The Time of My Life

You can’t really have the time of your life without a delicious adult libation, now, can you? Guests would always come into the tavern and ask for my best cocktail. I would of course ask them what their flavor profile was and then go from there. During a standard Dirty Dancing weekend, we would feature five Dirty Dancing–themed drinks. Naturally, I would make the guests anything their hearts desired if they didn’t care for the special drinks; I was in the hospitality business after all. Here are the recipes for just a few of the delights I concocted to slake the thirst of the guests. I assure you that the fans loved these drinks, and I’m certain that you will as well.

Mike the Barman strikes a pose after concocting one of Mountain Lake’s signature cocktails

First I need to teach you how to make my special simple syrup and sour mixes. Generally, simple syrup is made with half refined white sugar and half water. I discovered that if I substituted locally sourced clover honey for sugar, it delivered a much smoother and more subtle flavor. I also found that using hot water helped dissolve the honey much more efficiently. As for the sour mix, it consists of two parts honey simple syrup, one part fresh-squeezed lime juice, and one part fresh-squeezed lemon juice, well mixed.

Dirty Dancing–Themed Cocktails  

I’ll start with the Dirty Dancing–themed cocktails, which were served almost exclusively on the movie weekends for the most part. Two of the drinks, those that I served in highest volume, I would prepare in advance and in bulk—and I do mean bulk. For many, these were girls’ weekends away from husbands and kids, and they could get quite libatious.