lavender julep

2 oz bourbon ½ oz lavender syrup Combine in a Collins glass. Stir. Fill completely with ice. Garnish with lavender sprig.

tuscan screwdriver

A simple, bitter orange drink created from bar boredom and the need to use a three-year-old bottle of Aperol. Tastes like a clear, purified screwdriver. 2 oz Aperol 1¼  oz Gin For a sweeter version, add a splash of triple sec. Shake over ice and serve in a martini glass, or serve in an old

sealback

Based on the Seelbach, a classic cocktail from the namesake Louisville bar, discovered nearly simultaneously in Mother Jones and in a book on bitters. My version eliminates the extraneous champagne, which simply waters down the drink. 2 oz bourbon 1 oz Cointreau or triple sec 7 dashes Angostura bitters 7 dashes Peychaud’s bitters Combine all

pegu club

A classic cocktail from the namesake Burmese lounge, discovered in a book on bitters, a gift from friends. Subtly citrus. Delicious. 2 oz gin ¾ oz curacao or triple sec ½ oz lime (half  lime) 1 dash Angostura bitters 1 dash orange bitters Combine in shaker over ice, and strain into cocktail glass.

martini

Of course you must have a martini, always gin, never vodka. Most people use vermouth. If so, add just a splash of sweet–not dry–vermouth. Use the best quality gin you can afford, such  Dry Fly. 2 oz gin 1-2 dashes orange bitters Combine in shaker over ice, and strain into cocktail glass. Serve ice cold, with

gingerbread martini

Friends in Copenhagen brought this over in a mason jar, on their bikes. 2 oz vodka ½ oz gingerbread syrup Combine in shaker over ice, and strain into cocktail glass. To make the syrup, simmer for ten minutes a cup of water, two cinnamon sticks, a teaspoon of whole cloves, and 4-5 tablespoons of chopped fresh ginger. Add one

modern fashion

A classic example of a simplified cocktail. A quick pour of bourbon, a splash of luxardo, drop in a few ice cubes, and you’re ready to relax. This is a fresh, simple take on the old fashioned from The Back Door at Roxy’s. 2 oz bourbon or whiskey ¼ oz luxardo maraschino orange peel cherry

lavendrop

Created especially for a friend who loves lavender. 2 oz gin ½ oz lavender syrup ½ oz lemon juice lavender sprig Combine in a shaker over ice, and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with lavender sprig. Alternate: use lime juice rather than lemon juice.

nuevo cuban

Starting with a back-of-the-box recipe based on the Cuban, I left out the champagne float (what are you going to do with 730ml of left-over champagne?). Tastes like fall candy. 1½ oz dark rum ¾ oz lemon juice ¾ oz mint syrup 6 drops Scrappy’s cardamom bitters Combine in shaker over ice, and strain into

the gypsy

A drink that’ll cause your parents to fret. 1½ oz gin ¾ oz st. germain ½ oz chartreuse ½ oz lime juice Combine in a shaker over ice, and strain into a cocktail glass.