Welcome to another episode of the Gentlemen of Elegant Leisure.  For your listening and drinking pleasure, this time out the Gents try an old classic and a not so old classic.  

First up is one from the 1930's and found in the old Waldorf Astoria cocktail book.  

The Hop Toad

1 1/2 oz aged Rum
1/2 oz  Apricot liqueur
1/2 oz  fresh Lime Juice
2 dashes Aromatic Bitters

Shake with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. 

If you liked the Hop Toad, the Gents think you will also like this one.  Is it old?  Who knows.  It sure is tasty though!

The Inspiration

1/2 oz gin
1/2 oz  dry vermouth
1/2 oz  Calvados
1/2 oz Grand Marnier

Shake with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a maraschino cherry

Please try them both and leave a comment as to which you preferred.  The Gents love to hear from you.

Also, if you know Ryan Reynolds can you please get him to get in touch with us?  Thanks!

​Dear Ryan Reynolds,

Please come on our show the next time you’re in Vancouver.

Sincerely,
The Gentlemen of Elegant Leisure 

ps.  As your schedule allows.
pps.  We have Aviation gin so you won’t even have to bring any.  Unless you want to. 
We never say no to gin.

Welcome to another episode of the Gentlemen of Elegant Leisure!  This time around the Gents try a couple of aviation inspired cocktails. The Paper Plane and the P-38Lightning are as different as an actual paper plane and a P-38 Lightning, but both will launch you into the heavens, and give you a completely new perspective on things. Not surprisingly, the Gentlemen liked both the drinks but there was a clear winner.  Give a listen to the show to see which one it was.


First up, the Gents made the Paper Plane.  This is a neat mashup of Italian bitters and some sweet American bourbon.  If you can find this on a bar menu, you should definitely order it because your cool quotient will immediately increase exponentially.  Otherwise, make it at home and just enjoy being cool around the house.


Paper Plane

​3/4 ounce bourbon
3/4 ounce Aperol
3/4 ounce Amaro
3/4 ounce fresh lemon juice
Lemon twist for garnish
Shake first four ingredients with ice in a cocktail shaker.  Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with a lemon twist.

Taste that!   You didn’t expect that at all did you?  This is the sort of drink that attracted you to cocktails in the first place.  Four different ingredients combining to make a drink that catches you completely by surprise.  Try it out and then leave a comment below.

​Next up is a drink that was created at a train themed bar in Los Angeles called “Here and Now”. Why they opted for a fighter plane name, the Gents don’t know, but they are so glad they created this drink!  Clear the runway for the P-38 Lightning!

P-38 Lightning 
by Aaron Melendrez, Damian Diaz, and Otho Nolasco, Here and Now, Los Angeles 

​1 1/2 ounces gin (we used Aviation)
1/4 ounce apricot liqueur 
1/4 ounce velvet falernum
3/4 ounce fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon caster sugar
Absinthe and a star anise for garnish 
Combine all the ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake. Strain into a rocks glass.  Spritz absinthe over the drink and garnish with a star anise.

They use Ford’s Gin at the actual bar, but substituting Aviation Gin seemed like a fun choice for obvious airplane related reasons.  The star anise is a great garnish for this drink.  That little propeller spins every time you take a sip!