The Elephant in the Room

3⁄4 oz Scotch
3⁄4 oz Rum, Smith & Cross
3⁄4 oz Aperol
1⁄2 oz Cynar
1⁄4 oz Maraschino Liqueur
1 twst Orange peel (As garnish)
Instructions

Stir with ice, strain into a double old fashioned glass with a large ice cube, and garnish with an orange twist.

History

I was inspired by a Sfumato/Zucca + Aperol drink called the Knife to a Gun Fight. I ended up dropping the rabarbaro element and latching on to its Aperol. With that, I made a hybrid of the Prospect Park, one of my favorite Manhattan riffs created in Boston, (Aperol + Maraschino) with the Negroni that Wasn't (Aperol + Cynar) that I had earlier in the week. Between the political debates being that night as well as the Smith & Cross in the mix, I dubbed this one the Elephant in the Room.

Yields Drink
Year
2020
Authenticity
Your original creation
Creator
Frederic Yarm, Boston, MA
Source reference

https://cocktailvirgin.blogspot.com/2020/03/the-elephant-in-room.html

Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
4 stars
(13 ratings)
From other users
  • A bit syrupy, would maybe lessen the sweeteners and boost the Scotch next time.
Similar cocktails
  • Per Umberto — Trinidad rum, Cynar, Campari, Meyer lemon juice
  • Thanksgiving 'Wine' — Pimm's No. 1 Cup, Bourbon, Cynar, Bitters, Chocolate bitters, Maraschino cherry
  • A Walk in the Clouds — Guatemalan rum, Islands Scotch, Cynar, Coffee liqueur, Bitters, Orange peel
  • Mexican Radio — Reposado Tequila, Cynar, Apricot liqueur, Bitters
  • Barefoot in the Dark — Blended Scotch, Campari, Swedish Punsch, Islay Scotch, Cynar, Orange peel

Black Walnut Boulevardier

1 1⁄4 oz Rye, Rittenhouse
3⁄4 oz Campari
3⁄4 oz Sweet vermouth, Cocchi Vermouth di Torino
1⁄2 oz Walnut Liqueur, Nux Alpina
2 ds Bitters, Fee Brothers Black Walnut
1 Orange peel
Instructions

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

Yields Drink
Year
2014
Authenticity
Your original creation
Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
4.5 stars
(25 ratings)
From other users
  • Made with Don Ciccio walnut liqueur, Carpano Antica, and Bittercube Blackstrap Bitters.
  • Made with noix du pays d’oc 3/4 Oz.
Similar cocktails
  • 1795 — Rye, Campari, Aperol, Sweet vermouth, Bitters
  • Boulevard des Rêves — Bourbon, Sweet vermouth, Campari, Rum
  • Boulevardier 12 — Bourbon, Sweet vermouth, Campari, Amaro, Chocolate bitters, Herbal liqueur, Orange peel
  • The Adams — Bourbon, Campari, Sweet vermouth, Kummel, Bitters
  • Novecento — Cognac, Sweet vermouth, Campari, Maraschino Liqueur, Bitters, Peychaud's Bitters, Lemon juice, Lemon peel
g28 commented on 3/04/2020:

The walnut is a nice twist on a boulevardier.

arsenic and mexican lace

1 1⁄2 oz Mezcal, Fidencio Clásico
1⁄2 oz Dry vermouth, Dolin
3⁄4 oz Crème de Violette, Rothman & Winter
1⁄4 oz Absinthe, Lucid
1⁄4 oz Lime juice
Instructions

Stir. Lime twist.

Picture of arsenic and mexican lace
Yields Drink
Authenticity
Altered recipe
Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
3.5 stars
(8 ratings)
Similar cocktails
  • Rainy Day Fund — Mezcal, Dry vermouth, Bergamot liqueur, Orange bitters
RoofWood commented on 2/27/2024:

Looking to incorporate more crème de violette in my repertoire, I chose to make this my way (spirit forward and less sweet)…2 oz Mezcal or a good tequila, 1/2 oz dry vermouth, 1/2 oz lime, 1/4 oz crème de violette, shaken to chill, served in a chilled martini glass with one rock half a fresh lime wheel and a spritz of absinthe on top. We liked it. Color was lovely.

EcoProf commented on 3/25/2025:

It is an interesting riff on Arsenic and Old Lace. The mezcal goes well with the Absinthe, but the lime is totally unnecessary.

Schrage Muzik

1 oz Rhum Agricole (Blanc but a slightly aged one would work)
1⁄2 oz Mezcal
1⁄2 oz Swedish Punsch
1⁄2 oz Bénédictine
1⁄2 oz Campari
1 ds Bitters, Angostura
1 twst Orange peel (As garnish)
Instructions

Build in a rocks glass without ice. Stir to mix, garnish with an orange twist, and serve at room temperature. Perfect of flask filling as well.

Notes

This was originally created with 3/4 oz Swedish Punsch and 1/4 oz Campari which was tasty but I felt that the Campari needed to come forward more.

History

Created in honor of Boston bar legend Matt Schrage's birthday. Matt is a fan of both rhum agricole and Scaffas (room temperature drinks with bitters but no dilution), and this one may hit you like the WWII armament I named it after. The previous rhum Scaffa I made for him (also on his birthday) was at the 2013 Women of the Wild West night in the Whiskey-Amaro Night series that he organized -- namely the Madame Mustache.

Yields Drink
Year
2020
Authenticity
Your original creation
Creator
Frederic Yarm, Boston, MA
Source reference

https://cocktailvirgin.blogspot.com/2020/02/schrage-muzik.html

Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
4.5 stars
(9 ratings)
Similar cocktails
  • Sabotage — Mezcal, Rhum Agricole, Herbal liqueur, Amaro Montenegro, Cynar, Orange peel
  • La Savane — Aromatized wine, Rhum Agricole, Mezcal, Swedish Punsch, Orange bitters, Orange peel
  • End of the Road — Islay Scotch, Herbal liqueur, Campari
  • The Count De Grace — Mezcal, Amaro Abano, Herbal liqueur
  • The Ticket that Exploded — Aromatized wine, Mezcal, Jamaican rum, Campari, Bénédictine, Orange peel
lesliec commented on 2/28/2020:

It's good, but I can't get my head/mouth around room temperature cocktails. So I stuck a big rock in the glass and now I'm very happy. Keep in mind it's summer where I am ...

yarm commented on 2/28/2020:

The two best ways of explaining room temperature cocktails is history (these drinks originated before ice or refrigeration was common) and flask drinking (where having something drinkable, convenient, and compact (no wasted volume for water). Besides that, it's an mental exercise in drink balance where you are balancing proof by sugar and not with the help of dilution or chilling. Many of the modern ones that I have had here in Boston originated as cocktails that tasted better before they were stirred/diluted with ice or after they warmed up. Some people do add water (like 3/4 oz to a 3 oz build) and serve it room temperature -- these are no longer Scaffas but room temperature cocktails (Scaffas lack the water element to make them a cocktail by the 1806 definition).

Also, adding an ice cube to fit the drink to your preferred palate or drink mood is a solid move.

Beekeeper's Folly

3⁄4 oz Herbal liqueur, Green Chartreuse
3⁄4 oz Lemon juice
3⁄4 oz Amaro Montenegro
3⁄4 oz Bärenjäger
Instructions

Shake, strain, straight up, cocktail glass

Yields Drink
Year
2020
Authenticity
Your original creation
Creator
Viscouse
Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
4 stars
(8 ratings)
From other users
  • Great last word riff, although a bit of a stretch. Amaro Montenegro pairs nicely with the barenjager and chartreuse.
Similar cocktails
  • Love & Murder — Campari, Herbal liqueur, Lime juice, Simple syrup, Salt Solution
  • Root Beer Barrel — Root liqueur, Jägermeister, Triple sec, Vanilla liqueur, Lemon juice
  • Hay There — Bison grass vodka, Genepy, Grapefruit liqueur, Lime juice
  • Beach & panorama #6 — Amaro Montenegro, Herbal liqueur, Suze, Cassis, Chocolate bitters, Lemon juice
  • Wake Up Call — Herbal liqueur, Grapefruit liqueur, Grapefruit juice, Lime juice, Cinnamon syrup, Grapefruit

Improved Kingston Negroni

1 oz Rum, Appleton Reserve (Appleton Signature Blend)
1⁄2 oz Navy strength rum, Smith & Cross
3⁄4 oz Sweet vermouth, Carpano Punt e Mes
3⁄4 oz Zucca (Cappeletti Sfumato Rababaro)
1 ds Pimento bitters (1/8 oz Hamilton's Allspice Dram)
1 twst Orange peel (As garnish)
Instructions

Stir with ice, strain into a double old fashioned glass with ice, and garnish with an orange twist.

Notes

Fred Yarm's substituted ingredients in parentheses.

Yields Drink
Authenticity
Authentic recipe
Creator
Sother Teague - Amor y Amargo
Source reference

https://cocktailvirgin.blogspot.com/2020/01/improved-kingston-negroni.h…

Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
4 stars
(10 ratings)
From other users
  • Made with Pussers and CioCiaro. Likable, quite like the prototype but a touch more complex. I think I like the orange of CioCiaro more than I would have the smoke of Sfumato.
Similar cocktails
Westhovsies commented on 2/24/2020:

Just got my first bottle of CioCiaro, so will give that a try too!

Mayan Mountain Mystic

1 oz Mezcal
1 oz Fino sherry
3⁄4 oz Byrrh
1⁄4 oz Bénédictine
2 ds Bitters, Angostura
1 twst Orange peel (As garnish)
Instructions

Stir with ice, strain into a rocks glass with a large ice cube, and garnish with an orange twist.

History

When I saw a reference to Paul McGee's Rum River Mystic, I remembered how much I enjoyed it and wondered if I could make a riff on it. Since I had been inspired by the mezcal-Fino sherry duo, I swapped them in for the original's rye and rum (or two rums depending on the recipe). Trying to keep the alliteration and location themes going, I dubbed this one the Mayan Mountain Mystic.

Yields Drink
Year
2020
Authenticity
Your original creation
Creator
Frederic Yarm, Boston, MA
Source reference

https://cocktailvirgin.blogspot.com/2020/02/mayan-mountain-mystic.html

Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
4 stars
(2 ratings)
Similar cocktails
  • Burdick's Cocktail — Mezcal, Dry vermouth, Byrrh, Crème de Cacao, Peychaud's Bitters, Lemon peel
  • Spur of the Moment — Blanco tequila, Mezcal, Aromatized wine, Dry vermouth, Lemon bitters
  • Clearly Aloe'n — Mezcal, Bianco Vermouth, Aloe vera liqueur
  • '81 — Mezcal, Manzanilla sherry, Aromatized wine, Pear eau de vie, Bitters, Lemon peel
  • Smoke on the Horizon — Mezcal, Dry vermouth, Bruto Americano, Gran Classico, Orange peel, Lemon peel

Nova Scotia

1 1⁄8 oz Bourbon
2⁄3 oz Islay Scotch
1⁄4 oz Fernet Branca
1⁄4 oz Honey syrup
1 twst Lemon peel (as garnish)
Instructions

Stir and Strain over Block Ice in a Double Rocks Glass. Garnish with a Lemon Twist

History

Created at Bulletin Place Sydney

Yields Drink
Year
2018
Authenticity
Your original creation
Creator
Paul Hammond
Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
3.5 stars
(3 ratings)
Similar cocktails
  • Border Trilogy — Bourbon, Mezcal, Bitters, Piloncillo syrup, Grapefruit peel
  • Hearts of Oak — Bourbon, Irish whiskey, Islay Scotch, Bitters, Grade B maple syrup, Cinnamon stick
  • Jacques and Doris — Blended Scotch, Islay Scotch, Peychaud's Bitters, Lavender bitters, Suze, Cane syrup, Grapefruit peel
  • Devil Inside — Rye, Islay Scotch, Absinthe, Peychaud's Bitters, Rich demerara syrup 2:1, Lemon peel
  • King Cohen — Blended Scotch, Fernet Branca, Simple syrup

Deep Breath

1 oz Light rum
1⁄2 oz Manzanilla sherry
2⁄3 oz Pineapple juice
2 t Orgeat
1 t White Crème de Menthe
1⁄2 oz Lemon juice
3 ds Absinthe
2 t Egg white
1 1⁄2 oz Soda water
1 lf Mint (as garnish)
Instructions

Double Shake and Double Strain Into a Fizz Glass (no ice) Charging with Soda Water. Garnish with a Mint Leaf

History

Created at Bulletin Place Sydney

Yields Drink
Year
2018
Authenticity
Your original creation
Creator
Paul Hammond
Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
5 stars
(1 rating)
Similar cocktails
  • Coco de Agua — Light rum, Soda water, Coconut Water, Lime juice, Simple syrup, Mint
  • Full Tilt — Light rum, Pisco, Gin, Soda water, Grapefruit juice, Pineapple juice, Lemon juice, Rich simple syrup 2:1, Grapefruit
  • Soda Jerk — Tequila, Campari, Cola, Lime juice, Passion fruit puree, Vanilla syrup, Egg white, Lime peel
  • Honey Suckle — Cuban rum, Sherry, Club soda, Lime juice, Honey
  • Lingua Franca — Pisco, Jamaican rum, Falernum, Pear liqueur, Apricot liqueur, Orange bitters, Soda water, Lemon juice

Tantric Moped

1 1⁄2 oz Barbados Rum, Plantation 5 Year
1⁄2 oz Pineapple rum, Plantation Stiggins' Fancy
1⁄2 oz Lime juice
1⁄2 oz Cinnamon syrup
1⁄2 oz Amaro, Amaro di Angostura
1⁄2 oz Falernum, Velvet Falernum
Instructions

Add ingredients to a mixing tin filled with ice, shake until the tin is frosted. Strain into a pint glass or tiki mug filled with fresh cracked ice or pebble ice. No garnish (unless you're going for full on Tiki)

Notes

Any decent blended aged rum should work, though some may require adjusting the volume of sweet ingredients.

Yields Drink
Authenticity
Your original creation
Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
4 stars
(1 rating)
Similar cocktails
  • Autumn Daiquiri — Barbados Rum, Bitters, Lime juice, Pineapple juice, Demerara syrup, Cinnamon syrup
  • Dark Desires — Venezuelan rum, Allspice Dram, Coffee liqueur, Passion fruit syrup, Lime juice, Lime
  • Gantt's Tomb — Bermuda rum, Rye, Demerara Rum, Allspice Dram, Pineapple juice, Orange juice, Lemon juice, Simple syrup
  • Shark's Tooth — Rum, Cherry Liqueur, Maraschino Liqueur, Lime juice, Pineapple juice, Cane syrup
  • Cuban Pinnapple Cocktail — Rum, Falernum, Lime juice, Simple syrup
Subscribe to