Jane's Sour

1 oz Mezcal, Tlacuache Blanco (Vanilla infused)
1⁄2 oz Cynar
1⁄2 oz Crème de Figue, Edmond Briottet
3⁄4 oz Lime juice
1⁄3 oz Egg white
Instructions

Dry Shake all ingredients save the Angostura to a frenzied froth. Add your ice and re-shake to desired dilution and temperature. Double strain into a coupe and add two dots of angostura on top of the egg white foam, drawing curved lines with a slim straw or tooth pick.

Notes

A proper vanilla infusion occurs by splitting 2-4 pods lengthwise and placing them in an air tight jar filled with smokey mezcal. Tlacuache is readily available at the ol' LC in Toronto, and it's a prime candidate. Check in on it here and there, and be patient. A good deal of time and a keen eye will yield the best results.

YieldsDrink
Year
2013
Authenticity
Your original creation
Creator
Jan Ollner
Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
Not yet rated
Similar cocktails
  • Red Brick Kitchen's Mezcal Cocktail — Mezcal, Cynar, Orange bitters, Lemon juice, Agave syrup
  • Tres Pinas — Mezcal, Cynar, Pineapple syrup, Lime juice
  • The Option Clause — Mezcal, Cynar, Herbal liqueur, Grapefruit liqueur, Lime juice, Kosher Salt, Grapefruit peel, Serrano
  • Evening Tea — Speyside Scotch, Islay Scotch, Bigallet China-China, Lemon juice, Tangerine juice, Earl Grey Tea Syrup, Egg white, Orange peel
  • Oaxaca by the Sea — Aquavit, Mezcal, Lime juice, Agave syrup, Salt, Lime, Dill

The Royal Family

1 oz Ginger liqueur, King's Ginger
1 ds Baked Apple Bitters, Barkeep
Instructions

Stir ingredients over ice.
Strain and pour into coupe or rocks glass.
Thinly slice a royal gala apple along its side and float it on top of the cocktail.

Notes

Use Bourbon if you've a sweet tooth. Amp up the cardamom if you've a spicy tooth. All teeth welcome.

YieldsDrink
Year
2011
Authenticity
Your original creation
Creator
Jan Ollner
Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
Not yet rated
Similar cocktails
  • Coal Train — Rye, Rhum Agricole, Crème de Banane, Amargo-Vallet, Lemon peel
  • Country Life #2 — Bourbon, Sweet vermouth, Jamaican rum, Bitters, Orange peel
  • Floridita Special — Rye, Sweet vermouth, Amer Picon, Triple sec, Bitters, Sugar
  • Red Right Hook — Rye, Rum, Sweet vermouth, Maraschino Liqueur, Campari, Chocolate bitters, Orange peel
  • Another Fine Mes — Rye, Tequila, Triple sec, Sweet vermouth, Bitters, Orange bitters, Maple syrup, Orange peel

Martini L.E.F.

2 1⁄4 oz Gin, Citadelle
1 oz Aromatized wine, Lillet Blanc
Instructions

Stir with cracked ice. Serve without garnish.

YieldsDrink
Year
2013
Authenticity
Your original creation
Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
2 stars
(1 rating)
Similar cocktails
  • Petrichor — Gin, Aromatized wine, Bitters
  • Eddie Brown — Gin, Aromatized wine, Apricot liqueur
  • Freeside — Gin, Bianco Vermouth, Caramelized Ramp Bitters, Cucumber, Dill, Lemon peel
  • Astoria Bianco — Gin, Bianco Vermouth, Orange bitters
  • Clear Intentions — Gin, Aromatized wine, Amaro Montenegro, Bitters

<br />This is only the second martini in my life, so I don't have much of a background to compare this martini against other martinis. However, I know what I like and what I don't like, and I have enough experience with alcoholic beverages, so that I can make some suggestions that may change a so-so drink into a better drink.

With that background, I rated the Martini L.E.F. as a 2.5 cocktail. Why? First, the current recipe calls for two dashes of Bittermens Burlesque bitters. I believe one dash will be enough (as a side note, I wonder if there might be a better bitters for this drink; I think so, but at this time, I'm not sure what would make for a better alternative). I also wonder if there might be a better alternative to Lillet Blanc. I think there is; I will be trying Dolin's blanc vermouth.

Finally, the receipe specifically calls for no garnish. I drank some of the original cocktail with no garnish, and found the taste to be somewhat harsh, so I used a lemeon twist, making sure to express a good amound of the lemon oil on top of the cocktail. That was a definite improvement.

In short, to improve this drink I recommend: (1) use just 1 dash of Bittermen Burlesque bitters, not two (and possibly use a different bitters altogether); (2) use something different for Lillet Blanc, perhaps a topshelf vermouth, or maybe Cocchi Americano; and (3) use a garnish to add a complementary flavor and added complexity. I suggest a lemon twist (but others may come up with a better alternative). Meanwhile, live the good life--drink and enjoy!


Monastery Cocktail

Instructions

Stir in a mixing glass with ice and strain into a cocktail glass.

YieldsDrink
Authenticity
Authentic recipe
Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
Not yet rated
Similar cocktails
  • Hunter-Gatherer — Rye, Sweet vermouth, Becherovka, Jägermeister, Bitters, Orange peel
  • Getting Ready — Herbal liqueur, Amaro Lucano, Cherry Liqueur, Ginger syrup
  • The Bloodborne of Beverages — Rhum Agricole, Campari, Jägermeister
  • Zummy — Gin, Bénédictine, Sweet vermouth, Dry vermouth, Campari, Lemon bitters
  • Friday Surprise — Rum, Jägermeister, Bianco Vermouth, Campari

Aromatic Collins

1 oz Soda water (to top)
1 twst Lemon peel (as garnish)
Instructions

Shake juice and simple syrup with ice, strain into a Collins over ice, layer bitters over drink, top with soda, garnish with lemon peel.

YieldsDrink
Year
2011
Authenticity
Authentic recipe
Creator
Jamie Boudreau, Canon, Seattle, WA.
Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
3 stars
(1 rating)
From other users
  • Angostura Fizz
Similar cocktails
  • Likely Doubtful — Bitters, Batavia Arrack, Curaçao, Lemon juice, Simple syrup, Egg white, Seltzer water
  • Friuli Fizz — Amaro Nonino, Soda water, Simple syrup, Lemon juice, Lime juice, Ginger
  • Bitter Sweet Poison — Herbal liqueur, Bitters, Maple Canadian whisky, Bitter lemon soda, Lime juice, Maple syrup, Thyme
  • Campari Collins — Campari, Orange liqueur, Lemon juice, Soda water
  • Aperitivo #2 — Barbados Rum, Sweet vermouth, Amaro, Lime juice, Tonic water


Some light curating including clarifying the rich simple. I imagine that will make the layering even more foolproof. Thanks @noksagt. 


The Blur

3⁄4 oz Herbal liqueur, Green Chartreuse
3⁄4 oz Maraschino Liqueur, Maraska
3⁄4 oz Lime juice
4 oz Sparkling white wine (Cava, or other dry sparkling wine)
Instructions

Shake all but wine, strain into Champagne flute, top with sparkling wine.

Notes

Sparkling wine Last Word variant served as a brunch cocktail at Nopa in San Francisco.

YieldsDrink
Authenticity
Authentic recipe
Creator
Nopa, San Francisco, CA.
Source reference

bit.ly/12prjHz

Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
4 stars
(5 ratings)
Similar cocktails
  • Viva Alberti — Sparkling white wine, Strega, Cognac, Orange bitters, Cappelletti Aperitivo, Lemon juice, Orange peel
  • Rose-Colored Glass — Sparkling rosé wine, Bitters, Simple syrup, Lemon juice, Lemon peel
  • This Woman's Work — Prosecco, Strega, Plum eau-de-vie, Peychaud's Bitters, Lemon juice
  • Williams Brewster Punch — Brut Champagne, Pear eau de vie, Rosemary syrup, Lemon juice, Soda water
  • Garden Variety — Sparkling white wine, Herbal liqueur, Cassis, Lime juice

I love the flavors of a last word cocktail but not the sweetness. This is a great solution, very light and refreshing.


Staying Together For The Children

Instructions

Stir/strain/rocks/lemon twist

YieldsDrink
Authenticity
Authentic recipe
Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
3.5 stars
(27 ratings)
From other users
  • Try again with different Fernet
  • Made with Cocchi di Torino. Bitter grown-up drink.
  • Made with normal-strength Plymouth. Very good bitter-forward stirred drink.
Similar cocktails
  • Solomon Grundy — Gin, Amaro Lucano, Sweet vermouth, Fernet Branca
  • Negroni (Katie Loeb) — Gin, Sweet vermouth, Campari
  • Elevato Negroni — Gin, Sweet vermouth, Campari, Amaro, Zucca, Orange peel
  • Don't Give Up the Ship — Gin, Triple sec, Sweet vermouth, Fernet Branca, Orange bitters
  • Fixer Upper — Gin, Sweet vermouth, Bigallet China-China, Fernet Branca, Bénédictine, Absinthe, Peychaud's Bitters, Grapefruit peel

The name is perfect for the cocktail. I bitter beauty.

 

I've also substituted the gin for high proof american whiskey as well as regular 80 proof plymouth.


Question: Is the fernet to be used as a float here or stirred in?


Stephanie Miller OR The Sexy Liberal Cocktail

3⁄4 oz Aromatized wine, Lillet Blanc
1⁄2 oz Averna
Instructions

Stir/strain/up garnish with sarcasm and box wine.

YieldsDrink
Authenticity
Authentic recipe
Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
3.5 stars
(9 ratings)
Similar cocktails
  • Bitter Maestro — Rye, Applejack, Aromatized wine, Amaro Nonino, Grenadine
  • Queen City — Rye, Aromatized wine, Bitters, Amaro, Grapefruit peel
  • Cocchi Cola — Whiskey, Aromatized wine, Amaro Nonino, Bitters
  • Beauty Sleep — Bourbon, Aromatized wine, Amaro Nonino, Amaro Nardini
  • The Perseverance Cocktail — Rye, Ramazzotti, Aromatized wine, Sweet vermouth, Orange bitters

Dove & Daisy

Instructions

Shake with ice and strain into a salt-rimmed Collins glass filled with ice. Top with ~2 oz soda water and garnish with a 3-inch swath of grapefruit peel.

Notes

A combination of a Paloma (Dove) and a Margarita (Daisy).

YieldsDrink
Year
2013
Authenticity
Authentic recipe
Creator
Tyler Wang, No. 9 Park, Boston, MA.
Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
3.5 stars
(6 ratings)
From other users
  • I can't imagine why the other person gave this 2 stars. Classic combo of flavors. — ★★★★★
Similar cocktails
  • El Dorado — Tequila, Orange liqueur, Grapefruit bitters, Soda water, Grapefruit juice, Lime juice, Simple syrup
  • Cantarito — Blanco tequila, Soda water, Orange juice, Lemon juice, Lime juice, Grapefruit syrup
  • The Pompous Moose — Vodka, Club soda, Grapefruit syrup, Lime juice
  • Hibiscus Rum Punch — Blended rum, Hibiscus Liqueur, Seltzer water, Lime juice, Rich demerara syrup 2:1, Lime
  • La Nuestra Paloma — Tequila, Elderflower liqueur, Triple sec, Bitters, Club soda, Lime juice, Grapefruit juice, Grapefruit peel

Benediction

1 oz Brandy
3⁄4 oz Herbal liqueur, Yellow Chartreuse
3⁄4 oz Bénédictine
3⁄4 oz Lemon juice
1 ds Absinthe
Instructions

Shake, strain, up.

History

Inspired by eGullet user elix, who called for a Last Word variant by this name employing Bénédictine. It ended up being more of a Sidecar/Widow's Kiss variant. If you'd like to name an equal parts brandy/Bénédictine/Maraschino/lemon drink, it's yours for the taking.

YieldsDrink
Year
2013
Authenticity
Your original creation
Creator
Rafa García Febles, NYC.
Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
4.5 stars
(24 ratings)
From other users
  • Wow
  • Subbed Strega for chartreuse. Sophisticated sidecar alternative.
Similar cocktails
  • Monte Cassino — Rye, Bénédictine, Herbal liqueur, Lemon juice, Lemon peel
  • Final Straw — Islay Scotch, Bénédictine, Herbal liqueur, Lemon juice

Like but don't love, with Torres 10. Next time I'd at least up the brandy, maybe dial back the liqueurs a bit