Your Favorite Cocktail

[greg_s]

I would also recommend trying both manhattans and old fashioneds sans fruit. It is supposedly the original recipe and they are delicious.

[bjmcgeever]

I would also recommend trying both manhattans and old fashioneds sans fruit. It is supposedly the original recipe and they are delicious.

Seconded. I'm not opposed to having them with fruit, but it turns it into a different drink. Both of these, the Old Fashioned especially, are great ways to get your palate adjusted to drinking liquor neat.

[yoyorobbo]

Yeah, I've researched Old Fashioneds quite a little bit, as I've enjoyed them at home the past few years. Funny how a simple, *foundational* drink can have so many variations of build, eh?:

Rye, Bourbon, Canadian, blended - sugar cube, sugar packet, simple syrup - no-fruit, fruit, way-too-much fruit - cherry, orange, lemon, etc. - peel, slice, twist, flamed - no soda, teaspoon of soda, splash of soda, tons of soda - 0, 1, 2, 3 dash(es) of bitters, etc.

When I say *muddle* I mean the sugar and the bitters, mostly. Although I do use fruit in both too. Just depends on what I have at the time, and how I'm feeling at that particular moment.

The biggest issue I have with many bars, regarding these two fave drinks of mine, are the lack of bitters. Such an important part of the drinks' makeup. I don't get it. You're an establishment designed to make and serve drinks, and you don't have a bottle of bitters? Weird.

[yoyorobbo]

BTW, I have a sneaky feeling you fellas might watch *Mad Men*, so you may already be hip to this scene, but it's still a great one. It shows our boy Drapes, making himself and Connie Hilton one seriously watered-down, heavily bittered-up Old Fashioned. Still, I'd drink it, if he made me one. What a cool cat.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VpgEHsPc7I

[Shomas]

Ginger ale is one of my favorite mixers. Ginger ale and fresh squeezed lime goes with all kinds of liquors. Tuaca, ginger ale, and lime is probably my favorite semi-girly mixed drink. Best with higher quality ginger ales - Hansen's is pricey but has a really nice, spicy ginger kick to it.

Dark and stormies are a nice variation on this theme. Dark rum and ginger beer (something zippy like Reed's is best), garnish with lime. Pretty damn good.

[bjmcgeever]

I've been wanting to make Dark & Stormies for a while. Need to get my hands on some ginger beer.

[Shomas]

Mostly Manhattans.

I've been making a Manhattan lately that is incredible. It's 2 parts rye (bourbon will work, too), 1/2 part sweet vermouth (Punt e Mes or Cocchi Vermouth di Torino is what I use, 'cause they're tasty and why not be a snob about it?), 1/2 part Gran Clasico, few dashes of aromatic bitters. Pour above over ice, stir, strain into cocktail glass(es) and garnish with a Maraschino cherry. Son of a biscuit, that's a good drink. I like it, the wife likes it, if you like Manhattans, you'll probably like it too. I've heard of a bar calling something like this a scarcrow. Do with that information what you will.
Protip: use real Luxardo maraschino cherries (http://www.amazon.com/Luxardo-Gourme.../dp/B001CDOBCM). They have real flavor (beyond just cloyingly sweet) and they're such a dark red they're almost black, so they look cooler in your drink than those neon grocery store things we're all used to.

[greg_s]

@Shomas, very similar to my manhattans of late. But I'll have to try with the addition of gran clasico. Also great call on the dark and stormy, I love those.

[tdig]

I've been put off recently by vermouth's. Used to enjoy the flavor more but for whatever reason I am enjoying Manhattans made without vermouth much more such as Lillett, Chartreuse, St. Germaine, and just about any Italian liqueur (Aperol, Campari, Galliano, Cynar, etc.). In general I've definitely veered more towards rifts on the traditional Old Fashioned with different flavored simple syrups and adding just a touch of various flavoring formats. I'm actually steeping a ton of ingredients right now to make my own set of bitters. I have 10-12 ingredients steeping individually in high proof alcohol and will start combining soon. I'll take pics and report back.

[Shomas]

@tdig, please do report back! I'd love to hear your process for making bitters and how it turns out.

[yoyorobbo]

I've been making a Manhattan lately that is incredible. It's 2 parts rye (bourbon will work, too), 1/2 part sweet vermouth (Punt e Mes or Cocchi Vermouth di Torino is what I use, 'cause they're tasty and why not be a snob about it?), 1/2 part Gran Clasico, few dashes of aromatic bitters. Pour above over ice, stir, strain into cocktail glass(es) and garnish with a Maraschino cherry. Son of a biscuit, that's a good drink. I like it, the wife likes it, if you like Manhattans, you'll probably like it too.

Gonna have to get me some Gran Clasico. Sounds good!

I had a nice simple (2 parts Rittenhouse Rye + 1 part Noilly Prat Rouge + 2 dashes Angostura bitters + 1 cherry + 1 massive ice cube) combo last night. Delish!

But I would love to try your drink there, Shomas. Thanks for the tip.

[bjmcgeever]

Can't seem to find any Gran Clasico around here. Any substitutes/alternatives?

[Shomas]

I use Gran Clasico in recipes in place of Aperol and Campari, so those would probably work as substitutes (my preference being for Aperol over Campari). It's worth experimenting with boozes of various sorts in that family ("amari" I believe - though I may be using that term too expansively), such as Cynar, Amaro Nonino, fernet (though that might not quite work...). Anything bitter and herby should yield interesting results.

[yoyorobbo]

Ah, so a sort of *browned* Negroni. Sort of.

[tdig]

I use Gran Clasico in recipes in place of Aperol and Campari, so those would probably work as substitutes (my preference being for Aperol over Campari). It's worth experimenting with boozes of various sorts in that family ("amari" I believe - though I may be using that term too expansively), such as Cynar, Amaro Nonino, fernet (though that might not quite work...). Anything bitter and herby should yield interesting results.

Another vote for Aperol here!