bold manhattan

I had this one in a surprising retro bar. The bartender used Jim Beam Devil’s Cut, but any quality bourbon suffices. It’s a very uncomplicated yet delicious drink. 2 oz bourbon ¾ oz agave syrup 3 dashes chocolate bitters (or more to taste) combine in a cocktail shaker over ice.

the jake walk

¾ oz st. germain ¾ oz white rum ¾ oz reposado tequila ¾ oz lime juice 2 dashes peychaud’s bitters combine in shaker over ice, strain into cocktail glass.

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.