I was inspired by the apricot-Sfumato combination in the Smooth Operator that I recently made. I swapped the Armagnac-rye duo for Scotch-apple brandy, dropped the Benedictine, and exchanged the two bitters for absinthe. Originally, I tried Peychaud's Bitters here since they generally work well with Scotch, apple brandy, and apricot, but the balance was just too dark especially with the Sfumato, so I replaced it with the brightening action of absinthe. For a name, I kept the Smooth Operator in mind and dubbed this the Mountebank which dictionaries define as "a person who deceives others, especially in order to trick them out of their money; a charlatan" and "a person who sells quack medicines from a platform."

Born out of a love for the Blackstrap and early 2000s versions of this beloved cocktail. Myself, finding neither hit quite right, started brainstorming. The blackstrap rum version of the cocktail was too molasses forward, and the early 2000s version lacked that molasses funk. Knowing that there was an improvement in there somewhere, I started developing through the Morgenthaler improvement method (See Morgenthaler's Amaretto Sour) . I settled on Coruba for its distinct funky banana note and molasses characteristics, Planteray Original Dark for its complexity and well-roundedness. I changed the simple syrup to a raw sugar syrup and reduced it's amount, and added a hint of fancy molasses syrup to bring out that rich, spicy bitterness. Then reduced the pineapple to not overshadow anything else. Next, to highlight the funkiness of the Jamaican rum, I added just a hint of Giffard's Banane du Brasil. Although, almost perfectly delicious, it still tasted a bit too artificial banana for me, and instead of the banana liqueur, I opted for a Cooked Banana infused Campari (recipe in notes). To me it was perfectly what I was searching for in a Jungle Bird.

Created during a teambuilding cocktail-making class, the Vermeer was a spontaneous experiment I named after my favorite Dutch Golden Age painter Johannes Vermeer, known for his use of light and layered depth—qualities mirrored in the drink's delicate balance and aromatic complexity. Inspired by both classic sour structures and modern bitters, it reflects a harmony of tradition and personal flair.

I had a notion to make a Last Word template drink around rum and the Heirloom Pineapple Amaro. I tried two variations and liked them both. (See also: Last Night in Paradise)

Watching the 1938 classic, "Mysterious Mr Moto"

Watching the classic movie, "My Darling Clementine" and Doc Holliday asks for a Clean Glass.

This drink was published in 2016 under the name "Colely Negroni." However, in Dec. 2024 it was published to slightly different specs and different spelling as the "Coley Negroni" by the same bartender. I have no idea which is correct.

The genesis is unclear, but these likely are different iterations of the same cocktail. The 2016 version with Fernet/sherry/vermouth appears as almost an approximation of the later Averna/vermouth combo--although the volumes of the later variant are noticeably higher.

Made during a particularly low point of my life, where cocktails were the only creative thing I felt like making.

Life is better now, and the drink isn't bad either