point of no return

I discovered this one at the Mistral Kitchen, in downtown Seattle. The honey adds a delicious complexity. 3 oz gin ¼ oz charteuse 1 ¼ oz lime ½ oz simple syrup ½ oz honey syrup combine in shaker over ice, strain into cocktail glass. To make the honey syrup: combine ½ honey and ½ water.

bourbon word

The Last Word is one of my favorites. I wondered how bourbon would change the drink. This is the delicious result. 1 oz bourbon 1 oz luxardo maraschino 1 oz chartreuse 1 oz lemon juice combine in shaker over ice, strain into cocktail glass.

whiskey sidecar

The Sidecar is one of the best cocktails ever conceived. This version replaces the brandy with whiskey. 2 oz whiskey 1 oz triple sec 1 oz lemon juice combine in shaker over ice, strain into cocktail glass. {bourbon is preferred, but scotch is a nice variant.}

play on words

While this is a clearly a variant on the Last Word, I cannot recall where I discovered it. Probably cribbed it off a bar menu during happy hour. 1 oz gin 1 oz luxardo 1 oz sweet vermouth 1 oz lime juice Combine in an old fashioned glass over ice.

ruby red slipper

2 oz gin ½ oz campari 1 oz lime juice dash of grapefruit bitters dash of peychaud’s bitters combine in shaker over ice, strain into cocktail glass.

light brigade sazerac

Another variation on the sazerac. 1 oz rye whiskey 1 oz cognac ½ oz st. germain 2 drops of absinthe dash of angostura bitters lemon zest combine in shaker over ice, strain into cocktail glass.

vavilov affair

1 oz calvados (apple brandy) 1 oz bourbon 1 tsp sugar 2 dashes angostura bitters slice of tart apple, juiced combine in shaker over ice, strain into cocktail glass. garnish with another slice of granny smith apple

bijou

2 oz gin ½ oz sweet vermouth ½ oz chartreuse two dashes orange bitters combine in shaker over ice, strain into cocktail glass.

gin junkie

2 oz gin ½ oz aquavit ½ oz st. germain ½ oz agave syrup dash of orange bitters combine in shaker over ice, strain into cocktail glass.

new york sour

A variant of the whiskey sour. And a nice way to use up that leftover wine! 2 oz rye whiskey 1 oz lemon juice 1 oz simple syrup combine in shaker over ice, strain into an old fashioned glass filled with ice. pour 1/2 oz shiraz over back of spoon to float on top.