Recipes: Brown Russian, Hawaiian Sizzle, Ginberry Fizz, Pink Orangeade

Brown Russian

Serves 1.

This variation of the classic White Russian uses chocolate milk instead of cream. The result is a cozy, mocha-flavored drink.

1 oz. vodka

1½ oz. Kahlua

4 oz. chocolate milk

Fill a tall 12-ounce glass (such as a collins glass) with ice. Pour in the vodka and Kahlua, then add the chocolate milk. Amount of chocolate milk may be adjusted according to taste.

Hawaiian Sizzle

Serves 1.

The Blue Hawaiian inspired the flavor combination, but adding champagne or sparkling wine gives an unexpected punch.

½ oz. blue Curacao (an orange-flavored liqueur)

1 oz. coconut-flavored rum, such as Malibu or Parrot Bay

4 oz. champagne or sparkling wine

Small wedge fresh pineapple for garnish

Combine the curacao, rum, pineapple juice and champagne in an oversize 10-ounce champagne flute.

Make a small cut in the pineapple wedge and slip it onto the rim of the glass.

Ginberry Fizz

Don't mistake this for the classic Ramos Gin Fizz. Here the sugar, gin and lemon wedge are muddled, similar to an Old-Fashioned. But there is nothing old-fashioned about the refreshing flavor.

1 tsp. sugar

1½ oz. gin

1 small lemon wedge

4 oz. club soda

Combine the sugar and gin in an 8-to 10-ounce rocks or old-fashioned glass. Squeeze the lemon wedge into the glass and drop it in. Muddle with a spoon until the sugar has dissolved and the lemon is nicely pulverized, about 1 minute. Fill with ice, then pour in soda followed by a splash of cranberry juice.

Serving suggestion: Other juices may be substituted for the cranberry, such as grapefruit, lime or lemonade.

Pink Orangeade

Serves 1.

This nonalcoholic drink is perfect for sipping.

2 oz. orange juice

2 oz. soda

Drizzle of grenadine

Maraschino cherry for garnish

Thin slice of lemon for garnish

Make a small slit in the lemon slice and fit onto the rim of the glass.