lemon Spritz
Stewart is a fan of drinks that require very little in the way of special equipment, and one of those is a refreshing spritz with St.-Germain elderflower liqueur. Just add rhubarb syrup and Prosecco, stir, and serve.
Ina Garten’s Large-Batch Cosmo
Garten’s ingredients list is fairly standard: 2 cups good vodka, 1 cup Triple Sec or Cointreau, 1 cup cranberry juice, and 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime. She pours all of this into a pitcher before filling a cocktail shaker with ice and mixing the individual servings. As the acclaimed chef suggests, “It’s always cocktail hour in a crisis.”
Christina Hendricks’s Speedy Margarita
If you can’t be bothered to mix a drink yourself, do like Hendricks and pop a capsule into a Bartesian. The tool creates consistent-tasting cocktails on demand (all you have to do is add a base spirit and water). Whether you’re simply feeling lazy or can’t run to the store for ingredients, this will quench your thirst.
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