inwood

2 oz Rye Whiskey (Old Overholt 86°)
1/2 oz Green Chartreuse
1/2 oz Café Lolita (Borghetti)
2 dash Orange Bitters (Angostura Orange)

Stir with ice, strain into a coupe glass, and garnish with a lemon twist. Two Mondays prior, I was lured by an unusual combination in the Inwood at Attaboy via online recipe flashcards. One friend on Instagram commented that they had not experimented with Chartreuse and coffee flavors, and I commented that "I have never seen it before. Cacao and hot chocolate, yes." Since Green Chartreuse can stand up to Fernet such as in the similarly structured Green Hornet, I figured that it would do alright with even a robust coffee liqueur. Once stirred and strained, the Inwood presented a lemon, coffee, and herbaceous aroma. Next, a roast-driven sip led into rye, coffee, and herbal flavors on the swallow with roast and orange elements coming through on the finish.

loose cannon

1 1/2 oz Bourbon (Evan Williams Bonded)
1/2 oz Punt e Mes
1/2 oz Fernet-Vallet (Fernet Branca)
1/2 oz Pierre Ferrand Dry Curaçao

Stir with ice, strain into a coupe glass, and garnish with an orange twist. Two Sundays ago, I opened up my copy of The Madrusan Cocktail Companion book and found the Loose Cannon by Brandon Bramhall at Last Saint in Charleston via the Manhattan section. The recipe made me think of the Alcazer from Pioneer of Mixing at Elite Bars: 1903-1933 (rye, Fernet, orange liqueur), and the combination of whisk(e)y, Punt e Mes, and those two liqueurs can be found in the Scotland the Brave. In the glass, the Loose Cannon shot off with orange, grape, and minty aromas. Next, caramel and grape notes on the sip stepped aside for Bourbon, herbal, bitter menthol, and orange flavors on the swallow.

st. stephen's sour

1 oz Cognac (Courvoisier VS)
1 oz Aged Rum (Dos Maderas 5+5)
3/4 oz Lemon Juice
3/4 oz Orgeat

Shake with ice, strain into a glass filled with crushed ice (big cube), and garnish with a lemon twist. Two Saturdays ago, I came across the St. Stephen's Sour by Jeffrey Morgenthaler at Portland's Clyde Common in 2014 via Imbibe Magazine. Overall, the concept reminded me of the Cameron's Kick, but instead of Scotch and Irish whiskey, it features the punch duo of rum and brandy. Moreover, it also came across like a Between the Sheets with orgeat instead of that classic's orange liqueur. Once shaken and strained, the St. Stephen's Sour showcased a lemon and nutty aroma. The sip mirrored the nose with creamy and lemon notes, and the swallow revealed rum, Cognac, and nutty flavors.

late for lunch

1 1/2 oz Blanco Tequila (Cimarron)
3/4 oz Lime Juice
1/2 oz Orgeat
1/2 oz Aperol
1 Egg White

Shake one round without ice and one round with ice, strain into a glass (coupe), and garnish with lime peel shavings. Two Fridays ago, I returned to the online recipe flashcards for The Violet Hour in Chicago and found the Late for Lunch as a dealer's choice option. The recipe reminded me of the Dead Man's Handle with egg white and different proportions, presentation, and garnish; since that one was delicious, I gave this one a go. In the glass, the Late for Lunch gave forth a lime, orange, and vegetal aroma. Next, a creamy lime and orange sip blossomed into tequila, almond, and orange flavors on the swallow.

trust falls

1 oz Bourbon (Evan Williams Bonded)
1 oz Cognac (Courvoisier VS)
1/4 oz Licor 43
1/4 oz Allspice Dram (Hamilton's)
2 dash Peychaud's Bitters

Stir with ice, strain into an old fashioned glass with a large ice cube, and garnish with an orange twist. Two Thursdays ago, I uncovered the Trust Falls from a collection of recipes from Too Soon in Portland, Oregon. Overall, the combination reminded me of the Sherpa except with the Bourbon split with Cognac and citrus-driven Licor 43 replacing the curaçao. Moveover, the name made me think of the recurrent bit in office comedy series The Chit Show. Once prepared, the Trust Falls launched off with an orange, vanilla, and allspice aroma. Next, a slightly citrussy sip opened up into whiskey, brandy, allspice, and orange flavors on the swallow.

shaken hands

1 oz Blanco Tequila (Cimarron)
1 oz Aperol
3/4 oz Lemon Juice
3/4 oz Pineapple Juice
1/2 oz Ginger Syrup
2 dash Angostura Bitters

Shake with ice and strain into a rocks or coupe glass. Two Wednesdays prior, I spotted the Shaken Hands in a recent Imbibe Magazine article. The drink was created by Aurele Berdoz at The Rhymer's Club in Manhattan as a tropical take on Audrey Saunder's Intro to Aperol. The gin and simple syrup from Audrey's recipe was swapped to tequila and ginger syrup with pineapple juice added, and perhaps one day I will get around to making the original. Here, the Shaken Hands gave forth an orange, agave, and clove aroma. Next, pineapple, lemon, and orange notes on the sip reached for vegetal, orange, ginger, and allspice flavors on the swallow.

best friend

1 1/2 oz Mezcal (Convite Especial)
1/2 oz Campari
2 oz Pineapple Juice
1/2 oz Lime Juice
1/2 oz Cinnamon Syrup

Shake with ice, strain into a double old fashioned glass with a large ice cube, and garnish with a dehydrated pineapple wheel (omit). Two Tuesdays ago, I decided to make the Best Friend by Karl Steuck for the opening menu at the Condor Bar in the Hotel El Roblar. I found the recipe in a set of online recipe flashcards for the bar, and my search uncovered the recipe in a 2025 article in Food & Wine. The Best Friend read like a Gilda Cocktail meeting a mezcal Jungle Bird, so it seemed worthy of a try. As I mentioned in my Palenque Punch yesterday, my trick of swapping the simple syrup for cinnamon in the mezcal version of the parallel Mr. Bali Hai (to add depth of flavor lost in transitioning to an unaged spirit as well as adding complementary notes) was also something that Karl figured out as well. Once prepared, the Best Friend greeted the nose with a pineapple, cinnamon, and vegetal aroma. Next, pineapple and lime notes on the sip blossomed into smoky vegetal, bitter orange-pineapple, and cinnamon flavors on the swallow.

palenque punch

1 oz Convite Una Mezcal
1 oz Luxardo Bitter Bianco
1/2 oz Luxardo Espresso Liqueur
1/2 oz Acidified Pineapple Juice (*)
1/2 oz Cinnamon Syrup (1:1)

Build over ice and stir. I batched and poured over ice. While developing the recipe, it actually tasted rather good undiluted at room temperature too.
(*) Pineapple juice was acidified with 6% citric acid (94 grams pineapple to 6 grams citric). Skipping the acidification and replacing with 1/2 oz regular pineapple juice + 1/2 oz lemon juice would work well. In late February, the Hotaling Company reached out to see if I would represent Convite Mezcal and Luxardo at Speed Rack in late March. I was asked to create the drink and run the booth as I was one of the lucky bartenders to spend several days down in Oaxaca with the Convite team where I gave a master class to local bartenders, answered questions, and did guest bartending shifts during my session in January 2023. For a recipe that I presented two weeks ago, I utilized the Convite Una Mezcal (that also benefits breast cancer charities like Speed Rack does) as well as their suggestion of using Luxardo Bitter Bianco. When they sent me some samples including Luxardo's Espresso Liqueur, I became inspired to make something akin to the Mr. Bali Hai. When I have done mezcal variations of that tropical drink, I have utilized cinnamon instead of plain simple syrup to provide complementary flavors and add a bit or roundness to the unaged spirit. As I was batching 150 full-sized portions at just shy of 16 liters, I went with an acidified pineapple juice instead of sourcing fruit and preparing 75-80 ounces of fresh lemon juice. It also made the mix shelf stable at room temperature so I could prep it a day in advance and not worry about refrigeration. Overall, it was a success. Midway through the event, folks were coming up to the booth by way of word of mouth that they needed to try this, and one patron even returned to tell me that my drink was the best of the night and asked for a second helping. Since I had a little left over from the event, I decided to make it my nightcap and prepared tasting notes. In the glass, the Palenque Punch began with a cinnamon, espresso roast, and pineapple aroma. Next, the roast and pineapple elements continued on into the sip where they were chased by smoky vegetal flavors blending into bitter herbal ones that lead into coffee and cinnamon notes on the swallow.

wonderboy

2 oz Cognac (Courvoisier VS)
1/2 oz Pedro Ximenez Sherry (Lustau)
1/2 oz Amaro Sfumato

Stir with ice, strain into a double old fashioned glass with a large ice cube, and garnish with a lemon twist. Two Sundays ago, I returned to the online recipe flashcards for Attaboy and spied the Wonderboy. I have tried other drinks with the Sfumato-Pedro Ximenez sherry motif such as the Violet Touch with rye and Besitos de Abuelita with agave, and I utilized it in my Slowly Goes the Night with a rye and mezcal mix. I was drawn in for it seemed especially elegant with a Cognac base. In the glass, the Wonderboy lept to the nose with a lemon, raisin, char, and smoke aroma. Next, deep grape and roast notes on the sip were confronted by rich Cognac, smoky bitter herbal, and raisin flavors on the swallow.

fantastico

1 1/2 oz Gosling's Black Seal Rum
1/2 oz Varnelli Punch Fantasia
3/4 oz Ginger Syrup
1/2 oz Lime Juice
2 dash Angostura Bitters

Shake with ice, strain into a Highball glass with soda water (2 oz), add ice, and garnish with a piece of candied ginger. Another soda water recipe that I had saved up resided on the Bartender's Choice app called the Fantastico. The drink was crafted by Brandon Bramhall at Nashville's Attaboy in 2018, and the app described it as "A Dark 'N Stormy with some added amaro bitterness." After finding a way too cheap liter bottle of Punch Fantasia a little over a year and a half ago, I have been looking at ways of using it past the ounce and quarter to date poured thanks to the Bumbo and the Last King of Scotland. Here with another half ounce, the Fantastico offered up a caramel, hazelnut, and ginger bouquet to the nose. Next, a carbonated caramel and lime sip delved into rum, nutty, ginger, herbal, and allspice flavors on the swallow.

bow & arrow

1 oz Mezcal (Fosforo Ensemble)
1 oz Bourbon (Evan Williams Bonded)
1 oz Pineapple Juice
1/2 oz Lime Juice
1/2 oz Cinnamon Syrup

Shake with ice and strain into a coupe. Two Fridays prior, I reached for my copy of The Madrusan Cocktail Companion and spotted the Bow & Arrow by Scott Teague at Dutch Kills circa 2015. The recipe reminded me of a split base Gilda Cocktail from Death & Co.; Scott would have been familiar with the Gilda from having worked at Death & Co. a few years after Brian Miller created it in 2009. In the glass, the Bow & Arrow shot forth with a vegetal, cinnamon, pineapple, and smoke aroma. Next, a lime-driven sip landed on Bourbon, vegetal agave, pineapple, and cinnamom flavors on the swallow.

the hamptonian

1 oz Brisson VS Cognac (Courvoisier VS)
1 oz Beefeater Gin (Tanqueray)
3/4 oz Amaro Ramazzotti
3/4 oz Lemon Juice
3/4 oz Simple Syrup

Shake with ice, strain into a Collins glass with soda water (2 oz), add ice, and garnish with a lemon wheel (lemon twist). Another soda water recipe that I had saved up was The Hamptonian at Dear Irving as a fancy Long Island Iced Tea. This drink sourced from a set of online recipe flashcards from Fall 2021 reminded me of Sother Teague's Youthful Expression with its gin, Bourbon, Ramazzotti, bitters, and soda. In the glass, The Hamptonian emitted a lemon and cola aroma. Next, a carbonated lemon and caramel sip flowed into Cognac, juniper, caramel, and herbal flavors on the swallow.

iroc-z

1 1/2 oz Applejack (Laird's Bonded)
1/2 oz Cynar
3/4 oz Ginger Syrup
1/2 oz Lime Juice

Shake with ice, strain into a highball glass with soda water (2 oz), add ice, and garnish with a piece of candied ginger. Continuing on with my backlog of recipes elongated with soda water, I decided to make the Iroc-Z from Attaboy two Wednesdays ago. This recipe that I found in online flashcards reminded me of the CIA crossed with a Buck. Once assembled, the Iroc-Z accelerated to the nose with an apple and ginger aroma. Next, a carbonated lime and caramel sip switched gears into an apple, ginger, and herbal swallow.

ross Island

3/4 oz Beefeater Gin (Tanqueray)
3/4 oz Amaro Ramazzotti
3/4 oz Swedish Punsch (Kronan)
3/4 oz Lemon Juice

Shake with ice, strain into a collins (highball) glass with soda water (2 oz), and garnish with a lemon wheel (lemon twist). Two Tuesdays ago, since I had a fresh bottle of soda water, I decided to make the Ross Island at the now shuttered La Moule in Portland, Oregon, that I uncovered through online recipe flashcards. A GoogleMaps menu photo dates this drink to 2021 around two years before it closed. While I thought that it could be named after the island off of Antarctica, one of my Instagram friends pointed out that there is a Ross Island in the Willamette River just south of La Moule's location. As for the recipe, the only instance of Swedish punsch and Ramazzotti being used together was in the Over the Yardarm but the amaro was used in a float over crushed ice there, so I was curious to try it in this elongated equal parts recipe. Once mixed, the Ross Island gave forth lemon, pine, and root beer aromas. Next, a carbonated lemon and caramel sip opened up into pine, citrus, herbal, cola, and black tea flavors on the swallow.

i'm not your mary

1 oz Wild Turkey (Rittenhouse Rye)
1 oz Bertoux Brandy (Courvoisier VS)
1/2 oz Dolin Blanc Vermouth (Servito)
1/4 oz Demerara Syrup
3 dash Smeby Black & White Bitters that are chocolate/vanilla (2 dash Savoy Society Chocolate Chicory + 2 dash Savoy Society Orange Vanilla)

Stir with ice and strain into an old fashioned glass rinsed with Fernet Branca. The identity of the whiskey as to Bourbon or rye (or the proof) was not mentioned, but I went with Rittenhouse Rye to split the difference since Wild Turkey Bourbon is a bit fiery. Two Mondays ago, I returned to the online recipe flashcards for The Violet Hour and latched on to the I'm Not Your Mary as a Toronto riff taken by way of the Sazerac from the Winter 2022 menu. I was drawn in for it reminded me of the bar's All Bark, All Bite circa 2018 as a Toronto with a split rye and Scotch base with a smoky rinse. Once stirred and strained, the I'm Not Your Mary welcomed the nose with Fernet's minty and menthol aromas. Next, a lightly caramel sip unfurled into rye, brandy, chocolate, menthol, and vanilla flavors on the swallow.

bouchot

1 1/2 oz Calvados (Morin Selection)
3/4 oz Cocchi Americano
3/4 oz Suze Gentiane Liqueur

Stir with ice, strain into an old fashioned glass with a large ice cube, and garnish with a lemon twist. Two Sundays ago, I spotted a reference to a drink that Sother Teague created for the podcast Sauced called the Bouchot to complement the episode's mussels dish. This fruity White Negroni riff was named after the fence posts for farming intertidal mussels. Overall, the flavor concept reminded me a little of my Tin Can Telephone with apple brandy and gentian liqueur that utilized sweet vermouth and a touch of Benedictine instead of Cocchi Americano. Once prepared, the Bouchot gave forth a lemon and gentian herbal aroma. Next, pear notes on the sip opened up into apple, herbal, and grapefruit flavors on the swallow.

cactus fly

3/4 oz Mezcal (Fosforo Ensemble)
3/4 oz Amaro Sfumato
3/4 oz Ginger Syrup
3/4 oz Lemon Juice

Shake with ice and strain into a Nick & Nora (coupe) glass. The recipe said no garnish, but I opted for a piece of candied ginger on a pick like this drink's siblings. Two Saturdays ago, I ventured back to the online recipe flashcards for the Long Island Bar in Brooklyn where I sourced the Electric Mayhem. The drink I selected was the Cactus Fly that was akin to the Mosquito with Campari and the Dragonfly with Braulio, but here with Sfumato. Since mezcal and Sfumato are a great pairing such as in the Oakland, Tarantula, and other cocktails, I prepared this one right away. In the glass, the Cactus Fly gave forth a vegetal, roast, smoke, and ginger aroma. Next, lemon and roast notes on the sip slid into vegetal, ginger, roast, and herbal flavors on the swallow with a smoky finish.

little easy

1 1/2 oz Famous or Black Grouse (2 oz Famous Grouse)
1/2 oz Averna (2/3 oz)
1 Sugar Cube (1/3 oz Simple Syrup)
2 dash Peychaud's Bitters
2 dash Bitter Truth Orange Bitters (Angostura Orange)

Muddle the sugar cube soaked with bitters (I used simple syrup and skipped the muddling), add Scotch and Averna, and stir with ice. Strain into an old fashioned glass rinsed with absinthe (Pastis d'Autreois) and garnish with an orange twist. Two Fridays ago, I was looking through the Kindred Cocktails database and landed upon the Little Easy by Brian Quinn in a 2012 Food Republic article as a riff on the New Orleans classic, the Sazerac. Scotch and Averna have paired well before in the Philadelphia Story, Black Mass, and other drinks, so I was game to give this one a whirl. In the glass, the Little Easy proffered an orange, anise, and licorice bouquet to the nose. Next, caramel and malt notes on the sip opened up into Scotch, herbal, anise, and hint of cherry flavors on the swallow.

penumbra

1 oz Gin (Tanqueray)
1 oz Aperol
3/4 oz Lemon Juice
3/4 oz Passion Fruit Syrup
1/8 oz Honey Syrup
1 Egg White

Shake one round without ice and one round with ice, and strain into a Sour glass. Two Thursdays ago, I returned to the most recent set of online recipe flashcards for Attaboy that I uncovered. There, I found the Penumbra and an almost identical drink called the Orange Moon that was served in an old fashioned glass with a large ice cube instead of served up. For a time frame, I turned to Yelp where there was a June 2023 review with a photo of the Penumbra served in a coupe, and an October 2023 review with photo of the Orange Moon served in an old fashioned glass with a large ice cube and short metal straw. One of the reviews described the combination as, " I felt like it tasted like an orange creamsicle." The combination of gin, Aperol, and passion fruit reminded me of the 'I'iwi Bird, and Aperol and passion fruit factored into my gentian liqueur-based Italian Stallion and Baldwin Bar's aromatized wine-based Rome with a Slight View. Once shaken and strained, the Penumbra cast out an orange, passion fruit, and pine aroma. Next, a creamy orange sip was overshadowed by gin, passion fruit, and orange flavors on the swallow.

dead man's party

1 oz Cognac (Courvoisier VS)
1 oz Mezcal (Fosforo Ensemble)
1/2 oz Amaro Sfumato
1/2 oz Aperol
2 dash Mole Bitters (Bittermens)

Stir with ice, strain into an old fashioned glass, and garnish with a grapefruit twist. Two Wednesdays ago, I was reminded of the Veneto Negroni with Aperol and Sfumato as the bitter liqueur element and was inspired to tinker. Originally, I tried a 3:1 mix of rye whiskey to mezcal similar to the Knife to a Gun Fight with Bourbon and rinse of Scotch, but it was a bit thin. Instead, I went with an equal split of Cognac and mezcal that worked well in the 1910 Cocktail. For a name, I dubbed it after a song from Oingo Boingo, the Dead Man's Party, that I had on a mix I made to play at Drink which I recently revisited. The end result offered up grapefruit, smoke, and orange aromas to the nose. Next, orange, roast, and caramel notes on the sip gave way to Cognac, vegetal, bitter herbal, and orange flavors on the swallow with smoke, chocolate, and char on the finish.

los saicos

3/4 oz Planteray Stiggins' Fancy Pineapple Rum
3/4 oz Planteray 3 Star White Rum (Hamilton White 'Stache)
1/4 oz Planterayrum OFTD Rum
1 1/2 oz Pineapple Juice
3/4 oz Lime Juice
1/2 oz Velvet Falernum
1/2 oz Orgeat
5 drop St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram (Hamilton)

Whip shake with ice, pour into a ceramic mug, and fill with crushed ice. Two Tuesdays ago, I searched for online recipe flashcard sets that included drinks with Planteray OFTD Rum and found Los Saicos at Cvi.che 105 in Miami. I soon found a Yelp review mentioning the drink in November 2018 and menu photos from May 2019 and March 2021, so it has been successful enough to survive a few menu turns. Matching the Peruvian restaurant theme, the drink was named after a band formed in Lima in 1964 that is considered one of the first garage rock bands and one of the pioneers of punk music. In the mug, the Los Saicos strummed aromas of pineapple and almond to the nose. Next, creamy lime and pineapple notes on the sip led into rum, pineapple, almond, and spice flavors on the swallow.

7 seminole avenue

1 oz Laird's Apple Brandy (Laird's Bonded)
1 oz Appleton Signature Rum
1/2 oz Cardamaro
1/2 oz Luxardo Amaro Abano
1/8 oz Demerara Syrup
10 drop Mole Bitters (Bittermens)

Stir with ice, strain into an old fashioned glass with a large ice cube, and garnish with an orange twist. Two Mondays ago, I returned to my notes from the online recipe flashcards from the Patterson House in Nashville and found the bitter, brown, and down number the 7 Seminole Avenue to fit the evening's calling. The recipe dated back to their Fall 2024 menu, and I was able to find an old menu online to confirm its placement and ingredients; however, I could not determine what that address corresponds to. Apple brandy and Cardamaro have paired up elegantly before in drinks like the Trenton and Euthanasia, and I have utilized the duo in recipes like the Wooden Shoe and Runaway Horses, so I was curious to try it here in this Old Fashioned meets Black Manhattan style drink. In the glass, this nightcap revealed orange, caramel, peppery, and root beer aromas to the nose. Next, grape and caramel notes on the sip opened up into rum, apple, herbal, and black pepper flavors on the swallow.

dama rosa

1 1/2 oz Blanco Tequila (Cimarron)
1/2 oz Laird's Bonded Apple Brandy
3/4 oz Lime Juice
1/2 oz Grenadine
1/2 oz Simple Syrup
1 Egg White

Shake one round without ice and one round with ice, strain into a coupe, and garnish with a lemon twist. Two Sundays ago, I uncovered a curious split base egg white recipe called the Dama Rosa at the now shuttered La Moule in Portland, Oregon, via online recipe flashcards. A Yelp menu photo places this drink around June 2021. Given the name and build, the Dama Rosa is a riff on the classic Pink Lady with tequila and lime for the original's gin and lemon. Tequila with apple brandy is a pairing that I first learned about in Island Creek's Spanish Caravan that inspired me to craft the Hasta Manzana riff on the Vieux Carré a few weeks later. In the glass, the Dama Rosa greeted the senses with a lemon, agave, and red berry aroma. Next, creamy lime and red fruit notes on the sip twirled into tequila, apple, and tart red berry flavors on the swallow.

fredo corleone

1 oz Rye Whiskey (Rittenhouse)
1 oz Jamaican Dark Rum (3/4 oz Coruba + 1/4 oz Smith & Cross)
3/8 oz Amaro Nonino
1 tsp Pedro Ximenez Sherry (Lustau)
2 drop Bittermens Mole Bitters
Stir with ice, strain into an old fashioned glass with a large ice cube, and garnish with an orange twist. Two Saturdays ago, I selected my copy of The Madrusan Cocktail Companion book and landed on the Fredo Corleone by Lorenzo Antinori at Bar Leone in Hong Kong circa 2023. Lorenzo named his creation after the incompetent middle son of Mafia Don Vito Corleone in the movie The Godfather. Overall, it reads like The Velvet Touch with the rye split here with Jamaican rum, and it would make a good pairing with Lorenzo's other tribute to that movie, the Luca Brazi. Once mixed, the Fredo Corleone gave forth an orange, caramel, and raisin bouquet to the nose. Next, dark grape and caramel notes on the sip slid into rye, funky rum, raisin, caramel orange, and herbal flavors on the swallow.

blackjack

1 1/2 oz Famous Grouse Scotch
1/2 oz Laird's Bonded Apple Brandy
3/4 oz Lemon Juice
1/2 oz Maple Syrup
1/4 oz Ginger Syrup
1 dash Angostura Bitters

Shake with ice, strain into a coupe glass, and garnish with a lemon twist. Two Fridays prior, I selected a recipe from The Rose in Jackson, Wyoming, called the Blackjack that I found in a set of online recipe flashcards. The name could be an allusion to how gambling was made illegal in Wisconsin in 1901 yet Jackson was "so far removed from the eyes of any federal law enforcement, it happened in the basements of several downtown drinking establishments" until mid-century. The duo of maple and ginger syrups appeared in the Mountain Man with Bourbon and peach liqueur instead of Scotch and apple brandy. Once dealt, the Blackjack showed a lemon, maple, and ginger bouquet to the nose. Lemon and an amber note on the sip revealed Scotch, apple, maple, ginger, and clove flavors on the swallow.

heather on the hill

2 oz Grant Scotch (Famous Grouse)
1/2 oz Orange Juice
1/2 oz Lemon Juice
1/2 oz Honey Syrup
1 dash Cardamom Bitters (The Bitter Housewife)
1 Egg White

Shake one round without ice and one round with ice, strain into a coupe, and garnish with an orange twist. Two Thursdays ago, I returned to the online set of recipe flashcards for 1 Tippling Place in Philalephia that I had not touched since July when I made The Marxist. From that 2017 set, I selected the Heather on the Hill. In my research, I found an October 2016 article in Mid-Day with a photo and a description of the bartender Myles Carroll making the drink for a month long pop-up in Mumbai, India. Overall, the recipe reminded me of Sother Teague's Take me to Marrakech but with Scotch and egg white instead of Armagnac. Once prepared, Heather on the Hill gave forth an orange, honey, and Scotch aroma. Next, a creamy orange and lemon sip led into Scotch, honey, and cardamom flavors on the swallow. I was quite surprised at how delightful this combination was given its relative simplicity.

hat in hand

1 1/2 oz Aged Rum (Planteray Mr. Fogg)
1/2 oz Cognac (Courvoisier VS)
3/4 oz Banana Liqueur (Tempus Fugit)
2 dash Angostura Bitters
1 dash Saline (4 drop 20%)

Stir with ice, strain into an old fashioned glass with a large ice cube, and garnish with an orange twist. Two Wednesdays ago, I returned to sets of online recipe flashcards for Dear Irving and spied the Hat in Hand. I was able to trace it back to the current menu for Dear Irving Gramercy, the Raines Law menu in 2020 via a Yelp photo, and Fresh Kills in 2017 via a Yelp review. Overall, the recipe reminded me of the King Kong and Banana Cognac with different spirits and sometimes bitters (as well as the Bananarac if you overlook the absinthe rinse and serving style). In the glass, the Hat in Hand showcased an orange, caramel, and dried banana aroma. Next, caramel notes on the sip opened up into rum, Cognac, caramelized banana, and clove flavors on the swallow.

hierophant

3/4 oz Laphroaig 10 Year Scotch
3/4 oz Cognac (Courvoisier VS)
3/4 oz Licor 43
3/4 oz Amontillado Sherry (Lustau)

Stir with ice, strain into an old fashioned glass with a large ice cube, and garnish with a cherry. Two Tuesdays prior, I returned to an online set of recipe flashcards from Attaboy in Manhattan and was lured in by the Hierophant. The Weekly Cock Tale substack wrote about this split-base drink along with a photo in 2023 after asking the bartender for something boozy and sweet. In an effort to improve my vocabulary, I learned that a hierophant is a priest in Ancient Greece who interpreted sacred mysteries and esoteric principles; it is also a Tarot card that signifies a search for spiritual guidance. Here, the spirit, sherry, and Licor 43 combination reminds me of Eastern Standard drinks like the Ponce de Leon and Black Douglas, so I was curious to try this one even with the larger than average amount of Licor 43 here. In the glass, the Hierophant called forth with a peat smoke, grape, citrus, and vanilla aroma. Next, a sweet grape sip revealed smoky whisky, rich grape from the Cognac and sherry, vanilla, and orange flavors on the swallow.

call it a night

2 oz Bourbon (Evan Williams Bonded)
3/4 oz Carpano Sweet Vermouth (Alessio)
1/2 oz Pedro Ximenez (Lustau)
1 tsp Averna

Stir with ice and strain into a coupe glass rinsed with absinthe (Butterfly). Two Mondays ago, I turned to an old Imbibe Magazine article from April 2019 to make a Manhattan riff called the Call It a Night created by Katie Rose at Goodkind in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The pairing of sweet vermouth and Pedro Ximenez have worked well in drinks like the Stage Dives & Fist Fights, William Wallace, and Riddles in the Dark, so I was curious to try it here with Averna and absinthe accents. In the glass, the Call It a Night summoned a licorice and raisin aroma. Next, a rich grape sip wandered off to showcase Bourbon, fig, and anise flavors on the swallow.

scoundrel

1 1/2 oz Scotch (Famous Grouse)
1/2 oz Islay Scotch (Ardbeg 10 Year)
3/4 oz Pedro Ximenez Sherry (Lustau)
1/4 oz Green Chartreuse
1 dash Orange Bitters (Angostura Orange)

Stir with ice, strain into a coupe glass, and garnish with a lemon twist. Two Sundays ago, I reached for my copy of The Madrusan Cocktail Companion and found the Scoundrel by Yao Wong at The Elysian in Melbourne circa 2021 in the Manhattan section. While I have not had Green Chartreuse and Pedro Ximenez before, I have had it paired with other sherries such as in The Mouse's Tale and the Ghost of Castle Island. In the glass, the Scoundrel countered with a lemon, raisin, peat smoke, and herbaceous aroma. Next, a rich grape sip revealed smoky Scotch, raisin, and herbaceous flavors on the swallow with dried fruit and smoke on the finish.

devil's whisper

1 oz Smith & Cross Rum
1 oz Amaro Braulio
1/2 oz Green Chartreuse
1/2 oz Apple Brandy (Laird's Bonded)

Stir with ice, strain into an old fashioned glass with ice, and garnish with a grapefruit twist. Two Saturdays ago, I returned to a relatively recent set of online recipe flashcards that I found for Attaboy, and I picked the Devil's Whisper. While there are four Braulio-Yellow Chartreuse drinks on the blog such as the Inside Job, this is the first time that I had seen Braulio paired with Green Chartreuse. In the glass, the Devil's Whispered communicated a grapefruit, caramel, rum funk, and herbal aroma to the nose. Next, caramel and apple notes on the sip revealed funky rum, caramel, herbal, and herbaceous flavors on the swallow with a pine finish.

hillside cocktail

1 1/2 oz Junipero Gin (Tanqueray)
3/4 oz Dolin Dry Vermouth
3/4 oz Amaro Nonino
2 dash Chartreuse Elixir Vegetal

Stir with ice, strain into a coupe glass, and garnish with a lemon twist. Two Fridays ago, I spotted a reference to the Hillside Cocktail created by Chris Bostick at The Varnish. I soon uncovered a YouTube video from 2011 where Chris made the drink and provided the recipe. Back in 2011, this recipe would be notable for Elixir Vegetal had to be suitcase smuggled (although at some point Cocktail Kingdom had a stash), but now as of a few years ago, it is legally imported here. The recipe reminded me of Eastern Standard's Aprilia which is an equal parts number with Cocchi Americano accented by grapefruit bitters instead of dry vermouth and Elixir Vegetal. Once stirred and strained, the Hillside Cocktail proffered a lemon, herbaceous, and pine aroma. Next, light caramel notes on the sip tumbled into pine, herbaceous, and caramel-herbal flavors on the swallow.

the belafonte

1 1/2 oz Angostura Rum (Monymusk Classic Gold)
3/4 oz Banana Liqueur (Tempus Fugit)
1/2 oz Lime Juice
1/2 oz Pineapple Juice
1/4 oz Ginger Syrup

Shake with ice and strain into a coupe glass. I added a lime wheel garnish. Two Thursdays ago, I looked through the recipes that I had marked down from online flashcard sets for the Wilson & Wilson Private Detective Agency, a speakeasy connected to Bourbon & Branch in San Francisco. There, I was lured in by the Belafonte from a 2017 menu. There is already one other Belafonte from The Hawthorne on the blog as well as the Stack Banana from the Baldwin Bar making reference to Belafonte's most famous song. Moreover, at the tail end of my tenure at Russell House Tavern in 2015, we had a Belafonte on the dessert menu of black strap rum, banana liqueur, allspice dram, and housemade coffee bitters. Regardless, this combination called out to be made. In the glass, the Belafonte offered up pineapple and banana aromas to the nose. Next, lime, pineapple, and caramel notes on the sip opened up into rum, banana, pineapple, and ginger flavors on the swallow.

the mental demands of modern life

1 1/2 oz Altos Reposado Tequila (Cimarron)
1/2 oz Pedro Ximenez Sherry (Lustau)
1/2 oz Cocchi Sweet Vermouth (Alessio)
3/8 oz Fernet Branca
3/8 oz Giffard Crème de Banane (Tempus Fugit)
2 dash Regan's Orange Bitters (Angostura Orange)
1 dash Angostura Bitters

Stir with ice, strain into an old fashioned glass with a large ice cube, and garnish with an orange twist. Two Wednesdays ago, I returned to the online recipe flashcards for the Patterson House in Nashville, and The Mental Demands of Modern Life called out to me especially since I had just replaced my bottle of Pedro Ximenez. A 2022 StarChefs article attributed the drink to bartender Sam McCullough. While the aged spirit, banana, and Fernet trio makes me think of the Away Colors, the closest drink that I have tried is a mezcal with vermouth version called Dead in the Water, and I created a gin with vermouth Hanky Panky riff called Monkey Business. The Mental Demands of Modern Life in the glass evolved an orange, raisin, and menthol aroma. Next, grape and caramel notes on the sip unloaded vegetal agave, cooked banana, raisin, gentian bitter, and menthol flavors on the swallow.

dandelion

3/4 oz Mezcal (Fosforo Ensemble)
3/4 oz Elderflower Liqueur (St. Elder)
3/4 oz Amaro Montenegro
3/4 oz Lemon Juice

Shake with ice, strain into a coupe glass rinsed with absinthe (St. George), and garnish with a lemon twist. Two Tuesdays ago, I uncovered a recent set of online recipe flashcards for Attaboy, and I started with the Dandelion as a riff on Sam Ross' Corpse Reviver #2 variation, the Sunflower. A post with a photo on Reddit Cocktails dates this cocktail to at least two years ago. Surprisingly, elderflower liqueur and Montenegro have only appeared one time before on the blog, namely the Derby Scaffa at Backbar, so I was curious to try it here. Once mixed, the Dandelion gave forth an anise, smoky, caramel, and floral aroma. Next, lemon and caramel notes on the sip blossomed into smoky agave, orange, grapefruit, and floral flavors on the swallow with a smoke and anise finish.

pitter patter

2 oz Rittenhouse Rye
1/2 oz Amontillado Sherry (Lustau)
1/2 oz Bigallet China-China (Amer Picon)
1/4 oz Maraschino (Luxardo)
1/8 oz Demerara Syrup
1 dash Angostura Bitters
1 dash Regan's Orange Bitters (Angostura Orange)

Stir with ice, strain into a cocktail coupe, and garnish with a cherry. Two Mondays prior, I returned to the sets of online recipe flashcards from the Patterson House in Nashville and landed on the Pitter Patter from their Summer 2024 menu. While the recipe card lacked the serving style, I was able to glean it from an Instagram reel. Overall, it was akin to a Brooklyn Cocktail with sherry instead of dry vermouth, and also similar to the Blue Collar given the two bitters as accents. In the glass, the Pitter Patter roused up a dark orange and nutty cherry aroma. Next, a semi-dry caramel and grape sip crossed into rye, nutty cherry, dark orange, and oxidized sherry flavors on the swallow.

the noble experiment

1 1/2 oz Casa Noble Tequila (Cimarron Blanco)
3/4 oz Lemon Juice
1/2 oz Ginger Syrup
1/2 oz Orgeat
2 dash Peychaud's Bitters

Shake with ice, strain into a coupe glass, and garnish with a lemon twist. Two Sundays ago, I spotted an interesting looking tequila drink called the Noble Experiment in a set of online recipe flashcards for Roxanne's in Long Beach, California. While the recipe set was from 2015, it was older than that for I soon found a 2012 Yelp drink photo; moreover, perhaps their choice of tequila brands spurred on the reference to Prohibition in the name. The ginger-orgeat combination was one that I last saw a few weeks ago with the Set Sail, but that duo has only accented sugar cane spirits, gin, and amari but never agave distillates from what I have written about on the blog. In the glass, the Noble Experiment proposed a lemon, vegetal agave, and ginger bouquet for the nose. Next, a creamy lemon sip advanced into tequila, almond, and ginger flavors on the swallow with a cherry and anise finish.

casting spells

3/4 oz Rye Whiskey (Rittenhouse)
3/4 oz Strega
3/4 oz Maraska Maraschino
3/4 oz Lime Juice

Shake with ice, strain into a Nick & Nora glass (coupe), and garnish with a cherry. Recently on the Reddit Cocktail forum, user Mekmaann (same handle on Instagram) posted an intriguing drink called Casting Spells as a Final Ward-Last Word family member of sorts. I assumed that the name is a reference to Strega meaning "witch" in Italian. Up until this point, Strega and Maraschino have only been paired in two drinks that I have tried – one was Chris Hannah's 'Round Midnight and the other North of Sunset that I created mirroring Chris' drink making and naming style. In the glass, the Casting Spells put forth a nutty cherry and star anise aroma. Next, lime and cherry notes on the sip transfered into rye, anise, minty pine, cherry, and vanilla flavors on the swallow.

bermuda dunes

1 1/2 oz Cruzan Gold Rum (Privateer New England Reserve)
1 oz Cruzan Silver Rum (Rhum Barbancourt 110° White)
1 oz Orange Juice
1 oz Lemon Juice
3/4 oz Orgeat
1/2 oz Orange Liqueur (Pierre Ferrand Dry Curaçao)
1/4 oz Allspice Dram (Hamilton's)

Whip shake with crushed ice, pour into a pilsner glass (coconut mug), fill with crushed ice, and garnish with mint, lime wheel, and cherry (cherry only). Two Fridays ago, I was feeling a tropical mood, so I chose to make the Bermuda Dunes from the Tonga Hut in Los Angeles that I had found in a set of online recipe flashcards. While the flashcards were for the 2015 menu, it is unclear what year this drink was created, and it is still served there under the house originals section on the current menu. Overall, this Mai Tai-like number shares a lot of similarity with the Nutty Like a Fruitcake with different rums, different proportions, and no bitters. Once mixed with somewhat more robust rums, the Bermuda Dunes arrived at the nose with orange, almond, allspice, and funky rum aromas. Next, a creamy orange and lemon sip stepped aside for rum, orange, almond, allspice, and a touch of grassy rum funk flavors on the swallow.

irresponsible husband

1 1/2 oz Scotch (Famous Grouse)
3/4 oz Lemon Juice
3/8 oz Apricot Liqueur (Rothman & Winter)
3/8 oz Orgeat

Whip shake, pour into a double old fashioned glass with crushed ice, mix, top with crushed ice, and garnish with freshly grated nutmeg. Two Thursdays prior, I reached for The Madrusan Cocktail Companion and latched on to the Irresponsible Husband by Brian Lee at San Diego's Noble Experiment circa 2013 via the book's the Fix & Swizzle section. The apricot, orgeat, and lemon juice combination was one that I could date back to the 1937 Yellow Mist, and it appeared once before on the blog with Scotch in different proportions in the Brigadoon. Here, the Irresponsible Husband alerted the nose with a woody spice, nutty, and apricot aroma. Next, a creamy lemon sip was forgotten by Scotch, apricot, and almond flavors on the swallow.

fists of fury

1 1/2 oz Tequila (Cimarron Blanco)
1/2 oz Amaro Meletti
1 oz Grapefruit Juice
1/2 oz Lime Juice
1/2 oz Simple Syrup

Shake with ice and strain into a coupe glass. Two Wednesdays ago, I opened up my file of recipes that I have uncovered on online flashcard sites, and I opted for the Fists of Fury at the now shuttered The Varnish in Los Angeles. While I found the drink in a 2019 set, I spotted it in a Yelp menu photo and review from 2022, so it must have been popular enough to put on the cocktail list more than once. While the name made me think of Erick Castro's Five Point Palm Exploding Heart Technique, instead of a Kill Bill: Vol. 2 reference, it was most like a tribute to the 1972 Bruce Lee movie. Tequila and Meletti have paired well in drinks such as the Aces & Eights and Guapo Buffone, and I used them to great effect in the Cantiflas Mustache, so I was definitely curious to try this one. Once shaken and strained, the Fists of Fury unleashed a vegetal aroma from the tequila. Next, an attack from caramel, grapefruit, and lime notes on the sip opened up tequila, caramel-herbal, and floral flavors on the swallow.

hustle & cuss

2 oz Buffalo Trace Bourbon (Evan Williams Bonded)
3/4 oz Lemon Juice
1/2 oz Grapefruit Juice
1/4 oz Marie Brizard White Crème de Cacao (Bols)
1/4 oz Cinnamon Syrup
1/4 oz Maple Syrup
1 dash Bitter Truth Aromatic Bitters (Jerry Thomas Decanter)

Shake with ice, strain into a cocktail coupe, and garnish with a grapefruit twist (omit). Two Tuesdays ago, I selected Death & Co.'s Welcome Home book off of the shelf and found the Hustle & Cuss by Jon Armstrong in 2016. There was no indication about why it was named that, but perhaps it was a tribute to the 2010 song by The Dead Weather. The grapefruit-maple-cinnamon trio appeared to be a driving force here; grapefruit-cinnamon is a proven duo in the Don's Mix as featured in the 1934 Zombie and grapefruit-maple is one that I learned to appreciate in Don's Volcano Bowl. In structure, the recipe vaguely reminded me of the Dead Rabbit's Doctor's Orders with the Bourbon, two citrus juices, cinnamon syrup, and modifiers, but the two take different paths. Here, the Hustle & Cuss donated a Bourbon, maple, and cinnamon aroma to the nose. Next, grapefruit and lemon on the sip flowed into Bourbon, maple, chocolate, cinnamon, and clove flavors on the swallow.

murder of crows

1 1/2 oz Rye Whiskey (Old Overholt 86°)
3/4 oz Grapefruit Juice
1/2 oz Nocino (Russo)
1/4 oz Cinnamon Syrup
1 dash Bitters (Angostura)

Shake with ice, strain into an old fashioned glass with ice, and garnish with a dehydrated lemon wheel (lemon twist). Two Mondays prior, I began perusing the KindredCocktails database and spotted the Murder of Crows created by New York City bartender Rafa Garcia Febles in 2017. The combination of walnut liqueur and cinnamon syrup is one that worked well in the Five Year Plan and The World is Yours and that I utilized in my Shadows & Tall Trees at Russell House Tavern back in 2013. In the glass, the Murder of Crows gathered around the nose with a lemon, walnut, and cinnamon bouquet. Next, grapefruit and roast notes on the sip opened up into rye, walnut, and cinnamon flavors on the swallow.

rising sun

1 1/2 oz Mezcal (Fosforo Ensemble)
3/4 oz Grapefruit Juice
1/2 oz Lime Juice
1/2 oz Maraska Maraschio
1 pinch Salt (3 drop 20% Saline)

Shake with ice, strain into a coupe glass, and garnish with a lime wheel. Two Sundays ago, I recalled a mezcal drink on Reddit called the Rising Sun, and I tracked down the recipe to a 2014 Saveur article. The drink created at Toro Bravo in Portland, Oregon, came across like a mezcal Hemingway Daiquiri, but the recipe that popped into my head first was the Prado that I was reminded of the day before via the latest Imbibe Magazine issue (the magazine used the Stan Jones' recipe with egg white and simple instead of grenadine one in the link). Moreover, there were of course traces of the Division Bell's flavor profile here. Once shaken and strained, the Rising Sun greeted the senses with a lime, smoky, and nutty cherry aroma. Next, lime and grapefruit notes on the sip unfurled into vegetal, smoky, and nutty cherry flavors on the swallow with a lime peel and grapefruit pith finish.

dirk diggler

1 1/2 oz Rye Whiskey (Rittenhouse)
1 1/2 oz Punt e Mes
1 tsp Fernet Branca
2 dash Peach Bitters (Fee Brothers)
1 dash Angostura Bitters

Stir with ice, strain into a coupe glass, and garnish with an orange twist. Two Saturdays ago, I opened up my copy of The Madrusan Cocktail Companion and spotted in the Manhattan section a recipe called the Dirk Diggler by Lorenzo Antinori at Bar Leone in Hong Kong circa 2023. Overall, it read like a Moto Guzzi (originally equal parts Booker's Bourbon and Punt e Mes) met a Toronto. In the glass, the Dirk Diggler gave forth an orange, peach, and minty aroma. Next, grape notes on the sip boogied on over to rye, bitter herbal, and menthol flavors on the swallow with a peach and clove finish.

my favorite mutiny

1 1/2 oz Pineapple Rum (Planteray Stiggins' Fancy)
1/2 oz Smith & Cross Rum

1/2 oz Grapefruit Juice
1/2 oz Lime Juice
1/2 oz Benedictine
1/2 oz Crème de Cacao (Bols)
2 dash Angostura Bitters
1 dash Absinthe (8 drop St. George)

Whip shake with crushed ice, pour into a mug, fill with more crushed ice, and garnish with freshly grated nutmeg. Two Fridays ago, I was still thinking about a drink that Andrea had recently had at Trina's Starlite Lounge called the Wagon Wheel Watusi with rye, Smith & Cross, Benedictine, crème de cacao, and lime. Trina's has paired cacao and Benedictine together before in the Grandpa's Drunk, and I have enjoyed the combination in drinks like the Divorcé in NYC and included it in my King of Birds. For a direction, I took it in the way of the Jet Pilot riff Benny & the Jets and I dubbed it after a 2006 hip-hop song by The Coup called My Favorite Mutiny. I had enjoyed that song in a playlist created by a tequila brand ambassador, and I made note of it in my list of potential drinks names a few years ago. Once prepared, My Favorite Mutiny launched off with a woody spice, rum funk, and chocolate aroma. Next, lime, grapefruit, and caramel notes on the sip sailed into funky rum, pineapple, herbal, chocolate, and clove flavors on the swallow.

black jewel old fashioned

1 1/2 oz Glendalough Double Barrel Irish Whiskey (Teeling Small Batch)
1/2 oz Old Overholt 86° Rye Whiskey
1/4 oz Crème de Cassis (Massenez)
1/4 oz Amaro Ciociaro
1/8 oz Cane Syrup (Sirup JM)
1 dash Bittercube Bolivar Bitters (Bittercube Trinity)

Stir with ice, strain into an old fashioned glass with a large ice cube, and garnish with an orange twist. Another recipe from The Patterson House in Nashville that I spotted in online recipe flashcards when I made the Polite Meeting two days prior was the Black Jewel Old Fashioned. This drink from the Fall 2024 menu collection appeared in a Yelp review that praised it in November 2024 and confirmed the timeframe. With Ciociaro being very much like Amer Picon, the combination reminded me of the Manhattan-like Rock Island from Pioneers of Mixing at Elite Bars: 1903-1933. Cassis has also worked well paired with other amaro such as the Instant Crush with Fernet and the Under the Veil with Sfumato. Here with Irish whiskey and American rye, the Black Jewel Old Fashioned proffered an orange and dark fruit bouquet to the nose. Next, red and purple fruit coupled with caramel notes on the sip stepped aside for whiskey plus tannic and bitter dark fruit flavors on the swallow.

salvador dali lama

1 oz Mezcal (Fosforo Ensemble)
1 oz Amaro Montenegro
1/2 oz Giffard Chili Liqueur (Ancho Reyes)
1/2 oz Manzanilla Sherry (Lustau)

Stir with ice, strain into a Nick & Nora glass, and garnish with a Calabrian pepper (dried Thai Matchstick). After making the Love in the Time of Covid, I was reminded that I had another recipe from Seattle's The Doctor's Office saved up. That one was the Salvador Dali Lama by Keith Waldbauer that my friend Daniel Zajic posted on his Instagram after acquiring the recipe from one of the other bartenders. Daniel mentioned that while the drink was created with Giffard Piment d'Espelette, he has had good success at home with Ancho Reyes. Overall, it reminded me of a less bitter and citrus-driven Aztec Death Whistle, so I was curious to give this one a go especially with the intriguingly fused drink name. Once prepared, the Salvador Dali Lama gave forth a smoke, roasted vegetable, and clementine aroma to the nose. Next, an orange and caramel notes on the sip led into smoky agave, chili pepper, almond, and tangerine flavors on the swallow.