Of Light and Shadows

1 1⁄2 oz Mezcal, Sombra
1⁄2 oz Amargo-Vallet
1⁄2 oz Campari
1⁄2 oz Sweet vermouth, Carpano Punt e Mes
1⁄2 oz Coffee liqueur, St. George (NOLA)
1 Orange peel
Instructions

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

Notes

Also works well with a base of rye whiskey or London dry gin.

Yields Drink
Year
2018
Authenticity
Your original creation
Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
4 stars
(2 ratings)
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Easy Split

1 3⁄4 oz Japanese Whisky (Toguchi)
3⁄4 oz Amaro Nonino
1⁄2 oz Suze
1⁄3 oz Gin, G'Vine Floraison
Instructions

Stir, strain, coupe

Yields Drink
Year
2019
Authenticity
Your original creation
Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
3.5 stars
(5 ratings)
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Challenge Excepted

2 oz Bourbon, Maker's Mark
1 oz Fernet Branca
3⁄4 oz Tuaca
1⁄2 oz Triple sec, Cointreau
Instructions

Stir/Strain/Serve Up

Notes

Tracie says that the garnish, 3 brandied cherries on a stick, is very important - the tiny amount of brandy seals the deal.

History

Tracie Herrmann was challenged by a customer to marry Maker's Mark and Fernet Branca - and this is what she came up with. There is already a "Challenge Accepted" cocktail in the database - Tracy's desired name - so I am calling this one "Challenge Excepted." Interestingly enough, that one also contains Fernet. The system also provides a few other similar drinks - the Alcazer and the Root of All Evil in particular perhaps.

Yields Drink
Year
2019
Authenticity
Authentic recipe
Creator
Tracie Herrmann, The Stissing House, Pine Plains, NY
Source reference

Recipe obtained directly from the bartender

Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
4.5 stars
(3 ratings)
From other users
  • Try reducing Fernet to 0.75 oz
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  • Alcazer — Rye, Fernet Branca, Orange liqueur
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Cells Interlinked

3⁄4 oz Rye, Rittenhouse
3⁄4 oz Amargo-Vallet
3⁄4 oz Amaro Meletti
3⁄4 oz Cherry Liqueur, Cherry Heering
1 Orange peel
Instructions

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

History

Part of my ongoing "4 parts, equal parts, stirred" series.

Yields Drink
Year
2018
Authenticity
Your original creation
Source reference

https://genius.com/John-francis-shade-pale-fire-a-poem-in-four-cantos-a…

Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
5 stars
(10 ratings)
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  • Boulevard of Broken Dreams — Rye, Campari, Averna, Mezcal, Peychaud's Bitters, Demerara syrup, Orange peel
  • No Loitering — Rye, Averna, Campari, Bitters, Lemon peel
  • No. 41 — Cognac, Amaro Meletti, Bitters
mhsx commented on 1/28/2023:

Good cocktail, bad name.

Smoky Hamptons

1 oz Bourbon, Larceny
1⁄3 oz Islay Scotch (Port Charlotte 10)
2⁄3 oz Dry vermouth, Noilly Prat Original Dry
1⁄3 oz Elderflower liqueur, St. Germain
1⁄2 oz Lime juice
4 dr Bitters (Crude Bitters Pooter)
Instructions

Stir over ice, strain.

Yields Drink
Year
2019
Authenticity
Your original creation
Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
3.5 stars
(3 ratings)
From other users
  • Forgot to add bitters this first time. Gotta remember. [DLL]
  • Very tasty! I didn't have those bitters, but used some Ango and a pinch of salt.
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Brave Margot

3⁄4 oz Virgin Islands Rum, Cruzan Blackstrap
1 oz Campari
1⁄4 oz Falernum, Velvet Falernum
3⁄4 oz Lime juice
1⁄2 oz Pineapple syrup
1 ds Absinthe
6 dr Fernet Branca (As Garnish)
Instructions

Shake with ice, strain into a Collins glass, and fill with crushed ice. Garnish with a spritz of Fernet Branca (6 drops), a lime wheel (omit), edible flowers, and a cherry (omit).

Notes

I made this with Pineapple Gum Syrup and I used Peychauds Bitters rather than Absinthe as I personally find Absinthe too heavy handed to use as a minor ingredient.

Yields Drink
Authenticity
Authentic recipe
Creator
Bar Marilou, New Orleans, Louisiana
Source reference

https://cocktailvirgin.blogspot.com/2019/08/brave-margot.html and http://imbibemagazine.com/brave-margot-from-bar-marilou/

Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
5 stars
(12 ratings)
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drinkingandthinking commented on 6/24/2025:

A delightful low ABV summer concoction! I didn't find the absinthe overpowering and in fact added a bit more.

Wall Street Insider

1 1⁄2 oz Bourbon, Four Roses (Single Barrel 100 proof)
1⁄2 oz Falernum, Velvet Falernum
1⁄2 oz Campari
1⁄2 oz Fernet Branca
2 ds Chocolate bitters
1 twst Orange peel (flamed, as garnish)
Instructions

Stir, strain into a coupe, garnish.

Yields Drink
Authenticity
Authentic recipe
Creator
Hearsay Market Square, Houston
Source reference

https://quizlet.com/408957838/hearsay-bourbonscotch-cocktails-flash-car…

Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
4.5 stars
(25 ratings)
From other users
  • Used Bittermen's Xocalatl Mole bitters; added an extra layer of spice.
  • Fernet strong but not out of whack. This has a real tobacco-stained, leathery feel. Good.
  • While I feel like the Fernet might be a little high in the mix on the finish, it's still a nice drink. — ★★★
  • Cut chocolate bitters down to one.
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Zachary Pearson commented on 4/21/2021:

Good catch Fred! I'm going to revert the drink to that recipe and update the link. Thanks,  Zachary

yarm commented on 4/22/2021:

The sweetness of the Falernum does a lot to smooth over the bitterness of the Fernet. Not as aggressive as it reads.

sainsley commented on 7/03/2022:

Tasty. Wild Turkey 101, chocolate macadamia bitters, Falernum syrup (instead of Velvet). Campari and Fernet still there but have a nice fuzzy chocolate mint blanket overtop .

Cara A commented on 11/27/2022:

I dialed back the Fernet a bit for my audience. Very tasty! Also very boozy, so I made 1.5 drinks for 2 people. Love the scaling function on this site 👍🏼

OldFashionedCock commented on 11/19/2024:

Substituted Buffalo Trace. I was pleasantly surprised how well it worked together; more than the sum of its parts.

Spring Swing

2 oz Gin, St. George Botanivore
3⁄4 oz Simple syrup
1⁄2 oz Lemon juice
1⁄2 oz Elderflower liqueur, St. Germain
1⁄2 oz Maraschino Liqueur, Luxardo
3 sli Cucumber
2 sli Strawberry
Instructions

Pour ingredients into shaker, muddle, then shake. Double strain into coupe glass. Garnish with strawberry slice and cucumber wheel.

Notes

Remove Simple syrup for a drier cocktail. Use 3/4 of lemon juice for foamy finish

Yields Drink
Authenticity
Unknown
Creator
Austin Bayon
Source reference

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbdZkPFTHqY

Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
4 stars
(1 rating)
From other users
  • Leaving out the simple syrup is good for those not wanting as sweet a drink.
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Western Passage

1 1⁄2 oz Batavia Arrack, Van Oosten
1⁄2 oz Sweet vermouth, Dolin
1⁄2 oz Dry vermouth, Dolin
1⁄2 oz Herbal liqueur, Yellow Chartreuse
1 ds Bitters, Angostura (or other aromatic bitters)
1 ds Orange bitters
1 Cherry
1 twst Orange peel (expressed and discarded)
Instructions

Stir, strain, coupe.

Yields Drink
Authenticity
Authentic recipe
Creator
Max Toste, Deep Ellum, Boston
Source reference

https://cocktailvirgin.blogspot.com/2012/10/western-passage.html

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