May 30, 2025

What I’m Drinking: The Blue Train

The Blue Train can refer to a number of things. There’s the seminal album by jazz master John Coltrane. There’s the Poirot-featuring mystery novel by Agatha Christie (and to follow the literary theme, I believe a Blue Train bookstore in GA). There’s the actual train that’s called the Blue Train in South Africa (and there used to be a Blue Train in France, too, where the Christie took place). And then there are at least two drinks (I’ve featured them both), and my guess is there are probably like 10 more Blue Train cocktails I don’t know off the top of my head. That’s a lot of Blue Trains, and I’m sure I’m missing something (and I’m guessing there are Blues Trains galore, too). Whew, it’s enough to make one need a drink. Today, I’m going with the gin, Cointreau, lemon juice, and crème de violette version. Without the latter and with an egg white, depending on your egg-white-ness, that’s a White Lady of course, who probably rode a Blue Train once, but see, it’s not a White Lady cause of the crème de violette, which is really why I’m having this today, as I had a hankering for a crème de violette cocktail, and have a fondness for that flowery liqueur. Also, without the Cointreau and with maraschino, it is of course the high-flying Aviation cocktail. But I was feeling orange-y, and that gets to my typing less and drinking more. So, all aboard? I’d hope so.

The Blue Train cocktail with gin, Cointreau, creme di violette, lemon

The Blue Train

Ice cubes

1 ounce gin

1/2 ounce Cointreau

1/2 freshly squeezed lemon juice

1/2 ounce crème de violette

1. Fill a cocktail shaker halfway full with ice cubes. Add the gin, Cointreau, lemon juice, and crème de violette. Shake briefly.

2. Strain into a cocktail glass.

January 30, 2015

What I’m Drinking: The Blue Train (Take Two)

I’ve had a Blue Train cocktail up here on the Spiked Punch blog in the past, and it’s a good drink. There is, however, another Blue Train cocktail I like, based on one I saw called the Blue Train Special. It’s a bubbly mix, a celebratory number, an effervescent affair, one that’s sure to provide a hint of elegance for those occasions that demand such. You should try it, whether you’re on a train or not. Though really, it might be, now that I think about it, better when actually had on a train.

blue-train

The Blue Train, from Champagne Cocktails

Ice cubes
1 1/2 ounces brandy
1 ounce fresh pineapple juice
Chilled brut sparkling wine
Pineapple chunk, for garnish, (optional)

1. Fill a cocktail shaker three-quarters full with ice cubes. Add the brandy and pineapple juice. Shake well.

2. Strain the mixture through a fine strainer into a Champagne flute. Top with chilled sparkling wine and garnish with a pineapple chunk on a toothpick.

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