Sheltering Sky

1 1⁄2 oz Cognac
1⁄2 oz Swedish Punsch
1⁄2 oz Bénédictine
1⁄2 oz Amontillado Sherry (Or Oloroso)
1 ds Bitters, Angostura
1 twst Orange peel (As garnish)
Instructions

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

Notes

Orange and nutty nose. A rich grape sip. Cognac, tea, minty, chocolate, and nutty flavors on the swallow with an allspice and rum funk finish.

History

Crafted for a 2014 ShakeStir competition with a Cognac sponsor. I was inspired by the Rocket from Pioneers of Mixing in Elite Bars: 1903-1933 with its brandy, Swedish punsch, sweet vermouth, and Picon elements. I converted the vermouth to nutty sherry and the Picon to Benedictine and Angostura Bitters. For a name, I was lured in by the Paul Bowles' mid-century classic for the combination seemed to represent world travel in a glass.

Yields Drink
Year
2014
Authenticity
Your original creation
Creator
Frederic Yarm, Russell House Tavern, Cambridge, MA
Source reference

https://cocktailvirgin.blogspot.com/2017/06/sheltering-sky.html

Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
5 stars
(9 ratings)
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  • Bonnie & Clyde — Cognac, Amontillado Sherry, Byrrh, Bénédictine, Bitters
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subspot commented on 5/29/2020:

Subbed Swedish Punsch for Xaymaca and it didn't have the nuanced finish as the given recipe. Tried it with Lustau amontillado Los arcos and I'd like to try it with a less dry amontillado or a big Olorosso, we also made it with multiple cognac and it worked great but shined with Courvoisier VS. 

Zerlina

1 1⁄2 oz Fino sherry
1⁄2 oz Gin, Monkey 47
1⁄2 oz Bergamot liqueur, Italicus
1⁄2 oz Apricot liqueur, Rothman & Winter Orchard Apricot
Instructions

Stir all ingredients with ice in a mixing glass and strain into a chilled Nick and Nora glass. ABV is low, so it needs only the briefest of stirs to chill it slightly. Garnish with an expressed lemon peel if you like a little extra flair.

Picture of Zerlina
Yields Drink
Year
2020
Authenticity
Your original creation
Creator
Scott Stoeffler, Downers Grove, IL
Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
4 stars
(6 ratings)
From other users
  • A superb fruity low ABV sherry drink.
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Emotional Tailspin

3⁄4 oz Bourbon, Elijah Craig (Small Batch)
3⁄4 oz Amaro, Cappelletti Sfumato Rabarbaro
3⁄4 oz Cassis, Combier
3⁄4 oz Lemon juice
1 Lemon peel
Instructions

Shake all ingredients with ice for 15 seconds, strain into a chilled coupe. Garnish with a lemon peel.

Notes

While I like the Sfumato in this, I've used other amari as well, such as Zucca (more berry notes, less smoke) and Cynar (less smoke, more caramel notes).

History

Riff on one of my favorite modern classics, the Paper Plane. Trying to use up a bottle of creme de cassis while hunkered down during the coronavirus lockdown. Part of my "Cocktails from the Corona Bunker" series. :-)

Picture of Emotional Tailspin
Yields Drink
Year
2020
Authenticity
Your original creation
Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
4.5 stars
(25 ratings)
From other users
  • Made with Cynar. Delicious! — ★★★★
  • Made with Zucca
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Brindisi commented on 3/31/2020:

Definitely a good use for cassis!  Made this with Zucca (the previous recipe, not the current one), and it was mighty tasty!  Confinement does stimulate the creative juices, doesn't it?

Mixin In Ansley commented on 10/04/2023:

Love these elements and the equal parts idea but for me it’s 1oz bourbon, 3/4 oz Sfumato and 1/2 oz Cassis and lemon.

Odd Couple

1 1⁄2 oz Tequila (Reposado preferred)
3⁄4 oz Dry vermouth
3⁄4 oz Bergamot liqueur, Italicus
1⁄2 oz Suze
1⁄2 oz Lemon juice
3 ds Lemon bitters (1821 lemon ginger tincture)
Instructions

Shake over ice, strain into coupe, garnish with a twist.

Notes

Suze may be heavy for some, start with 1/4 oz if you prefer a less bitter profile.

Yields Drink
Authenticity
Your original creation
Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
3.5 stars
(2 ratings)
From other users
  • Tequila martini
  • Kinda/sorta like a margarita. Not to sweet but solid, although I was hoping the Italicus would be more present.
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Leatherman

1 oz Mezcal, Del Maguey Vida
1⁄2 oz Ancho Reyes chile liqueur
1⁄2 oz CioCiaro
1⁄4 oz Sweet vermouth, Cinzano Rosso
Instructions

Stir and strain over one big rock. Garnish with Orange zest.

Notes

I have used the exact recipe as well as swapping out the Mezcal, amaro and sweet vermouth for other brands, and the formula worked very well on all counts.

Yields Drink
Year
2019
Authenticity
Authentic recipe
Creator
The Botanist, Portland, OR
Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
4 stars
(16 ratings)
From other users
  • A bit sweet
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Shawn C commented on 1/10/2023:

A very nice mezcal cocktail. The moderate ancho heat blends harmoniously into the mezcal, mellowing the earthy/smokiness of the latter. The CioCiaro blends smoothly while broadening the flavor profile. The volume is to the small side, increasing to 1.5: 3/4: 3/4: 3/8 would make for a standard fill.

Polynesian Remedy

1 3⁄4 oz Dark rum (Plantation original dark)
1 oz Lemon juice
1⁄2 oz Ginger syrup
1⁄2 oz Orgeat
1⁄2 oz Honey syrup
4 ds Islay Scotch (Peated...)
Instructions

Shake, strain, old fashioned glass with ice.
Garnish with candied ginger, lemon wheel and pineapple leaf.

Notes

Very nice drink and interaction of orgeat and ginger.
A bit sweet according to me BUT:

I do not have a proper dark rum...
Tried several times the recipe (5 times at least), once with el Dorado 15 and another with a high proof Guatemalan (Botran) rum bottled by a french retailer.
Tried with laprhroig and lagavulin 16.
And lemon and lime.
Also changing Honey for brown sugar rich simple.

Version with El Dorado, lime, brown sugar and Lagavulin appears to me to be much better.

I also used a homemade ginger liqueur instead of ginger syrup.

10 oz vodka+ 5 oz chopped candied ginger.
10 days infusion.

Maybe my rums were too sweet.
Rum could easily be uped to 2 oz or 2 1/4 and/or using a higher proof dark rum.
Shaking time could be also longer or better use crushed ice in the glass instead of cubes...

Yields Drink
Year
2020
Authenticity
Authentic recipe
Creator
Scotty Schuder, Dirty Dick, France, Paris
Source reference

https://imbibemagazine.com/polynesian-remedy/

Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
Not yet rated
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Lake City Quiet Pill

1 1⁄4 oz Sherry, Lustau Dry Amontillado
3⁄4 oz Cynar
1⁄2 oz Scotch, Laphroaig 10
1⁄2 oz Crème de Cacao, Tempus Fugit
Instructions

Stir with ice, strain into a double old fashioned glass with a large ice cube, and garnish with freshly grated nutmeg.

Yields Drink
Year
2018
Authenticity
Authentic recipe
Creator
Amanda Greenfield, Backbar, Somerville, MA
Source reference

https://cocktailvirgin.blogspot.com/2018/12/lake-city-quiet-pill.html

Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
4 stars
(5 ratings)
From other users
  • Not only does this work well with mezcal in place of scotch, I may like it even more. Either way, fantastic cocktail.
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New York Stone Sour

2 oz Bourbon
1⁄2 oz Lemon juice
1⁄4 oz Orange juice
1 t Sugar
1⁄2 oz Red wine (as float)
Instructions

Dissolve sugar in juices, add whiskey and shake. Strain into a coupe and float wine.

Notes

Other kinds of whiskey also work here, and actually the Washington Post has cognac as the base.

History

Reiner's twist on the 19th-century New York Sour is the addition of orange juice which David Wondrich says
"makes the drink."

Picture of New York Stone Sour
Yields Drink
Authenticity
Altered recipe
Creator
Julie Reiner, New York, New York (USA)
Source reference

https://twitter.com/DavidWondrich/status/1242931953730543617?s=20

Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
3.5 stars
(3 ratings)
From other users
  • 4 ounces bourbon or rye 2 ounces fresh lemon juice 1 ounce EF 2 dashes Angostura bitters 2 ounces dry, fruity red wine or sweet red vermouth (float) 8 shots
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Stranger Things #4

4 lf Mint
2 oz Mezcal
1⁄3 oz Gin
1⁄4 oz Gran Classico
1⁄4 oz Pine liqueur
1⁄4 oz Simple syrup (Black cardamom, see note)
Instructions

Rub mint into the old fashioned glass and discard. Stir ingredients with ice in the glass. Serve.

Notes

Black cardamom syrup:
Muddle 2 oz cardamom pods, add 7 oz water in pan. Let boil 10 minutes to reduce.
Strain. Add half part agave syrup to remaining water.

Yields Drink
Year
2020
Authenticity
Your original creation
Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
Not yet rated
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Red Morning Light (Tonia Guffey-Stamper)

1 1⁄2 oz Scotch
1⁄2 oz Campari
1⁄2 oz Dry vermouth
1⁄2 oz Coffee liqueur
2 ds Bitters, Bittermens Xocolatl Mole
1 rinse Islay Scotch
1 Orange peel
Instructions

Stir, strain into old fashioned glass with a large cube or sphere. Garnish with a few atomizer spritzes of Islay scotch and an expressed orange swath.

Yields Drink
Year
2020
Authenticity
Authentic recipe
Creator
Tonia Guffey-Stamper, The Kitchen at Atomic, Las Vegas
Source reference

https://imbibemagazine.com/scotch-cocktail-red-morning-light/

Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
3.5 stars
(6 ratings)
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applejack commented on 3/23/2020:

Made this with Monkey Shoulder, Dolin Dry, St. George Coffee Liqueur & 16 drops Bittermens Xocolatl Mole bitters.  Nicely integrated and balanced, with no ingredient forcing itself to the front.  The St. George Coffee Liqueur is pretty dry by coffee liqueur standards, might try a blanc / bianco vermouth next time to add a touch more roundness and richness.  I would suggest a light stir count (maybe 30-40 revolutions); using a standard stir count (50-60) made for a slightly thin drink.

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