don draper's bitter end

1 oz Rye (Rittenhouse)
1 oz Cognac (Courvoisier VS)
1/2 oz Averna
1/4 oz Fernet Branca
1/4 oz Orange Liqueur (Pierre Ferrand Dry Curaçao) (*)
2 dash Angostura Bitters

Stir with ice, strain into an old fasioned glass with ice, and garnish with an orange twist.
(*) An adaptation added to the original recipe. Two Mondays ago, I was perusing the Kindred Cocktails database when I came across Don Draper's Bitter End created at Hank's Oyster Bar in Alexandria, Virginia, circa 2014. The recipe posted there was an adaptation of the original that included the addition of orange liqueur for sweetness. I found the rye, Fernet, and orange liqueur combination reminscent of the Alcazer from Pioneers of Mixing at Elite Bars: 1903-1933, so I went with it. Once stirred and strained, the Don Draper's Bitter End gave forth orange, Cognac, caramel, and menthol aromas. Next, a caramel-driven sip soon advertised rye, Cognac, orange, bitter gentian, and minty-menthol flavors on the swallow.

old timber

2 oz Bourbon (Evan Williams Bonded)
1/4 oz Falernum (Velvet)
1/4 oz Amaro Averna
1/8 oz Orgeat
1 dash Orange Bitters (Angostura Orange)
Stir with ice, strain into an old fashioned glass with ice, and garnish with a mint sprig and a drizzle of pot still Jamaican rum (1/8 oz Smith & Cross). Two Saturdays ago, I opened up the Bartender's Choice Volume 3 app and spotted the Old Timber by Ryan Kutnz at San Diego's Noble Experiment from 2016. The Averna and orgeat pairing reminded me of Meaghan Dorman's Across the Pacific although it also appeared in the Last Date and two other recipes on the blog. In the glass, the Old Timber gave forth mint and rum funk aroma. Next, a touch of creaminess and caramel on the sip opened up into Bourbon, a hint of almond and herbal, and clove flavors on the swallow.

saddle up!

1 oz Reposado Tequila (Cimarron)
1 oz Mezcal (Fosforo Ensemble)
3/4 oz Amaro Averna
1/4 oz Passion Fruit (Passion Fruit Syrup)

Stir with ice, strain into an old fashioned glass with ice, and garnish with an orange twist. Two Sundays ago, I opened up the Bartender's Choice Volume 3 app and became intrigued by the Saddle Up! by Kathryn "Pepper" Stashek at Manhattan's Attaboy in 2019. I was lured in by the Averna-passion fruit syrup combination that I enjoyed in the Permanent Holiday and as well as in the African Queen when I utilized passion fruit syrup instead of liqueur. Once mixed, the Saddle Up! gave forth an orange, smoke, and roasted vegetal aroma. Next, caramel and tropical notes on the sip rode into roast agave, smoke, herbal, and tangy orange flavors on the swallow. As the ice melted over time, the drink became more passion fruit driven.

guadalajara

1 1/2 oz Reposado Tequila (Cimarron)
3/4 oz Punt e Mes
3/4 oz Averna
1 dash Orange Bitters (Angostura Orange)

Stir with ice, strain into a coupe glass, and garnish with a cherry and an orange twist. Two Thursdays ago, I opened up my copy of Every Cocktail Has a Twist by Carey Jones and John McCarthy, and for the inaugural recipe, I selected the Guadalajara from the Manhattan variation section that was not one of the three other Guadalajaras already on this blog. The structure was reminiscent of the Bourbon-based Big Chief, and the combination of reposado tequila, Punt e Mes, and Averna have appeared in the Revelator with coffee beans and in the Modest Mousse with grapefruit liqueur. Once mixed, the Guadalajara opened up with orange, cherry, grape, and roasted vegetal aromas. Next, caramel and grape notes on the sip delved into vegetal and rounded bitter herbal flavors on the swallow.

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.

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.

2019

3/4 oz El Dorado 12 Year Rum (Raising Glasses Moongazer 9 Year Guyana)
3/4 oz Santa Teresa Rum (Zaya)
3/4 oz Punt e Mes
1/2 oz Averna
1/8 oz Crème de Cacao (Bols)
1 dash Chili Tincture (my Hellfire Bitters)

Stir with ice, strain into an old fashioned glass with a large ice cube, and garnish with a lemon twist. Two Sundays ago, I returned to the online recipe flashcard set for the Blossom Bar in Brookline, Massachusetts, and I spotted the 2019 that reminded me of their Palm Viper that I had there in 2018 with its two rums, vermouth, amaro, and bitters combination. For a time frame, I found a Yelp drink photo from February 2020, and the name reminded me of John Mayer's 2011 at Loyal 149 that he served me in 2013 (although he first called this the Acquired Taste before changing the name in 2012). Once prepared, the 2019 gave forth a lemon and caramel bouquet to the nose. Next, caramel and grape notes on the sip switched into dark rum, herbal, and chocolate flavors on the swallow with a pepper spice and grape finish. Overall, Cynar's funkiness in the Palm Viper added more to the mix than Averna with crème de cacao did here (despite the Punt e Mes donating some depth over regular sweet vermouth in the Palm Viper).

famous american novelist

2 oz Bourbon (Evan Williams Bonded)
1/2 oz Amaro Averna
1/2 oz Sweet Vermouth (Giacomo Speroni)
1/4 oz Campari
1 dash Angostura Bitters

Stir with ice, strain into a rocks glass with ice, and garnish with a cherry-orange slice on a pick (cherry only). Two Sundays ago, I was perusing online recipe flashcards when I came across the Famous American Novelist from the cocktail bar at Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club in Manhattan from Spring 2024. I found a discussion of the drinks for the performance mentioning this one on Reddit's Broadway forum circa June 2024. The name is most like a reference to the play's Herr Clifford Bradshaw and perhaps a nod to the Boulevardier – a drink of Bourbon, vermouth, and Campari named after an American-founded literary magazine in Paris. Overall, the recipe was rather similar to the Finishing School by Carlo Caroscio at Backbar as his riff on his Smoking Section, and somewhat similar to the NoMad's Brunswick. In the glass, the Famous American Novelist penned a Bourbon, cherry, and caramel bouquet for the nose. Next, grape and caramel notes on the sip concluded with Bourbon, herbal, and bitter orange flavors on the swallow with clove on the finish.

dealing despair

1 oz Bourbon (Evan Williams Bonded)
1 oz Armagnac (Marie Duffau Napoleon)
3/4 oz Sweet Vermouth (Giacomo Speroni)
1 tsp Giffard Crème de Peche (Mathilde)
1 tsp Averna
2 dash Angostura Bitters

Build in an old fashioned glass, add ice, stir to mix and chill, and garnish with an orange twist. Two Wednesdays ago, my copy of The Madrusan Cocktail Companion by Michael and Zara Madrusan arrived (it came out the day before). As I flipped through the pages, I quickly latched on to the Dealing Despair by Trevor Shores at Death & Co. Denver in 2023 possibly named after a song by Billy Strings. I was able to find a Reddit post with photo from an imbiber at the bar who had this when it was on the menu. While I had not tried an Averna-peach drink before, Averna and apricot liqueur is a great combination that I first learned about at Green Street in 2008 with the Cocktail Miranda, and peach works well with other amari like Sfumato in the Amen Corner and Ciociaro in the Prodigal Son. In the glass, the Dealing Despair opened up with orange, dark herbal, and peach aromas. Next, grape and caramel notes on the sip welcomed Bourbon, brandy, peach, and herbal flavors on the swallow.

death by distance

2 oz Half Moon Gin (1 3/4 oz Farmer's Gin + 1/4 oz Morin Calvados Selection) (*)
3/4 oz Averna
1/4 oz Smith & Cross Rum
1/4 oz Cinnamon Syrup
1 dash Bitter Truth Aromatic Bitters (Jerry Thomas Decanter Bitters)

Stir with ice, strain into a cocktail glass, and garnish with a cherry.
(*) Half Moon is a gin made with a 80-20 wheat-apple base, so I supplemented the gin with Calvados like I did with the Muff Pistol. Two Thursdays ago, I returned to online recipe flashcards for the Valkyrie in Tulsa and selected the Death by Distance. The Tulsa Voice in 2014 attributed the creation to bartender Josh Coffee, and its Averna-cinnamon combination lured me in for how well it has worked in other drinks such as the Earl Grey Angel. In the glass, the Death by Distance donated a caramel, cinnamon, and rum funk bouquet to the nose. Next, Averna's caramel continued on into the sip where it was followed by juniper, apple, herbal, and cinnamon flavors on the swallow with a rum funk finish.

across the pacific

1 oz Appleton Reserve Rum (Appleton Signature)
1/2 oz Smith & Cross Rum
1/2 oz Averna
3/4 oz Lime Juice
3/4 oz Orgeat

Whip shake with crushed ice, pour into an old fashioned glass, fill with crushed ice, and garnish with a lime wheel and freshly grated nutmeg.Two Sunday nights ago, I spotted an intriguing Meaghan Dorman recipe in online recipe flashcards from Dear Irving and Raines Law Room in Manhattan called Across the Pacific. I soon tracked the drink down to a 2020 Liquor-dot-com article which varied from the flashcards which had Amaro Abano instead of the article's Averna though. With Averna, orgeat, and citrus, the structure reminded me of the Last Date at the Citizen Public House. In the glass, Across the Pacific gave forth a lime and woody spice bouquet to the nose. Next, a creamy lime and caramel on the sip transversed into funky rum, herbal, and nutty flavors on the swallow.

steve mcqueen

2 oz Buffalo Trace Bourbon (Evan Williams Bonded)
1/2 oz Amaro Meletti
1/2 oz Averna
2 dash Fee's Old Fashioned Bitters (Fee's Whiskey Barrel-Aged)

Stir with ice, strain into a double old fashioned glass with ice, and garnish with a flamed orange twist (unflamed). The 2023 Instagram post lists the Bourbon as Old Forester 100°.Two Mondays ago, I was perusing online recipe flashcard sets when I found one for the Earnest Bar & Hideaway in Nashville that had a curious number called the Steve McQueen. The combination reminded me of the Automatic's Prince Royal but with bitters and without that the Aperol, and of course it reminded me of the Black Manhattan with the Averna split with Meletti. Yelp menu photos have this drink first appearing in 2017, and the bar posted a drink photo and description on their Instagram in 2023. Both provide the subtitle as "the spice rich, booze heavy anti-hero of your father's Manhattan". Once mixed, the Steve McQueen came forth with an orange, caramel, and cinnamon aroma. Next, a caramel-driven sip opened up into Bourbon, caramel, herbal, floral, and cinnamon flavors on the swallow.

killjoy

2 oz Denizen 8 Year Rum (*)
1/2 oz Cynar
1/4 oz Averna
1/4 oz Crème de Cacao (Bols)
1 tsp Allspice Dram (Hamilton's)
2 dash Tiki Bitters (Bittercube Blackstrap)
2 dash Aromatic Bitters (Angostura)

Stir with ice, strain into an old fashioned glass with a large cube, and garnish with orange oils from a twist.
(*) A more recent menu calls for Appleton 8 Year Rum.Two Mondays ago, I found a set of online recipe flashcards for the Riviera House in Redondo Beach, CA, and I picked the stirred rum number called the Killjoy. In 2021, the recipe cards have this as Denizen 8 Year and it was featured on the Thirsty account on Instagram, but in 2024, a Yelp menu photo has this as Appleton 8 Year drink. At first glance, the rum and Cynar made me think of the Palm Viper, but this one is more liqueur driven instead of vermouth. Once prepared, the Killjoy launched off with orange, caramel, rum, and allspice aromas. Next, a caramel-driven sip welcomed rum, funky herbal, chocolate, and allspice flavors on the swallow.

save the last dance

3/4 oz Appleton 12 Year Jamaican Rum (Monymusk Gold)
3/4 oz Rhum JM Blanc (JM 100°)
3/4 oz Campari
3/4 oz Averna
4 dash Angostura Bitters

Smoke an old fashioned glass over ignited cinnamon stick bits. Stir with ice, strain into said glass with a large ice cube, and garnish with an orange twist and an orchid (omit).Two Saturdays ago, I had spotted a reference to the Save the Last Dance by Brian Maxwell, and I hunted down the recipe from his Shaker of Spirits blog. The drink was part of his 2020 Pandemic recipe series that included such hits as Ground Control to Major Donn and A Million Dreams, and he named this one after the 1960s The Drifters' song for his 68th entry. Overall, it read like a Right Hand with some rhum agricole, but with the Averna instead of sweet vermouth, it reminded me of the Guiding Light and The Departed. In the glass, the Save the Last Dance gave forth an orange, hint cinnamon smoke, and caramel aroma. Next, caramel notes on the sip waited up for grassy rum, bitter orange, caramel, herbal, and allspice flavors on the swallow.

espresso mexicano martini

2 oz Tequila

1 ounce Espresso (freshly pulled, slightly cooled)
1/2 oz Averna
1/2 oz Cinnamon Syrup
1/4 ounce Simple Syrup (to taste)
1 dash Bittermens Mole Bitters

Shake with ice, strain into a cocktail coupe, and garnish with three espresso beans in a triangle. Note: simple syrup may need to be upped due to varying amounts of acidity in the espresso.Yesterday, I was perusing the internet when I came across a reference on the CocktailParty app for a drink that I used to make at Loyal Nine in Cambridge circa 2016-17 that ended up in an article and recipe card in Punch. The article entitled "The Espresso Martini Is Back" published in January 2018 mentioned a variety of riffs on Dick Bradsell's creation including my tequila-based one that they featured in this recipe post. In regards to "proof that not all Vodka Espressos are made with vodka," I commented, "If a ticket came in for an Espresso Martini at my last restaurant, I would find the guest and ask them if a Mexican-inspired one with tequila and cinnamon was alright instead of a classic vodka one. This generally got not only a nod of approval, but the ticket frequently jumped from one to two or three drinks." The picture above is not from that article (and I never took a photo of the drink) but from a 2015 Eater Boston article taken by Rachel Blumenthal at Loyal Nine.

slow dance

1 1/2 oz Elijah Craig Bourbon (Old Grand-Dad Bonded)
1/2 oz Becherovka
1/4 oz Averna
1/4 oz Giffard Crème de Banane (Tempus Fugit)

Stir with ice, strain into an old fashioned glass with a large ice cube, and garnish with an orange twist.To continue on with the Becherovka theme, I next selected the Slow Dance from Dutch Kills' Fall menu via online recipe flashcards that attributed the drink to Jason Kilgore at Dear Irving in 2023. Once assembled, the Slow Dance waltzed to the nose with orange, caramel, and fruity aromas. Next, a caramel-tinged sip led into Bourbon, caramelized banana, clove, and cinnamon flavors on the swallow.

mina loy

1 1/2 oz Lunazul Blanco Tequila (Arette)
1/2 oz Averna
1/2 oz Amaro Montenegro
1/2 oz Fidencio Mezcal (Banhez)
1/2 oz Carpano Antica Sweet Vermouth (Cocchi)
1 dash Orange Bitters (Regan's)

Stir with ice, strain into a coupe, and garnish with an orange twist.Two Thursdays prior, I spotted the Mina Loy created at Park in Cambridge for the Spring 2013 menu via online recipe flashcards. Park was one of the sister restaurants to Russell House Tavern where I worked from 2013-2015, and we occasionally got requests for the Delgado off of that same menu. Mina was a British-born artist, poet, playright, and bohemian who penned the Feminist Manifesto back in 1914, briefly was married to the poet-boxer-Dadaist Arthur Cravan, and designed lamps amongst many other accomplishments. Once stirred and strained, the Mina Loy communicated orange, smoke, and vegetal aromas to the senses. Next, grape and caramel on the sip fled to smoky agave, herbal, and orange flavors on the swallow.

all that jazz

1 1/2 oz Wild Turkey 101 Rye (Rittenhouse)
1/2 oz Carpano Antica Sweet Vermouth (Cocchi)
1/2 oz Averna
1/2 oz Jeppson's Malört
3 dash Orange Bitters (Regan's)

Stir with ice and strain into a cocktail coupe. No garnish was specified, but all the photos of Manhattans at the Driftwood Room have a cherry garnish, so I followed suit.Two Mondays ago, there was a thread today on Facebook discussing whether the Martini or the Manhattan was a superior drink. One of the Manhattan fans was bartender Jeff Terry who proffered his recipe called All that Jazz from the Driftwood Room in Portland, Oregon, where they have a section of five Manhattan variations on the menu. With Malört in the mix softened by the sweet richness of Averna and vermouth, I was intrigued. Once prepared, the All that Jazz began with a rye, caramel, and grapefruit aroma. Next, grape and caramel notes swirled on the sip, and the swallow wrapped things up with rye, herbal, and bitter flavors with an orange finish. When Jeff asked me on Instagram what I thought, and I replied that I enjoyed it and that "The Malört gave a dry, bitter finish and an intriguing grapefruit aroma."

the brave

1 oz Mezcal (Banhez)
1 oz Blanco Tequila (Arette)
1/2 oz Averna
1/4 oz Royal Combier (Pierre Ferrand Dry Curaçao)

Build in a wine glass, give a quick stir without ice, and garnish with 3 spritzes Angostura Bitters (6 drops along the inside edge of the glass) and a flamed orange twist. Note: this is a room temperature drink.Two Thursdays ago, I decided to remake Bobby Heugel's The Brave from the Anvil in Houston the right way. The first time I tried to make this 2009 era agave-based room temperature drink, I sourced it from a mezcal brand's website back in April 2015 that incorrectly included pineapple juice in the mix. Bobby wrote me on Instagram and pointed out the error, and I alerted the brand to fix their page. I ended up dubbing the pineapple-laden blunder the Soldadera, and I wrote it up on the blog since the mistake was rather tasty for pineapple played well with many of the ingredients. Using the proper recipe that I sourced from Punch, the Brave launched off with a caramel, cinnamon, and orange aroma. Next, caramel and orange notes swirled on the sip, and the swallow proffered smoky agave, herbal, and orange flavors. The duo of Averna and orange liqueur pleasantly reminded me of the Franklin Mortgage & Investment Co.'s Crooklyn that inspired me to create the Devil's Staircase.

daddy issues

1 1/2 oz Buffalo Trace Bourbon (Evan Williams Bonded)
3/4 oz Averna
1/4 oz Cherry Heering
1/4 oz Combier (Pierre Ferrand Dry Curaçao)
2 dash Angostura Bitters
Stir with ice, strain into a coupe glass, and garnish with a cherry.Two Tuesdays ago, I uncovered a set of online recipe flashcards for Mr. Mao in New Orleans. In a September 2021 set, I latched onto the intriguingly named Daddy Issues by beverage director William Greenwell, and I confirmed it via a November 2021 drink of the week post on The Whiskey Lifestyle site that identified the creator. Given the timing, the drink was either on the opening menu in July 2021 or soon after. I described it in a comment on my Instagram post as "It's like a Black Manhattan got crossed with a Remember the Maine. Not something that I'd come up with but I'm happy to have tried this one!", and bartender Kevin Peterson replied there, "Black Manhattan meets El Presidente + bitter Cherry Heering. Open to the possibility." The combination of Cherry Heering and Averna was one that I enjoyed in the Simon, so I was game to give this one a try. In the glass, the Daddy Issues began with caramel and cherry aromas. Next, caramel and dark fruit on the sip fells aside to Bourbon, herbal, cherry, and orange flavors on the swallow.