Manhattan

2 1/2 oz. Rittenhouse 100 Rye
3/4 oz. House sweet vermouth
2 dashes Angostura bitters
1 Brandied cherry


Stir all ingredients over ice.  Strain into a coupe.  Garnish with the cherry.
    

One of the most venerable classics. Sustainably potent.  I feel like the Manhattan is a good "second step" for those that initially fall for the Old Fashioned.  Holding a rocks glass is definitely way cooler than a dainty coupe or martini, but there still is a time and place for the Manhattan.  I gave this combo a good try 3 times and I can't say I'd really change anything about it.  

House Sweet Vermouth

1 part Dolin Rouge vermouth
1 part Punt E Mes

Combined equal parts into a bottle.  Refrigerate.

Ramble

2 oz. Plymouth gin
1 oz. Lemon juice
1 1/4 oz. Simple syrup
3 Raspberries


In a shaker, combine the gin, lemon juice, and 3/4 oz. of the simple syrup.  Get your highball glass filled with crushed ice and set aside.  Short shake with 3 ice cubes, and strain into your highball glass.  Dump the shaker and then add 3 raspberries and the remaining 1/2 oz. of simple syrup.  Gently muddle them and slowly pour over the top of the drink.  Serve with a straw.
    

Kickass drink even the wife loved.  This could fall into the regular rotation.  I feel like a little splash of Club soda on top would be good too.

South Side

5 Mint leaves
2 oz. Beefeater
3/4 oz. Lime juice
1/2 oz. Cane sugar syrup
1 dash Angostura bitters
1 Mint leaf



Prep garnish - 1 mint leaf.  Muddle the other 5 mint leaves in the shaker.  Add all the remaining ingredients and shake with ice, then strain into a coupe.  Garnish with the mint leaf.
    

Another pretty solid Classic that I'd never heard of.  I'm a fan of mint so this was enjoyable.

Flor De Jalisco

2 oz. Siembra Azul Blanco
3/4 oz. Lemon juice
1/4 oz. Agave nectar
1 tsp. Orange marmalade


Shake all the ingredients with ice, then strain into a coupe.
    

I looked over at the Wife and asked, "Do we have any orange marmalade?"...."Yes actually."

Jackpot.  Another drink bites the dust.

Interesting drink.  The tequila is bold.  A little bitterness from the orange marmalade.

20th Century

1 1/2 oz. Beefeater
3/4 oz. Marie Brizard White Creme de Cacao
3/4 oz. Cocchi Americano
3/4 oz. Lemon juice


Shake all the ingredients with ice, then double strain into a coupe.
    

First off, Happy Memorial Day 2017.  This drink is actually the first in the book, so I've looked at it probably 100 times.  I've been wanting to try it for a while but I haven't been able to find Marie Brizard products anywhere here in Houston.  I luckily sent a chance email to the Spec's people and they were somehow able to score me a bottle.

I can't say this drink is a favorite of mine but it does seem to have a little of everything.  Dryness from the gin.  Sweetness from the White Cacao.  Bitterness from the Cocchi.  Tartness from the lemon.  I guess that's why they named it after an era, it has everything.

Honeysuckle

2 oz. Flor de Cana Extra-Dry White Rum
3/4 oz. Lime juice
3/4 oz. Acacia honey syrup
Lime wedge

Shake all the ingredients with ice, then strain into a coupe.  Garnish with the lime wedge.
    

Delicious.  A Daiquiri with a touch of honey.  I'm really liking Flor de Cana rum too.  Affordable and yet unique in flavor.

Toronto

2 oz. Rittenhouse 100
1/2 oz. Fernet-Branca
1 tsp. Demerara syrup
Lemon twist

Stir all the ingredients over ice, then strain into a Nick & Nora glass.  Garnish with the lemon twist.
    

My first time dabbling in Fernet-Branca.  Must be an acquired taste.  That shit is bold.

I manned up and got the drink down.  It's how I roll.

French 95

2 oz. Buffalo Trace
3/4 oz. Lemon juice
1/2 oz. Cane sugar syrup
Dry champagne

Shake all the ingredients with 3 ice cubes, then strain into a fizz glass over 2 ice cubes.  Top with champagne.
    

This drink is pretty great.  Sweet and tasty.

Airmail

1 oz. Ron del Barrilito 3-Star rum
1/2 oz. Lime juice
1/2 oz. Acacia honey syrup
Dry champagne

Shake all the ingredients over ice, then strain into a flute.  Top with champagne.
    

Looks like piss.  Tastes like heaven.  Really enjoyed this for a champagne drink.  Pretty sweet but enjoyable.

Acacia Honey Syrup

2 parts Acacia honey
1 part water

In a small container, combine both and shake vigorously until the honey is dissolved.

Old Pal

1 1/2 oz. Rittenhouse 100 Rye
3/4 oz. Campari
3/4 oz. Dolin Dry vermouth
1 Lemon twist

Stir all ingredients over ice, then strain into a Nick & Nora glass.  Lemon twist for garnish.
    

I wish I liked Campari, but honestly I find it slightly revolting.  I think everyone does somewhere inside.  Super easy drink to make.  The whiskey kept me interested for a little while, but for the most part I was glad when this drink was over.

Seersucker

1 Strawberry
2 oz. Flor de Cana Extra-Dry
1 oz. Lemon juice
1/2 oz. Cinnamon bark syrup
1 Strawberry

Gently muddle the strawberry.  Add the remaining ingredients and short shake with ice.  Strain into a small pilsner glass filled with crushed ice.  Add strawberry garnish.
    

Pretty delicious as you might imagine.  Very refreshing.

Mig Royale

1 oz. Plymouth gin
3/4 oz. Cointreau
1/2 oz. Luxardo Maraschino
1/2 oz. Lemon juice
Dry champagne

Shake everything over ice.  Strain into a flute/coupe then top with champagne.
    

I had pretty high hopes for this drink.  Mainly because the picture in the book makes it look so delicious.  But in the end it was just okay.  The Maraschino is so powerful so it comes through quite a bit.  But it's easy to make so I went ahead and made two. :)

Cinnamon Girl

2 Orange wedges
2 oz. Siete Leguas Reposado
1/4 oz. Smith & Cross
3/4 oz. Lime juice
1/2 oz. Cinnamon bark syrup
1/4 oz. Cane sugar syrup
1 dash House orange bitters
1 Orange crescent

Cut two wedges from and orange and drop into a shaker.  Prep garnish - orange crescent.   Muddle the two orange wedges.  Add the remaining ingredients to the shaker.  Before adding ice and shaking, fill a double rocks glass with crushed ice.  Now shake.  Strain into the glass and garnish with the orange crescent.    

This drink is awesome.  Very refreshing.  There's a lot of steps to it so it takes some time to make, but worth it.  Not sure it works with a different rum, as the Smith & Cross is so strong and potent.  It doesn't take much.  On the list of regulars for sure.

Gin Fizz

2 oz. Beefeater
3/4 oz. Lemon juice
3/4 oz. Simple syrup
1 Egg white
Club soda

Dry shake all ingredients (except Club soda), then shake again with ice.  Double strain into a fizz glass and top with Club soda.  No garnish.

So this was a little rough and I may be to blame.  Everything started well.  I dry shook for like two minutes (which feels like forever) and shook with ice for probably another minute.  I took a first sip and was happy.  But then I got called away to change a diaper (the joys of parenting).  I think I did something else as well.  Anyway, I came back to finish and by the end of the drink I was getting a little bit of the 'wet dog' smell you can get from an egg white cocktail.  I've read a little bit about this.  You've gotta drink egg white cocktails quick.  Also, supposedly the little white fleshy part in the egg white is what makes it smell and you can remove it.  Maybe I'll try that next time.  Or just let the diaper wait.

Gin Rickey

2 oz. Beefeater
1 oz. Lime juice
1/2 oz. Simple syrup
Club soda
1 Lime wedge

Prep garnish - lime wedge.  Short shake all ingredients (except Club soda) with 3 ice cubes, then strain into a highball glass filled with ice cubes.  Top with Club soda.  Give a quick stir with a barspoon.  Add lime wedge.

A refreshing pull after working in the yard this past weekend.  I think giving the drink and quick stir after the Club soda helps make it a bit more consistent.  The first attempt I didn't stir so it felt like a slug of Club on top of lime,  sugar, and gin.  The second round tasted much better.

Jekyll and Hyde

1 1/2 oz. Eagle Rare 10-year
1/2 oz. Laird's Bonded
1/2 tsp. Cinnamon Bark syrup
1 tsp. Demerara syrup
2 dashes Bitter Truth Aromatic bitters
2 dashes Angostura bitters
1 Orange twist
1 Lemon twist

Prep garnish - lemon & orange twists.  Stir everything over ice then strain into a double rocks glass over 1 large ice cube.  Add orange and lemon twists.

Went with an Old Fashioned variant for my first drink outside the 'Classic & Vintage' chapter.  Enjoyed a few with a neighbor.

Cinnamon Bark Syrup

5 cinnamon sticks (cassia)
1 cup water
1 sugar


Muddle the cinnamon sticks in a saucepan until broken up.  Add the sugar and the water.  Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally.  Lower the heat, cover, and simmer gently for 4 minutes.  Remove from heat and let stand overnight.  Strain through a cheesecloth-lined sieve into a small bottle.

Old Fashioned

2 oz. Eagle Rare 10-year
1 tsp. Demerara syrup
2 dashes Angostura bitters
1 dash Bitter Truth Aromatic bitters
1 Orange twist
1 Lemon twist

Stir everything over ice then strain into a double rocks glass over 1 large ice cube.  Add orange and lemon twists.

Who doesn't love an Old Fashioned?  The granddaddy of them all.

Demerara Syrup

1 cup demerara sugar
1/2 cup water

Add to a saucepan.  Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly and without bringing to a boil, until the sugar is dissolved.

Last Word

3/4 oz. Beefeater
3/4 oz. Green Chartreuse
3/4 oz. Luxardo Maraschino
3/4 oz. Lime juice

Shake everything with ice then strain into a coupe.

At first glance I thought this drink was going to be gross as I'm still new to the Chartreuse's of the world.  And at first sip I was not a fan.  But once everything mellowed a bit, I could taste some of the lime juice coming through and I was actually liking it by the end and wanted another.  An interesting blend of herbal-bitter and citrus.