Letter to a Younger Self

3⁄4 oz Scotch (I used Cutty Sark Prohibition (hint of smoke))
3⁄4 oz Apple brandy (I used Laird's Bonded)
3⁄4 oz Aromatized wine, Cocchi Americano (Lillet will work great too)
1⁄2 oz Orange liqueur (I used PF Dry Curaçao)
1⁄4 oz Fernet Branca
1 twst Orange peel (As garnish)
Instructions

Stir with ice, strain into a cocktail coupe, and garnish with an orange twist.

History

After spotting the recipe a couple weeks back for the Heather in Queue that Jackson Cannon created at Eastern Standard in 2008, the cocktail was still on my mind. The combination was a near classic one akin to the 1940s Don't Give Up the Ship, and I wanted to make my own take on it keeping the orange liqueur-Fernet Branca duo intact. Therefore, I switched the spirit from gin to a split of Scotch and apple brandy and swapped the blanc vermouth for Cocchi Americano. For a name, I dubbed this one Letter to a Younger Self as a nod to Jackson's infamous "Letter to a Young Bartender" that he penned for Tales of the Cocktail 2014.

Yields Drink
Year
2021
Authenticity
Your original creation
Creator
Frederic Yarm, Boston, MA
Source reference

https://cocktailvirgin.blogspot.com/2021/02/letter-to-younger-self.html

Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
3.5 stars
(7 ratings)
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  • Dry and Fruity — Bourbon, Dry vermouth, Bitters, Fig syrup, Grapefruit juice
  • The Baby's Finally Asleep — Bourbon, Amaro Nardini, Sweet vermouth, Jamaican rum, Curaçao, Lemon

Her Majesty

1 1⁄2 oz Amontillado Sherry
1 oz Rye, Wild Turkey (101)
1⁄4 oz Rich demerara syrup 2:1
1 sli Orange
Instructions

Muddle orange slice in shaker then add remaining ingredients; shake with ice and serve in DOF glass over crushed ice.

Yields Drink
Year
2021
Authenticity
Authentic recipe
Creator
Ellen Talbot , Fable Lounge, Nashville, TN
Source reference

https://imbibemagazine.com/recipe/her-majesty-a-sherry-cocktail/

Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
3 stars
(2 ratings)
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sevyryelsdorn commented on 4/19/2021:

I drank this up. I think it could use some bitters to add a bit of complexity.

Craig E commented on 4/20/2021:

Tagline says "Sherry + Bourbon" but per link the ingredients list has it correct as rye.

Red World

1 oz Gin
3⁄4 oz Aperol (Or Meletti Bitter)
1⁄2 oz Ramazzotti (Or Averna)
1⁄2 oz Aromatized wine, Dubonnet Rouge (Or Cap Corse Rouge or Byrrh)
1 bsp Amaro, Cappelletti Sfumato Rabarbaro
Instructions

Stir and strain.

Notes

For fans of the sour, a splash of lemon can help cut through the amari.

Yields Drink
Authenticity
Unknown
Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
4 stars
(4 ratings)
From other users
  • Used 1.25 oz Sipsmith gin. Nice. Rate 4
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Bitter Jean

2 oz Speyside Scotch
1⁄3 oz Islay Scotch
1⁄2 oz Cassis, Giffard
3⁄4 oz Sweet vermouth, Carpano Antica Formula
8 ds Bitters, Angostura
2 Brandied cherry, Luxardo (garnish, picked)
Instructions

Stir with ice and strain into chilled coupe or Nick & Nora glass. Garnish with 2 picked Luxardo cherries.

Yields Drink
Year
2017
Authenticity
Authentic recipe
Creator
Soho House, London, England
Source reference

https://www.diffordsguide.com/cocktails/recipe/4123/bitter-jean

Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
4 stars
(3 ratings)
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Cold Stare

1 1⁄2 oz Mezcal, Pierde Almas La Puritita Verda
1 oz Coffee (Cold Brew)
1⁄2 oz Amaro Abano
1⁄4 oz Raspberry liqueur, St. George
1 ds Bitters, Fee Brothers Black Walnut
Instructions

Stir with ice for 15 revolutions, strain into chilled footed rocks glass or coupe. No garnish.

Yields Drink
Year
2014
Authenticity
Authentic recipe
Creator
Peter Vestinos, The Winchester, Chicago, IL
Source reference

"Gaz Regan's 101 Best New Cocktails, 2014," Gaz Regan, Mixellany Limited, 2014.

Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
4 stars
(1 rating)
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  • Crack in the Earth — Mezcal, Walnut Liqueur, Cynar, Ancho Reyes chile liqueur, Bitters, Orange peel
  • The D'Almeida — Mezcal, Campari, Bitters, Cassis, Maraschino Liqueur, Lemon zest
  • Ashes in Our Mouth — Mezcal, Sweet vermouth, Ancho Reyes chile liqueur, Zucca, Grapefruit peel
Mixed up in Na… commented on 2/01/2023:

We made this drink with Banhez mezcal & Chambord for our raspberry liqueur. (it’s what we had around.)

The drink has a nice smokiness mixed with the coffee flavor. It is a very interesting mix of flavors, not a drink that we would serve to newbies to the world of cocktails, but one that anyone who mixes & drinks a wide variety of cocktails would look forward to having with their leftover coffee.

Jitters Cocktail

1 oz Ojen
1 oz Gin
1 oz Dry vermouth
Instructions

Stir w/ barspoon in ice until well frappéd.

Notes

Panic struck in 2009 when the last bottle of Ojen was officially sold, but not to worry. Others filled the void a few years later.

History

1st appeared on the back of bottles of Fernandez White Label Ojen and then published in Stanley Clisby Arthur's 1937 book Famous New Orleans Drinks and How to Mix 'Em.

Yields Drink
Year
prior to 1937
Authenticity
Authentic recipe
Creator
Fernandez & Co.
Source reference

https://homebars.barinacraft.com/post/643165291468226560/ojen-cocktail-…

Curator rating
Not yet rated
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Tea for One

2 oz Scotch, Glenmorangie (10 Year)
1 bsp Earl Grey Tea Syrup
1 bsp Raspberry liqueur, St. George (or other red fruit liqueur)
2 ds Bitters, Brooklyn Hemispherical Bitters Black Mission Fig
1 Orange peel
Instructions

Stir, strain into old fashioned glass with a large cube or sphere. Garnish with an expressed orange swath.

Notes

This works well with most red fruit liqueurs, though the St. George Raspberry Liqueur is easily the driest one I've tried.

The Brooklyn Hemispherical Bitters Black Mission Fig bitters may no longer be available. There are a few other small batch fig bitters on the market, or DIY recipes online. You could also macerate Angostura bitters with fresh and/or dried figs. Otherwise sub with your favorite aromatic bitters.

History

Part of my 2016 run of weekly old fashioned riffs for an entire year

Yields Drink
Year
2016
Authenticity
Your original creation
Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
Not yet rated
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  • Hearts of Oak — Bourbon, Irish whiskey, Islay Scotch, Bitters, Grade B maple syrup, Cinnamon stick
  • Devil Inside — Rye, Islay Scotch, Absinthe, Peychaud's Bitters, Rich demerara syrup 2:1, Lemon peel
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Verdita Fizz

1 3⁄4 oz Ancho Reyes Verde chile liqueur
3⁄4 oz Blanco tequila, Cimarron
1 oz Lime juice
3⁄4 oz Pineapple syrup
1 Egg white
1⁄2 oz Cream
2 oz Soda water
Instructions

Add all the ingredients except the cream and soda water to your tin. Whip shake with 2 cubes until nearly dissolved (around a minute). Pop the tin, add the cream and some cracked ice, and vigorously shake for 15 seconds. Strain into a Fizz or Collins glass (no ice), then slowly add 2 oz soda water. No garnish.

Notes

Vary the Verde / blanco base split depending on desired level of heat. The posted ratio seemed to be the most palatable to those who tried it.

Yields Drink
Year
2021
Authenticity
Your original creation
Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
Not yet rated
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Cargo Hold

2 oz Aquavit
3⁄4 oz Amaro Meletti
1⁄2 oz Apricot jam (Ideally apricot syrup, which can be found in middle eastern stores)
1⁄4 oz Poppy liqueur, Greenbar Grand Poppy
1⁄4 oz Lemon juice
1 ds Bitters, Fee Brothers Black Walnut
Instructions

Stir and strain

Yields Drink
Authenticity
Your original creation
Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
Not yet rated
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3 Day Weekend

1 oz Bergamot liqueur, Italicus
1 oz Light rum
1⁄2 oz Lime juice
3⁄4 oz Grapefruit juice
1 t Orgeat
1⁄2 oz Aquafaba (Or egg white)
1 Lime zest (Grated as garnish)
Instructions

Combine ingredients, dry shake, then shake with ice and strain into coupe. Garnish with lime zest grated over the foam.

Notes

This also works well with Blanco tequila instead of rum, in which case you can replace the orgeat with agave.

Yields Drink
Authenticity
Unknown
Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
5 stars
(8 ratings)
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Artur B commented on 4/14/2024:

Best way to use Italicus. Very good balance, easy to drink.

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